Inspired by what I read and grateful for the gift-You Me We

Yesterday I got up early, started, and then finished an entire book later that evening that I received as a gift on Friday. I am inspired by what I read and grateful for the gift. You Me We by Morag Barrett , Eric Spencer, and Ruby Vesely is one of the most clearly written and needed leadership books of the year as we emerge from the complexity of the COVID workplace, navigate burnout and think about the future of work. Culture is the behaviors that get recognized and repeated. A shared fate mentality honors a balance between high expectations, accountability, and a commitment to an "ally mindset."

The book is budding with optimism and provides real-life examples, frameworks, and tools to help people live and perform at their best within the workplace and beyond. Success is based on how effectively you adopt an "ally mindset." Aim to work and live in communities and organizations that understand the power of abundance and generosity to fuel collective action. "Every time you give, every time you pay it forward, you create a ripple in the world around you in your people, in your clients and customers, in your suppliers and vendors, and in the communities in which you do business." The critical question becomes what is in it for us rather than what is in for me.

Let us not forget the importance of compassion in the workplace! Empathy encourages leaders to exhibit emotions constructively and courageously. You Me We advocates for leaders to "never take [their] feelings, or those of others, for granted." It challenges us to think about presence in our day-to-day interactions and urges us to listen deeply with the intent to understand rather than respond.

The book inspires everyone to connect with their authentic selves and gives tips and tricks for making that a working skill set that progressively develops. In part, thriving workplaces rely on high-trust environments because "to give trust, you need to know what you stand for and don't stand for. And [leaders] define and articulate the limits to which [their] abundance and generosity extend and what others can expect within those." The best workplaces protect psychological safety. "A productive workplace is one in which people feel safe-safe enough to experiment, to challenge, to share information, and to support one another."

 You Me We illustrates how radical candor can transform a workplace. "Candor happens when you have the courage, to be honest about what you want, what you are thinking and feeling, and the vulnerability to share it with others, risking that it may not be received with the grace you desire. Knowing that it may be judged or ignored, or worse yet, you may be judged or ignored."

The book dives into accountability and the importance of good communication. Several chapters reference studies from Harvard Business Review and MIT Sloan Management Review and the works of Adam Grant, Peter Drucker, Brené Brown, and Marshall Goldsmith, among others incorporating great quotes, studies, and methodologies. Adam poignantly conveys one of my favorite notions: "when people overstep, it's not always because they don't respect your boundaries. Often, it's because you haven't drawn your boundaries. If you don't tell them where the line is, how can they learn to stop crossing it."

You Me We tackles all the tough questions and outlines some common challenges workers face. For example, for those who "have ever felt they were trapped in someone else's point of view about you-and you were misperceived or misunderstood," it gives some of the best guidance about navigating this predicament. A relief for those "whose misunderstood genius is someone else's brilliant jerk."

 I can't wait for you to pick up this book. It has tokens of wisdom for everyone. Focus on what matters and get to us. "When in doubt, check your intentions..."