Small Group questions #6

1. What are some interesting/important details from the previous two weeks of executing your Courageous Movement Plan that you can share that you didn’t write about in your weekly email?

2. As you look at the not-yet-completed aspects of your Courageous Movement Plan, how do you feel about some of your bigger items (Strides, Jumps, and Leaps)? Do you see yourself pursuing them after this module of the Journey is over? From our seven methods for overcoming fear, which could most help you get over the hump with each of your Strides, Jumps, and Leaps?

3. What are your current thoughts on your responsibility and opportunity to help develop greater courage in the leaders you are responsible to develop (whether inside or outside of work)? What do you think will be most important for you to keep in mind as you help other leaders become more courageous?

WELCOME TO CODIFICATION!

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Click on the button below to access the document.

2. Set aside about 2 hours to sit with and reflect upon the Codification questions.

3. Answer the questions thoroughly and thoughtfully. (Refer to your weekly emails.)

4. Send to David 48 hours prior to your Codification Discussion.

March 19, 2025

courageous audio note #3

As a reminder, if you have not yet watched The Post, please do so!

You can find the Audio Note transcript HERE.

Small Group questions #5

1. How is your Courageous Plan going? What Courageous movements have you made and how do you feel about them?

2. What stood out from this week’s content, Audio Note #3? Why did this stand out to you?

3. What can help you finish this Principled module strong?

March 5, 2025

Instead of an Audio Note this week, we have two items for you to read and interact with. Click below.

Small Group questions #4

Read the following questions in advance of your Small Group meeting and be prepared to discuss.

1. What Courageous movements have you made lately? An inch, step, stride? Share how it has been going as you become more Courageous.

2. What jumped out to you from the Bill Treasurer transcript and the Jim Treasurer article? Why do you think this jumped out to you?

3. Did you watch the movie The Post? Use the different aspects of our definition of Courageous to discuss the movie. How did you see the characters “move forward?” What fear did they have to overcome? How do you think they were able to overcome that fear? Etc.

February 19, 2025

courageous audio note #2

You can find the Audio Note transcript HERE.

Referenced in the Audio Note:

1. Solomon, Cindy. “How to Build Your Courage.” YouTube, uploaded by TEDx Talks, 27 November 2018, https://youtu.be/P5H0rDWgEeU.

2. Detert, Jim. Choosing Courage: The Everyday Guide to Being Brave at Work. Harvard Business Review Press, 2021.

Small Group questions #3

Read the following questions in advance of your Small Group meeting and be prepared to discuss:

1. What most got your attention about the first two Courageous Audio Notes? Why do you think this caught your attention?

2. How was it putting together your list of Courageous movements (i.e, inch, step, stride, jump, leap)?

3. Discuss your Courageous plan. How are you feeling about it? Have you moved forward an inch or step? How was that? Share any experiences from “moving forward in the face of fear.”

February 12, 2025

courageous audio note #1

You can find the Audio Note transcript HERE.

Referenced in the Audio Note:

1. Solomon, Cindy. “How to Build Your Courage.” YouTube, uploaded by TEDx Talks, 27 November 2018, https://youtu.be/P5H0rDWgEeU.

courageous practice

Click the button below to download the worksheet for this week’s portion of your Courageous Practice.

 Small Group questions #2

Typically we offer you three questions to help facilitate meaningful discussion in your Small Group. We offer more questions below to ensure you are able to discuss both Integrity and Grit in your Small Group. While these questions are more of a guide, please be intentional about discussing content from both aspects of Principled, as well as highlights from your activity/reflection of the week.

Read the following questions in advance of your Small Group meeting and be prepared to discuss:

1. What most got your attention about the Integrity Audio Note? Why did this get your attention?

2. Share one highlight from your Integrity Reflection & Practice.

3. What most got your attention about the Grit Audio Note? Why did this get your attention?

4. Thinking about Angela Lee Duckworth’s Ted Talk as background, what do you think most builds Grit in a leader? What destroys Grit for a leader? Do you have any examples of a leader you think has shown incredible Grit?

5. What did you choose for your Grit practice and how did it go?

February 5, 2025

Grit audio note

You can find the Audio Note transcript HERE.

Grit CONTENT

Grit Practice

In the Audio Note, Tim says, “In order to be Gritty, you have to do things that require Grit.” This week you are going to do just that:

Find two things that are hard for you to do and do it a little longer, and/or a littler harder than you would do normally.

Remember to keep this simple. If you were to begin a workout regimen, you would start small—not pick up the 100 pound weights—so perhaps choose two simple activities. Continuing with our exercise example, let’s say you are not very active at all, and one of the obstacles is a fixed mindset (a mindset that says I can’t, it’s too hard, I can’t learn how to do this, it’s not possible, etc.). According to Angela Lee Duckworth in the Ted Talk above, a growth mindset is the exact opposite: the idea that things can be learned and that failure is not a permanent condition.

If you have not had success exercising in the past, Grit says it can be done, and it leverages your mental fortitude (growth mindset) to do it. Perhaps this means taking a 10 minute walk every day; or if you have been at exercise longer, maybe adding on one mile or 10 pounds to your exercise routine.

