This is the heart of Basic Concepts. A growing collection of reflections, insights, and practical tools. All written to help you move well through complex systems. Use what fits. Leave the rest. Start anywhere. Or start with Basic Concept #3: Not everything matters.
Basic Concept #05: If You Can’t Influence It, It’s Out of Scope
Some problems aren’t yours to solve. Some dynamics aren’t yours to fix. And some systems…
Basic Concept #67: About Job Descriptions
Ever notice how a job description never tells the whole story? There’s the official role:…
Basic Concept #49: You Can’t Be a Leader Without Having a Following
Michael was promoted to manage our development team after the previous manager left unexpectedly. On…
Basic Concept #66: Don’t Let Waiting Freeze Your Progress
Waiting is an energy leak. One of the biggest energy leaks at work is waiting….
Basic Concept #58: Saying Less Can Be More Generous
You have so much to offer. Experience, insights, perspectives, solutions. When someone brings you a…
Basic Concept #18: The meeting is not for you…
Not all meetings are what they seem. At some point in your career, you realize…
Basic Concept #07: Emotional Performance Is Not Real Work
There’s a particular kind of exhaustion that comes from working in systems where visibility counts…
Basic Concept #55: Don’t Coach When People Want Comfort
The Development Lesson That Backfired I learned this lesson the hard way during what should…
Basic Concept #21: Trying is not the same as delivering.
There’s a particular kind of organizational conversation that happens after projects fail, targets are missed,…