Happy Tuesday!

I’m writing about tension today.

That’s probably not a good opening line if I want people to keep reading.

After all, outside of a good novel or movie story line, most of us don’t love tension.

But I’m suggesting we embrace tension or at least create more comfort with it. In fact, as a leader, I’m saying your relationship with tension might be the most important competency you need in times of uncertainty.

If that seems odd or unclear read on. I think when you are done, you will see what I mean, and I think, agree with me.

Understanding and living with tensions are an underlying skill in my new book, Flexible Leadership: Navigate Uncertainty and Lead with Confidence. If you don’t have your copy yet, you can solve that with a couple of clicks.

Enjoy what follows. If you have questions or comments, reply to this email, reach out to your contact on our team, or comment on the blog.

Make it a great Tuesday and remember…

You are Remarkable!

Kevin 😊

Are Our Smarter Phones Making Us Dumber?

Oxford’s word of the year for 2024 was “brain rot.” Which they define as:

“the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging. Also: something characterized as likely to lead to such deterioration”.

And where do to we view or “consume” most of this trivial or unchallenging content?

On our smartphones.

A paradox if I have ever seen one.

I read a review of the minimalist phone called the Light Phone III in the New York Times.

Which got me thinking about this paradox.

This phone, according to the author of the review, “does barely anything … [it] can place calls, send texts, take photos, show map directions, play music and podcasts and not do much else.”

For a bit of perspective, prior to 2007, phones couldn’t any of those things except the first two – and until 25 years ago texting wasn’t a thing either. Phones were … phones.

This isn’t meant to be Kevin sounding old (which is a relative term, by the way). I own and use a smartphone and sometimes spend too much time on it.

There certainly were ways to consume too much “trivial or unchallenging content” in pre-smartphone. But these phones have proliferated the amount of it and made it far easier to consume.

Moving to a “dumber” phone is one way to mediate the effects a device can have on dumbing us down.

But just because we have a tool, doesn’t mean we need to use it for everything. And, for all the trivial and unchallenging content you can find on it, you can also consume educational and mentally challenging podcasts, find insightful commentary, learn a new language or other skills, or read from wise and smart people (heck you might be reading this on your phone!).

As is often the case, the problems start with the operator, not the tool.

I find no fault in the Light Phone III as a concept and celebrate entrepreneurs looking for ways to solve a consumer need. But for us as individuals, we can rethink then begin to reuse the amazing tool we have in front of us – and use our smartphones to make us smarter, if we choose to.

And the choice is ours.

Comfort with Tension: The New Leadership Imperative

Tension. It’s something we like in the plot of a movie or novel. It’s something that has us bingeing a show we like. But tension in our work and decisions? For most of us, we’d prefer less of it. Preferring is fine, but reality is different – especially at work. As a leader, we need a healthy comfort with tension. You might be wondering what kind of tension I’m talking about…

Thanks for reading. Please reply at any time with questions or feedback for our team.

When you’re ready, here are a few ways we can help:

1. Work with me 1:1: Book a coaching or strategy session to help you achieve your goals for 2025 and beyond!

2. Book me for your next keynote or event: Not just “another keynote”, this is a message that inspires, engages and accelerates you, your team and organization to success!

3. Courses & workshops: check out our wide-array of learning opportunities - live & interactive workshops, micro and on-demand solutions and so much more.