Hey Reader,

Something happened recently and I can’t stop thinking about it.

I was on a flight from NYC to LinkedIn’s studios in California to film a new course.

About 30 minutes into the flight, I tried connecting to the wifi. It didn’t work, so I:

• Toggled airplane mode on and off
• Checked my settings
• Restarted my laptop
• Tried my phone

Still nothing.

I’m sitting there CONVINCED I’m doing something wrong, that everyone else is connected and I’m dumb, when the flight attendant walks by.

The passenger in front of me flags her down first.

“The wifi isn’t working,” he says matter-of-factly.

❌ Not “I can’t figure this out.”
❌ Not “Sorry, I’m so bad with technology.”

And I realized…

I had personalized an obstacle that had nothing to do with my capability.

This may happen to you all the time:

• A project gets delayed and you think: “I could have advocated harder.”
• A stakeholder doesn’t respond and you assume: “I must have said something wrong in the email.”
• A reorg shifts priorities and you blame yourself: “I should have seen this coming.”

And in doing so, you turn every challenge into evidence of inadequacy instead of just… a challenge that exists.

Here’s what I’m working on (and what I’d invite you to try):

Before you internalize a problem, ask yourself: What am I making this mean about me that may not be true?

Sometimes the wifi just isn’t working.

And naming that — clearly, objectively, without turning it into a referendum on your competence — is one of the most underrated leadership skills there is.

NEW EPISODE: What Good Leaders Can Learn From Bad Bosses

We've all had that boss, the one who makes work harder, not easier. But what if YOU are that boss without realizing it? In this conversation with Wall Street Journal bestselling author Mita Mallick, you'll hear why bad bosses aren't born but made and the specific behaviors that drive teams away without you even noticing.

Whether you're navigating a difficult manager right now or worried you might be becoming one yourself, this episode reveals what's really happening beneath the surface of bad leadership…and what to do about it.

What You’ll Discover:

▪️3 ways bad bosses are created (including why we all have the potential to become one)

▪️The difference between micromanaging and holding people accountable -- and how to tell which one you're doing

▪️How to retrain your boss when their behavior is disruptive without it backfiring

Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

More ‘Ridiculously Useful’ Resources

How to take criticism without taking it personally

Do you have a leader who nitpicks everything you do? Criticism at work only gets harsher and more frequent the higher you climb. Listen in to handle difficult conversations in a way that projects executive presence and safeguards your confidence.

​→ Listen here​

The art of skip-levels (without pissing off your boss)

Never let your manager become your single source of failure. You need other advocates, and skip-level meetings (sitting down with your boss's boss) are a great way to build relationships. In this article, I explain how to do them well.

​→ Read the article​

Do THIS before January slips away

Make this the year you stop reacting to whatever comes your way and start being selective about where you're headed. At your level, you can't afford to just hope opportunities find you. This ~1 min video shares how to create a one-year vision to guide every decision you make.

​​→ Watch it now​

FREE EVENT: Managing Up & Down in the Age of AI

Relationships matter more than ever.

How you build trust and influence with your team and direct reports, but also up the chain of command with your superiors, determines your success and your level of satisfaction at work.

That's why on Wednesday February 4th at 12pm ET I'm hosting a free event with Erica Keswin, author of Bring Your Human to Work, The Retention Revolution, and Rituals Roadmap.

It's called: Managing Up & Down in the Age of AI​

We'll be in conversation about the nuanced skills and strategies today’s best leaders are using to stand out in our AI-enabled world…

Where everything happens at lightning speed and people are more disconnected and stressed than ever.

A replay will be sent to those who register.

​--> RSVP here​

Talk soon,

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