Thought Leadership – Return on Intelligence

Cult of the Obvious

I think we’ve all had moments when an ‘obvious’ idea is unreasonable, but inexplicably supported by others. “Obviously, we should create an engagement committee to handle the day to day for the financial governance committee. Engagement is a key driver of our financial results.” “Good point Drake, I’d hate to be someone who doesn’t support engagement or committees” Ideas can be soContinueContinue reading “Cult of the Obvious”

Subtitles

One of the challenges with being a business practitioner and a philosopher is that your imagination sometimes takes over during meetings. The other day I was in a meeting with executives who were discussing a very complex problem. I started to notice a disparity between what everyone was saying and what they were communicating. Because one can only listen toContinueContinue reading “Subtitles”

Hidden Disagreements

Language in all it’s abundant complexity offers multitudinous opportunities for misunderstanding. We’ve all been in meetings or conversations where it suddenly becomes apparent that people’s understanding and use of a phrase dramatically differs from our own in a meaningful way. “How are the new engines for these bicycles?” “Great!” “When can we stick them toContinueContinue reading “Hidden Disagreements”

Clap for Me (v.2)

There’s nothing wrong about recognizing hard work and celebrating success. Teams that withhold praise are hard to work with. However, I often feel that there is something disingenuous about leader-led mandatory cheerleading. I can think of a few explanations for why leaders mandate cheerleading for coworkers: You think your team is gullible and you want to payContinueContinue reading “Clap for Me (v.2)”

Well Executed Failure

I’d like to talk about how strategic is different from tactical. Before you go calling me Tactico-Strategicus, be warned that I differ in perspective with the tyrant in an important way. If you remember, the tyrant views tactical and strategic as a balance between near and long term plans. I’d rather distinguish strategic and tactical as occupying two different realms of thought.ContinueContinue reading “Well Executed Failure”

Ask a Damn Question

Early philosophers made a big deal of separating “true belief” from “knowledge”. The spiritual father of this distinction would have to be Socrates as a character in the Dialogues of Plato. He constantly harps on about how knowing a good deed is different from knowing why it is good. He believes strongly in the valueContinueContinue reading “Ask a Damn Question”

Thought Leaders for the Insecure – PT 1

You are in a meeting discussing plans to move forward on a new tool. A business tool that many of the higher up believe will provide some great value to the company. But what this tool is and how to build it needs to be decided on. Many important people are gathered and one ofContinueContinue reading “Thought Leaders for the Insecure – PT 1”