Shaun Coffey 🚢
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shauncoffey.bsky.social
Shaun Coffey 🚢
@shauncoffey.bsky.social
49 followers 35 following 1K posts
A student of the practice of leading and managing
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shauncoffey.bsky.social
In collaborative research, management delivers tasks, but governance creates legitimacy, trust, and shared authority, without which collaboration cannot endure.
A screenshot essay titled 'Why Governance Matters More Than Management Control in Collaborative Research' discusses the critical role of governance in collaborative research. It highlights how collaboration transcends organizational boundaries and manages complexity through governance rather than solely through management control. The text outlines five key reasons why governance is paramount: 1) Shared purpose aligns partners around collaboration's goals; 2) Authority requires negotiation, ensuring decision-making processes are clear; 3) Trust builds through explicit roles and responsibilities under governance; 4) Risks are shared collectively across organizations; and 5) Legitimacy and continuity of collaborative efforts depend on strong governance frameworks. The conclusion emphasizes that while management control ensures output delivery, governance is essential for the viability and credibility of collaborative research.
December 16, 2025 at 7:00 PM
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Learning is a combination of P, programmed knowledge (traditional instruction, book learning) and Q, questioning insight, the insight that comes from questions leading to understanding and actionable learning (L).
Screenshot essay titled 'We learn by sharing our ignorance. There are no silly questions.' The text discusses an experience at a conference where a speaker talks about phenology, but the audience struggles to understand. A person in the audience asks the same question about phenology, which many others also want to know. It references Reg Revans' learning algorithm: L = P + Q, where L is learning, P is programmed knowledge, and Q is questioning insight. The essay emphasizes the importance of asking questions to acknowledge ignorance, leading to understanding. It humorously concludes with the author realizing they misunderstood the topic, thinking it was about phrenology instead.
December 16, 2025 at 4:55 AM
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A useful diagnostic tool (the model) is used as if it were the reality. You get typecast (or typecast yourself); for example, as open or closed, as an explorer or exploiter. You tick a box to say, yes that’s me.
Screenshot essay titled 'MINDSHIFTING: Don’t pigeonhole yourself according to a "mindset", rather use it to understand the way you function.' The essay discusses Carol Dweck's concept of fixed and growth mindsets as models for understanding thought processes. It presents various pairs of contrasting models such as Open/Closed, Divergence/Convergence, and Growth/Fixed, emphasizing that these models are simplifications and not definitive representations of reality. The author warns against typecasting oneself based on these models, advocating for a dynamic understanding of personal function and the idea that reality lies on a continuum between extremes. The conclusion provides two key lessons: to avoid self-pigeonholing based on models and to utilize multiple models for a richer understanding of oneself.
December 13, 2025 at 5:00 PM
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imagination is a leadership phenomenon that empowers CEOs to think beyond the present, create innovative strategies, and build resilient organizations.
A screenshot essay titled 'Imagination as a Leadership Phenomenon in the Practice of CEOs.' The body text discusses the importance of imagination in CEO leadership, highlighting how it enables visionary thinking, helps navigate business complexities, and connects teams to shared goals through compelling narratives. It emphasizes that imagination is a vital motivational tool, but cautions that it should be balanced with realism to avoid overly ambitious objectives. A key quote in a blockquote stresses that effective leadership involves disciplined imagination, envisioning possibilities while remaining practical. The conclusion reinforces imagination as essential for inspiring teams and driving organizational success in a rapidly changing business environment.
December 9, 2025 at 6:11 AM
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CS Lewis advice to a young writer in 1959
December 3, 2025 at 6:46 PM
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both achieving greatness and building a solid reputation are rooted in the consistent demonstration of virtuous actions.
A screenshot essay titled 'Greatness requires greatness.' The content discusses the adages that emphasize the importance of consistent exemplary actions in achieving greatness and building a reputation. It references Aristotle's 'magnanimity' which connects virtuous character to true greatness. It highlights Hans Eysenck's psychological research on creative genius and traits linked to it. Historical figures like Albert Einstein and Leonardo da Vinci are cited as examples of sustained actions leading to greatness. Contemporary examples include actor Timothée Chalamet and cricketer Steve Smith, showcasing how persistent commendable actions are key to excellence. The essay concludes that greatness and reputation are rooted in consistent virtuous actions.
