Leadership
Thinking of layoffs? Here’s a better alternative
Layoffs can often be worse for your company than seizing the opportunity to rightsize your workforce instead, writes Joe Raymond.
Leadership
Inspiration
Lessons on motivation from the odd friendship of Maslow and Frankl
A conversation between Viktor Frankl and Abraham Maslow helped Susan Fowler revise her understanding of our intrinsic sense of motivation.
Development
The secrets of an NBA coach’s success
NBA coach Michael Malone has the secret for building great culture, according to S. Chris Edmonds, who offers three lessons from Malone.
Development
What to consider when your whole team needs development
Team development can be a challenge for managers, but Alaina Love presents a case study to tease out best practices.
Development
The genius of confident vulnerability
When leaders own their mistakes through confident vulnerability, it can rebuild trust with their team and grow their respect, writes Damon Lembi.
Leadership
Developing agility as an organizational competency
Agility in business means being proactive and attuned to changing markets and environments and adjusting strategies accordingly, writes Dave Caffaro.
Communication
How to have hard conversations without emotions taking over
No one enjoys having hard conversations with team members, but LaRae Quy offers four strategies to make them easier.
Communication
Why complaints demand a caring response
Leaders deal with complaints almost daily, but SmartBrief's Candace Chellew offers a roadmap to see -- and handle -- them differently.
Development
Discover and develop leadership talent hiding in plain sight
Every organization has hidden leadership talent, but Joel Garfinkle offers four ways to draw out even the most reticent.
Sponsored
Video Q&A: The vitality of patient navigation
This post is sponsored by the American Cancer Society Equitable care for people with cancer requires multi-stakeholder groups to form partnerships that can support...
Leadership
What gardening can teach about organic accountability
The childhood chore of weeding the garden taught Julie Winkle Giulioni a lot about accountability, especially when it comes to leadership.
Development
A management lesson Marx Brothers style
The Marx Brothers had a unique way to deal with a recalcitrant movie executive, and modern leaders can learn from it, John Baldoni writes.
Leadership
Why compassionate accountability is the next leadership superpower
Developing a culture of compassionate accountability is a leader's superpower, because it improves productivity and retention, writes Nate Regier.
Development
3 common traps of mentoring other leaders
Mentoring of other leaders, as well as ourselves, can be hampered by three traps, including a fear of failure and feeling like a victim, writes Adam Bryant.
Leadership
The formula you need to manage stress
Stress can lead to poor productivity and affect your mental health, but Paul B. Thornton offers a formula for relief.
Development
Not my fault, is my problem
When things go wrong, leaders tend to blame themselves, but unexpected turns in business must be managed dispassionately, writes Steve McKee.
Leadership
How to see conflict as a benefit
Transform conflict between employees into a benefit by using it to inspire change, quell anger and provide clarity, writes Marlene Chism.
Leadership
Has your business model exceeded its shelf life?
Business models, like food, have a shelf life. Dave Coffaro offers strategies to refresh yours if some processes and policies now seem dated.
Development
Free your leadership by challenging assumed constraints
Like grasshoppers reluctant to jump out of a jar, leaders have their own assumed constraints that keep them from success, writes Susan Fowler.
Leadership
Job hunters are looking for a values match
A company's values matter to job seekers, which is why it's important for leaders to formalize their culture, says S. Chris Edmonds.
Leadership
Leading a team through the loss of a co-worker
When your team experiences the loss of a coworker, there are four things leaders must do to help them cope, writes Alaina Love.
Inspiration
Addressing the loneliness epidemic in the workplace
Loneliness has become an epidemic, but Three and Jackie Carpenter offer five ways leaders can create connection for their teams.
Sponsored
Patient support improves outcomes: A Q&A with Chuck Westbrook and Joanne Pulles
With the right support, patients with cancer can feel empowered, and encouraged.
Inspiration
6 ways leaders can swap anxiety for gratitude
Leaders can move out of their anxiety to a place of gratitude by practicing these six suggestions, writes LaRae Quy.
Leadership
Become a service leader to connect with hybrid/remote workers
Becoming a "service leader" by combining new and old ways of working can help you connect and engage a remote workforce.
Development
How good are your executive presence skills?
Struggling to develop your executive presence? Joel Garfinkle offers a 10-point evaluation to put you on the right track.
Leadership
The secret sauce of employee retention
Trust, mentorship and a sense of purpose in their work are some ways to boost employee retention, writes Hinda Mitchell.
Careers
3 good words of recommendation
When making a recommendation about another leader, look for the three "I's" of integrity, intellect and inclusion, writes John Baldoni.
Leadership
Leadership lessons from Ted Lasso
Ted Lasso, the leading character in the popular Apple+ series by the same name, provides an excellent model of exceptional organizational leadership. The leadership...
Leadership
Poll: What is the most pressing leadership skill development need you personally have?
What is the most pressing leadership skill development need you personally have?
Inspiration
Featured Leader: Jennifer Sims with Blue Shield of California
Watching those around her grow and advance in their career is one of the best parts of leadership says our SmartBrief on Leadership featured leader Jennifer Sims.
Leadership
Gallup: Taking the shock out of the new workplace
Since the pandemic, how we work together in a new workplace environment has evolved and a new book offers strategies for success.
Inspiration
The leadership devotion of Ted Lasso
The secret to the leadership success of Apple TV's Ted Lasso is his devotion to the success of his team, both individually and collectively.
Leadership
Are your good intentions harming your employees?
Leaders often have good intentions to help their team members, but you could be undermining their career growth, writes Julie Winkle Giulioni.
Leadership
There is no cruise control in leadership
It would be handy to be able to put our leadership on cruise control, but Steve McKee writes it's better to learn to handle the curves.
Inspiration
Drowning in leadership advice? Here’s a lifeline
There's a lot of leadership advice out there, but Larry Robertson has a five-step plan to tame the cacophony and find what works for you.
Inspiration
Featured Leader: Charlene Harrison, the vice president of operations at CAQH
SmartBrief on Leadership's featured leader is Charlene Harrison, the vice president of operations at CAQH, who tells us about her leadership philosophy.
Leadership
The emerging role of manager in a world of AI
Artificial intelligence is transforming the role of the manager, says Marlene Chism, who offers three strategies to bring your human intelligence to bear.
Communication
How listening as an ally can create positive workplace relationships
Listening as an ally can help build trust with your team and improve productivity and problem-solving, writes Rachael Grail.
Leadership
3 strategies to facilitate team success
Facilitate your team's success by asking insightful questions and knowing when to let them work out their own issues, writes Paul B. Thornton.
Sponsored
Strengthening responses to cross-border conflicts with Global Communities
This post is sponsored by Global Communities In 2023, a record 339 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection, according to OCHA, the...
Leadership
Dump leader vs. manager debate — try a blended role
A blended role of manager and leader is a more accurate option that recognizes that leaders can manage and managers can lead.