Lars Sudmann

Author. Advisor. TEDx speaker. I share ideas about leadership, innovation, strategy & self-mastery. Regular updates via my newsletter Power of 3.

[Lars Sudmann @LarsSudmann]

My new TEDx talk: The Secret to Success: How Great Leaders Navigate the Unknown.

Even if you don't have time to watch the full talk I recommend to listen to the three questions in the first minute and think about your answers to them.

https://t.co/4opbhRADot

[Lars Sudmann @LarsSudmann]

“Very often in the past people were worrying about x when they should have been worrying about y. We know what the x’s are. One always does. But what are some likely y’s?” Paul Graham

I like this observation by Paul Graham a lot, especially when looking back at the past 6 years. The key executive team exercise is therefore to have a map for the "potential y's" in mind, spend time on it (maybe some minutes in your next Executive Committee meeting?).

While focus on current crisis and your long-term vision is vital, I often dedicate a time-boxed moment in my strategy coaching to never forget as well the not-so-obvious.

[Lars Sudmann @LarsSudmann]

Absolutely thrilled to have been on Stijn Staes' podcast and explore how to master Self-Leadership.

I invite you to listen to the episode on your favourite podcatcher.

https://t.co/c3Y7hUqldN

[Lars Sudmann @LarsSudmann]

"It’s a choice. Now, more than ever, it’s a choice because access to freelancers and AI lowers the cost and increases the quality of the work we delegate.

The opportunity is to use leveraged delegation to create opportunities that cannot possibly be delegated. To make our craft more particular, more human and more distinctive."

Love this post by Seth. The key task now is to find the work that is uniquely YOU.

https://t.co/gsYf0osMTD

[Lars Sudmann @LarsSudmann]

Grateful and energized that my TEDx talk “Great Leadership Starts with Self-Leadership” has just reached another milestone with 2.5 million views.

What’s most meaningful isn’t the number, but rather the continued resonance of one key fact:

You can’t lead others effectively if you don’t first know how to lead yourself.

I firmly believe that in times of rapid change and uncertainty, self-leadership isn’t optional, it’s vital. It’s what grounds us in chaos and helps us to focus under pressure.

I’m deeply thankful to everyone who has watched, shared, or reflected on this message.

I am curious, how are you practicing self-leadership in your daily life or work right now?

https://t.co/LecXzSL4Q1

#Leadership #SelfLeadership #PersonalDevelopment #TED #AuthenticLeadership

[Lars Sudmann @LarsSudmann]

"Success in the knowledge economy comes to those who know themselves – their strengths, their values, and how they best perform.” — Peter F. Drucker

This timeless wisdom from Drucker is today more important than ever. In a time of AI And rapid developments, knowing your unique edge, your inimitable contributions are the key for success. Remember, if your job can be described in 2 minutes or less, it can most likely be automated.

Quick metric: are you doing a quarterly check with yourself on your unique strengths in the world and how you best perform?

[Lars Sudmann @LarsSudmann]

“The culture of any organization is shaped by the worst behavior the leader is willing to tolerate.�� Steve Gruenert & Todd Whitaker

I have found this to be true in almost every organizational setting I’ve worked in professionally. Gruenert and Whitaker remind us that a leader’s job is not always “roses.” Leaders must also step in, confront bad behavior, and proactively shape the culture. It’s not easy, but it’s vital for organizational flourishing.

[Lars Sudmann @LarsSudmann]

"Vision is a picture of the future that produces passion." Unknown

Creating a vision, a picture of the future is one of the key tasks of a leader.

Have you worked on the vision for your business, organization, team or yourself lately?

[Lars Sudmann @LarsSudmann]

I call this "Black Book" time as I recommend to do this with a pen and a (digital) notebook, just for yourself.

[Lars Sudmann @LarsSudmann]

Therefore, it is essential not only to listen to the best practices and wisdom and innovative concepts of others but also to regularly dedicate time for contemplation and envisioning a successful future strategy for ourselves, our organization, or our business.

[Lars Sudmann @LarsSudmann]

“By the time someone else tells you their winning strategy, it’s too late.” Naval Ravikant

[Lars Sudmann @LarsSudmann]

Great set of questions (and great reminders for managers to take into account)

[Dave Kline @dklineii]

The biggest career cheat code:

Only work with exceptional managers.

7 simple questions to ask when you're interviewing them:

[Lars Sudmann @LarsSudmann]

Great question for reflection

[Andrew D. Huberman, Ph.D. @hubermanlab]

If you had to pick only 1 non-negotiable (once you decide) “No more ______ for me once in 2024”, what is that thing, behavior, thought etc. ?

[Lars Sudmann @LarsSudmann]

@WorldPushHands Thanks Jan!!

[Lars Sudmann @LarsSudmann]

@Aquatech @TomFWater Looking forward!