December 2, 2025 at 7:25 AM
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Leadership is a quiet power. It dissolves boundaries, creates possibility, and opens pathways that did not exist before. It influences without domination and guides without theatrics.
A screenshot essay titled 'Leadership as an Ecology of Possibility' discusses the nature of leadership as interconnected with human action, context, and purpose. It describes leadership as a sensitive reading of the ecological factors influencing behavior, emphasizing the importance of creating environments of trust and learning. The essay highlights leadership as a future-oriented practice that prepares organizations for change, focusing on emergent patterns. It mentions the significance of aligning actions with purpose through consistent behavior rather than mere slogans. Lastly, it portrays leadership as a quiet power that fosters collaboration and opens new possibilities without dominating or drawing attention to itself.
November 29, 2025 at 3:37 PM
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Leadership is an art of becoming. Leaders do not offer polished certainty. They practice learning in public.
Screenshot essay titled 'Leadership as a Collective Act of Becoming.' The body text discusses leadership as emerging from small moments of responsibility and clarity instead of grand gestures. It emphasizes that leadership is rooted in relationships and shared purpose, fostering trust and mutual respect among individuals. The text explains that leaders navigate complex realities without oversimplifying them and that true leadership is a continual process of becoming, with an emphasis on public learning and collective movement. Lastly, it states that leadership's impact is seen not in titles but in the growth of individuals who inspire others.
November 28, 2025 at 9:40 PM
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What is it you want your leadership to do? The answer will move with you as you grow, and that movement is the essence of leading with intention.
Screenshot essay titled 'The Better Leadership Question' discussing the essence of leadership. The text emphasizes that good leadership starts with the intentional question: 'What is it you want your leadership to do?' It highlights the importance of leaders understanding their purpose to guide others effectively. The essay outlines that leadership is an organizing force shaping emotions and actions, and it contrasts intentional leadership with imitation. It advises creating environments of safety and curiosity if growth is desired, as well as the need for clarity and trust. The text concludes by encouraging leaders to frequently reflect on their intentions to remain purposeful in their leadership journey.
November 27, 2025 at 9:59 AM
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Writing at it’s best www.themarginalian.org/2016/10/26/e...
Explainer, Elucidator, Enchanter: A Gradation of Great Writing
A visual taxonomy to illuminate the difference between information, knowledge, and meaning.
www.themarginalian.org
November 25, 2025 at 3:09 PM
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mindfulness
A screenshot of an essay titled 'this moment, now, is your life'. The text explores themes of living in the present, reflecting on past regrets, and the concept of time. It discusses the importance of focusing on the 'now' rather than dwelling on 'what could have been' or 'what might be'. The author admits to struggling with regret and doubt while emphasizing that the past is gone and the future is unknown. The essay concludes with a call to experience and observe the present moment, encouraging readers to make sense of their experiences and to live fully in the moment.
November 25, 2025 at 1:17 AM
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Future readiness is not fortune-telling. It is a practice. Howard Yu argues that tomorrow belongs to organisations that build habits, culture, and tiny daily moves that keep them fractiona

https://www.nbforum.com/newsroom/blog/howard-yu-what-makes-a-future-ready-organization/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
A screenshot essay titled 'One Inch Ahead — The Real Work of Future Readiness' discussing Howard Yu's insights on future readiness. The text explains that future readiness is a discipline rather than a prediction game, advocating for organizations to build habits and culture that keep them ahead of challenges. It contrasts erratic approaches of innovation and cost-cutting, emphasizing the importance of continually evolving while maintaining core business functions. The essay highlights the necessity for cultural courage in transformation and provides examples from companies like Nvidia and Roche. It concludes with the idea of the 'plus-one mindset,' where adding new capabilities is crucial in an AI era, and emphasizes the significance of small daily improvements.
November 23, 2025 at 10:04 PM
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“The ability to learn from experience in the present — from moments, not models — is what is needed when the past has become a hindrance and the future is unclear.“
A screenshot essay titled 'To learn pay attention to your experience..not your mental models.' The text discusses the importance of learning from present experiences as opposed to relying on past mental models. It includes quotes emphasizing the necessity for conscious learning, the freedom of transformative learning, and the need to create time and space for learning in the workplace. The author references Gianpiero Petriglieri's paper 'Learning for a Living,' highlighting that learning at work requires dedicated effort and intention.
