A Proven-and-Tested Framework for Newbie Managers, Inside the Brain of Kobe Bryant, and Questioning Your Habits
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." -- Aristotle
Weekly Snapshot
In today’s newsletter, we highlight:
How to effectively delegate tasks to your team
And, an excerpt from Friedrich Nietzsche’s The Gay Science
Hey friends,
This week, I had a friend come up to me to seek for advice on a dilemma at work that she is facing.
While I was definitely flattered by the idea that someone would approach me for help regarding a matter that I absolutely don’t have anything to do with, it still makes me appreciate the fact that there are people who come to our lives and make us realize the value that we give to them.
Whether it’s family, friends, or a special someone, I guess it’s common for us humans to look for solutions to our life’s problems from someone who has “been-there-done-that”.
Hence, in today’s edition of The Hourly Bread, we draw inspiration from some of the people — legends from today and in history — who have done just about every thing in life.
The following pieces of advice and thought-provoking ideas on how to advance your career, business, and well-being in general is a collection of the most profound contents that I read this week. Let’s grow!
— Kristoff 🤞
The ARCI Framework for Decision-Making
When I first stepped into a managerial role, I found myself overwhelmed by the sheer number of decisions that needed to be made daily. Honestly, back then, I wish someone had taken the time to explain to me the importance of using managerial frameworks that simplify both operations and people management.
Then, in one of my ventures while working with a Silicon Valley-based startup, one tool that I found to be a game-changer ever since it was introduced to me by veteran CEO Daniel R. Odio is the ARCI Framework. It took away from me the guesswork out of decision-making and brought clarity to my team's roles and responsibilities.
The ARCI Framework is essential for clear decision-making.
Without defined roles, teams face confusion, wasted time, and missed deadlines.
Clearly Define Responsibilities
When roles aren't clear, tasks get duplicated or ignored. The ARCI framework requires that you define who is Accountable, Responsible, Consulted, and Informed on a specific task or project.
Accountable: The person who owns the task and ensures it is completed.
Responsible: The person who does the work to complete the task.
Consulted: Individuals who provide input and advice before the task is completed.
Informed: Individuals who are kept updated on the task’s progress and outcomes.
This eliminates confusion, ensuring everyone knows their part. For example, in a product launch, having a clearly defined ARCI chart can prevent the marketing and sales teams from clashing over who handles customer outreach.
Avoid Accountability Overlap
Assigning multiple people as Accountable leads to finger-pointing and delays. A single person must own the outcome. To avoid this, designate one leader for each task. If a project fails, it’s clear who needs to address the issue, keeping teams focused and efficient.
In my capacity as a team manager before, I see to it that for each new report that is assigned to our team, there is a lead analyst who will be the one Responsible in making sure that we submit our deliverable with the highest quality possible. But at the same time, we are aligned that whenever a certain report gets flagged for any issues, the fallback will be on me as I am Accountable in making sure that the report standards are always up to the maximum.
Ensure Continuous Communication
My mantra at work has always been: “Overcommunicating is better than not communicating at all.”
Roles can change, especially in dynamic projects. This is why it is important that managers keep the ARCI chart updated. Regular check-ins ensure everyone stays aligned. For instance, in an agile development, updating the ARCI chart during sprints helps accommodate shifting priorities and team structures, maintaining project momentum.
Overall, implementing the ARCI framework in decision-making brings clarity to roles and responsibilities, reducing confusion, preventing overlap, and ensuring that tasks are completed efficiently and effectively.
Consistency beats intensity
I’m not sure if it’s algorithm’s doing or just God’s plan, but in the past few months, I’ve always consistently come across with at least 1-2 posts every day regarding the importance of building a personal brand.
This week is no exception.
Upon doing my weekly stroll in LinkedIn, I stumbled upon Charles Miller and his post above, essentially stating that consistency is what’s going to change your life.
Whatever you want, give it an hour a day for a year.
If there’s something that you are currently doing, whether to further your career, your business, or a mere creative pursuit, just be consistent.
Showing up every day beats showing out, majority of the time. Read that again.
Six lessons from Kobe Bryant
I am a die-hard San Antonio Spurs fan.
Therefore, growing up it was only reasonable for me to hate all of their rivals. From Dirk Nowitzki’s Dallas Mavericks to Steve Nash’s Phoenix Suns and most especially the Kobe Bryant-led Los Angeles Lakers, I despised them all.
Then, in college I developed an unnatural reverence for these players:
I thought Dirk has always actually been pretty much respected by the Spurs, especially when the organization sent him off from his last NBA game ever with an emotional tribute.
Nash, on the other hand, is my favorite player of all time outside of those who played in the 210. Whether it was caused by an adoration honed after listening every day to The Starters’ (now No Dunks) crew, or consistently playing his character in NBA LIVE 2008, or just admiring his play in general, I am not sure. But who doesn’t love Captain Canada (aside, of course, from the Brooklyn Nets)?
Then there’s Kobe. I watched his legendary performance against the Utah Jazz. I was listening to the radio live for news and updates before he was confirmed dead after a tragic helicopter crash. As someone who watched the NBA in its peak in the 2010s, it’s his name that I yell when shooting a crumpled paper into a trash bin.
Kobe’s influence transcends beyond sports. His ‘Mamba Mentality’ has become a household name among athletes and peers in general. Here are six lessons from the Black Mamba, as visualized by the creative minds behind the Instagram page Forge State.
Work hard in the dark to shine in the light.
Haters are a good problem to have. Nobody hates the good ones. They hate the great ones.
If you don’t believe yourself, no one will do it for you.
Friends can come and go, but banners hang forever.
Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses.
Everything negative — pressure, challenges — is all an opportunity for me to rise.
Bonus: If you’re afraid to fail, then you’re probably going to fail.
What’s your favorite quote from Kobe? Share it by leaving a comment below.
Time management techniques from Lenny Rachitsky
If I have a penny from each time I talk about
and share wisdom from , I’d probably be a millionaire by now — obviously, that is an exaggeration and I’m just kidding.But the amount of real-life practical knowledge that Lenny drops from his write-ups to his podcasts is second to none.
In a previous free edition of his newsletter, Lenny shared 10 time management tactics that he uses every single day in order to be productive. You can read them all from the post above.
Personally, here’s my favorite (because it’s the first time I read about it):
3. Keep a “waiting for” list
Whenever you ask someone to do something for you, add them to your “waiting for” list...
This tactic also comes from the Getting Things Done framework, and it changed my life. One of the most important habits of highly effective PMs is creating an aura of “I got this,” and the best way to build that aura is to never drop the ball. This tactic allows you to keep track of every open thread, versus relying on your memory, and makes it easy to remember to check in when someone else is dropping the ball. Once your brain knows that the information is written down somewhere, it can relax and create space for much more valuable thinking.
If you’re using a to-do app, you can alternatively note who you’re waiting on (aka who’s blocking progress on that task) within the task description.
Ask yourself this question today
German classical scholar, philosopher and critic of culture Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, who is considered one of the world’s most influential modern thinkers, asked himself in his 1882 book “The Gay Science”:
Look at your habits: Are they the product of innumerable little cowardices and laziness or of your courage and inventive reason?
Try to reflect on this over the weekend. I’ll write to you all again next week!