[Lars Sudmann @LarsSudmann]

@kvistgaard Very interesting, looking forward to exploring and discussing this

[Lars Sudmann @LarsSudmann]

Very happy to have been interviewed for the "Learnings from Leaders" podcasts of the P&G Alumni network. We had a good time exploring leadership, TEDx and more. Nice to be following Susan Cain, A.G. Lafley, Edward Norton and others on this podcast.

https://t.co/eSfhjPDUVt

[Lars Sudmann @LarsSudmann]

Great thinking tools

[George Mack @george__mack]

The most useful razors and rules I've found:

1. Bragging Razor - If someone brags about their success or happiness, assume it’s half what they claim

If someone downplays their success or happiness, assume it’s double what they claim

2. High Agency Razor - If unsure who to work with, pick the person that has the best chances of breaking you out of a 3rd world prison.

3. The Early-Late Razor - If it's a talking point on Reddit, you might be early. If it's a talking point on LinkedIn, you're definitely late.

4. Luck Razor - If stuck with 2 equal options, pick the one that feels like it will produce the most luck later down the line.

I used this razor to go for drinks with a stranger rather than watch Netflix. In hindsight, it was the highest ROI decision I've ever made.

5. Buffett's Law - "The value of every business is 100% subject to government interest rates" - Warren Buffett

6. The 7-Figure Razor - If someone brags about "7 figures" -- assume it's closer to $1 million than $9 million.

7. Mack's Rule - Break down the investments your parents made in you: Time, Love, Energy, and Money.

If they are still alive, aim to hit a positive ROI (or at least break even.)

8. Instagram Razor - When you see a photo of an influencer looking attractive on Instagram -- assume there are 99 worse variations of that photo you haven't seen.

They just picked the best one.

9. Narcissism Razor - If worried about people's opinions, remember they are too busy worrying about other people's opinions of them. 99% of the time you're an extra in someone else's movie

10. Everyday Razor - If you go from doing a task weekly to daily, you achieve 7 years of output in 1 year. If you apply a 1% compound interest each time, you achieve 54 years of output in 1 year.

11. Bezos Razor - If unsure what action to pick, let your 90-year-old self on death bed choose it.

12. Creativity Razor - If struggling to think creatively about a subject, transform it:

• Turn a thought into a written idea.
• A written idea into a drawing.
• A drawing into an equation.
• An equation into a conversation.

In the process of transforming it, you begin to spot new creative connections.

13. The Roman Empire Razor - Historians now recognize the Roman Empire fell in 476 - but it wasn't acknowledged by Roman society until many generations later.

If you wait for the media to inform you, you'll either be wrong or too late.

14. Physics Razor - If it doesn't deny the law of physics, then assume it's possible. Do not confuse society's current lack of knowledge -- with this knowledge being impossible to attain.

E.g. The smartphone seems impossible to someone from the 1800s -- but it was possible, they just had a lack of knowledge.

15. Skinner's Law - If procrastinating, you have 2 ways to solve it:

• Make the pain of inaction > Pain of action
• Make the pleasure of action > Pleasure of inaction

16. Network Razor - If you have 2 quality people that would benefit from an intro to one another, always do it.

Networks don't divide as you share them, they multiply.

17. Gell-Mann Razor - Assume every media article contains a % of false information.

Sandbox the article from your worldview until you've:

• Seen primary sources
• Spoken to 3 domain experts

18. Taleb's Surgeon - If presented with two equal candidates for a role, pick the one with the least amount of charisma.

The uncharismatic one has got there despite their lack of charisma. The charismatic one has got there with the aid of their charisma.

[Lars Sudmann @LarsSudmann]

„If you want to create or be anything lateral, bigger, better, or truly different, you need room to ask “what if?” without a conference call in 15 minutes.  The aha moments rarely come from the incremental inbox-clearing mentality of, “Oh, fuck… I forgot to… Please remind me to… Shouldn’t I?…I must remember to…”

[Tim Ferriss @tferriss]

I need to get back to the slack.

To the pregnant void of infinite possibilities, only possible with a lack of obligation, or at least, no compulsive reactivity. Perhaps this is only possible with the negative space to—as Kurt Vonnegut put it—fart around? To do things for the hell of it? For no damn good reason at all?

I feel that the big ideas come from these periods. It’s the silence between the notes that makes the music.

If you want to create or be anything lateral, bigger, better, or truly different, you need room to ask “what if?” without a conference call in 15 minutes.  The aha moments rarely come from the incremental inbox-clearing mentality of, “Oh, fuck… I forgot to… Please remind me to… Shouldn’t I?…I must remember to…”

That is the land of the lost, and we all become lost.

[Lars Sudmann @LarsSudmann]

"When praising, give names; when criticising, give categories.“ Warren Buffett

This is for me a key quality when giving feedback as a leader and that can help grow the team and organization to the next level.

[Lars Sudmann @LarsSudmann]

@Rob_Reid And while you are there - listen to the whole podcast and book, as well as his TED talk. Mindblowing.

[Lars Sudmann @LarsSudmann]

A lot is being said about generative AI these days. In this podcast episode @Rob_Reid, entreprenuer, VC & author of the great fiction book "After On" shares a very insightful exploration of the opportunities & dangers of generative AI.
https://t.co/rBcfcGKXJk