Stapler

As a young investment banker, I often worked on transactions with a particular senior colleague. Unfortunately, from the moment we met, we got along like oil and water. 

Although I followed her instructions, our dynamic worsened as time passed. Then, one night, when we were both working late on a presentation, I raised a point with her that proved to be a provocation too far. In a moment of rage, she turned bright red and hurled a stapler at my head from close range, scoring a direct hit. 

Nothing good came out of that night. I had some legitimate criticisms of her work, but did I need to push her to the breaking point? Could I have brought better energy to my feedback? The answers to these questions were obvious. I may not have been doing anything wrong in an official sense, but looking back, my approach to working with her fell short of my own standards.

Plenty of talented executives are full of snappy insights, but transforming into the best version of oneself requires more than knowledge and pedigree. It requires self-awareness and the knowhow to turn even the most challenging situations into wins.

I chose a stapler as my logo to remind me that provoking people to recognize their mistakes and biases can be a great way to stimulate change, but it should always be done with constructive intent and a deft touch. After all, you never know what people might be holding in their hands.