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Where’s Don’s Mind Today?

A Random Chronical of Unfiltered Dispatches From the Realm of Don Schmincke

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Read 2 days ago and current, but nothing has been published for 15 months.

Latest posts

The Innovation Mirage: Why Many Companies Are Adrift

A few years back, I ran a revealing experiment. As executives sail their companies into the future, most industry surveys find that innovation is one of the strongest winds for ensuring future success. But how serious are they? One of the most admired innovators is Apple. My colleague, Kamran Loghman, was spearheading research there on creativity and innovation. So, what if we gave CEOs direct…

If consciousness exists beyond your brain, could it exist beyond your office?

Experiment with me on a new management meme . . . ***** Traditional science says consciousness comes from neural networks. Cute. But it might be dead wrong. Quantum neuroscientists like Roger Penrose and Stuart Hameroff think consciousness could be quantum. How? Microtubules! Yes, tiny structures in your neurons that process quantum computations that literally create awareness. Not through logic,…

MANAGEMENT MYTH BUSTED #8: Thought Leaders

Thought leaders benefit society by sharing leading-edge knowledge, guidance, and insights. Dedicated fans spread these ideas across industries. But when I got off stage yesterday, a CFO came up, "Your thought leadership debunks several theories of other thought leaders." "Thank you," I replied. "But I'm not a thought leader. Just fortunate enough to hang around brilliant scientists and…

MANAGEMENT MYTH BUSTED #7: Leaders are Made, not Born (it's nurture, not nature)

Turns out nurture was only half the story. Nature never left the building. This post has moved to my newsletter , where the genetics research the "anyone can lead" crowd conveniently skipped finally gets its say. Read it there New here? Get the next myth delivered straight to your inbox. Anyone can become a great leader with the proper training and environment. Experts tell us this: "Leaders are…

MANAGEMENT MYTH BUSTED #6: Org-wide self-esteem programs increase performance

Turns out you can't happiness your way to performance. We tried this exact myth in the 1980s. It has a new name now. This post has moved to my newsletter , where I trace the happy-employee movement straight back to the self-esteem experiment that already failed once. Read it there New here? Get the next myth delivered straight to your inbox.

MANAGEMENT MYTH BUSTED #5: The Boiled Frog

The frog was never boiling. Neither is your org - it's just louder than the metaphor allows. This post has moved to my newsletter , where the rest of the myth-busting research lives now. Read it there New here? Get the next myth delivered straight to your inbox.

MANAGEMENT MYTH BUSTED #4: Followers Follow Leaders

Turns out followers don't follow nice people. They follow a good story - even when the person telling it is a certified asshole. This post has moved to my newsletter , where I autopsy Steve Jobs, Genghis Khan, and a few other beloved jerks to find out why. Read it there New here? Get the next myth delivered straight to your inbox.

MANAGEMENT MYTH BUSTED #3: You Want Authenticity in a Leader? Don't celebrate the 4th of July.

Even the 4th of July is a myth. Turns out "authentic" leadership has the same problem. This post has moved to my newsletter , where I dig up what actually happened on July 4th - and what it says about the leadership stories we invent to feel comfortable. Read it there New here? Get the next myth delivered straight to your inbox.

MANAGEMENT MYTH BUSTED #2: Be the Lead Dog

Turns out the lead dog just gets bitten first. I moved the evidence. This post now lives in my newsletter , alongside the rest of the research on why the advice CEOs get is usually backwards. Read it there New here? Get the next myth delivered straight to your inbox.

MANAGEMENT MYTH BUSTED #1: The Butterfly Effect

This myth got busted here first. Now it lives with the rest of the autopsies. This post has moved to my newsletter - where I'm running the full Metabolic Organization research, one dead assumption at a time. Read it there New here? Get the next myth delivered straight to your inbox.