What's a question you like asking — yourself or your colleagues?
“Are you having fun?” — We all know that happier employees are more healthy and more productive. So why do we so rarely talk about what brings us joy at work?
I’ve added variations of “Are you having fun?” to my repertoire of questions I love to ask myself and others—and it turned out to be a surprisingly powerful launchpad into truly insightful conversations with my team.
What's a skill that we should pay more attention to in the workplace?
Great writing skills. And no, this doesn’t only apply to folks in marketing or other customer-facing fields.
Whether your team is fully remote or not, I believe one of the key foundations to a productive, transparent work environment is mastering the art of asynchronous communication. And to make that work, all team members must be great at sharing their work, thoughts, and opinions in writing.
What newsletter do you subscribe to?
I get genuinely excited every time a newsletter from the Raw Signal Group hits my inbox. As leadership consultants, Jonathan and Melissa have supported lots of leaders on their quest to become better managers and they frequently turn their observations and advice into blog posts that are actually helpful and a true joy to read.
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Here’s More, From Other Founders Around the World
What should leaders understand about their own role and responsibility?
Your own time and energy is the most precious resource you have. Use it wisely, and learn what gives you energy, and what saps you. In the early years of building something, you need to throw a huge amount of time at it - and do many things you perhaps don’t like doing. But as you scale, it’s vital to take a step back and build a business that can grow rapidly beyond the time you put into it.
What shift in perspective has allowed you to see things differently?
It may sound simple, but realizing and truly understanding that we are all different and driven by different things has made a significant impact on me. This insight has changed the way I approach relationships and leadership.
What’s a guiding principle that informs the way you build and run your business?
One of our core values at Cozero is radical candor. It is the idea that the willingness to repeatedly enter uncomfortable situations to speak the truth benefits everyone in the long run. We believe that in order to grow and improve as an organization, we need to create an environment where our team is not afraid to challenge processes and decisions. Making this a core value guides us in difficult situations when it’s not clear which road to take.
What's a mistake that you're happy you've made?
I'm happy I chose a highly regulated market, even though it was tough. It taught me a lot about patience, attention to detail, and the importance of doing things right. These lessons have made me better at what I do.