Dane Buchanan

Critical thinking is vital for leadership. It requires a leader to stay curious, question assumptions, and evaluate information impartially. It’s like strategic war gaming for decision-making, ensuring that choices are informed and proactive, not merely reactive. By using critical thinking to analyse processes, identify risks, and predict outcomes, leaders can innovate and produce strategic decisions that support long-term outcomes.

Handling online meeting disruptions hinges on our ability to stay flexible. If a disruption means a meeting needs to be cut short, be ready to pare down the agenda or reschedule to ensure critical points are covered. It’s true that few meetings are so urgent that they can’t accommodate some flexibility. However, if your meetings do carry that level of urgency, then having a robust backup plan is essential and should be established well in advance. Remember, while technical issues are a downside of the virtual workspace, the virtual world brings many benefits. And let’s not forget, in-person meetings come with their own set of challenges.

Lack of accountability often stems from unclear expectations. Laying a clear foundation can help to improve this: Expectations: Be explicit about what you require. Define what success looks like for each role and task, removing ambiguity. Communication: Regular 121s are key. For complex tasks, provide detailed briefs via email to avoid misunderstandings. Encourage questions and consider requesting them to playback the task in their words to confirm understanding. Timelines: Establish clear deadlines and check-ins to help everyone stay on track and remain accountable. Meetings: For those less comfortable speaking in groups, having updates at the start of the meeting, alongside the speaking order can help to lessen anxiety