Nine habits for better work and bigger impact

Connecting with others

Draw together to illuminate diverse voices, inspire and challenge each other. Play to the strengths of your team. Build on the good work already being done (“Yes, and…”). Form networks. Build bridges. Invite people in. Welcome a range of inputs from different perspectives.

Inviting all perspectives

Be kind and careful. Seek new and different perspectives. Explore the ethical dilemmas, social impacts, cultural differences, fairness, justice. Consider lived experience; fears, feelings, struggles, emotions. Where are people coming from? Help each other. Make space for one another. Understand who is helped and harmed. Consider the nuances and ambiguity. 

Always asking questions

There are no stupid questions. Healthy skepticism has value. Digging deeper helps us move beyond face value. Curiosity in practice ensures we don’t settle for the easy answers and reminds us to question the source, the motive, the evidence. Who wins and who loses as we consider the actions we are considering? Curiosity reminds us that complex problems need deep examination. There is great power in asking, “Why?” 

Adapting to change

Be prepared to change your perspective in the face of fresh voices, new ideas, emerging evidence. Examine many approaches and alternatives. Embrace diversity of thought and culture. Learn to adapt. Get unstuck from the status quo, group think. Acknowledge the unknown variables or unpredictable outcomes. What’s the counter-story? It’s likely there is not a single correct solution to a problem. 

Taking time to reflect

Don’t rush to judgment. Zoom in and out on the information and evidence. Look at it as a whole. Go through it bit by bit. Find patterns. Join dots. Spot differences. Match similarities. Build connections. Compare ideas. Reflect on your own beliefs and biases. Unpack the reasoning and rationale. What evidence or voices are missing? 

Following the evidence

Weigh and interpret the evidence. Identify and develop solutions based on the strongest evidence. Be rigorous and systematic. Remain impartial and objective to arrive at conclusions. 

Imagining new possibilities

Embracing creativity means we are open to experimenting, innovating, and broadly exploring ideas. It’s about stretching and unleashing, letting the creative juices flow. Turn the ideas over. Find new angles. Consider different ways in. Work to be bold, brave, and energetic in approaching challenges. 

Finding common ground

Listening is critical! What needs to be said? Talk about it. Discuss. Debate. Find new ways to inspire and encourage. Change the script. Tell stories that connect people. Find ways to resonate. Be calm, clear and respectful. Get to the point. 

Getting up and going again

It’s not one-and-done. Repeat! Change it up. Fail fast. Fail forward. Failure isn’t fatal; the courage to continue is what counts. Make mistakes. Learn the lessons. Get up. Go again. Start over. Try a different tack. Make it better. Challenge yourself. Practice.