Mindsets That Matter: Are You Climbing Or Are You Dancing?

Read time: 4 minutes

Hi 👋

If you're new here, welcome to the Build Things That Matter newsletter where I share tips, strategies and insights I’ve learned building an 8-figure organization teaching hundreds of thousands of people technical skills - with the hope that it inspires others to build things that matter, too.

I had a conversation recently that I can’t stop thinking about.

I’m sure that, like most, if not all, of you reading this, my organization is responding to the rapid advancements and changes in technology, such as AI.

I know that the problem my org exists to solve: helping learners, especially from equity-deserving groups, leverage the power of technology matters more than ever.

The solution? In the face of AI, needs to look a little, or a lot, different than it has in the past.

As an entrepreneur, this is truly the most exciting thing to me. It’s an opportunity to build or evolve something that will meaningfully help our learners in new ways.

As a leader and employer, it’s terrifying.

I’ve successfully navigated many pivots and periods of change in the past and know that they can be very challenging for everyone in an organization - myself included.

It requires thoughtfulness and strategy. It’s why I prioritize connecting with my mentors even more often these days.

It was on one of these calls when I was chatting with a mentor - a seasoned tech leader who’s worked in big Fortune 10 companies and is an AI entrepreneur when I asked:

How do you think about leading a team during change and uncertainty?

What he shared has been such a game-changer in framing and clarity.

He said:

You’re either climbing or dancing. Your job is to figure out which and act accordingly.

If you’re climbing, you clearly know where you want to go with your business, product or offering in the mid-term and your task is to help your team get there.

You should:

→ Set Clear Milestones: Just as climbers use basecamps to rest and plan, setting clear, achievable goals will help provide a sense of progress and direction to help your team get to the next basecamp and the next and the next until you reach the top.

→ Equip Your Team: Provide the necessary tools and training. In the context of AI, this could mean upskilling in new technologies or this could also mean unblocking whatever stands in your team's way of reaching the milestones you’ve set.

→ Maintain Clear Lines of Communication: Keep communications lines open. Regular updates and feedback loops ensure everyone is aligned and can voice concerns or share insights as you’re moving quickly in the same direction.

If you’re dancing, you need your team to get somewhere together - that somewhere isn’t clear to you, yet.

You should:

→ Over Communicate Your 'Why': Clearly articulate why you do what you do as an org. What is the problem you’re solving? What will be better because you exist? This is the thing that will act as a compass for your team to feel a sense of direction.

→ Reward Dancing Behaviors: Acknowledge individuals and teams that demonstrate flexibility, experimentation and learning - the behaviors that well help you figure out where to go. Ensure that your performance metrics support and reward these too.

→ Lead with Empathy: Understand the emotional and professional impacts of change and lack of clarity on your team. Much like a dance partner, it becomes really important to support transitions. Some team members might embrace new challenges eagerly, while others might struggle. Be present in conversations, act on their feedback where appropriate, and consider tailoring support when needed.

Most importantly, whether you are climbing or dancing, the key is to move deliberately and thoughtfully.

So, what's your next step? Are you climbing or are you dancing? ⛰️💃

That’s all for this week…but one more thing. Building things is hard. And, we need more people to do it. My personal goal is to help 1,000,000 people build the skills and confidence to build things that matter.  If you enjoyed this newsletter, can you do me a favour and forward it to a friend? Thanks in advance!

Let’s keep building, together 🫶🚀

#Mel

Follow me on X/Instagram/LinkedIn: @melsariffodeen

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