Hi Reader,

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Welcome to this week's Rev Up. I've been in hospital most of the week with my son, who's been having spinal surgery (I'm still here as I write this). There's a lot of bad news propaganda about the NHS, so if you're lucky enough that you haven't needed to use it much in a while, I can report that the service and care has been exceptional. Like, five stars out of five. We are very lucky to have it. And by all accounts, as spring is springing, waiting lists are falling and there is more optimism in the system than there's been for a long time. Good news feels so weird these days, doesn't it?

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Nurturing my son back to health has taken every ounce of my energy and patience this week, even though I've felt like we're in incredibly safe hands. You can tell that the doctors and nurses are following a familiar process with each patient, and with largely predictable results.

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What's also been in the air elsewhere this week has been cuts. I've heard stories in my network of board members in organisations inspired by Elon Musk's 'chainsaw' antics (and presumably also in favour of his view that "The fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy"). It's become 'macho' to advocate for radical destruction. Yuk. It's up to the rest of us to make sure this kind of attitude and behaviour isn't normalised. I didn't realise quite how much my book 'KIND' would be needed in 2025. So, er, please spread the word.

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But whilst the antics of the world's most selfish man might feel abhorrent, that's not to say there's never a place for cutting. In my experience, when you grow businesses or teams, you do often grow inefficiency within them. People do things the way they've always done them rather than actively seeking innovation. People stay in their comfort zones because risk-taking is, well, risky if you get it wrong. It's no one's fault, it's just 'the system' and very understandable when you think about it.

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Cuts (big or small) are often needed when there's a disconnect between the ticking off of tasks and the value those tasks create for the organisation or end user. And of course, there's nothing less efficient than doing things efficiently that didn't need to be done at all.

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When a gardener wants better roses next year, they cut back some of the old growth. When a tree surgeon wants to keep a tree healthy, they cut some of the bits around the edges so that the core of the tree gets enough nourishment. Cutting can in itself be about growth and health. Its just one part of the wider nurturing process.

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The point is, cutting has to be done with a high level of care to be effective. Try tending to your roses with a chainsaw instead of your usual pruning method and you'll see what I mean.

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And cutting is something we should do for ourselves as regularly as we can:

- "is this still needed?"

- "can I renegotiate this thing?"

- "where are we trying to get to, and what's the short cut instead of the meandering route?"

- "is this thing/relationship/activity/habit/whatever still serving me?"

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When we cut small things along the way, we reduce the need for major overhaul - and we also keep our activity and our growth focused. In teams, the whole endeavour feels purposeful - assuming cuts are done well - because cuts are often a stark reminder of the purpose.

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Teams need to be nurtured to thrive. Cuts are OK if they feel safe and healthy, and if everyone emerges from the process with dignity. This is one of the core elements of kindful leadership - it's all about delivering truth, but doing it with grace, care and, yes, empathy.

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For years, my company, Think Productive has been working with some of the world's brightest organisations on exactly this stuff. There are two workshops we do (along with everything from full leadership and management programmes, to keynotes with me) that can really help:​
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💡 T​hriving Teams – Building a culture of resilience & psychological safety

Creating a culture where people feel safe, supported, and inspired to do their best work is key to long-term success. This workshop equips you with the tools to create a resilient, psychologically safe workplace where teams perform at their best.

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❤️ Cracking the Engagement Puzzle – Understanding human motivation to energize and motivate your team

Every team member is different, and understanding what truly motivates them can feel like a puzzle. This workshop helps you solve that puzzle, unlock motivation, have more meaningful conversations, and create an environment where everyone feels valued and energized.

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These sessions offer bold insights, practical tools and fresh thinking. Expect real-world strategies, lively discussions, and techniques you can apply right away.

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If you want to find out more, either hit reply here or find your nearest Think Productive office (we have people standing by to help you everywhere from London to New York to Sydney, and everywhere in between) at www.thinkproductive.com.

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Have a great week,

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Graham

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