Build #49 - coaching, measuring and disaggregating work

Hello,

Hope your week’s going well and you’ve got a little corner of brain space for three interesting articles I spotted recently:

​1. Measuring knowledge work is hard​

Cal Newport has an interesting article that segues neatly from Elon Musk through management by objectives to its modern day counsin OKRs. The common thread is the challenge of measuring the unmeasurable - how knowledge work is inherently unmeasurable, despite a lot of effort to prove otherwise.

My take: There’s a lot in this to consider. OKRs have become the go-to methodology for tech businesses trying to gain top-down alignment to a common mission. In my experience, their effectiveness depends on the way they’ve been implemented and the wider organisational culture. They’re not a magic fix for employee disengagement or a lack of clear vision.

​2. The separation and reaggregation of work ​

The way happens is changing radically - traditional full-time jobs are becoming disaggregated and reallocated to a portfolio of solutions, human and technological. This article explores the drivers behind this trend such as remote work, demography, the gig economy and AI-enabled efficiencies. Rishad argues we need to adapt by rethinking org structures, leadership and personal career strategies to thrive.

My take: like Rishad Tobaccowala’s podcast and this article is a good summary of the thesis behind his new book. For founders this article is good food for thought on how the nature of work is shifting and how they need to reflect this as they scale up their operations.

​3. Dialling up the coaching in your leadership​

My Extra Brain collaborator Cath Brown has a nice article about how coaching can help leaders develop a more effective style, holding reflective space for deeper insights. She simplifies a lot of the noise around what coaching really is and helps provide some simple steps that any leader can adopt to increase their impact.

My take: As a coach this really resonated with me. I liked the way Cath disassembles some coaching confusion and provides practical advice that any founder can adopt with their teams or customers.

That’s it for today. Have a great week.

best regards,
-sw