How to NOT Execute Your Strategy (S1E6): Dane Groeneveld

by | Jan 22, 2024 | Leadership, Podcast Leader Guide, Strategic Execution

How optimism can create stress and disruption…

Dane Groeneveld is the Group CEO and Founding Partner of the Huddl3 Group. In this episode, we dive into how overly optimistic thinking creates stress and disruption.

Three key concepts:

  1. Beware the trap of overly optimistic thinking (“Nothing is gonna go wrong…”). Spend time thinking about what could go wrong and then make sure your people are prepared for their responsibilities and accountabilities before you launch your strategy.
  2. The team has to be both tactically AND emotionally engaged. Emotional engagement needs its own effort. Emotional hygiene is the responsibility of every leader.
  3. Patience is more valuable than we realize. We all need thick skin to be able to execute.

BONUS – Leader guide: Use the following questions for (a) self-reflection as a leader and/or (b) a great discussion with your team.

1) Listen to the full episode before this discussion.
2) What stood out most to you from that episode? Why?
3) Dane talked about how being overly optimistic creates gaps in your ability to see things as they really are – which leads to unexpected stress and disruption. How would you explain this risk to someone else? Share your answers.
4) Having a neutral mindset first is a tremendous way to avoid the trap of being overly optimistic. A neutral mindset sees both the positive and the negative without jumping to conclusion just yet. What would be the advantages of slowing down long enough to see both the positives and negatives without creating an immediate opinion?
5) How well do you get neutral first? Give yourself a score from 1-10 (10 is exceptionally good). Why did you give yourself this score? How well does our team get neutral first? Give our team a score from 1-10 (10 is exceptionally good). Why did you give the team this score?
6) What could you do to improve your personal “neutral mindset” score by 1-2 points? What could we do to improve our team “neutral mindset” score by 1-2 points?
7) Option: Take time right now to define exactly what that looks like (the outcome(s), metrics, and requirements).

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with at least one person. And leave me a review on whatever platform you engaged this podcast. Your feedback is invaluable to me.

Holomua. Onward and upward.

All the best ~ Tim

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