Articles and Essays by Todd Henry

Leading

How To Give Effective Feedback About Creative Work

Poor, imprecise feedback can cause more problems than no feedback at all. Learn to give feedback that actually works.

Leading

Focus On Climate, Not The Weather

While it’s certainly important to address conflicts and work to resolve them in a healthy way, it’s equally important to focus on the overall culture of your team and how it is trending.

Leading

Good Decisions With Bad Outcomes

It’s faulty thinking to evaluate past decisions based upon your present understanding. And, doing so can lead to worse decisions in the future.

Creating

Reclaim The Profundity Of The Present

Each moment has meaning that, if ignored, will be lost forever. Circumstances will never again combine in this unique way to form this moment, right here, right now.

Creating

Don’t Chase Cool. Avoid The Zeitgeist Blender.

If you are feeling uninspired, recognize that it could be due to feeding on the output of the Zeitgeist Blender. Don’t allow cultural sentiment to rob you of the joy of surprise and delight.

Living

We Are Unmoored. It’s Time To Re-Tether.

Without a central driving narrative, it’s easy to become “unmoored” and adrift. I believe this is precisely what’s happened to many professionals over the past few years.

Inspiration

Festival de las Ideas

The iconic festival dedicated to ideas, innovation, and freedom was a true joy to experience.

Leading

Why You Should Be Afraid Of Ghost (Rules)

How invisible rules can haunt your team’s culture and inhibit good collaboration.

Creating

Find Your “Sweet Spot” Of Effectiveness

Your sweet spot is discovered through active contemplation, not passive reflection. The broader your base of experience, the more patterns you will be able to discern.

Featured

How To Release Control Of Your Team

Some leaders hire bright, talented, creative people for their team, then spend their entire day trying to turn them into little versions of themselves. Don’t do that.

Featured

Why Your Constant Hustling Is Getting You Nowhere

Of course you need to put your full effort into whatever you’re doing at any given time. However, be careful not to fall into the hustle trap.

Leading

Why Great Leaders Aim For Influence, Not Control

Controlling behavior never leads to results beyond your own grasp. However, when you are able to achieve influence, you multiply your efforts and reproduce your values and principles in the lives of others.