Curate Morning for June 27, 2024 (#145) is here.
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The Main Thing: In a recent post, Chip Conley writes about a recent dream he had. In it, he is seated with ten famous psychologists and can ask them a pointed question about their work. As I read the post, I realized how much my interests in the human mind and psychology tracks with his. I have been to Conley's MEA campus in Baja, California, to take a class, and I am an admitted Conley fanboy. His unique approach to [specific aspect of his work] and his [specific contribution to psychology] have greatly influenced my understanding of the field. Before I joined this vibrant cohort and forged enduring friendships at MEA, I was on a personal quest—a journey driven by an insatiable curiosity about the intricate workings of our brains. More than just understanding, I sought ways to enhance our effectiveness and efficiency in life. I invite you to dig deeper into my reflections on Conley's post in my weekly blog. Your thoughts and insights are always welcome. Leadership -- Why so many bad bosses still rise to the top by Bryan Hancock and Brooke Weddle | McKinsey Talks Talent. Podcast hosts Hancock and Wedele are joined by Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, author of Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders?: (And How to Fix It) (Harvard Business Review Press, March 2019), to discuss why the traits that propel us to the top seem to diverge so widely from those that make us great leaders—as well as how to choose more robust, more successful, and more diverse candidates for leadership roles. Dr. Chamorro-Premuzic says that: “...leadership selection (should be) gender blind. I always say the best gender diversity intervention is done by focusing on talent rather than gender. If you focus on gender, you may or may not increase the quality of your leaders. But if you focus on talent, you will probably increase the competence and quality of your leaders, as well as increase gender representation.” Is DEI Going Away? Here’s What Experts Say by Stephanie Creary | Knowledge at Wharton -- The author of this article is being proactive and has put together an alliance of educators, researchers, and private-sector leaders to tackle the issue of DEI. However, she is seeking more action than talk. She says her coalition differs in that it combines scholars with people in the field, which allows for more evidence-based knowledge. Creary says: “I didn’t want to just rehash the problems,” said Creary, who has spent 20 years studying diversity in the workplace. “Instead of going it alone, why don’t we form an alliance and figure out how to use our collective intelligence, resources, and expertise to tackle a problem of interest to all of us? I would like to think of it as an extended team for all the academics and practitioners involved.” Research indicates that leaders with robust mental health can handle stress more effectively, communicate better, and lead more efficiently. This underscores the importance of leaders being open about their mental and emotional well-being. By communicating better, they can foster a more open and supportive work environment. Leaders should be vigilant for signs such as a lack of concentration, a drop in performance, irritability, withdrawal from social interactions, and changes in sleep patterns, both in themselves and their team members. Other Articles of Interest this week: Green Economy -- Geothermal system is a US first By Ysabelle Kempe | SmartCities Dive -- The nation’s first networked geothermal system owned by a utility went live on June 4 in Massachusetts. The $15 million network of ground-source heat pumps will cool and heat 36 buildings without fossil fuels, says Eversource Energy, the utility leading the project. Technology -- Will the CHIPS Act Make the U.S. a Winner in the Semiconductor Race? By Zina Hutton -- Two years after Congress passed the CHIPS and Science Act, some significant steps are now underway. Major manufacturers hope to position the nation as a player in global semiconductors. Economic Development -- Charting a new course: The untapped potential of American shipyards by Brooke Weddle, Nick Mellors and Ryan Brukhardt | McKinsey Research. -- American shipbuilding has reached a critical inflection point—can supply keep up with demand? Shipyards, once the backbone of flourishing communities, now face myriad challenges—from talent gaps to outdated operating models—that threaten their ability to grow and thrive. The US has gone from building 5.0 percent of the world’s ocean-going commercial ships in the 1970s to building about 0.2 percent today, as measured by gross tonnage. Conversely, China, Japan, and South Korea now combine for more than 90 percent of global commercial