As a reminder, each quarterly update will feature up a few big ideas on my top two areas of interest.
Here we go!
Area 1: Operations
Reducing attrition and conflict is at the core of every HR leader’s job, and it’s harder when teams feel misunderstood and managers are undertrained. That’s why I’ve been teaching leaders how to create User Manuals — personal playbooks for how they work best. They’ve proven effective at reducing friction and building trust across teams. I've developed a 50-card prompt deck that walks anyone through creating their own User Manual in under an hour. The format was a hit—and due to a print overrun, I have 20 extra decks. Want one? Reply with BETA if you want to build your own manual (quickly) and you’re up for sharing your feedback and a testimonial after trying it.
Area 2: Neurodiversity at Work
I’ve been inviting interesting conversations with a casual question and I recommend you try: What are your dietary preferences … and while we’re at it, what are your sensory preferences?
The more I dive into the big disorders of ADHD, Autism, and Dyslexia, the more I see how biasing the medical language is. For example, not everyone with ADHD is impulsive and not everyone with autism is socially awkward or good at math. I am writing about these terms in hopes of finding better language. If you have come across one of these biasing terms, I would love to hear about it.
And finally, a quick PSA: let’s start to have more camera-on-then-off meetings.
What Else Has Held My Attention
1. Imagine producing music for Prince and then deciding that you want to be a neuroscientist. That’s what Susan Rogers did. Many of you know how much I love music. Her 2022 book has helped me appreciate music even more.
2. I’ve enjoyed being mediocre with Rubik's cubes, but get bored with them. This one is both beautiful and soothing. Instead of using six different colors, it uses a variety of shapes all of the same color. And a nice benefit … it looks great on your desk even when you are stuck.
3. For those who have seen me in the past few months, you may recall me pushing you to try a slice of Cosmic Crisp. I fell in love with this apple in the winter (yes they get even better with cold storage), and have been impressed with their creative strategy.
Hi 👋 I’m Shaun and I help leaders thrive through coaching as well as high-touch engagements. If you are interested in either of the areas I am working on, I’m often writing something new every week. Follow me on LinkedIn for the latest.