Bees, puppies and owls, oh my! They can boost your career

It's Friday! Are you "working"? You're not alone | practice (split each time) | Bees, puppies and owls, oh my! They can boost your career Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( June 14, 2024 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [X]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE](   Leading the Way [] [It's Friday! Are you "working"? You're not alone]( [It's Friday! Are you "working"? You're not alone]( (Jovanmandic/Getty Images) Fridays have always had a different flavor at work with "casual Fridays" before the pandemic, but as hybrid work remains an option, many are working at home on Fridays or practicing "gentle Friday" if they're in the office, says Bruce Daisley, host of the award-winning podcast "Eat Sleep Work Repeat." "When I chat to people about Fridays, they describe a way of working on Fridays that feels easy after the relentlessness of the rest of the week," says Daisley, who believes such a practice will ultimately lower employee burnout rates. Full Story: [Forbes (tiered subscription model)]( (6/11) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Some bosses aren't on board with "gentle Fridays," and a few companies [are forbidding employees from taking both Friday and Monday as remote workdays](, but Daisley says such policies could cost them employees. "We're broadly in the zone where it's hard to believe that we will end up back in the office on a Friday. So Friday's got a new pattern, full stop." [] SmartBrief on Leadership [] [Bees, puppies and owls, oh my! They can boost your career]( [Bees, puppies and owls, oh my! They can boost your career]( (mraxpa/Getty Images) Thinking about a "career spirit animal" may help you define where you are now in your career and where you might like to be, such as a monkey who is agile and adaptable, a puppy who is curious and energetic or an owl who is wise and continuously learning, write Julie Winkle Giulioni. "Throughout your career, you'll likely find yourself morphing among them, taking advantage of their unique qualities and advantages during various seasons of your working life," Winkle Giulioni notes. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (6/13) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: You can move between "career spirit animals" anytime you want, Winkle Giulioni writes, offering an action guide for each animal's characteristics. For example, if you're currently a diligent and persistent woodpecker, [you can become a spider that weaves a web of connections]( by branching out and meeting new people both in your industry and beyond to build a support network. [] [Read more]( from Julie Winkle Giulioni on SmartBrief on Leadership [] Smarter Communication [] [To your team, your care for them is not "just" leadership]( Let your team -- and others in your life -- know you care by dropping the word "just," such as, "It was just an email," when that particular message may have highlighted one of their accomplishments or meant more to them than you may have known, writes Kristin Hendrix. "When we receive gratitude, we can focus on the person and the caring we have for them," Hendrix writes. Full Story: [Leadership Vitae]( (6/13) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: [Carry that practice of dropping the "just" from your speech home with you](, and instead of saying, "It's just groceries," tell your family, "It makes me feel good having things in the house you like when we plan a meal," Hendrix suggests. The word "just" can diminish another person's "appreciation and joy they feel for that action because their gratitude can feel brushed aside." Free eBooks and Resources Free eBooks and resources brought to you by our sponsors - [Marketing Technology Planning Guide]( - [How to Create Lasting Change]( - [How to Introduce Yourself]( - [On the Radar: AKATI Sekurity's award-winning managed security services]( - [Course: Introduction to Getting Things Done]( [] Smarter Strategy [] - [Ask these questions if you've been charged with leading change strategy]( Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model) (6/10) [] - [Review your pricing strategy to boost growth]( Chief Executive (6/13) [] - [Strategies to make better decisions under pressure]( INSEAD Knowledge (6/13) [] Smarter Living Get your mind and body right each Friday [] [Want to sleep better? Get moving!]( [Want to sleep better? Get moving!]( (Pixabay) Research published in BMJ Open suggests that engaging in at least an hour of exercise per week may help people sleep better. Survey respondents who exercised at least that much weekly over a 10-year period were far less likely to report trouble sleeping than those who said they were inactive or less active. Full Story: [Harvard Health Publishing]( (6/1) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Can you see faces in maps? This artist can!]( [Can you see faces in maps? This artist can!]( (Pixabay) Maps provide the backdrop for portraits drawn by UK-based artist Ed Fairburn, who uses hatching and crosshatching techniques to draw recognizable faces around roads, rivers and other map features. Fairburn uses road, city and topographic maps from the US, Europe and Canada and posts the finished portraits, including one of John Lennon drawn over a map of his hometown of Liverpool, England, [on his Instagram account](. Full Story: [My Modern Met]( (6/11) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] SmartBreak: Question of the Day [] Fun Fact Friday: Without looking at your standard QWERTY keyboard, which top-row number is associated with the asterisk? [Vote]( [3]( [Vote]( [5]( [Vote]( [6]( [Vote]( [8]( [] About The Editor [] Candace Chellew Candace Chellew Chellew I am fascinated by Julie Winkle Giulioni's description of "[career spirit animals](." I can see myself in several of those she describes. When I was first in radio, I was definitely a puppy, asking a lot of questions, following the more experienced staff around and enthusiastically throwing myself into the job. When I worked at CNN, I was definitely a bee, working collaboratively with my team to produce newscasts, interview newsmakers and write up stories. These days, I am more of an owl, soaking up knowledge wherever I can find it and learning from the wisdom of others. I've met a few spiders, those who are really good at forming connections and networking with and among people and groups, and I'm drawn to that kind of spirit animal at this moment. What's your career spirit animal? Take the poll below and let us know! 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]( [] What is your current "career spirit animal"? [Vote]( [The Monkey: Agile and adaptable]( [Vote]( [The Woodpecker: Diligent and persistent]( [Vote]( [The Spider: Strategic web-weaver]( [Vote]( [The Owl: Wise and knowledgeable]( [Vote]( [The Puppy: Curious and energetic]( [Vote]( [The Bee: Purpose-driven and collaborative]( 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? Nowadays people know the price of everything, and the value of nothing. Faith Ringgold or Oscar Wilde [Check your answer here.]( [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.