1-1-1: Competence, decoding the Maybes & Flexibility at work
1-Thought-Starter
“In theory, confidence and competence go hand in hand.
In practice, they often diverge.”
- Adam Grant, Think Again
1-Insight
Do you struggle with being decisive, especially when saying “no”? Are you someone who tends to settle on a more comfortable, non-confrontational “maybe”? I have a simple tip that has helped me when in such situations. It may help you understand what you really want, and improve your communication with others too!
1-Recommendation
Imagine you get to be CEO for a day, with an unlimited budget and armed with the authority to make one permanent change in the company that might benefit all the employees. What would you do? What changes would you make? Do you think such an initiative could work?
In this episode of Work Life with Adam Grant, Adam talks to people from various companies with such unique employee-first initiatives. By giving employees more control over their time and the freedom to develop their ideas, they are also creating a structure that other companies can follow. Their actions are laying the groundwork for a revolution of new-gen companies.
Something that stuck with me though was this distinction that philosopher Isaiah Berlin made between two kinds of freedom: negative liberty and positive liberty. Negative liberty is the freedom from constraints and interference by other people. On the other hand, positive liberty is the freedom to pursue opportunities and shape your own destiny.
Is positive liberty in your workplace going to be a measure to evaluate the next job you seek? Tune into this insightful conversation.
✌🏽
I like the point about negative and positive liberty. They seem to be mutually inclusive but in reality are not. Contentment and fulfilment are not the same thing. Contentment is a baseline. Fulfilment takes life to a higher level.