FOMO = frightened of missing out.

A great habit for people in an organisation that wants to innovate.

Allow people to experiment.

Encourage risk.

Celebrate failure as a pathway to success.

Leadership is “follow me.”

FOMM = frightened of making a mistake.

A disastrous habit for people in an organisation that has grown too big to innovate (or the new owners don’t want to).

Experimentation discouraged.

Risk avoided.

Failure castigated.

Leadership is “I’d rather you didn’t but, if you must, you crack on and if it works I will claim the credit but if it fails I’ll throw you under the bus.”

Recognise anyone?

—

“These “letters” are the personal observations of me, Chris Barrow and are not intended to reflect the views of 7connections and its team members, they just give me permission to publish here on the basis that they can keep an eye on me, a bit like a mad relative at a wedding reception. I’m likely to upset the sensitive and outrage the sensible – if you fall into either of those camps then read at your peril.”