Chief Change Officer – Episode #420

Guest: Dr. Adaira Landry (Co-author of Micro Skills, Harvard Emergency Medicine Physician & Educator)
Host: Vince Chan
Date: July 6, 2025
Episode Theme: From Mentorship to Micro Skills—Tools for Thriving at Work (Part Two)

Overview

This episode explores the practical wisdom behind outgrowing yourself at work through the concept of "Micro Skills." Dr. Adaira Landry shares the story and intent behind her book, Micro Skills—co-authored with Dr. Resa Lewis—and offers actionable guidance rooted in real experience. The conversation moves beyond generic career advice to reveal why granular, immediately actionable skills matter for professional growth, the value of strategic "no"s, and the myth of always needing to say "yes" to opportunities.

Key Discussion Points

1. The Origin and Intent of "Micro Skills"

• Why Not "Chiseled"?

  • The book’s original title, "Chiseled," was dropped for being vague and possibly too masculine, not resonating in professional contexts.

    “We had initially actually picked the name Chiseled... But...it was a little too vague, perhaps a little too, it might be construed as too masculine... it didn’t transfer over as a workplace word.” — Dr. Landry (02:41)

• Rooted in Medical Training

  • The term "micro skills" comes from medicine, where complex tasks are broken into teachable, optimized steps.

    “I remember that in that lecture, they weren’t teaching the grand scheme of everything, but they were going into the minutia.” — Dr. Landry (03:58)

• Purpose for Readers

  • The book deep-dives into granular actions that elevate everyday professional habits—making often-overlooked steps visible and actionable.

2. All-in-One Approach vs. Single-Topic Books

• Not Just Another Business Book

  • Most business books focus narrowly; Micro Skills is intentionally broad, covering mindset, networking, communication, and more.

    “Honestly, I can already see eight or ten spin-off books from this one.” — Vince Chan (04:45)

• Meeting the Modern Learner’s Needs

  • The compressed, holistic approach is designed for millennials and Gen Z professionals who value fast, broad-impact tools.

    “We really felt like we were understanding this shift to just like, quick knowledge, short attention span...get straight to the point.” — Dr. Landry (06:31)

• Applicability Across Careers

  • Though initially aimed at early-career readers, feedback shows the book’s utility across all career stages.

    “Mid-career, senior career professionals [are] still finding it helpful.” — Dr. Landry (07:47)

3. The Micro Skill: Pausing Before Accepting Opportunities

• Challenging the "Say Yes to Everything" Mantra

  • Dr. Landry shared her own past with overcommitment and burnout from always saying yes, urging listeners to pause and assess the value of each opportunity.

    “...the burnout, the overwork, the feeling like you’re behind all the time is normal...because we’re always saying yes.” — Dr. Landry (11:24)

• Strategic No—and JOMO

  • Embrace “the joy of missing out” (JOMO): Declining what isn't aligned creates space for real progress.

    “JOMO is freedom. It’s relief, it’s space, it’s mental health protection. It’s this idea of finding the blue ocean...” — Dr. Landry (12:23)

• Horizontal vs. Vertical Growth

  • Saying yes to everything adds clutter (horizontal growth); instead, be selective and focus on what advances you (vertical growth).

    “All of those things I was saying yes to were just horizontal...additions...versus actual vertical climb.” — Dr. Landry (13:20)

4. Reinforcing Simplicity and Strategic Ambition

• Ambition with Boundaries

  • Vince relates his own burnout story, connecting Landry’s advice with organizational strategies like "Kill Stupid Rules."

    “Ambition without boundaries isn’t sustainable.” — Vince Chan (13:53)

• Clarity, Saying No, Simplifying

  • Both guest and host advocate for simplicity and clarity as essential for sustainable achievement and well-being.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Book Naming and Concept

  “We got some feedback that [Chiseled] probably is not going to be the final word. And so I think we started thinking about what is it that we want for the reader to get out of the book...Micro Skills comes actually from a term that I heard when I was training to be a doctor.”
  — Dr. Adaira Landry (02:50–03:25)

• On the Book’s Comprehensiveness

  “There’s a gap...for those who just want to get better quickly, holistically...having them need to read 20 books...is not listening to the audience.”
  — Dr. Adaira Landry (06:15)

• On Career Education

  “There’s a massive gap in real, practical career education...I mean, the deep stuff, insight, hindsight, and foresight, real stories, real case studies, real human intelligence.”
  — Vince Chan (08:38)

• On JOMO vs. FOMO

  “FOMO, the fear of missing out. And then the converse is JOMO, the joy of missing out...that’s hardly ever true, especially if you have real ambition, real talent. JOMO is freedom.”
  — Dr. Adaira Landry (12:05)

• On Fast, Actionable Change

  “The promise of the book is that if you buy this book on a Friday, you’ll be better at your job by Monday...We try to find suggestions here that are easily implementable, that are accessible to all, that also normalize that change is hard.”
  — Dr. Adaira Landry (15:40)

Memorable Moments and Takeaways

• Discovering JOMO (12:00–13:10): Dr. Landry’s insight on finding liberation in saying no, reframing missed opportunities as relief and space for meaningful work.
• Horizontal vs. Vertical Growth (13:20): The analogy of stacking “flat” obligations vs. climbing upward in purpose and ambition.
• "Fast Impact" Philosophy (15:32): The bold promise that small, immediately actionable changes can rapidly improve workplace effectiveness.

Segment Timestamps

• 00:12 – Intro and background; Dr. Landry’s journey and intent of Micro Skills
• 02:41 – Naming the book; why "Micro Skills"?
• 04:45 – The all-in-one approach and its rationale
• 06:06 – Audience needs and educational design
• 08:30 – Systemic gaps in career education; host’s perspective
• 10:38 – Most important skills: pausing before saying yes
• 13:38 – The value of simplicity and setting boundaries
• 15:32 – Final takeaways: implementable change, accessibility, and honesty about struggle
• 17:15 – Episode close and parting thoughts

Final Summary

Dr. Adaira Landry and Vince Chan distill the nuanced realities of advancing at work—not through grand gestures or relentless yeses, but by mastering micro skills: discrete, practical actions anyone can start now. The power of saying no, taking time to evaluate opportunities, and building vertical growth emerges as a countercultural but vital path. The episode recommends embracing clarity over clutter, and ambition with discernment—promising that real, meaningful change doesn’t require a new degree or drastic leaps, but a willingness to implement small, strategic habits. As Dr. Landry affirms, “Change is challenging, but...we don’t want you to feel like you have to wait for life to be better.” (15:55)