Christopher J. Colombo MD, CEC, CMC, CPP Introduction Feedback is a mirror. Over the past two posts, we’ve looked at two ways leaders stumble with feedback: ignoring it altogether (Ignoring the Mirror) and overreacting to every reflection (Trapped in the Mirrors). Both leave you stuck. But there’s a third trap, and it’s sneakier because it...
Category Archives: Insight
The most important thing is…
The imperfect process of habit development
“Too often, we fall into an all-or-nothing cycle with our habits… The problem is not slipping up; the problem is thinking that if you can’t do something perfectly, then you shouldn’t do it at all.” ~James Clear
“The cave you fear to enter …”
“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” ~Joseph Campbell
Trapped in the Mirrors: Why Leaders Can’t Please Everyone
Christopher J. Colombo MD, CEC, CMC, CPP Introduction Feedback is a mirror. Last time, we talked about what happens when you refuse to look—the cost of ignoring feedback that is valid, actionable, and desirable. But that was a single source of feedback, or multiple sources showing the same reflection. Another trap emerges from multiple mirrors...
Mirrors and windows…
Great “leaders look out the window to attribute success to factors other than themselves. When things go poorly, however, they look in the mirror and blame themselves, taking full responsibility. Poor “leaders often did just the opposite—they looked in the mirror to take credit for success, but out the window to assign blame for disappointing...
Ignoring the Mirror: Why We Resist Feedback and Growth
Christopher J. Colombo MD, CEC, CMC, CPP Introduction We previously defined feedback as the key enabling behavior of true mentorship. Good feedback acts as a mirror, reflecting something about us that we may not see on our own, and provides a pathway to change, grow, and improve. But what happens when you don’t like the reflection?...
“All models are wrong…some are useful.”
Early in my leadership career, I developed a pattern of finding and pointing out many of the things that were wrong with the processes in my organizations. With time and experience, I learned that I was likely not being as helpful as I was trying to be. Processes are and will always be imperfect. Certainly...
The question is not “Why do I ignore red flags?”…
but, “Why am I attracted to red flags?”
Concept: Hold both
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing… there is a field. I’ll meet you there. ~Rumi We often define other people by their worst moments. However, turn that perspective inward… would you want to be defined by your worst moments? Recognise that life can be complicated. People are complex. You are allowed to dislike some...