leadership dots

leadership dot #4862: burdened

February 9, 2026February 6, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

While at a restaurant, the lady at the next table was having a monologue with her friend, airing all her grievances about her daughter-in-law. I’m not sure when she ate, because she seemed to talk nonstop, recounting slights and omissions that had occurred over several months. I did not hear her say one thing the DIL did right.

It reminded me of some employees who seem to hang on to every piece of negative feedback, ignoring any praise they received, or of people who receive evaluations after a workshop or class and only remember the responses that sting.

The depreciating comments play on a loop in their head, like the restaurant lady whose every sentence started with “so…,” “then…,” or “anyway…” as she strung together unrelated events to craft evidence that fit her narrative.

Negative comments are like rocks in a wagon that people pull around behind them. The load becomes so heavy that they focus only on that — glossing over any positive occurrences as the wagon tramples them. If you find yourself loading up rocks that you revisit over and over, it’s time to unburden yourself from the wagon and enjoy your lunch.

leadership dot #4861: complicated

February 8, 2026February 6, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Every year, drivers in Iowa receive a new renewal sticker for their license plates that lists the month and year it was issued. Drivers in Wisconsin have a permanent “month” sticker, and receive a renewal that just includes the year.

This may not seem like much of a distinction, but consider the unnecessary complexity the Iowa system creates. The state must produce and purchase 12 different stickers (one for each month) and distribute them to the 99 county courthouses. There is invariably waste each month, as there is no way to predict the exact number required.

On the other hand, Wisconsin benefits from bulk ordering (only one version with the year) and can reduce costs through a single annual distribution process.

The outcome is the same, but I suspect that the time and money to get there are significantly different. Be like Wisconsin and don’t stick yourself with unnecessary complexity.

leadership dot #4860: customized

February 7, 2026February 6, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

It seems that everything has to be customized — and the trend has now reached Valentine’s Day. No longer is it required to send cards from an off-the-shelf box. Now people have started printing personal Valentine’s photo cards just like they do for Christmas.

I think it’s a bit over the top, but Valentine’s Day is big business. This year, the National Retail Foundation projects a record $29.1 billion in holiday spending, with 41% of people purchasing greeting cards.

So, if you’re one of those spenders or senders, it’s time to get your custom cards printed to show your love as only you can. And if you’re an organization, use the opportunity to let your clients know how much you love working with them. We could all use a bit of warmth these days.

leadership dot #4859: ask and tell

February 6, 2026February 5, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I admire leaders who seek input from their teams. The practice helps build trust and understanding, as well as providing new perspectives and alerting about potential pitfalls. I know many of my ideas have been improved by comments from my staff, and they surely have saved me from missteps.

But there are also times when the leader needs to tell, instead of ask. If a change is mandated, a decision has been made, or unpopular news must be communicated, the leader needs to firmly announce that, without the pretense of seeking input.

A leader can also “tell” when it comes to setting expectations or delegating assignments. It’s great to offer choice or input when possible, but having conversations about everything drains time and the team’s spirit rather than enhancing it.

It’s not “don’t ask, don’t tell,” rather, ask and tell — just be intentional about when to do each.

leadership dot #4858: forethought

February 5, 2026February 4, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I was the first house in the new subdivision, so I was given the keys for mailbox #1. Only after other homes had been built did the Post Office consider that I was the second house on the block. Consequently, we had to switch keys and labeling so I could have box #2, allowing the mail to be kept in the order of house number instead of when they were first occupied.

In a similar vein, while working on campus, we planned to build five new student apartment buildings. We assigned them names of trees, and planned to label them in alphabetical order. What would end up being the third building in the row was built first, and we had to insist that it be named Cedar (instead of Aspen) so they would be in alphabetical order when the complex was finished.

And another example: when we renamed the generic Conference Rooms A, B, and C, we intentionally identified the smallest as the Dubuque Room, the mid-size one as the Iowa Room (bigger than Dubuque), and the largest as the Mississippi Room (bigger than Iowa). This naming convention allowed people to easily associate the name with size and reserve the proper facility.

Your naming conventions can serve a purpose beyond simply giving something a label. Put some forethought into what you call things and how those names can facilitate memory or efficiency as they are used in the future.

leadership dot #4857: home team

February 4, 2026February 3, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I believe those who handle internal communications are untapped resources that can do much to enhance an organization’s reputation, employee retention, and overall effectiveness. When those within the organization are told both the “what” and “why,” they are better equipped to understand the big picture and their place in it.

Brené Brown writes that “In our transformations, the person who leads comms is a linchpin of our success.” What organization isn’t undergoing some level of change today? Keeping those closest to the issue informed helps them feel connected and valued, and allows them to accurately share information with others.

