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Beyond Band-Aids: How to Solve Problems Once Instead of Forever
Root cause analysis is just one part of collaborative problem-solving. The next time you see a recurring issue, ask: Have we taken enough time to understand what's really driving this? Or are we just mopping up oil without finding the leak?
Russ Powell
2 days ago5 min read
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Three Leadership Lessons from My Conversation with Jonathan Mahrt
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege and pleasure of joining Jonathan Mahrt on his On The Flywheel  podcast. Jonathan is quite skillful...
Russ Powell
3 days ago3 min read
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Evidence Before Action: Why the Best Problem-Solvers Begin with Data
Rushing to fix problems without good data leads to costly mistakes. Take a scientist's approach: "I don't know—let's find out!"
Russ Powell
May 76 min read
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Finding the Right Therapist: A Guide for Busy Professionals
Life is difficult. Therapy can help. A mentor of mine once referred to therapy as a "legitimate shortcut to personal growth." Learn more about how to find a good therapist.
Russ Powell
Apr 245 min read
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One Small Step, One Giant Leap: The Power of Integrity in the Pursuit of Winning
The key is to integrate winning and success, with a heightened emphasis on acting with integrity.
Russ Powell
Mar 96 min read
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Workplace Sabotage: Is It Happening Right Under Your Nose?
With the right leadership development, managers can learn to recognize and reduce accidental self-sabotage.
Russ Powell
Mar 94 min read
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Avoiding the Sucker's Choice: There's Almost Always a Third Option
Leaders often feel trapped between two bad options, where both choices seem to sacrifice something vital. Welcome to the sucker's choice.
Russ Powell
Jan 66 min read
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Five Strategies to Help Startup Leaders Focus on What Matters Most
Effective leaders focus where they have a comparative advantage, delegate other tasks, and prioritize developing their future leaders.
Russ Powell
Dec 17, 20243 min read
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The High Cost of Workplace Loneliness (and What to Do About It)
Loneliness is a silent drain on your startup's most valuable resource: your people. It's costing your business more than you think.
Russ Powell
Dec 13, 20243 min read
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From Blame to Accountability: How to Recognize and Escape from the Victim Trap
Escaping the blame-game unleashes untapped potential. Improve problem-solving by shifting your focus from finger-pointing to accountability.
Russ Powell
Nov 22, 20244 min read
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The Knower Trap: How Certainty Sabotages Problem-Solving
In this post, I explore how the "knower trap" hinders problem-solving and offer strategies for recognizing and getting out of it.
Russ Powell
Jul 27, 20246 min read
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Becoming a Better Forecaster: Insights from the Pros
In a world filled with uncertainty, the ability to make accurate predictions is a valuable skill. What do superforecasters have to teach us?
Russ Powell
Jul 20, 20244 min read
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Developing a Learning Organization: Five Principles for Improving Performance
Cultivate a workplace where the practices of continuous learning and growth thrive—with these five principles.
Russ Powell
Jul 13, 20245 min read
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A Surprising Secret: How High-Performing Teams Transform Conflict Into a Competitive Edge
HPTs embrace an inherent paradox—that creation and innovation is often impossible without some friction.
Russ Powell
Jul 6, 20243 min read
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The S-Loop Problem-Solving Framework: A Primer for Business Leaders
The S-Loop is a cyclical, four-stage problem-solving framework that can help you tackle complex problems in human systems.
Russ Powell
Jul 2, 20247 min read
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Exploring the DiSC Styles of Iconic Star Wars Characters
As a fan of both Star Wars and DiSC, I gathered a team of colleagues to assign DiSC styles to 15 famous characters from the franchise.
Russ Powell
Jun 8, 20245 min read
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A Caution Against Using DiSC and Myers-Briggs When Making Hiring Decisions
DiSC and MBTI can be useful for team-building and personal development, but I strongly recommend against their use in the hiring process.
Russ Powell
May 1, 20243 min read
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How to Deal with Difficult People – Lunchtime Workshop, Santa Rosa, CA
Had your share of encounters w/ confusing or irritating people? Join us for a workshop on how to understand and work better with others.
Russ Powell
Apr 9, 20242 min read
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Peer Coaching: A Surprising Solution to Faster, Better Leadership Development
Unlock potential in your startup or small business with peer-coaching. Develop your leaders and solve problems better, faster, and cheaper.
Russ Powell
Mar 1, 202412 min read
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My new favorite word – phronesis
Phronesis, or practical wisdom, is the greatest virtue a leader can have. If you have a project, hire a leader with abundant phronesis.
Russ Powell
Dec 10, 20231 min read
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