November 23, 2025 at 9:44 PM
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philosophy trains us to think with clarity, to cut through confusion, and to sharpen our reasoning.
Screenshot essay titled 'Philosophy Isn’t About Understanding Life. It’s About Thinking with Clarity.' The essay argues that philosophy is not solely about answering profound questions, but rather about cultivating the skill of clear thinking and asking better questions. It emphasizes the importance of critical thinking as a foundation for clarity, positing that understanding is an ongoing process. Key points include the value of curiosity over certainty, the necessity of intellectual humility, and the role of clarity in making informed decisions. The essay concludes that clear thinking is essential in navigating the complexities of modern life and combating misinformation.
November 23, 2025 at 8:07 PM
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Rules of thumb for managing
A screenshot essay titled 'Understanding Heuristics.' The text includes a quote from Roger Martin explaining heuristics as an approach to problem solving that aids progress but does not guarantee the desired solution, particularly in business contexts like M&A transactions or onboarding board members. The essay discusses heuristics as cognitive shortcuts that simplify decision-making, with examples such as trial and error and rule of thumb. It emphasizes the concept of Management Heuristics for effectiveness and describes 'Rule of Thumb' as a broadly applicable principle based on practical experience. The essay concludes with a note about a post by Roger Martin titled 'Heuristics, Management & Strategy' and includes a link to additional resources.
November 23, 2025 at 6:14 AM
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INNOVATION = ideas SUCCESSFULLY applied.
Screenshot essay titled 'INNOVATION = ideas SUCCESSFULLY applied' discussing the concept of innovation. The author argues that innovation is often mythologized and unnecessarily complicated. The body includes definitions from OECD (1994) that define innovation as new products, processes, and technological changes, requiring a series of activities for implementation. It also cites Richards (1985) who describes innovation as the process of applying new ideas, and the Oxford Handbook of Innovation Management which condenses innovation to 'Ideas, successfully applied.' The text emphasizes understanding innovation as a straightforward concept and encourages reading material for deeper insight.
November 22, 2025 at 9:22 AM
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Few things Kill an Organisation Faster Than a Leader Who Will Not Hear Bad News
A screenshot essay with the title 'When Truth Is Silenced, Leaders Deserve the Failure That Follows.' The essay discusses the importance of honesty and integrity within organizations as quoted by Siong Guan Lim in 2014. It emphasizes that fear of truth can hinder learning and excellence in the workplace. The body text highlights how avoiding uncomfortable truths can lead to mediocrity and failures. It argues that effective leadership involves fostering an environment where truth-telling is normalized, where leaders reward dissent and create psychological safety. The conclusion stresses that embracing truth is essential for organizational resilience and that the cost of silence always outweighs the cost of candor.
November 21, 2025 at 6:27 AM
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The only way to avoid making a mistake is not to do anything, and that, in the final analysis, will be the ultimate mistake.”  - Goh Keng Swee
Screenshot essay titled 'Managers cannot Avoid Mistakes: The Courage to Move Before You Feel Ready'. The text discusses the insights of Goh Keng Swee, emphasizing that inaction is more dangerous than making mistakes. It highlights the tendency of leaders to hesitate due to fear of consequences, arguing that waiting compromises momentum and options. The piece demonstrates how mistakes can provide valuable information for learning and refining processes, stressing that perfectionism hinders growth. It advocates for embracing experimentation and taking action to build resilience, stating that leadership involves adaptability and movement, with a concluding call to action against the mistake of doing nothing.
November 19, 2025 at 4:00 PM
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For life keeps offering its next surprise,
And calls us on toward possibility.
A written essay titled 'The Best Is Yet to Be.' The body consists of four stanzas of poetry, each exploring themes of hope, resilience, and the promise of future possibilities. The first stanza reflects on the daily emergence of new opportunities, while the second emphasizes the role of the past in shaping our journey. The third stanza discusses learning from struggles and finding inner strength. The final stanza encourages an open-minded approach to life's unfolding surprises and the potential for new experiences.
November 18, 2025 at 11:44 PM
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Your legacy will not be the quarter you delivered. It will be the standard you set for yourself.
