3 Questions used at Under Armour

I chanced upon this interview of Kevin Plank, who is the CEO of Under Armour, who despite just 10 years into existence, has found a place in LinkedIn's Top Attractors. Very simple, yet very powerful. Check out yourself:

SW: I’ve heard you say you run the company with three questions. What are they?

KP: More like three statements after every conversation or meeting. “This is what I  heard.” “This is what I think.” And, “This is what we’re going to do.” I encourage all our managers to use that approach. It’s about making sure people’s voices are heard. Did I hear you? Did I understand your meaning? And then, clarity. My view on your opinion is the following, and therefore my actions will be the following. Everyone must have a voice, and everyone deserves clarity. Those things increase performance, satisfaction, and speed.

E for Elasticity

If you stretch a rubber band beyond elasticity limits, it'd break and would never come back. Some elementary physics, everyone knows. Or so I thought. Turns out that is not the case. I think one's patience also has a limit and it is not a great idea to keep needling someone to test the limits. Argue, disagree, fight etc., but stretching an argument far too long, just to prove a point and not helping the team's cause could never be a great idea. Sometimes we get so worked-up and fall in needless love with our own "positions" that we forget the end goal and in the process might have tested the elasticity limit. When you are into endless argument, just remind yourself with this law:

What RamP's Reading: Apr'16

Deep Change: Discovering the Leader Within: 

It contains ideas that may lead to a profound self-awakening. An introspective journey for those in the trenches of today's modern organizations, Deep Change is a survival manual for finding our own internal leadership power. By helping us learn new ways of thinking and behaving, it shows how we can transform ourselves from victims to powerful agents of change. And for anyone who yearns to be an internally driven leader, to motivate the people around them, and return to a satisfying work life, Deep Change holds the key.

Onward, How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul: 

In 2008, Howard Schultz decided to return as the CEO of Starbucks to help restore its financial health and bring the company back to its core values. In Onward, he shares this remarkable story, revealing how, during one of the most tumultuous economic periods in American history, Starbucks again achieved profitability and sustainability without sacrificing humanity. Offering you a snapshot of the recession that left no company unscathed, the book shows in riveting detail how one company struggled and recreated itself in the midst of it all. In addition, you’ll get an inside look into Schultz's central leadership philosophy: It's not about winning, it’s about the right way to win. Onward is a compelling, candid narrative documenting the maturing of a brand as well as a businessman. Ultimately, Schultz gives you a sense of hope that, no matter how tough times get, the future can be more successful than the past.

Flourish - A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being: 

Flourish builds on Dr. Seligman’s game-changing work on optimism, motivation, and character to show how to get the most out of life, unveiling an electrifying new theory of what makes a good life—for individuals, for communities, and for nations. In a fascinating evolution of thought and practice, Flourish refines what Positive Psychology is all about. While certainly a part of well-being, happiness alone doesn’t give life meaning. Seligman now asks, What is it that enables you to cultivate your talents, to build deep, lasting relationships with others, to feel pleasure, and to contribute meaningfully to the world? In a word, what is it that allows you to flourish? “Well-being” takes the stage front and center, and Happiness (or Positive Emotion) becomes one of the five pillars of Positive Psychology, along with Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment—or PERMA, the permanent building blocks for a life of profound fulfillment.