Weekend Building Blocks - 11 AUG 2017


There's no value in collecting blocks unless you're connecting them to build something awesome!
Academic publishing. Abu Ghraib. Sports team captains. Amateurs. Learning myths.
  1. Social Sciences Publishing: Time to Stop a Meaningless and Wasteful Game. Yiannis Gabriel gives a glimpse behind-the-curtain of publishing academic research. He claims the drive to be published in watering down the collection of research studies. This motivation is also adversely affects the teaching side of academia - where less experienced teachers are being put in front of classrooms. 
  2. Joe Willis talks at WINx Chicago 2017. Joe Willis of TeamOne Network did an 18-minute TED-style talk. He shares his experience in the US Army, dealing with the aftermath of the Abu Ghraib prison embarrassment. Joe discusses his commitment to the cause, and how it negatively affected his relationships outside the Army. His lessons include identity, character, leadership, moral direction, and more. I'm proud to call Joe one my friends - the type of guy you meet and instantly connect with. I hope you watch his video and consider why I think he's such a great guy.
  3. The Seven Leadership Secrets of Great Team Captains. In this Wall Street Journal article (potential subscription required), Sam Walker looks at dynasty sports teams...and their team captains. They each have different traits than you might expect. This is a fun read that holds a lot of great stories and lessons on fame, celebrity, and success of superstars and the quiet leaders behind them.
  4. The Difference Between Amateurs and Professionals. This is a blog from Farnam Street.  The author brings up ideas inline with Growth vs Fixed Mindsets, vulnerability, learning, Process vs Outcome, forecasting and prediction, feedback, responsibility...and so much more. Think about where you compare. Are you an amateur or a professional? I bet it's different in different parts of your life. 
  5. Five Popular Myths About Learning That Are Completely Wrong. I'm sure at some point in your schooling or work training you've heard about each of these myths. Heck, you might even believe them. (I know I bought into a few.) Stephanie Vozza addresses learning styles, interleaving, spacing, feedback, and quizzing. How can we use the information in this blog to make meaningful tweaks to our training programs?  
Lastly, I wrote a blog this week: 
  • Credibility & Influence: The Bridge to Fostering Change in Others. I wrote this post in response to a Twitter debate on the gap between academics and practitioners, specifically in the world of evidence-based policing. (You'll have to scroll my Twitter replies to get much of the back-and-forth. But do it. There are some real hard-nosed, defending-to-last-breath academics in there! I enjoyed the challenge.) There seem to be quite a few academics who are frustrated as to why practitioners aren't respecting their research or areas of study. It comes down to a lack of trust. OK...some of them are just assholes too! 
Don't let summer kill your appetite to read, watch, and listen. Take some of the things I've listed above to connect with the authors and speakers! And please share this list if you find it valuable!!

I appreciate you allowing me to make these recommendations to you each Friday.
    Lou Hayes, Jr.
    thinking & adapting like a Tactical Philosopher

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