Roberto Ferraro

How micromanagement can suffocate creativity: it's not about font size.

What is micromanagement? Chieh Huang defines it as the following:

Micromanagement is taking great, wonderful, imaginative people, bringing them into an organization, and then crushing their souls by telling them what font size to use.😓

The feeling of not having control over our jobs can bring us much more fatigue than the work itself.

So, what is the source of micromanagement? 🔍

We start at the very bottom when we get hired. Doing work.

And if we're really good at doing the work, the reward is more work.

We do more work, and if we're really good at it, we start managing people doing it.

And at that moment, we start to lose control over the output of our job. And we may overreact by micromanaging.

Chieh argues that there is only one solution to micromanagement: trusting your employees to fulfill their roles.🤝

Illustration by me 😊

Extract by a Ted Talk from Chieh Huang. Link to the complete sources in the first comment 👇

#management #micromanagemnt #trust

One must-read for this week on leadership and management: “How to grow a culture by design versus culture by chance” by Gustavo Razzetti. 🌱
 
Culture plays a significant role in predicting employee performance and overall business success. 📈
 
A study by Glassdoor shows that companies with a strong culture outperform the S&P500 index. These organizations were intentionally focused on cultivating their culture.
 
Gustavo argues why organizations need to grow their culture by design, not just chance, and why culture design is not rigid but a collaborative, iterative, and organic approach. ⭐
 
Illustration by me 😊
 
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And my top pick on innovation and personal development:
 
➡️ Innovation: “Big tech’s biggest bets”
 
➡️ Personal development: “Fixed vs. growth: two basic mindsets that shape our lives.”
 
One book:
 
➡️  “Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life” by Jennifer Aaker, Naomi Bagdonas.
 
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All the links and more in this week’s newsletter edition in the first comment 👇
 
Each week, I check hundreds of sources on personal development, leadership, management, technology, and innovation.
 
Do you want to pique your curiosity? 💡
 
#personaldevelopment #innovation #leadership

Trust as the foundation for team performance 🤝

In his 2002 book, “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team,“ Author Patrick Lencioni identifies five common team performance problems.

🛡️ Absence of Trust: team members consumed with self-protection or undermining peers lose focus on collective goals.

When trust is present, they are open and vulnerable with the group, enabling them to dedicate their energy to the work.

😱 Fear of Conflict: over-politeness and withheld opinions hamper the team's progress.

Productive conflict, grounded in trust, encourages challenging and improving ideas without resorting to personal attacks or destructive arguments.

🤔 Lack of commitment: hesitation in decision-making leads to missed opportunities.

Without robust debate, individuals may not fully engage with team decisions, affecting overall commitment.

🗣️ Avoidance of team accountability: A lack of mutual accountability can lead to unaddressed mistakes and substandard performance. Supporting struggling team members is essential to achieve team goals.

🎯Inattention to team results: Focusing on personal agendas or superficial team image undermines the team's primary objectives.

The collective goal should always take precedence over individual interests or external perceptions.

The book presents these dysfunctions in an entertaining “management fable“ format, illustrating how a skilled leader can overcome these challenges.

Illustration by me 😊 inspired by Maite Piedrabuena Solé. Thanks Maite for recommending the book!

Extract from an article by Mind Tools. Link to the complete sources in the first comment 👇

#management #leadership #dysfunctions

The science of habits: how small changes lead to big results 💪
 
Ten visuals on this essential topic, illustrated by me 😊
 
What’s your favorite? Mine is number eight. 🖼️
 
#personaldevelopment #habits #change

10 visuals on personal development and growth 🎨💡

Not too little, not too much: the stress sweet spot for optimal performance 🌟

🔵 Too little stress can lead to boredom and depression.

🔴 Too much stress can cause anxiety, burnout, and poor health.

🟢 However, the appropriate “acute stress“ level can enhance brain function, leading to better performance and health. “Acute stress“ is short-lived, not chronic, intense stress. The research found that it primes the brain for improved performance and engagement.

Additionally, placing ourselves in stressful situations can contribute to “good stress“ compared to when it's imposed on us, offering less control and agency.

Illustration by me 😊 inspired by the brilliant Hannah Wilson.

Extract from an article by University of California, Berkeley. Link to the complete sources in the first comment 👇

#personaldevelopment #stress #performance

I recently listened to this audiobook for the fourth time. 📖

And every time I do, I still enjoy it and notice different things.

“The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and your children will be glad that you did)” from Philippa Perry is my go-to recommendation as a parenting read.

What is fantastic about it is that many of the ideas apply to all relationships, not only with our kids.

🛠️ One of those is the idea of “repair.”

We all make mistakes.

Instead of focusing on doing it all perfectly and punishing ourselves for not complying with that perfection, Philippa suggests a healthier approach.

“Repair” is what matters. First, we should recognize what triggers us, do something about it, and apologize to the person we hurt.

At the same time that we take off the pressure for us to be perfect, we model a healthier approach for the people we love.

Of course, this is not an excuse to indulge in whatever inconvenient behavior because “all that matters is the repair.”

Here is a collection of illustrations I did, inspired by the book, each with a quote from the author. 😊
 
What’s your favorite? Mine is number five. 🖼️
 
#relationships #personaldevelopment #parenting