We're starting something here—a monthly dispatch from where leadership actually happens.

 

Notes from the Lab is where we share what we're seeing in real time: the patterns emerging across organizations, the tools that surprise us with their impact, and the honest conversations that shape how leaders think and act.

 

Leadership keeps evolving, and we're evolving with it. Each month, we'll bring you insights from our work with leaders—the strategic shifts that worked, the friction points that are tripping teams up, and the practical approaches we're testing in real-time.

 

Consider this your monthly reality check from the field. 

 

📉 How Do You Plan When Everything Is in Flux? 
Old planning cycles break down under modern volatility. This short piece from Rotman offers a smarter approach—and Adrian shared reflections on how we’ve been helping orgs navigate the chaos. 
→ Read the article 
→ Adrian’s LinkedIn Take 

 

🧠 How Digital Amnesia Is Eroding Your Leadership Edge 
“McKinsey estimates that knowledge workers spend 1.8 hours daily searching for information. But the real cost isn’t time—it’s the loss of institutional memory.” 
When your team keeps solving the same problems from scratch, you’re not just inefficient. You’re vulnerable. 
→ Read on SmartBrief 

📌 In case you missed it: last month, we shared a series of posts on why midyear matters more than most leaders realize. 
 

Too often, teams coast into Q3 on autopilot—exhausted, distracted, and misaligned. But we’ve seen firsthand how midyear can be a powerful inflection point for leaders who use it intentionally.

 

🧭 Why Midyear Is a Strategic Moment 
Not just a checkpoint. Not just a break. Midyear is when reality hits the plan—and smart leaders pause to adjust course. 
→ Read more

 

🔎 Ask Better Questions, Get Better Strategy 
The quality of your questions shapes the quality of your outcomes. Here's how to shift from status updates to strategy-provoking dialogue. 
→ Asking the Questions That Matter Most 

Where we share simple tools with high return 
 

🔄 Try This 15-Minute Reset Ritual 
This small but powerful exercise re-energized a team we work with—and it doesn’t require a retreat, a slide deck, or an outside facilitator. Just one question, one reflection, and one shift. 
→ Feeling the Mid-Year Slump? Start Here

 

🧭 Need a More Structured Reset? 
Here’s a full walkthrough of how to lead a midyear regroup—with your team or for yourself. Strategic, practical, and built for real-world volatility. 
→ How to Engage in a Mid-Year Reset 

📋 Essentials Lab
For new supervisors, team leads, and “step-up” employees preparing for future leadership roles by learning the essentials.

→ Next Session: November 12 & 13, 2025

 

📣 Accelerator Lab
For leaders looking to accelerate their career by developing the people skills to inspire teams, manage relationships, and drive results.

→ Next Session: Four Tuesdays - October 7, 14, 21, & 28

 

📈 Strategy Lab
For experienced leaders and seasoned professionals looking to elevate their strategic thinking, decision making, and ability to inspire teams in today’s fast-paced, complex environment.

→ Next Session: Four Thursdays - October 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30

 

 

That’s it for now. If you liked this, forward it to someone who’d find it useful. And if there’s a question or challenge you’re navigating, hit reply—we’d love to hear what’s on your mind.

 

—The Success Labs Team