2021 – Growth and Grind

Whisky Advent 2021

Two years since the last whisky advent calendar – I drank a lot of good scotch in 2020, just none of it coming from a calendar in December. This year I decided I’d explore Kensington Wine Market’s Whisky Advent Calendar and will post my tasting notes of each day’s dram here. I’m ready (and I hope you are too) so let’s go!

Organizing while underwater

Anyone feeling underwater this week? When you’re in the thick of trying to get all the things done – leadership, hiring, client meetings, planning for next year, delivery, support – it seems the todo list starts to tower over you. How do you find ways to organize?

Start small and with clear intent when building your leadership practices

I’ve been fortunate to work with many great leaders throughout my career. These people have inspired me, mentored me, and supported me as I’ve skinned my knees. I believe it’s my responsibility, in turn, to be a great leader for others.

Roadmap Visualization: From Squads and Quarters to Now, Next, Consider

We used to visualize our company-wide roadmap according to strategic priority and squad over quarters. It worked initially but created a series of challenges. Pivoting to a “Now, Next, Consider” approach delivered some immediate benefits.

Being open about career goals and aspirations

When I talk to team members about career goals and aspirations, I make it clear that I’m here to support them in achieving their goals. I’m also up front in acknowledging that this may mean growing into a new role on the team, moving to a new role in the company, or even finding a new opportunity outside of the company. This last one usually gets me a raised eyebrow or a question along the lines of, “are you trying to get rid of me?” 🤔

You Bring the Agenda

Who sets the agenda for your regular one-on-one meetings, the leader or the team member? I very much believe it should be the team member; by extension, part of the leader’s job then is to be fiercely protective of that time and its purpose. It may feel awkward to adopt this format but, with time and practice, you’ll discover more about the people you work with.