How I Work BEST OF: Mel Silva shares leadership lessons from inside Google
9 snips
Jan 1, 2025 Mel Silva, the Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand at Google, shares over 16 years of invaluable leadership insights. She discusses the importance of workplace culture and retention, introducing the innovative concept of 'thinking days' for deep reflection. Mel emphasizes effective time management with tools like Google Calendar and the impact of radical candor on personal growth. She also explores mentorship through scheduled office hours and balances the complexities of parenting while maintaining health and well-being.
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Thinking Days
- Schedule thinking days every six weeks to get out of the daily grind and focus on strategic thinking.
- Prepare in advance by identifying three key topics and gathering necessary data or inputs.
Thinking Day Example
- Mel Silva used a thinking day to evaluate Google's culture and programs in a changing work environment.
- She considered employee needs and developed a discussion guide for a leadership offsite, demonstrating the practical application of thinking days.
Thinking Day Prep
- Prepare for thinking days by noting down high-level questions as they arise over the six weeks.
- Refine and prioritize the top three questions the week before, gathering any necessary resources.
