Hey Reader

Back at it again this week after my short holiday!

It's supposed to be 'switch off' time but one thing that engaged me whilst I was doing some pool-side reading was the notion of the constant challenges we face.

Have you ever found yourself staring at a seemingly insurmountable challenge, feeling as though you're banging your head against a brick wall?

The thing is, you're not alone.

In boardrooms, offices and changing rooms across the globe, leaders like you grapple with complex issues. And you often approach them head-on with conventional wisdom.

Noting wrong with that, but what if I told you that the key to unlocking these puzzles lies not in looking straight ahead, but in glancing over your shoulder?

Let's look at bit deeper into this.......

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A Smarter Way = Invert Your Question

Charlie Munger died earlier this year aged 99.

He was a financial investment guru and was Warren Buffett's, the sage of Omaha, right-hand man,

Aside from offering life-long sound financial advice he also delivered some pithy and insightful speeches and addresses through his annual shareholder meeting presentations.

One insight that is particularly relevant to leaders like you shone out.

He championed a powerful yet often overlooked tool: inverting the question.

It's a simple concept with profound implications, one that could revolutionise how you tackle your most pressing challenges.

As leaders, we're conditioned to charge forward, to seek solutions directly. Yet this approach can lead us down well-worn paths, blinkered to fresh perspectives.

We become so focused on how to succeed that we neglect to consider how we might fail.

This oversight can be costly, leaving us vulnerable to blind spots and missed opportunities.

Inverting the question flips this paradigm on its head.

Instead of asking, "How can we improve our performances?" we might ponder, "What would guarantee a decline in performance?"

Rather than fixating on "How do we win the championship?" we could explore, "What would ensure we finish in a disappointing position?"

This approach isn't mere contrarianism; it's a powerful tool for uncovering hidden risks and opportunities. By considering the inverse, we illuminate the shadows where potential pitfalls—and often, unexpected solutions — lurk. So, how can you put this into practice?

Start small. In your next strategy meeting or team huddle, pose an inverted question. Watch as it sparks fresh dialogue and unearths insights that might otherwise remain buried. Encourage your colleagues and people to regularly consider not just what could go right, but what could go spectacularly wrong.

This exercise in "negative visualisation" can be surprisingly positive, arming you with a more comprehensive view of the challenge at hand. It can act as a pre-mortem of sorts.

Remember, the goal isn't to become pessimistic, but to be thoroughly prepared.

Because, by understanding how to lose, you're better equipped to win.

As you embark on this journey of inversion, you may find it uncomfortable at first. That's natural. We're creatures of habit, after all. But I urge you to persist.

The most valuable insights often lie just beyond your comfort zone.

Inverting the question isn't just a clever trick; it's a mindset shift that can transform your leadership.

It empowers you to see around corners, to anticipate challenges before they arise, and to find innovative solutions where others see only obstacles. So, the next time you're faced with a thorny problem, take a step back and ask yourself: "What's the inverse of this question?"

You might just find that the answer you've been seeking was behind you all along. Or hiding in the wide open.

Embrace this approach, and watch as your perspective—and your results/outcomes—transform.

In the words of Charlie Munger himself, "All I want to know is where I'm going to die, so I'll never go there."

Thanks for reading - 2 quick things (i) if you're curious about my work in 1-1 and/or small group settings please check my work over at https://www.theleaders.coach/ and (ii) if there is some topic or subject you'd like to see covered in an upcoming newsletter then please email me at paul@theleaders.coach

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A Master's Voice....

In the same way, how often do you jump into solution mode without first stress-testing the solution?

That approach or solution may seem obvious and make the most sense. But does it still look as sensible and robust when you view it from different angles or subject it to different scenarios?

Remember what Mike Tyson said about your fight plan being great until you get hit in the mouth!

Thank you for being part of the Leaders Coach community. The work on how to perform better is something you have to do alone. But you don't have to do it on your own. Onward and Upward, Paul Clarke

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