Phoning it in? How to jump start your motivation

Phoning it in? How to jump start your motivation | practice (split each time) | Are these 10 challenges hampering your productivity? Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( April 15, 2024 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [X]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE]( ADVERTISEMENT Leading the Way [] [Phoning it in? How to jump start your motivation]( [Phoning it in? How to jump start your motivation]( (Sean De Burca/Getty Images) If you feel like you're just phoning it in every day, it may be time to shake things up by pushing yourself to take some risks, setting new goals, identifying barriers to progress or letting go of limiting beliefs, writes author and leadership expert Gregg Vanourek. "Somewhere in between the extremes, there's a healthy place of urgency to live intentionally, achieve important things, serve others, and cherish your days, not squandering your time in a cloud of complacency," Vanourek writes. Full Story: [Gregg Vanourek]( (4/11) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Getting clear on your purpose, values and vision, as well as [taking responsibility to create opportunities for yourself]( (instead of waiting around for someone to "discover" you), can also lift you out of the doldrums, Vanourek writes. "You're much more likely to thrive when you take ownership of your life and recognize your agency -- when you take your life back." [New Report Shows Importance of Voluntary Carbon Markets]( Nasdaq's recent survey of 130+ organizations on their carbon strategy found that 59% of respondents are already active in the voluntary carbon markets, while 19% of respondents expect to enter the carbon market within the next two years, demonstrating that this space will continue to grow, evolve and diversify. [Access the report]( and learn more how leading organizations are incorporating carbon trading into their strategy. ADVERTISEMENT: [] SmartBrief on Leadership [] [Are these 10 challenges hampering your productivity?]( [Are these 10 challenges hampering your productivity?]( (MirageC/Getty Images) Leaders, especially those working to get their business off the ground, can feel overwhelmed by all the tasks they've taken on, the meetings they must attend, the limited resources and the uncertainty of success, writes Naphtali Hoff, who provides examples of such challenges. "The pressure to succeed can be immense, leading to stress and anxiety, which can negatively impact productivity," Hoff notes. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (4/12) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Perpetually busy leaders also face [common challenges such as email overload](, a temptation to multitask, procrastinate or poorly prioritize their time, Hoff notes. "Without clear priorities, employees may struggle to allocate their time effectively across various tasks and projects." [] [Read more]( from Naphtali Hoff on SmartBrief on Leadership [] Smarter Communication [] [This is why people are likeable and how you can be too]( When we meet people we instantly like, they probably share common traits of being authentic, good listeners, empathetic and excellent communicators, traits we can all foster within ourselves, say experts. There's a fine line between being likeable and trying to please others, though, which can be damaging to your integrity, says Jenny Woo, founder and CEO of Mind Brain Emotion. Full Story: [Fast Company (tiered subscription model)]( (4/11) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: When we meet someone we don't like, Woo says [it's important to check our biases]( because it may be some association with their communication style or culture that is off-putting, and we should try to see beyond those. "Being open to new ideas is also about being open to other people's ideas and opinions." Free eBooks and Resources Free eBooks and resources brought to you by our sponsors - [The Communication Process: Skills to achieve desired outcomes]( - [Microsoft Excel: Unlocking the Power of Spreadsheets]( - [The Top 75 Leadership Quotes of 2023 - Part 1]( - [ChatGPT Newbie: Your Essential Handbook for Navigating ChatGPT]( - [The Visual You - Why Body Language Matters When You Speak]( [] Smarter Strategy [] - [Focus on consistency and repeatability to survive in a slow economy]( Chief Executive (4/11) [] - [How thinking big, but not too big, can create innovative strategies]( Leadership Now (4/12) [] - [Confident people used negotiation tactics in everyday life]( National Public Radio (4/11) [] Smarter Working A weekly spotlight on doing more without working longer [] [Time management is not just prioritizing. It's a relationship]( [Time management is not just prioritizing. It's a relationship]( (Pixabay) There are three key leadership lessons that Fred Ende, director of curriculum and instructional Services for Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES in Yorktown Heights, N.Y., shares in this blog post related to prioritizing, decision-making and self-care. Ende writes that leaders should reconsider their relationship with time, understand the power of saying no and balance caring for others and oneself. