communication – Page 3 – leadership dots

leadership dot #4879: decision point

February 26, 2026February 25, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I was given an assignment that I believe is short-sighted, and I find myself in that familiar dilemma, wondering whether it is worth the energy to question it. I have spoken up on many occasions, only to be “Whack-a-Moled” down with either immediate or long-term consequences. It has caused me to weigh the cost of speaking up vs. the ease of just doing what the person asked.

Many factors go into the decision — circumstances, psychological safety, the relationship with the person, the impact of the assignment, and how likely it is that feedback will be received. It’s easy to adopt a “They don’t care, so why should I?” attitude, but that ultimately erodes personal integrity as well as organizational success.

Most of the time, I opt to say something, despite the discomfort and frustration over my perspective being dismissed, but I can physically feel the conscious decision point when I make that choice. Silence rarely does any good in the long run.

leadership dot #4878: queso

February 25, 2026February 24, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Chipotle ran a 3-day deal offering free chips and queso to customers who ordered through the mobile app, and I was happy to take advantage.

When I went to pick up my food, there was a long line of people waiting, and one poor guy was frantically making all the to-go orders. Contrast that with three employees who were prepared to serve the walk-ins — but were standing around with no customers because more had ordered through the app to receive the deal.

Chipotle corporate incentivized mobile orders, but Chipotle local did not make staffing adjustments (or did not know) to accommodate the likely change in ordering habits. Thus, the free side of queso came with a side of frustration as we waited.

Much of the dislike of change could be mitigated if the people making the alterations considered who would be affected and communicated with them in advance. Don’t let the chips haphazardly fall wherever they may; let others plan for the change that is coming.

Screenshot

leadership dot #4876: persuasion

February 23, 2026February 20, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

My email is inundated with donation appeals for candidates and political causes. While they rarely motivate me to give, I am fascinated by the varied approaches campaigns take in their pleas for funds. Some are touting their success and asking me to join the bandwagon, while others issue grave warnings of what will happen if I don’t contribute today.

Subject line examples include:

A massive fundraising disadvantage
We’re done, team
Momentum is building
We’re asking for just $1 to flip…
The situation has gotten so dire
Defend this seat
Crying tears of JOY
Stop what you’re doing and read this
We’re tied in the polls

Instead of being annoyed by these, they cause me to consider what is effective. Is it a more powerful approach to say, “We’re behind, help us,” or “We’re on a roll, join us”? Am I more compelled to contribute to those in need or to those having success?

You can take the lessons learned from the emails and translate them to: Does your team want to help solve a problem or enact a vision? Do you sell the issues or the merits? Should your message focus on challenges or potential? Is it more effective to say we need resources because we’re losing, or we need them to win?

Instead of automatically deleting that spam folder, take a few minutes to peruse and ponder what resonates with you — and how you can use that knowledge in your own messaging.

leadership dot #4874: peppers

February 21, 2026February 20, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

On the table at the local pizza place were two shakers of peppers: Hatch Valley Green and Four Pepper Blend. Usually, it’s a roulette of guessing and testing to see which (or whether) pepper would be best for the pie, but these jars were clearly labeled with a thermometer and “heat” rating. I could tell just by looking at them that the Four Peppers would be beyond my comfort level, but the Hatch Valley may add a welcome kick.

Here’s a hot tip: craft your labeling or instructions to preemptively answer the questions users may have, so customers don’t have to pepper your staff with questions.

leadership dot #4872: archetypes

February 19, 2026February 18, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

As part of my class on change, I had my students take the Innovation Assessment by Jeremy Gutsche. The instrument identifies your primary and secondary innovation traits and shares strengths that you can use to accelerate your creativity.

I like it because it also highlights the traps and gaps that correspond to them and becomes a guide to forecast blind spots that may hinder your innovation.

Many self-assessments focus only on the positive aspects of your traits, but in reality, every characteristic has a downside. Being too cautious causes people to miss out on opportunities. Being too loyal can blind you to others’ faults. Being too risky can turn into recklessness. Being too nice can lead to people taking advantage of you. Being too curious can cause you to be distracted.

Some of my students were frustrated by the questions in the assessment, and others were dismayed with their results (hoping they were “more creative”), but all agreed it was a worthwhile exercise that got them thinking. There is no “wrong” kind of creative, and becoming more self-aware is always a good thing. I’m not on the “willing to destroy” end of the innovation spectrum, but the world needs those of us on the “disciplined” axis, too.

Take the (free) assessment here and learn something about your innovation archetype today. The knowledge may help you better handle the constant change we face.

Screenshot from Innovation Assessment referenced in *Create the Future* by Jeremy Gutsche, 2020

leadership dot #4868: youth

February 15, 2026February 13, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Organizations often try to build brand loyalty at an early age. Colleges host summer camps for middle schoolers. Orchestras have youth programs. Churches have vacation Bible schools.

Aldi is actively pursuing the younger crowd with a line of Aldi-branded toys. Items include an Aldi semitruck, a cash register, a Fisher-Price Little People play set, and my favorite: a mini-shopping cart with the signature quarter holder. It’s a great way to reinforce the Aldi name and build that initial affinity.

What is your organization doing to cultivate awareness with your next generation of clients? It’s never too soon to start.

leadership dot #4865: thought process

February 12, 2026February 11, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I remember when I was in math class, and the teacher always demanded that we show our work. The same was true in English class, when we had to provide outlines and first drafts along with our final paper.

While it didn’t make any sense at the time, I now believe it was meant to establish a pattern of explaining our thought process. It’s something often forgotten in today’s hectic workplace, but would help immensely with understanding the “why” behind decisions or assignments. If supervisors “showed their work” to employees, staff could learn the critical thinking that led to the decision and have a better grasp of what they were ultimately trying to achieve. Saying “do this” without context can leave it open to misinterpretation or confusion.

There’s a difference between 6×2 and 3×4, even though both result in a product of 12. Sometimes, seeing those previous steps can make a difference. Get in the habit of showing at least some of your work as a way to help others more closely align with your desired outcome.

leadership dot #4863: drummer

February 10, 2026February 9, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I’m a regular attendee at the local college’s band concerts and find myself mesmerized by the drummer. While not because of the drum music itself, the drummer is always so animated and passionate that he draws me in and becomes the focus of my attention.

I happened to run into this student in another setting and immediately recognized him. I shared a few words of praise and let him know that I always noticed his enthusiasm. He was so appreciative of my comments and of someone recognizing his devotion. Even though it was a two-sentence exchange, it meant something to him. We have seen each other in other settings, and there is a nod of recognition each time, reinforcing that he has a fan.

So much of our output goes unacknowledged by others. He plays his heart out on stage without applause solely for him. I write dots with little to no feedback. It’s assumed that people will handle projects at work as part of their responsibilities, with no commentary provided.

If you have occasion to provide an unsolicited, genuine piece of praise or compliment, please do so. You can’t beat it as a morale-booster.

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 #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.