THE ONE THING

1. Problems Fall Into Two Buckets: Climate & Weather

The words “weather” and “climate” are sometimes used interchangeably, but they’re different terms.

Weather refers to short-term conditions of the atmosphere: “It’s raining in NYC today, and the temperature is around 55 degrees Fahrenheit.”

Climate refers to long-term conditions of the atmosphere: “Summers in NYC are usually warm and humid, and the temperature ranges between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.”

Climate is the average weather over time during a specific period. It’s what you’d expect to get on a given day during a season. Weather is what you actually get.

The difference between those two terms is an excellent analogy for general leadership problems.

Weather problems are “one-off” challenges. Climate problems are “chronic” ones.

Here are a couple of examples:

• Team Member Performance: When someone on the team is not performing up to standards, is that because of a weather problem (a bad day due to extra pressure) or a climate problem (continuously missing deadlines)?

• Sales Strategy: When sales dipped last quarter, was that because of a weather problem (half the sales team was out of the office) or a climate problem (customers are shifting from product-based to service-based purchases)?

It’s not always easy to distinguish between the two because weather problems become climate problems when repeated a few times (and defining “a few” is subjective).

The takeaway

As a leader, focus on solving climate problems vs. weather problems because the former matters more in the long run.

INSIGHTFUL THOUGHTS

2. How to Win Someone’s Respect (the “Ben Franklin Effect”)

I shared this anecdote before but thought I’d reshare it because this technique actually worked for me recently.

A few months ago, I was reading through a book called “Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive” and came across this story about Benjamin Franklin (highlights in the book images below are mine).

This persuasive technique is known as the Ben Franklin effect.

It suggests that people will like someone more after doing them a favor.

The takeaway

As a leader, use the Ben Franklin effect to approach a team member with whom you've had friction by asking for their input on a project or requesting their help with a minor task.

By showing respect for their expertise and valuing their contribution, you can help transform them from a resistant colleague into a supportive ally.

NEW BOOK

3. Interested in a new book about AI Change Management?

I'm publishing a new book called “AI Change Management Made Simple.”

It’s about an easy-to-follow, 9-step framework that helps business leaders lead generative AI transformations successfully.

If you're interested in receiving a FREE copy in exchange for an honest review on Amazon, then fill in your information below and I'll email you when it's published for early reviewers.

Click here to get a free early-review copy of the “AI Change Management Made Simple” book when it’s published.

WORDS I LIKE

4. Why Leaders Should Make Faster Decisions

THE 80/20

5. An 80/20 Tip You Can Apply Today

Here’s a low-effort, high-impact tip you can use with your team today:

• What: Take the time to explain tasks clearly and directly to your team

• Why: Assuming your team members will know what you want usually leads to disappointment. Being direct and specific in communication helps avoid misunderstandings and increases efficiency.

• Example: Instead of saying, “Please write a brief summary report about the status of our project,” say, “Please send me a one-slide PowerPoint presentation that summarizes the status of our project in a few bullet points.”