Leading Thoughts for July 2, 2026

IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with:

I.

Cate Hall on being authentic:

“I was allowed to get away with being blunt and matter-of-fact when it came to people who managed me, but as I moved into positions of power myself, this way of operating began to incur costs. Being a good manager, it turns out, requires more than demanding excellence; it also entails showing that you recognize it in others.

“Moreover, I finally admitted to myself that my cloud of aversion around learning to be warmer was a defensive mechanism. When I told myself I was ‘being authentic’ by remaining aloof, I was also avoiding having to look at some free-floating shame about my social awkwardness. When you spot an inner defense like this—a reaction of “I can’t do that, it wouldn’t be authentic”—it’s a yellow flag that you’ve noticed a possible area of improvement that you’re avoiding because it’s threatening to your ego.”

Source: You Can Just Do Things: How High-Agency People Get What They Want Out of Life

II.

Mike Grossman on keeping it together:

“Focus on input rather than outcome. This is inherently challenging because we live in a world obsessed with outcomes. But the outcome isn’t controllable. Consequently, worrying about the outcome, while sometimes unavoidable, isn’t helpful in the slightest. It’s a waste of time, a waste of energy, and a significant distraction. And it’s emotionally draining.”

Source: Failure Is An Option: Reflections of a Silicon Valley CEO

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Look for these ideas every Thursday on the Leading Blog. Find more ideas on the LeadingThoughts index.

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Posted by Michael McKinney at 11:07 AM
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