THE LEAFLET

September 28 2023

3 myths about growth, the sh*tty-shabby-shiny continuum, butterfly culture

3 MYTHS ABOUT GROWTH

The most stubborn myths about growth tell us that high performance is what leads us to believe in ourselves. I think we have that backwards. The belief that we’ll succeed transforms performance.  Exploring this truth can help leaders expand hiring pools, edge out competitors, transform culture and morale during the darkest times, and—I’ll suggest—become more just and hopeful human beings.

  • Myth #1: Practice comes first.

  • Truth: Practicing is meaningless without first gaining self-belief.

  • Myth 2: Success comes from within.

  • Truth: Dedicated leaders can grow anyone. 

  • Myth #3: Growth requires relentless focus on absolute standards.

  • Truth: The fastest growers put their attention on the tiniest improvements.

Read the rest here.

THE SH*TTY-SHABBY-SHINY CONTINUUM

I have found a “shitty-shabby-shiny” continuum to be a useful guide for teams deciding which solution to try. Of the three categories in the continuum, I’ve found “shabby” to be consistently underestimated. A lot of teams don’t even consider it part of the continuum. They only see shitty and shiny solutions. Alas!

Shabby shipping invites your people to a world of rapid improvement - an exciting, humble, humane world. Without it, you can get stuck in a world of instant perfection - an imaginary, daunting, and unforgiving world. One where stuff doesn’t get made and doesn’t get better.

Read the rest here.

BUILDING CULTURE ON THE BACKS OF BUTTERFLIES

First butterflies “at scale” get me particularly fired up. A team where everyone has the courage and community they need to draw first butterflies is electric. That places crackles. People get things done, they take risks, they learn fast, they meet high standards in places they maybe don’t have any business operating in the first place.

As a leader, you can choose a first butterfly culture for your people. Model it for them - ship your own crummy first drafts, seek feedback on them, make them better. Point out when others on the team are doing this - point it out with praise and what might feel like a didactic connection to your team’s purpose.   

Read the rest here.

Keep going, keep growing,

Eric