Screenshot essay titled 'Note to the CEO: Stay Proficient, Stay Competitive, Stay Hungry'. The text discusses three critical disciplines for sustained organizational success: 1. Proficiency - Emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and staying ahead in technology; 2. Competitiveness - Warning against complacency and advocating for a challenger’s mindset to maintain an edge; 3. Hunger - Highlighting the need for internal drive and visionary thinking for long-term growth, rejecting mere short-term gains. Concludes with a powerful statement on legacy, stating it will be defined by the standards one sets for oneself, not just immediate results.
November 17, 2025 at 5:41 AM
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It is strange, isn’t it, that we become so concerned with what others might think about our actions. Why is that more important that honouring our own aspirations ?
A screenshot essay titled 'Do you suffer imposter syndrome? Too scared to take action? Overcome the fear of what others might think, or accept being ignored.' The body of the text discusses the author's realization that one should only live up to their own expectations to overcome the fear of judgment from others, which has been a barrier to taking action. It includes a bold statement highlighting the choice between risking judgment or being ignored. The author reflects on the paradox of seeking recognition while being restrained by fear. A quote from Seth Godin emphasizes the inevitability of judgment versus being ignored. The text questions why the opinion of others weighs heavily on personal aspirations and encourages readers not to let fears prevent them from pursuing their desired life.
November 16, 2025 at 3:00 PM
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Power doesn’t corrupt. Misused power does. Reclaim it. Reframe it. And lead with it.
Screenshot essay titled 'Power 20: Harnessing Power for Good – The Future of Organizational Politics'. It discusses the positive potential of power and politics in organizations. The text emphasizes that power is not inherently bad but depends on how it is utilized. It advocates for earning influence through credibility, trust, and integrity rather than relying solely on titles. The role of organizational development professionals is highlighted as essential in fostering emotional intelligence and transparency while navigating complex dynamics. The essay concludes that power can enhance collaboration and shared purpose, transforming office politics into a strategic advantage.
November 15, 2025 at 4:27 PM
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By keeping these principles in focus, you can turn the often-misunderstood realm of office politics into a lever for positive change. Organizations can channel energy toward their goals rather than being derailed by hidden agendas or power struggles
A screenshot essay titled 'Power 19: From Theory to Practice – Key Takeaways on Power and Politics'. The essay discusses the importance of understanding and applying insights about power and politics for effective leadership. It outlines key takeaways: 1. Acknowledge power dynamics, recognizing both formal and informal power players. 2. Use power wisely by employing a mix of different power bases ethically. 3. Build political skill to enhance influence, networking, and communication. 4. Foster an empowering culture that emphasizes transparency and collaboration. 5. Integrate power into change efforts by engaging key influencers. The essay concludes by emphasizing the potential for transforming office politics into positive change, focusing on performance and purpose.
November 15, 2025 at 6:29 AM
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By proactively influencing how power is distributed and exercised, management initiatives help create a more equitable and high-performing organization.
Screenshot essay titled 'Power 18: Management Interventions – Shaping Positive Power Practices in Organisations'. The essay discusses how organizations can design interventions to improve power dynamics and reduce dysfunctional politics. It outlines several key interventions: 1) Leadership development, focusing on ethical influence and conflict resolution; 2) Structural adjustments to revise processes that encourage negative politics; 3) Culture and values initiatives to promote transparency and collaboration; 4) Talent and network development through mentoring and knowledge sharing. It includes an example of a task force created to resolve inter-department rivalry, illustrating how such initiatives can reshape the political landscape and foster a more equitable organization.
November 15, 2025 at 3:45 AM
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Identify who holds the power
Screenshot essay titled 'Power 17: Key Insight – Diagnosing Power Dynamics in Your Organisation'. The essay discusses the importance of diagnosing power dynamics in organizations as part of Organizational Development (OD) efforts. It explains the need to identify formal authority and informal influence within an organization, emphasizing stakeholder analysis and interviews to reveal decision-makers and sources of support or resistance. Key questions include understanding decision-making processes, necessary stakeholders for successful change, and identifying hidden alliances or rivalries. Tools like force-field analysis and organizational network analysis are mentioned. An example illustrates the significance of recognizing influential figures, such as an office manager with close ties to executives. Effective diagnosis of power structures is highlighted as essential for tailoring OD recommendations and increasing their acceptance.
November 15, 2025 at 3:43 AM