Last year, my firm’s leadership group debated whether we wanted to have a firm-wide discussion of everyone’s Enneagram. Most people were ambivalent about taking a test and discussing the results. Even those proposing it seemed ambivalent—it was just a fun idea! Two of us, though, resisted the idea. I felt—or maybe knew is better, having … Continue reading On pushing back against personality tests
Author: T Coe
On the story of your name icebreaker
One of my favorite library finds of last year was Creative Acts for Curious People—a Stanford d.school publication that compiled dozens of icebreakers, group activities, and creative exercises. The icebreakers were more than the typical single question variety. My favorite one in the book is “Story of Your Name.” Find someone in the room you … Continue reading On the story of your name icebreaker
On the doorway effect
I didn't need to learn the name of this effect to know that it exists. Wait. Why did I come up here? It's only with a single-minded focus, or by carrying some physical object, that I can remember why I have walked into a room. At least once a day, I find myself striding into … Continue reading On the doorway effect
On anadiplosis
A few months ago, when I learned the name of this rhetorical device, I laughed out loud. I couldn't have told you the name, but I use it all the time. Anadiplosis means a "doubling back" or a "making double," referring to the practice of beginning a clause with the same word or phrase that … Continue reading On anadiplosis
On compassion and curiosity when someone makes a mistake
The ideal response to a mistake, according to an article in Psychology Today, is compassion and curiosity. The not-so-ideal response? Well, anger, of course—not that I needed an article to tell me that. What delighted me about this article, though, was that it made me reflect on my own recent mistakes and I realized that … Continue reading On compassion and curiosity when someone makes a mistake
On doing the right thing poorly instead of the wrong things perfectly
Oh no. Have I been doing the wrong things? I fight the instinct to do what everyone else does. After all: do I really expect to do the same things everyone else is doing better than everyone else? Better to do something else that no one else is doing poorly. For example, in my industry, … Continue reading On doing the right thing poorly instead of the wrong things perfectly
On 7 things from last week (4/10/17)
Draft No. 4 by John McPhee. I've already written about this, but I really enjoyed this book of meta-journalism. Textbook Amy Krause Rosenthal by Amy Krause Rosenthal. A lovely, whimsical book of jokes, observations, and oddities underlined by the sadness of the author's dying too early at only age 51. Running with Our Eyes Closed. … Continue reading On 7 things from last week (4/10/17)
On feeling old for not knowing what a glizzy is
Do you know what a "glizzy" is? I’m 32 years old, a late millennial, and I feel—at times—profoundly disconnected from the Gen Z that are at the nexus of current pop culture. Glizzy is just the latest evidence of this. If you, like me, still don’t know what I’m talking about: Glizzy, apparently, is slang … Continue reading On feeling old for not knowing what a glizzy is
On story structure and John McPhee
Over the past week I’ve enjoyed flipping through John McPhee’s Draft No. 4, a collection of essays outlining his approach to writing and journalism. His essay on “structure” may be the most satisfying part of the group. McPhee is rightly famous for his thoughtful story structures, many of which upend the traditional chronological narrative. There’s … Continue reading On story structure and John McPhee
On the well-traveled road effect
I drive the same 2.6-mile stretch of Ward Road at least twice a day. I could give an intersection-by-intersection overview if prodded, from the house on the hill that has yard decorations and blowups for every holiday imaginable to the pig statue that graces the used car lot off of 48th Street. What I couldn't … Continue reading On the well-traveled road effect
Taylor Coe 