Leading with purpose

Author

Ann Boger
March 05, 2024

I recently changed my email signature from “Principal” to “CEO.”

It’s a small typographical change but a big mental shift that reflects how much my role as founder of Bramble and Bird has evolved, even in as little as 6 months.

As someone who has often coached others looking to improve their ‘executive presence’ to start first with their own self-talk, it feels right to share the expansion of my own thinking with all of you.

One question that keeps returning is how to define success and to align my business model with the change I want to see in the world. The Bramble team has already grown to include 6 people other than myself and I’m shifting my focus towards a longer view - focused less week to week, or month to month, and more about building a brand that leverages the insane amount of expertise we represent together. But how best to do this in a way that is sustainable and equitable?

As I caught up on the last two months’ of Harvard Business Review articles this week, I was pleasantly surprised by how many felt relevant to questions plaguing me and my clients. See below for some of my favorites.

3 Ways Humility Can Undermine Your Leadership

Humble leadership is characterized by a willingness to admit a mistake or when you don’t know something, a tendency to share credit for successes, and an appreciation for others’ contributions. But being overly humble can potentially diminish your perceived authority in three ways: 1) You may be perceived as indecisive; 2) You may hinder your career advancement; and 3) You may be limiting your team’s development.

hbr.org/2024/03/3-ways-humility-can-undermine-your-leadership

The Paradox of Growing as a Values-Driven Company

In this article, the authors present new research on the B Corp Movement’s approach to inform strategies that can help leaders in any industry strike a balance between these competing demands and navigate the paradoxical imperatives to expand while staying true to their mission.

hbr.org/2024/03/the-paradox-of-growing-as-a-values-driven-company

Tech’s gender gap is narrowing | LinkedIn

The gender gap in tech has narrowed since the pandemic, according to a new analysis, but men still easily outnumber women in the field.

www.linkedin.com/news/story/techs-gender-gap-is-narrowing-5948916

How to Actually Execute Change at a Company

Four key factors: effective initial communication (“ACE the Memo”), ensuring resource accessibility and autonomy (“Master the Means”), employing mechanisms to align actions with goals (“Amplify with Mechanisms”), and strategic measurement to influence future outcomes (“Measure to Account”).

hbr.org/2024/03/how-to-actually-execute-change-at-a-company?ab=HP-latest-text-8

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