55 things

Inspired by Mr Bingos list (parts 1 and 2), I reflected on my own mantras and learnings. No real logic to this list, other than things I find myself regularly repeating to teams I work with.

Some of the team — thanks for their enduring patience in listening to me repeat the following ad nauseam

1. Everything can be made simpler. Complexity is just easier.
2. No good ever comes from back-to-back meetings.
3. Bad stuff will happen in your life and your colleagues will want to support you. ‘Soldiering on’ might be just what you need, but let people know in case the cracks show.
4. Life is too short for badly run meetings. Just say no.
5. Nobody gets up in the morning and wants to be mean or obstructive. The more you can see the actions of others as a result of their situation, the more you can empathise and work with them.
6. The Staedtler 0.5 mm Pigment Liner Fineliner is the best pen. People will steal it.
7. Everybody is blagging to some degree and has regular imposter syndrome.
8. Avoid methodology working groups and circular conversations about which tool is best. Get on and do the work instead.
9. Eating-the-frog, addressing-the-elephant etc is always a good idea. Those awkward things you sit on will only ever grow and bite you.
10. Surprise people with a coffee now and again.
11. Give your brain time to subconsciously work through gnarly questions whenever possible. Plant seeds and leave them.
12. There is no mysterious group of wise seniors doing (and hoarding) the ‘strategic’ work. Just smart people who have done enough tactical work to earn their way into upstream decision making. Be useful, get stuff done, and you’ll get invited into more and more interesting work.
13. The most uncontroversial music for a shared office space is minimal techno (eg Four Tet, Daniel Avery) or anything else that is repetitive and without words. Invest in a few good quality speakers and empower somebody sensible to control volume levels. It’s worth the effort and will create ambient buzz and energy.
14. For every one expert professing on LinkedIn, there’s at least 20 other people getting on and quietly doing the doing.
15. Invite-only communities are often popularity contests and counter productive to building the industries they purport to support. Don’t feel bad you’ve not been invited; chances are you’re not missing much.
16. Nobody ever reads a 20 page slide deck or presentation.
17. There is an art in sharing your work just early enough to get good input, but not so early that it loses shape and deflates.
18. People will read your blog posts years after you write them.
19. Make notes during meetings / workshops on what your colleagues are doing well (or not) and share them. Be generous with feedback.
20. Go sit with the people nobody expects you to.
21. End your week writing down three meaningful goals for the week ahead. You’ll have a better weekend and a more productive week.
22. Sleep well, eat well and prepare well before hosting any workshop or meeting; you owe it to the participants to be your best.
23. Be the most open and transparent person in the team, even when it feels uncomfortable. It will rub off on others and you’ll slowly create change.
24. Prolonged trackpad use will hurt your wrists. Get a good mouse.
25. Writing stuff down and reflecting will make you wiser and smarter. Even if you’re the only person reading this stuff.
26. Salaries make no sense, especially as you become more senior.
27. As a leader you have a responsibility to make the teams around you more diverse. This might take more work than easy and obvious hiring, but in my experience is always possible.
28. Learning to present, write well, make films, and draw basic shapes is far more valuable than knowing the latest design tool or agile acronym.
29. Don’t worry about reading business books if they don’t interest you. The most interesting ideas will come from whatever you’re into, whether it’s fiction, videogames, travel or something else.
30. You can single-handedly change the culture of a team if you believe and persist. Small regular behaviours will last more than any big-bang attempts.
31. Share your passions with the people you work with. It will help them understand who you are and why.
32. Any event will always contain just one or two memorable presentations / presenters. If you’re presenting, make sure you’re one of them by putting in the prep and keeping it simple. People are smart and can spot lack of preparation a mile off.
33. Take photos at work; you’ll want to remember the good times, and it’s helpful as your brain ages and you get forgetful.
34. When hiring take notes and give proper feedback to everyone; you’ll end up hiring rejected candidates months later, but only if handled with respect and care.
35. The National Theatre in London is a great place to work; free wifi, lots of desks and good coffee.
36. Be early to workshops and help set-up.
37. It’s ok to tell colleagues you’re upset or stressed or worried. Especially when you’re leading teams through change.
38. LinkedIn is increasingly instagram and will make you feel insecure. Remember that everyone is projecting the best version of themselves.
39. People can tell when you use ChatGPT to write your blog post or email.
40. In any big company assume that there is at least one other team doing the exact thing as you. Find them, make friends and build each other up.
41. Be the best leaver. Pave the way for your replacement, tell people why you’ll miss them, and work hard until the end.
42. Write good emails. If in doubt, consult George Orwell.
43. Being a loving, positive and connective force is the only viable long-term strategy, especially in large companies and/or close-knit communities. Mistrust, empire building and bad vibes will lead to misery.
44. When building teams focus on a curious learning culture and clear goals, rather than one or two ‘rockstar’ hires. The best teams often have no single standout member.
45. Walking across London (or wherever you work) between meetings, or at the end of the day, is a good way to reflect / think. Take a camera and let your eyes wander.
46. Nobody cares about your long introduction. Your name and what you do is enough.
47. Leadership can be a thankless task, and will regularly leave you emotionally hollow. Find methods to top yourself back up, whether it’s disconnection, exercise or support from others in similar roles.
48. 121’s and catch-ups are the most important thing in your diary, especially when leading teams.
49. There is never enough time or budget for the perfect process — fight for what you can get, accept it and then help others be pragmatic.
50. Spend time in-house and supplier/agency side. It’ll give you rounded experience and give you more empathy for each.
51. Be curious and humble about building on the work of others. Don’t be quick to throw out what your predecessor or competing team did.
52. Job titles are not as important as they seem when you first start working. Seek out interesting problem spaces and good people.
53. Gatekeeping exists in every industry and at every level. Do your best to go the other way and make pathways for others.
54. Avoid sending angry responses in the heat of the moment; write it down and then go for a walk / wee / coffee, and come back and consider before hitting send.
55. Make your own list. It’s surprising how many rules-of-thumb you’ll have once you start shaking them out.