No #142 | August 25, 2024

by Matthew Boyd

Good morning, welcome to the weekly Lead It Cool newsletter.

Summer in the Pacific Northwest seems to be slowly winding down and we're entering into that short timeframe where a puffy vest is both comfortable and fashionably acceptable🤣.

In this week's Lead It Cool newsletter:

• 🛎️Your Attention (Please!)
• 🧠Three Rules To Express Your Thoughts
• 😊Cable Box
• 😎Cool Links

🛎️Your Attention (Please!)

There's a scene from the movie Up that lives rent-free in my head.

It's the scene where Dug, the lovable dog from the movie, gets equipped with a voice device that lets him communicate with humans perfectly. But suddenly, mid-sentence, he's completely sidetracked, barking out, "Squirrel!"

Squirrel distractions are everywhere.

In our world, buzzing with constant notifications, endless breaking newsfeeds, and the urge of multitasking, staying focused on one task feels like a Herculean effort.

Yet, we all know that the moments of deep focus are where the magic happens. The ability to concentrate deeply is the key to producing great work.

Cal Newport, in his book Deep Work, hits the nail on the head when he says:

He doesn't stop there, he also sounds a warning:

Yikes. Nobody wants to get stuck in the shallows.

So how do we cultivate that kind of focus in a world of distractions?

A recent article by Riane Lumer offers some strategies to reclaim control over your attention.

In a world full of squirrels, finding focus might feel like chasing a mirage, but with the right strategies, you can turn that mirage into a reality.

🧠Three Rules to Express Your Thoughts

I find myself often revisiting Alan Alda's insightful article about his three rules for effective and empathetic communication. This info is especially helpful for anyone giving a presentation or a speech.

I've summarized them below, but the full article is definitely worth your time.

1. Make no more than three points. The human brain can only store so much information, so limit your conversation points to no more than three, allowing your partner/audience to focus on that thought at hand while avoiding disruptive additions.
2. Explain difficult ideas in three different ways. Using metaphors to explain a difficult concept or idea helps the audience better connect to the information. Metaphors make the content more relatable and approachable.
3. Make important points three times. Anytime you repeat something, it signals that this information is important, so pay attention!

😆Cable Box

True story.

😎Cool Links

😊Finding Joy as a Manager - Even on Bad Days. Research from the Association for Psychological Science indicates that chronic workplace stress not only impacts emotional well-being but also leads to significant physical health issues and cognitive impairments​​​​. However, incorporating strategies that foster joy, hope, and optimism can mitigate these effects. According to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, focusing on increasing joy at work, rather than just reducing burnout, has been shown to improve employee satisfaction, reduce stress, and enhance overall well-being, leading to lower burnout rates and higher engagement levels.

🎯Four successful leaders on the lessons they wish they learned earlier. Some interesting advice in this article.

🥺An awesome feel good story about Oasis lead singer Liam Gallagher. Dog lovers will appreciate this one🐶.

🤔Controversial new Canadian Army logo approved at highest levels, documents show. This is a a great case study on the challenges of creating logos and branding.

⚽Finally, Ted Lasso Season 4? Yes please!

💌Tell a friend to subscribe​

Thank you!

Let’s connect! 💬 You can find me on LinkedIn and Twitter