shipbuilding. City-Country -- What 54 climate adaptation plans say about how communities are preparing by Ysabelle Kempe | SmartCities Dive -- Nature-based approaches constitute the largest category of total planned strategies, researchers found. They highlighted examples of progress and innovation from a variety of communities. Mentoring/Generations -- Mentorship isn’t teaching—it’s sharing the wisdom you’ve earned by Michelle Lagrave | Phillip Morris International. Potential mentors may have imposter syndrome, but empathy, vulnerability, and generosity create a mutually beneficial professional relationship. Being a mentor doesn’t necessarily require a senior job title. Mentoring a peer, or, more traditionally, a junior colleague, isn’t always about teaching them new skills. It’s about recognizing and responding to the mentee’s need to be heard and helping them grow as individuals. A Blog Post You Should Read: In some cultures, ages are revered, and older people are looked upon as wise sages to be respected and listened to. In North America, particularly in the USA, youth is celebrated, and age is tossed aside. This conversation (not a blog) is an Aspen Ideas Health event session. The discussion is an hour long and is a vitally important conversation about ageism, generations, and how stories can benefit from cross-generational engagement. To view and listen to the conversation, click here. Overheard : “Before each meal she takes a moment to say hara hachi bu, and that keeps her from eating too much.” “Hara hachi bu?” I repeated. “It’s a Confucian-inspired adage,” Craig chimed in. “All of the old folks say it before they eat. It means ‘Eat until you are 80 percent full.” -- Dan Buettner, The Blue Zones: 9 Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest LISTEN, Eat, Drink, Watch READ, View One of my favorite podcasts is part of the Freakonomics podcast network, where the hosts discuss a wide variety of exciting and offbeat topics related to macro and behavioral economics. You may recall the book Freakonomics, in which the authors Stephen Dubner and Steven Levitt discussed diverse subjects such as the surprisingly low income of drug dealers, abortions' impact on crime, and cheating sumo wrestlers. In this podcast, Steven Levitt engages in a fascinating conversation with Harvard researcher Ellen Langer about the mind-body connection. Langer shares insights from several psychological experiments, including the groundbreaking counter-clockwise study. This study placed men in an environment that looked and felt twenty years before their actual age. The results were astounding-over time, their ailments began to heal, their hearing improved, and they felt younger. Don't miss out on this enlightening podcast or the opportunity to read the transcript. It could potentially reshape your perspective on aging and inspire you to explore the mind-body connection further Listen, Eat, Drink, Watch, READ, View Many years ago, I watched the now iconic food television host Padma Lakshmi on an obscure travel/food show whose name escapes me. This was long before she became famous for cooking and food shows. I was fascinated as I watched her assist a street vendor in making paella in an oversized pan on the street. The pan, about 15 feet in diameter, was promptly filled with the variety of meat, vegetables, and aromatics that make up a Paella, a sight I had never seen before. Since then, I have made a paella once in a regular stovetop skillet but longed for the real thing. I then bought a real paella pan with the intent of making the real thing in the traditional way, but it was lost in a basement flood. I'm excited to get another pan and try again, using the recipe below. Have you had paella? Have you made it? Let me know about your experience. Listen, Eat, Drink, Watch, READ, VIEW Blue Zones are those unique corners of the Earth where people defy the aging process and live well into their 100s. What sets these places apart? What about their environment, lifestyle, and food allow them to reach the century mark? These are not just places but living laboratories of longevity, rich in activity and often free from typical Western disorders like dementia and other aging chronic diseases. The Blue Zone diet, with its numerous documented benefits, has sparked interest. With their fast-paced lifestyle, could the average American find hope in these habits? With dedication and perseverance, could they also join the ranks of the centenarians? Ready to dig deeper into the secrets of the Blue Zones? Click here to uncover the fascinating lives of these centenarians and the habits that could potentially lead to a longer, healthier life. Also, here is a video of A TED Talk about Blue Zones by Dan Buettner.
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