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BEST OF: Mel Silva shares leadership lessons from inside Google
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.
33:51
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Quick takeaways
- Mel Silva highlights the importance of 'thinking days' for structured deep reflection, enabling effective strategic planning and creativity in a distraction-free environment.
- Radical candor is essential for growth, fostering honest yet empathetic communication that leads to significant behavior changes and stronger workplace relationships.
Deep dives
The Importance of Thinking Days
Thinking days are designated times set aside for deep reflection and strategic planning, allowing individuals to step back from their busy routines. These days enable focused thinking work, where one can tackle important topics or challenges in a distraction-free environment. By preparing in advance and identifying key areas to focus on, significant insights can be generated, such as creating discussion guides that foster deeper conversations during leadership meetings. This structured approach not only enhances creativity but also leads to actionable outcomes, reflecting how intentional time management can lead to improved professional effectiveness.
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