Lead Smarter, Not Harder: 6 Rules That Actually Work!

Read time: 2.5 minutes

1. Stop Solving Problems. Start Creating Leaders.

❌ Old Rule: Jump in, fix it, save the day.
✅ Contrarian Fix: "What’s YOUR next move?"

• Do this: Replace answers with questions.

• Stop this: Rescuing your team from every struggle.

2. Safety Isn’t Comfort. It’s Courage.

❌ Old Rule: Avoid conflict to "keep the peace."
✅ Contrarian Fix: "What belief are we too scared to question?"

• Do this: Share a failure (and what it taught you).

• Stop this: Mistaking silence for agreement.

3. Your Focus Is Your Superpower (Stop Wasting It).

❌ Old Rule: Reward "always-on" hustle.
✅ Contrarian Fix: Cancel one meeting this week.

• Do this: Guard your focus like your career depends on it.

• Stop this: Letting urgency hijack importance.

4. Promote Slow, Develop Fast.

❌ Old Rule: Promote based on tenure or potential.
✅ Contrarian Fix: "Prove it in 30 days."

• Do this: Assign mini-missions to test real leadership.

• Stop this: Promoting people who haven't earned it.

5. Trust Results, Not Hustle.

❌ Old Rule: Praise late nights and busywork.
✅ Contrarian Fix: "What did we SHIP this week?"

• Do this: Measure outcomes, not hours.

• Stop this: Rewarding performative busyness.

6. Be the Anchor, Not the Storm.

❌ Old Rule:* Vent stress to your team.
✅ Contrarian Fix: "Your calm is their compass."

• Do this: Start updates with "Here's our #1 priority."

• Stop this: Mistaking panic for leadership.

This Week’s Challenge:

• Pick ONE rule and apply it ruthlessly for the next 7 days.

• Then hit reply and tell me what happened. (I read every response.)