Your mental models may be failing you (here's the fix)

TOGETHER WITH DIRTEA

Kickstart your 2025 healthy routine

Upgrade your day with award-winning DIRTEA Coffee Super Blend. For people seeking sharper focus, a calm mind, and lasting energy:

• Over 1,000mg of Lion's Mane per Cup

• 80% less caffeine than regular coffee

• Made with the highest quality Organic Certified ingredients.

Shop now & save 30%.

THE ART & SCIENCE OF LEADING SELF
The Power of Self-Observation

My friend, today's executives face unprecedented uncertainty. Earnings volatility, geopolitical tensions, AI integration decisions, and supply chain disruptions create a complex web of challenges that test even the most seasoned leaders.

But here's what makes this moment unique: these uncertainties offer a rare window into how you observe and interpret challenges.

Your response to uncertainty reveals more about your leadership than any strategic plan or quarterly report ever could.

Last November, we explored the distinction between first and second order learning in Why your leadership growth is stuck (and how to break free). Today, let's explore how this distinction transforms your ability to navigate uncertainty.

I decided to do a mashup of a “snatched from the headlines” scenario with a hypothetical CEO so that we can dig into the details in a tailor-made way.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at Sarah Lopez*, CEO of a global manufacturing company facing severe supply chain disruptions from newly-imposed tariffs. Her journey from first to second order learning illustrates a profound shift in leadership consciousness.

First Order Learning: The Initial Response

Sarah's first response focused on tactical solutions:

• diversifying suppliers

• increasing inventory buffers

• adjusting pricing models

These weren't wrong moves, but they stemmed from unexamined assumptions about how supply chains "should" work.

Second Order Learning: The Deeper Dive

The breakthrough came when Sarah started examining not just the problem, but how she observed the problem. She realized her view of supply chains was shaped by her MBA education in the early 2000s – an era that assumed ever-increasing globalization.

"I had to confront how my past experiences were limiting my perspective," she shared. "I wasn't just managing a supply chain crisis – I was managing my own mental models about business fundamentals."

This shift from first order learning to second order learning transformed her approach. Instead of just asking "How do we fix this?" she began exploring:

• What experiences shape my beliefs about supply chain risk?

• Which mental models am I using that may no longer serve the business?

• How might other industries or cultures view this challenge?

The Mindset Connection

This is where M = f(m) becomes crucial.

Remember: Mindset work is a function of mindfulness. Your ability to observe your own thinking patterns requires the space that mindfulness creates. This space allows you to:

• Notice your automatic reactions

• Question your fundamental assumptions

• Explore alternative perspectives

When Sarah created this space for deeper observation, she discovered that her biggest constraint wasn't the external environment – it was her own perception of it.

Three Key Takeaways

1. Uncertainty reveals your mental models: Your response to uncertainty shows you where your thinking might be stuck.

2. Self-observation is your superpower: The ability to examine your own thinking patterns is what enables transformation.

3. Mindfulness creates the space: Regular mindfulness practice develops your capacity for second order learning.

*Sarah Lopez is fictional, but the supply chain crisis she faces is all too real.

FROM INSIGHT TO ACTION
Putting It Into Practice

 Your Self-Observation Practice

Start with one uncertainty you're facing. Ask yourself:

• What assumptions am I making about how this "should" work?

• Where did I learn these assumptions?

• What perspective might someone from a different background bring?

Remember, the goal isn't to eliminate uncertainty – it's to transform how you relate to it.

DEEPENING YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Resources for You

 🧠 Want to understand the value of self-reflection? This article offers practical insights. (Link)

💡 Chris Argyris's classic article on double-loop learning remains foundational for understanding transformative learning. (Link)

🎥 For a compelling look at mindfulness in leadership, watch Daniel Goleman's talk at Google. (Link)

📚 Want a look at first and second order learning principles through the lens of how language shapes leadership, culture, and decision-making? (Link)

EXCELLENCE UNBOUNDED
How I Can Help You

🚀 The Executive Alignment Playbook: Where Synergy Meets Strategy

The Executive Alignment Playbook is a high-impact initiative designed for C-suite executives and senior leadership teams in established organizations and fast-scaling enterprises.

This program provides a structured, results-driven approach to executive team alignment by addressing:

• leadership fragmentation

• siloed decision-making

• the need for stronger cross-functional collaboration across major business functions

Book a call to learn more about this strategic investment in executive cohesion, operational efficiency, and long-term competitive advantage.

🎤 Speaking Engagements: My mom can attest to the fact that I LOVE to talk. 😂 Now, I put that talent to work delivering talks on Mindset, Courage, Resilience, & Innovation.

A few past clients include KraftHeinz, Amazon Women @ Payments, PAHEi, & the Panamá Chapter of the International Coaching Federation (I delivered this talk in Spanish).

If you are interested in having me speak at your event, please fill out this form.

Until next Sunday,

Shawnette