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Education]( (4/11) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Castaways use palm fronds to get rescued from island]( Three fishermen, stranded on a deserted island in the Pacific Ocean southeast of Guam for more than a week, have been rescued after they used palm fronds to spell out the word "HELP" on the beach. They're not the first castaways on the Pikelot Atoll; in 2020, three others landed there after their craft ran out of gas, and they were rescued after spelling out "SOS" in the sand. Full Story: [USA Today]( (4/15) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Most Read by CEOs The most-clicked stories of the past week by SmartBrief on Leadership readers [] - [Getting your dysfunctional team to function smoothly]( The CLEMMER Group [] - [7 reasons to pay attention to your body language]( SmartBrief/Leadership [] - [Don't confuse kindness with weakness or being nice]( Fast Company (tiered subscription model) [] - [5 ways to refresh a stale performance review process]( SmartBrief/Leadership [] - [Your managers are failing. Here's how to fix it]( Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model) [] SmartBreak: Question of the Day [] When the US established a 3% income tax during the American Civil War, what was the income threshold of those who would owe? [Vote]( [$100]( [Vote]( [$500]( [Vote]( [$800]( [Vote]( [$1,200]( [] Editor's Note [] [Inside the side-by-side human/AI work experience]( A study of futurists from TATA Consultancy Services shows that 90% are optimistic about forthcoming AI changes, and 72% envision significant contributions to employee well-being. What does this mean for job loss? Remote work? Get TATA futurist Bill Quinn's insights about work experience transformations -- from potentially shorter workweeks to who owns AI's work -- and participate in an audience Q&A during SmartBrief's April 18 "AI Redefining the Work Experience " webinar. [Register now]( for the free event. [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] About The Editor [] Candace Chellew Candace Chellew Chellew Today's issue focuses on managing your time and taking responsibility for making your own opportunities. It's easy to get lost in the fog of the day, letting our mind wander away from the task at hand, or growing complacent in our career advancement. Naphtali Hoff [outlines many of the common challenges we all face](, from email and meeting overload to straight-up procrastination. Gregg Vanourek [offers solutions to those problems](, such as pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone, identifying the things holding us back and seeking support to achieve our goals. Fred Ende [reminds us that sometimes it's better to say no]( to some things so we have the energy to say yes to what moves us forward. Ende also reminds us that self-care is critical. You can use these tools to set yourself up for a successful day. If all that fails, you can call out for rescue by [spelling out "HELP" with some palm fronds](! If this newsletter helps you, please tell your colleagues, friends or anyone who can benefit. Forward them this email, or [send this link](. What topics do you see in your daily work that I should know about? Do you have praise? Criticism? [Drop me a note](mailto:candace.chellew@futurenet.com). And don't forget to send me photos of your pets, your office and where you spend your time off. [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Sharing SmartBrief on Leadership with your network keeps the quality of content high and these newsletters free. Help Spread the Word [SHARE]( Or copy and share your personalized link: smartbrief.com/leadership/?referrerId=japnABMSAp [] [] Who knows what is on the opposite side of each hour! [Juan Ramon Jimenez](, poet, editor, critic, Nobel Prize in Literature recipient [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email](   SmartBrief publishes more than 200 free industry newsletters - [Browse our portfolio]( [Sign Up]( | [Update Profile]( | [Advertise with SmartBrief]( [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy policy]( CONTACT US: [FEEDBACK](mailto:leadership@smartbrief.com) | [ADVERTISE](mailto:lengel@smartbrief.com) [SmartBrief Future]( Copyright © 2024 SmartBrief. All Rights Reserved. A division of Future US LLC Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036.