Let’s think of another example. Perhaps you have (in the past or currently) an interest in a new activity (like playing an instrument, improving your drawing skills, or learning a language), but every time you try the activity, you are met with resistance, failure, or frustration. This week, make a goal to engage in that activity again—a little longer, or a little harder than you would normally.

Remember, we become more Gritty by doing things that require Grit.

January 29, 2025

Integrity audio note

You can find the Audio Note transcript HERE.

Referenced in the Audio Note:

1. I Gave My Word.

2. Jensen, Michael C. and Karen Christensen. “Integrity, Without it, Nothing Works.” Rotman Management Magazine. 1 September 2009. pp 16-20.

3. Manzoni, Jean François. “Nurturing a High Integrity Culture.” Rotman Management Magazine. 1 January 2012. pp 23-27.

Integrity reflection & activity

Over the next week, spend some time reflecting on when you have not come through with exceptional Integrity. Also evaluate systems you have in place that do not have Integrity. Record your thoughts in a physical or digital journal.

1. Consider moments, situations, and contexts when you fail to "do what you say you will."

2. Find one of these areas and proactively admit that you did not "do what you said you would." Resist rationalizing.

3. When did you, or a leader you know, show exceptional Integrity by not doing something that you/they could have gotten away with it?

Small Group questions #1

Typically we offer you three questions to help facilitate meaningful discussion in your Small Group. We offer more questions below to ensure you are able to discuss both Authentic and Honest in your Small Group. While these questions are more of a guide, please be intentional about discussing content from both aspects of Principled, as well as highlights from your activity/reflection of the week.

Read the following questions in advance of your Small Group meeting and be prepared to discuss:

1. What most got your attention about the Authentic Audio Note? Why did this get your attention?

2. What most got your attention about the Authentic Supplemental Content and the article by Bill George? Why did this get your attention?

3. Share one highlight from your Authentic Practice. If you have already shared this in your weekly email to your Small Group, share another takeaway from the practice.

4. What most got your attention about the Honest Audio Note? Why did this get your attention?

5. What most got your attention from Kim Scott’s Radical Candor video? Why did this get your attention?

6. What have you learned from your reflection time about your ability to “ascertain the truth carefully and communicate it accurately”?

January 22, 2025

Honest Audio Note

You can find the Audio Note transcript HERE.

Honest reflection

Over the next week, spend some time reflecting on the following questions. Record your thoughts in a physical or digital journal.

1. “Ascertains the truth carefully” — Spend some time thinking about the moments when you have not been—or typically are not—diligent about ascertaining the truth. Consider the situations, circumstances, and/or relationships where you are most likely or often not diligent about ascertaining the truth. What might be limiting your diligence in ascertaining the truth? Why do you think this is?

2. “Communicates it accurately” — Consider the situations, circumstances, and/or relationships when you do not communicate accurately—or are tempted to withhold accurate communication. This could be contexts in which you spin events, exaggerate, minimize, deny, rationalize, withhold information, etc. When are you typically tempted to be inaccurate in your communication? Why do you think this is? Is there a deeper motivation you should consider?

Honest supplemental content

Below you will watch Kim Scott’s video about Radical Candor. Her presenting topic is about guidance and the role that Radical Candor plays in guidance (or feedback). We share this video with you in conjunction with Honest because the specific function of giving and receiving feedback highlights the general ways that we neither ascertain the truth carefully, nor communicate it accurately. Being Honest is certainly broader than just the function of feedback, but Scott’s diagram gives us a clear view of how being Honest works (or doesn’t work) in a wide variety of leadership situations. Kim talked in the video about her vision to create a “BS-free zone” at work. May your work on becoming more Honest support your efforts on making your own “BS-free zone” a reality, and thereby protecting and enhancing your own trustworthiness.

January 16, 2025

Authentic Audio Note

You can find the Audio Note transcript HERE.

Authentic Practice

Over the next week, share each of the following at least 1 time:

1. Share HOW YOU THINK. Genuinely sharing how you think gives people a tour of your “mental factory.” You help them see the different steps, stages, and processes that yield your conclusions. Being Authentic also includes sharing your intentions behind your thinking. If someone believes that your intentions for them and for the enterprise are good, it puts them at ease and helps them know how to engage with you. This week, watch for an opportunity to genuinely share with someone how you think. Share your thought process and your intention. After sharing, invite questions into your thought process or intention.

2. Share WHAT YOU FEEL. Genuinely sharing what you feel with others is not only the heart of being Authentic, it’s also the core of Emotional Maturity. This week, bring back the feeling wheel. Using your Feeling Wheel from Emotional Maturity, share with someone what you feel for whatever the situation is. If you need time to process and name what you are feeling after a particular situation, take that time and share later. Invite questions into what you feel.

3. Share WHO YOU ARE. To be authentic is to remember your story and to share relevant parts of your story with those who follow you. This week, share a story from your past that's relevant to who you are even if you are not sure what difference it will make. Invite questions for others to share.

supplemental content

January 15, 2025

principled Kickoff Session

Session Documents