Better Think Tanking #1
Better Think Tanking #1
Leadership, diversity and what else to expect
We started this newsletter to share inspiring content that helps advance conscious leadership and management in the think tank bubble and beyond.
To find out more about our initiative, have a look at our vision. You have questions, feedback or want to get in touch? Write to us!
Make Think Tanks Diverse A̶g̶a̶i̶n̶
Hundreds of Washington think tank professionals call for more diversity. Their signed letter includes detailed recommendations for action, which you can start implementing today.
Foreign Policy writes about the diversity push, featuring individual experiences of discrimination - and our newsletter. (Yay!)
Who You Don’t Listen To - And Why
“You know that time when you have an idea (…) and tell a few colleagues about it and they look at you a bit strangely (...) and then a couple of days or weeks later someone else comes along and says the exact same thing (…) and suddenly the idea that was roundly rejected when you presented it is now enthusiastically embraced (…).“
The gender, position, attractiveness, and charisma of the messenger influences every subconscious evaluation of a statement. The frustration is real. Behavioral scientists and authors of Messengers discuss the topic in this podcast episode. Our takeaways:
Don’t let people in meetings introduce themselves. The most senior person should explain why everybody is in the room as an expert.
Be aware: When uncertain or anxious, we’re prone to listen more to dominant people.
Avoid romanticizing leadership: Don’t attribute more than is deserving to the people who have the power to pay, promote and teach.
We are the Most Dangerous Person in America - and Europe
“We”, as in the white woman. Outraged by this statement? Then read about Danielle Slaughter’s experiences and why she thinks that the white woman has “mastered using her privilege to uphold white supremacy and patriarchy while pretending to fight for everyone.” Let’s hold white women accountable, not be complicit.
Life Goals
This conversation between Samantha Power and Kara Swisher is about how the U.S. should be responding to Covid-19, what the Obama administration got wrong about big tech, disinformation and other national security challenges.
Imagine different people in power, if only for a few minutes…
German|y: Von Affen lernen
Das ganze Potential an Kreativität und Innovation von Mitarbeiter:innen nutzen. Klingt gut? Flache Hierarchien, verteilte Führungsverantwortung und eine bessere Feedbackkultur sind die Zukunft - und Voraussetzung für Agilität. Wenn nicht in Think Tanks, wo dann?
What We Are Thinking About
This spot-on thread:
“When we talk about care work, we often think of family structures. It is mostly women who do care work in them. But I believe that most companies would not function without female care work either.”
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Theresa & Sarah