Traction Heroes

We explore how understanding human group behavior might inform AI safety — and how that might also make us better stewards of human groups. Show notes: How Minds Change by David McRaney The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt The One and the Ninety-nine by Luke Burgis Wanting by Luke Burgis

Different people have different ways of learning. Knowing how you and those you work with learn best will help you gain traction. Show notes: Managing Oneself by Peter Drucker Story by Robert McKee Dialogue by Robert McKee Training From the Back of the Room by Sharon L. Bowman Robert F. Mager The Workshop Survival Guide by Rob Fitzpatrick and Devin Hunt Write Useful Books by Rob Fitzpatrick Please...

Are you more of an analytical or a holistic thinker? The answer might depend on the culture in which you were raised — and understanding that can help you gain traction. Show notes: The WEIRDest People in the World by Joseph Henrich Beyond Culture by Edward T. Hall The Long Now Foundation What Your Machines Should Do by Stefanie Hutka The Art of the Long View by Peter Schwartz Cultures and Organiz...

How do you delegate authority while maintaining coherence? One way is by establishing solid principles. Show notes: Becoming a Principle-Driven Leader by Charles and Chase Koch Good Profit by Charles G. Koch The HP Way by David Packard Incorruptible by Eric Ries Principles by Ray Dalio Traction Heroes Ep. 11: Gall’s Law Traction Heroes Ep. 16: OODA Loops Reading Notes: “Becoming a Principle-Driven...

Harry shares an important insight from a personal place: we must not just get better at giving feedback, but receiving it as well — and it can be especially difficult when feedback is part of your professional skillset. Show notes: Thanks for the Feedback by Douglas Stone & Sheila Heen Management of the Absurd by Richard Farson Naïve realism

Jorge digs out an influential book from his past to discuss a critical issue in decision-making. Show notes: The Art of Computer Game Design by Chris Crawford (PDF) Finite and Infinite Games by James P. Carse UX Design Innovation: Challenges for Working with Machine Learning as a Design Material by Graham Dove, Kim Halskov, Jodi Forlizzi, and John Zimmerman (PDF) AlphaGo (Full movie) 

It's easy to feel frustrated and powerless — but organizational leaders have more agency than they might think in today's world. Show notes: Incorruptible by Eric Ries Sentient Design by Josh Clark and Veronica Kindred Joseph Campbell and The Power of Myth Incorruptible by Design — Eric Ries Long Now seminar

AI gives us the ability to prototype faster than ever before — which is great, as long as we remember that there's underlying work to be done. Show notes: The Clock of the Long Now by Stewart Brand How Buildings Learn by Stewart Brand Maintenance of Everything, Part One   by Stewart Brand Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman The World as a Total Syst...

Many so-called accidents can be prevented with a bit of forethought. In this conversation, we explore ways to avoid bad outcomes by preparing beforehand. Show notes: There Are No Accidents, Only Collisions by Alan Levar Traction Heroes Ep. 2: Unprecedented The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande Pass Labs Four Types of Problems by Art Smalley Drift Into Failure by Sidney Dekker T he Problem Is Not...

Determining what to track is essential for effective management. But focusing on just a few measures can lead us to miss important things. Show notes: Seeing Like a State by James C. Scott How Buildings Learn by Stewart Brand Pace layers Strategies for Learning from Failure by Amy C. Edmondson (HBR gift link) What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith and Mark Reiter

A reading from a popular job search book prompts a discussion about our inability to accurately self-diagnose — and what to do about it. Show notes: Never Search Alone by Phyl Terry  Phyl.org Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi and Tahl Raz What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Bolles So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport Social Traps by John...

Jorge shares one of his core mental models — from an unexpected source. Show notes: Axis Thinking by Brian Eno A Year with Swollen Appendices by Brian Eno Polarity Management by Barry Johnson The Problem Is Not the Problem by Harry Max  

On the risks of unquestioningly delegating sense-making to technology in general (and AI in particular.) Show notes: The Glass Cage by Nicholas Carr

Our perceptions of what someone else will say or do can influence what they actually end up saying or doing — leading to a dangerous vicious cycle. Show notes: Beyond Belief by Nir Eyal Liminal Thinking by Dave Gray The Matrix Mistakes Were Mad (but Not By Me) by Caroll Tavris and Elliot Aronson

Harry and Jorge discuss one of the latter's favorite means for gaining traction: the MacGuffin, a concept with a storied pedigree in cinema. Show notes: Dark Matter and Trojan Horses by Dan Hill Trim tab The New How by Nilofer Merchant Human-Centered Security by Heidi Trost Tempo by Venkatesh Rao

On the importance of mindfulness for gaining traction — and how you can practice to become more mindful. Show notes: Original Love by Henry Shukman The Informed Life ep. 75: Hans Krueger on the Cycle of Emotions The Tim Ferriss Show ep. 531: Henry Shukman The Way App Waking Up The Ultimate Coach by Amy Hardison and Alan D. Thompson Being in the World

We tackle a key reading from a classic book to solve a perennial problem: how do we talk about what we do so we don't undersell our value? Show notes: Competing Against Luck   by Clayton M. Christensen, Karen Dillon, Taddy Hall, and David S. Duncan  Managing Priorities by Harry Max MECE principle Positioning by Jack Trout and Al Ries

A conversation about something that's emerging as a central theme in the podcast: how to avoid fooling yourself so you can achieve your goals by seeing more clearly. Show notes: The Art of Action by Stephen Bungay Sunset Boulevard (1950 film) John Boyd Traction Heroes Ep. 6: Chesterton's Fence Crazy Time by Abigail Trafford

Is your business in service to the bottom line or something higher? Whichever you pick will influence the organization's culture. Show notes: Tim O’Reilly in a Nutshell by Tim O’Reilly Rosenfeld Media Shai Agassi OODA loop Thinking In Bets by Annie Duke The Art of Action by Stephen Bungay Makers and Takers by Rana Foroohar

How do you get useful information from people when the very act of asking might compromise the answer? Harry offers insights from a surprising source. Show notes: Confidential by John Nolan Climbing the Ladder of Business Intelligence by James E. Cates, Sam S. Gill, and Natalie Zeituny  Precision questioning EnlivenWork

An end of year reflection on what motivates us to do what we do. The Highest Goal   by Michael Ray Echelon Front Extreme Ownership The Dichotomy of Leadership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin Steve Siebold THE SECRET Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill The ONE Thing by Gary Keller The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Values Clarification by Sidney Simon and Lela...

A reading from an unexpected source leads to a discussion about the importance of having a clear vision. Show notes: Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life by Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold (Netflix series) StrengthsFinder Penny-farthing Extreme Ownership Lincoln (film)

Our running conversation goes meta after Harry reads from a book about how to listen better. You’re Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It Matters by Kate Murphy The Informed Life  podcast Duly Noted by Jorge Arango How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Spurred by a reading from Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Jorge and Harry have a rambling conversation about building resilient businesses during times of disruptive technological change. Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb Peak Priorities unfinishe_ The Great Mental Models by Shane Parrish Xenix Cursor Lovable

Harry brings to the discussion a four-part model for skillfully navigating change. Show notes: Thresholds of Change by Rebecca Borland Reynolds and Connolly Fox ADKAR: A Model for Change in Business, Government and our Community by Jeffrey M. Hiatt PROSCI Kübler-Ross Change Curve® Liminal Thinking by Dave Gray