Management
Combating the Great Resignation with an invitation conversation
An invitation conversation is one way to increase retention by reimagining the optimism and hope of the recruitment progress, but with your existing talent.
Leadership
Management
My leadership journey started at home
A longtime corporate executive shares why her parents' influence was so powerful and what it means for diversity and inclusion efforts.
Leadership
How effectively do you help your teams arrive at their own solutions rather than giving a solution to them?
The most recent SmartBrief on Leadership poll question: How effectively do you help your teams arrive at their own solutions rather than giving a solution to them?
Management
What do employees want from leaders today? Don’t guess
With the Great Resignation continuing, what do employees want from leaders today? Don’t guess. Ask, listen and adapt to boost workplace respect.
Management
Overcoming impostor syndrome
Imposter syndrome can strike the most qualified and successful people. Here's how leaders can overcome this and act with confidence.
Management
Reimagining the future of work during the Great Resignation
The Great Resignation shows that workers' expecations and needs are changing, and so must the demands and expecations of leadership. Diversity, equity and inclusion will be a key part of this shift in the workplace.
Inspiration
Will you speak up or will you remain silent?
One way to think of leadership is that there are moments where you should speak up or do something -- but not everyone does. How can you recognize these leadership moments and do the right thing?
Management
Find your authentic leadership persona
Just as golfers need to find their perfect swing, leaders need to discover their ideal stengths and persona.
Management
Why courage is essential if you want power over your life
One way leaders can show courage in their career is by facing the unknown. Acknowledge the fear, then move forward.
Sponsored
Supercharging company communications
There are more ways to communicate today than ever before. Surprisingly, it has not led to an automatic increase in employee satisfaction.
HR
Here are HR myths that hold the business back
An APQC survey puts to rest myths about HR's capabilities, influence on the business and its readiness for the future. Read on to see why HR is already a business imperative.
Management
Want to be happier? Choose abundance over scarcity
An abundance mindset helps you focus on growing your success and helping others, too. Without it, you're spending time and energy fighting a zero-sum game.
Communication
How to boost your intercultural communication for impact
Complex global negotiations like COP26 are an example and an opportunity to study intercultural communication, improve our skills and deliver greater impact.
Careers
Tracking your accomplishments: Why to do it, what to document and how to follow through
Tracking your accomplishments isn't bragging; it's making sure you know the good work you've done, leadership knows and -- just maybe -- your next employer does, too.
Inspiration
A musical response to the Great Resignation: Love the one you’re with
Leaders can respond to the Great Resignation by increasing their efforts at personal connection, clearing roadblocks and aiding their employees, or they can watch them go.
Productivity
Why high energy levels start with your first meal
Your energy levels at work can be boosted by how, when and what you eat. It all starts with breakfast.
Sponsored
Leaning into leading with heart
How can leaders continue to put people first, even in times of high stress?
Management
Leaders, get out into the field
Seeing the front lines isn't just for show; it's how leaders see what employees and customers are really facing, how they get feedback and how they can directly inspire.
Communication
What my time in theater taught me about corporate communication
The theater is a proving ground for effective communication, and corporate leaders have much to learn from it, too.
Management
“Everyone leads” cultures need less storytelling and more story-doing
Senior leaders need to get more involved in leading. It sounds simple, but it's true, and storytelling alone won't get the job done.
Communication
Are you communicating above the line?
A good pause is the starting point for improving your conversations, asking better questions and staying "above the line" as a communicative leader.
Strategy
The dangers of strategy myopia
Leaders need to define their strategy, regularly revisit it and avoid the perils of win/lose thinking.
Management
Why need-based leadership is the shift we need
Need-based leadership is a different way of thinking about leadership and management, moving away from "great man" theory and leader-centric approaches to more closely consider the people affected most.
Communication
How to prepare for difficult conversations
Difficult conversations requires leaders to be prepared, to show the business case and to create an intention. Learn more about changing behavior through conversations.
Management
Leadership fatigue is a thing — make time to recharge
Leadership is stressful and demanding, so leaders must find ways to recharge physically and mentally -- and maybe rethink their career paths. Read on for 7 key pieces of leadership advice.
Management
The (real) secret to overcoming procrastination
Procrastination is often mistaken as a time management issue when, in fact, your motivation might be the root cause. Learn more about what can actually help productivity.
Leadership
Which best describes your organization when it comes to planning?
The most recent SmartBrief on Leadership poll question: Which best describes your organization when it comes to planning?
Inspiration
Leaders, understand the personal impact you have on culture
Leaders make an impact. The failure to understand that drives so much of today's toxic workplace atmospheres.
Management
The secrets to making mentoring work
Not all mentoring programs are created equal. Read on to learn what leaders and companies need to know about effective mentoring and what mentees need most.
Sponsored
Building and maintaining business continuity plans
Preparing for surprise calamities begins with a business continuity plan, a guiding document that contains contingency procedures for restoring your operations swiftly.
Communication
Leaders: Clarify your ideas before communicating them
Good ideas alone won't guarantee success. How a leader communicates those ideas, and the clarity of those ideas, matters. Learn how to communicate your innovation.
Management
3 steps to empowering women every day
Here are three easy, practical and repeatable actions leaders can take every day to lift the women around us.
Communication
10 backdoor ways to gain the upper hand in conversations
Persuasion is difficult, especially when you disagree with someone. Here are 10 tips for winning over people from a longtime FBI employee.
Management
Rise up, middle managers! Seize control of your destiny
Middle managers have an opportunity to reinvent their role, grow their employees and help their own careers -- if they take advantage.
Communication
3 proven actions to help introverts excel as leaders
Speaking up isn't always a natural skill for introverts, but it can be learned -- and it's essential to career growth and establishing the executive presence leaders require.
Inspiration
Management lessons from the dugout
Batboys are a small part of a baseball team, but how they're incorporated into a team's culture and camaraderie says a lot about management and leadership.
Careers
Rethinking career paths, promotions and landmarks
Employees want growth, opportunity and development, and even if you can't give promotions, you need to meet their needs. Start by rethinking the importance of landmarks in careers.
Productivity
How to productively knock out those 2-minute tasks
Part of the Getting Things Done mantra is 2-minute tasks. But what does that mean, how do you practice it, and how does it help productivity?
Leadership
How do you handle making decisions during times of uncertainty?
The most recent SmartBrief on Leadership poll question: How do you handle making decisions during times of uncertainty?
Management
What employees want from employers
Learn the 5 things employees want if they're to feel engaged and motivated -- and not leave your organization. Retention in the Great Resignation is more important than ever.