strategy

Blind Spots and Decision-Making Pitfalls

#403 – March 16, 2025  [6 Minute Read] Blind Spots and Decision-Making Pitfalls In periods of change and chaos, it’s a good time to reflect on our blind spots and decision-making pitfalls. Here are some insights, frameworks and check-ins to help you achieve greater success with your strategies. Quick Takes: Common Causes of Bad Decisions: […]

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Five Mistakes in Handling Burnout

[READING TIME: 8 MINUTES] In this 8020Info Water Cooler, we consider mistakes in handling burnout, recruiting for five-hour workdays, revealing interview questions, non-descriptive branding, and the Kellogg framework for brand building. Enjoy! 1. Five Mistakes in Handling Burnout With burnout all-too-common, consultant Suzi McAlpine says there are five mistakes leaders must avoid while working with

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Vol-23_No-12_Aug-21-2023

In this 8020Info Water Cooler we consider unique aspects of thinking strategically, what the worst bosses do, marketing with email signatures, advance interview questions, ethical boundaries, and a communications checklist for pre-testing your message. Enjoy!

What’s Different About Thinking Strategically?
Dealing with Ethics in the Workplace
Three Things the Worst Bosses Do
Email Signature Essentials
The List: Use Interview Questions in Advance
A Communications Checklist for Your Message
Reading — The Experience Mindset
Reading — Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World

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Vol-23_No-11_July-31-2023

In this 8020Info Water Cooler we look at different aspects of using AI tools (and where to start), how to stop a habit of being late, why we should write things down, and some tips on why partnering strategies fail. Enjoy!

Where to Start with AI
Rethink Idea Generation in an AI World
Tips to Stop Being Late
Why Write This Down
Where AI Writing Is Weak
Why Partnering Strategies Fail
Reading – The Perfection Trap
Reading – Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life

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Vol-23_No-10_July-10-2023

In this 8020Info Water Cooler we look at six types of generative AI, common pitfalls for strategy, the habit of overpreparing, defining content fundamentals, navigating succession in family businesses, and finding flow in a world of overwhelm. Enjoy!

Understanding Six Types of Generative AI
Define Your Content Fundamentals
Curbing Tendencies to Overprepare
Strategies for Family Business Succession
The List: Six Strategic Pitfalls to Avoid
Finding Flow in a World of Overwhelm
Reading: Power to the Middle
Reading: Infinity in the Palm of Your Hand

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Vol-23_No-09_June-19-2023

In this 8020Info Water Cooler we consider ways to benefit from disagreements, give references, nurture client referrals, organize your summer reading, prepare as a first-time manager, and design strategies better than “best practices”. Enjoy!

Ways to Gain from Disagreement
How to Give a Reference
Four Categories for Your Summer Reading
How to Attract More Referrals
The List: Tips for First-Time Managers
A Strategy Better than Best Practice
Reading: Generation Why
Reading: Ego is the Enemy

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Vol-23_No-06_Apr-17-2023

In this edition we look at eight elements of strategic success, getting feedback, things you can’t teach people, standing up for what’s right, benchmarking, board recruitment and what we’re reading. Enjoy!

Eight Elements of Strategic Success
How Leaders Can Encourage Feedback
Two Things You Can’t Teach People
The Power of Benchmarking
The List: 10 Ways to Stand Up for What’s Right
Cultivating and Recruiting a Great Board
Reading: Real-Time Leadership
Reading: Awaken Your Genius: Escape Conformity, Ignite Creativity & Become Extraordinary.

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Vol-23_No-05_Mar-27-2023

In this 8020Info Water Cooler we look at how to enhance psychological safety, dysfunctions of non-profit boards, hybrid schedules, tips for good design, the Cynefin Framework for strategy-making, how to vaccinate against misinformation, and what we’re reading. Enjoy!

Enhance Psychological Safety in Your Meetings
Competencies Needed to Fix Board Dysfunction
Hints for Co-ordinating Hybrid Schedules
The Anatomy of Good Design
The Cynefin Model: Match Strategy to Conditions
Can You Vaccinate Against Fake News?
Reading: Tomorrowmind
Reading: Six Simple Rules: How to Manage Complexity Without Getting Complicated

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