Timing extra oomph: When it's wise to turn it up to 11

Timing extra oomph: When it's wise to turn it up to 11 | practice (split each time) | "Business fluency" gives your team better insight Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( May 3, 2024 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [X]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE]( ADVERTISEMENT Leading the Way [] [Timing extra oomph: When it's wise to turn it up to 11]( [Timing extra oomph: When it's wise to turn it up to 11]( Actors and comedians (left to right) Michael McKean, Harry Shearer and Christopher Guest dressed as members of the fictitious British heavy metal band Spinal Tap from director Rob Reiner's 1984 film, "This Is Spinal Tap." (Fotos International/Getty Images) Sometimes leaders need to push past 10 ... to 11, writes leadership coach Scott Cochrane, referring to a scene in the movie "This Is Spinal Tap." Going above and beyond is sometimes needed -- but it's important "to know when it's OK to pull out all the stops," such as the business model or employees being stuck on cruise control or employees going too long without a big win, Cochrane explains. Full Story: [Scott Cochrane]( (5/2) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: A large or complex project or an extraordinary window of opportunity are two other reasons to amp up past 100%. Beyond that, beware: ["If you over-do it, you'll risk burning out the team,"]( Cochrane writes. [] Smarter Communication [] ["Business fluency" gives your team better insight]( Business fluency -- an understanding of broad organizational operations and objectives, as well as various employees' roles rather than titles -- helps a team "understand how their positions fit into the broader picture of [an] organization's goals and projects," making them stronger team members and ambassadors for a company, says Erin Mercer, Jackson National Life Insurance Company's internal communications director. Mercer explains the content and storytelling process Jackson uses to share insights with employees on products, revenue, departmental collaboration and corporate strategy. Full Story: [Ragan]( (5/2) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Start with just one team as you develop your road map for business fluency, then work to expand the program across the company. Jackson's program, which has evolved, uses its intranet as a hub for short pieces of content, feature stories, employee spotlights and one- or two-minute videos -- and [rolls right into ongoing professional development material](, Mercer explains. [] [Tiny tweaks to your thinking can lead to innovation]( [Tiny tweaks to your thinking can lead to innovation]( (Pixabay) The incremental nature of innovation is more about the way you communicate with yourself than the product or strategy you're striving for. Avoid sticking with an ineffective mindset and learn to "iterate your own thinking by being open to new interpretations of what you experience," Innovator Mindset founder Dennis Stauffer writes. Full Story: [Human-Centered Change and Innovation]( (4/28) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Iteration can be learned, but just like gradually learning to play the guitar, you might hit a few wrong chords along the way. "Mental iteration is a powerful life skill -- and healthy innovation habit -- [that also helps you innovate yourself](," Stauffer writes. [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Smarter Strategy [] - [Free hours are rare, so entrepreneur shows saving seconds is a better bet]( TIME (tiered subscription model) (4/30) [] - [At what point in your career are you most likely to take risks?]( Kellogg Insight (5/1) [] - [Had a hard day? 9 ways to realize staying put is the smarter move]( LeadToday (5/2) 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 Living Get your mind and body right each Friday [] [Set your alarm: Get a jump on goals before the world wakes]( Getting a fresh start early in the morning can set the tone for the day when willpower is strong, Michael Colon writes. Morning warriors tackle early workouts and have time for healthier breakfasts, Colon notes, adding, "Quality time increases when fewer distractions divert us from our daily goals." Full Story: [People Development Network]( (5/1) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [See Spot dance with surprise sheepdog]( [See Spot dance with surprise sheepdog]( (Boston Dynamics/YouTube) A fan of Boston Dynamics' robot dog Spot was barking up the wrong tree when he thought a [video snippet]( of a fluffy blue-and-white sheepdog was a CGI dog dancing with Spot. It actually is a regular Spot beside a $75,000 Spot wearing a glittery costume that helps Spot "explore the intersections of robotics, art, and entertainment," the video description explains. Full Story: [TechRadar]( (5/1) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] SmartBreak: Question of the Day [] April showers bring May flowers. What flowers are associated with May? [Vote]( [Daffodil and sakura]( [Vote]( [Gladiolus and poppy]( [Vote]( [Lily of the valley and hawthorn]( [Vote]( [Marigold and cosmos]( [] About The Editor [] Diane Benson Harrington Diane Benson Harrington It's been a blast filling in for Candace on Leadership; alas, this is my last day. Today's top story mentioning "This Is Spinal Tap" is a gift for my husband, who loves that movie. I've kept my promise to provide an animal-related Daily Diversion today. I'm an enormous fan of Boston Dynamics' robot dog Spot. (Did you know he has brothers?) My [favorite Spot dance video ever]( is to "Uptown Funk" -- and I could watch it every day. Hyundai also used several dancing Spots in a video with [South Korean boy band BTS](. Just in case a robotic dog doesn't give you the warm fuzzies, I haven't let you down. I'm sharing an amazing set of 21 pictures featuring [Pan the dog and Baloo the cat being best friends]( on their travels, a heartwarming story about a [rescued cat that now models for Target]( and a reminder that [it's kitten season at animal shelters]( and a great time to adopt one. [Give me a shout](mailto:diane.harrington@futurenet.com) if these do the trick. Thanks for putting up with my iteration (see what I did there?) of SmartBrief on Leadership this week. Have a great weekend! [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 Said It? Music is life itself. What would this world be without good music? 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