Leading Thoughts for July 2, 2026

Leading Thoughts for July 2, 2026

IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with:

Cate Hall on being authentic:

“I was allowed to get away with being blunt and matter-of-fact when it came to people who managed me, but as I moved into positions of power myself, this way of operating began to incur costs. Being a good manager, it turns out, requires more than demanding excellence; it also entails showing that you recognize it in others.

“Moreover, I finally admitted to myself that my cloud of aversion around learning to be warmer was a defensive mechanism. When I told myself I was ‘being authentic’ by remaining aloof, I was also avoiding having to look at some free-floating shame about my social awkwardness. When you spot an inner defense like this—a reaction of “I can’t do that, it wouldn’t be authentic”—it’s a yellow flag that you’ve noticed a possible area of improvement that you’re avoiding because it’s threatening to your ego.”

Source: You Can Just Do Things: How High-Agency People Get What They Want Out of Life

Mike Grossman on keeping it together:

“Focus on input rather than outcome. This is inherently challenging because we live in a world obsessed with outcomes. But the outcome isn’t controllable. Consequently, worrying about the outcome, while sometimes unavoidable, isn’t helpful in the slightest. It’s a waste of time, a waste of energy, and a significant distraction. And it’s emotionally draining.”

Source: Failure Is An Option: Reflections of a Silicon Valley CEO

Look for these ideas every Thursday on the Leading Blog. Find more ideas on the LeadingThoughts index.

Posted by Michael McKinney at 11:07 AM

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