Amy Cuddy wasn’t supposed to become a successful scientist. In fact, she wasn’t even supposed to finish her undergraduate degree. Early in her college career, Cuddy suffered a severe head injury in a car accident, and doctors said she would struggle to fully regain her mental capacity and finish her undergraduate degree.
It’s no secret. Managing people well is one of the more challenging jobs of a business leader. Human beings are inherently unpredictable, relationships require proper care and feeding – which sometimes means having difficult, what many would say are very unpleasant conversations.
Holding people accountable can be one of the most time-consuming and thankless jobs out there. Maybe that’s why many leaders struggle to do it – or don’t do it as consistently and relentlessly as they should. The payback isn’t always immediate or apparent, the conversations can be difficult and there’s way too many other priorities.
It’s just as important to follow the money as follow your passion. And, contrary to popular belief, you’re better off doing only a very few things that you do exceptionally well - and finding others to do the rest.
My mother was a librarian. That’s the “excuse” that I often give when my clients and other people in my circle accuse me of overloading them in the book recommendation department.
A question that I’m fond of asking my clients as the year ends, or as it begins is, “What was your biggest lesson in the last 12 months…and what will...