Internal communications are often overlooked or minimized, placed at the bottom of a long list of junior staffers’ responsibilities. But prioritizing effective messaging to those within can empower people to become messenger “agents” for the organization, replacing misinformation or speculation with accurate data and powerful soundbites.

Two-way internal communications are one of the most proactive and valuable tools a leader has. Don’t ignore the impact a well-informed home team can have.

Source: Rising Strong by Brené Brown, 2025, p. 115

leadership dot #4856: dossier

February 3, 2026February 2, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

For the final project in the capstone class I’m teaching, I required the students to put together a dossier—a collection of their resume and examples of work products or assignments from their time of study. In addition, the students had to write a philosophy statement to synthesize their learning and reflect on how they approach their work as a result of this degree.

At one of my workplaces, I was required to compile an annual report that served a similar purpose to the dossier. I wouldn’t have done it otherwise, but it caused me to pause and consider the successes and challenges of the previous year. It also provided a historical perspective I could reference to remind myself that progress was being made, even when it didn’t feel like it.

The same is true for final reports on major projects, annual reviews, and resolutions of a personal nature. If you stop to reflect and compile the happenings from an extended period, it often provides a sense of accomplishment that would otherwise go unnoticed. It’s back to that “stringing the pearls” philosophy, where intentionally connecting seemingly disparate items creates synergy greater than the individual parts.

Make it part of your routine to tangibly collect evidence of your major work or the passage of another year. Seeing it together is worth the effort of compiling it.

leadership dot #4855: empowerment

February 2, 2026January 30, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

When design student Veronika Scott was challenged to create a product that filled a need, she designed a coat that could transform into a sleeping bag to help the homeless. She won an international award for her creation, but more importantly, worked to bring the product to life.

Veronika created a nonprofit, the Empowerment Plan, and hires people from homeless shelters to help make the coats. At work, they also receive on-site programming and support, allowing 100% of those employees have stable housing a year after leaving the organization. Over 100,000 EMPWR coats have been distributed free of charge to those in need, all provided through sponsorships of $150/coat.

Veronika is a beautiful example of the power of synergy. It’s not just the coat design, offering them through partnerships, hiring the homeless, or providing life resources to her employees, but the entire cycle that works in harmony to create something special.

Veronika could have stopped with her class project, or design award, or outsourced production, or offered jobs but not training, or sold the coats to outdoor adventurers — but she was intentional about each step in the process and remained focused on helping the homeless.

Take a lesson from the Empowerment Plan and create a greater impact in the whole system, not just one piece of it.

To learn more, click here.

leadership dot #4854: another use

February 1, 2026January 30, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

A few weeks ago (dot #4840), I wrote about Airbnb offering “originals” experiences that provided tourists with curated adventures and opportunities that would be difficult to acquire on their own.

A colleague of mine adapted that dot and used it as an icebreaker/exercise for her students to share what they would offer in such a format. Some of their answers include:

-I can show someone how to kill and skin animals
-I can show someone how to make Middle Eastern chicken and rice
-I can be an interpreter for someone since I speak Spanish —this one was more unique than the people who said they could teach someone a foreign language
-I can take someone behind the scenes at a theatre and show how a show is put on
-I can share tips about using valet and tell you weird stories because I’ve been a valet for five years
-I can take someone out and introduce them to unusual people – a fire eater, various dancers, etc.
-I can tell someone all about superheroes – both Marvel and DC
-I can make semi-realistic drawings of people
-I work in a paint store and I can help people with all their painting needs/questions

A few takeaways from this: 1) you can adapt this dot to create an icebreaker of your own; 2) ponder what your answer would be instead of just asking the question; and 3) challenge yourself to think of dots in a different light. I never intended the Airbnb dot to serve as an exercise, but it works well for that. Use the dots as a stepping stone to trigger other uses and ideas that fit your context.

Thanks, Colleen!

leadership dot #4853: ready

January 31, 2026January 30, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

In the heart of winter, when the Northeast just got hit with piles of snow and another Nor’easter is on the way, JetBlue capitalized on the weather to tempt its audience into fleeing the cold.

A timely ad offered 15% off if the temperature dropped to 15 degrees or below (almost guaranteed) and then showed pictures of luxurious beaches and sun-filled destinations. Who wouldn’t want to trade shoveling for snorkeling?

It was designed to look spontaneous, but they anticipated snow and perfectly timed it to appeal to people when the weather was at its worst. Think about what message you need to have prepared to use just at the right moment.

Thanks, Meg!

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