Leadership requires reflection, tough self-assessment

Leadership requires reflection, tough self-assessment | practice (split each time) | A tale of two work cultures shows power of positivity Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( July 24, 2024 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [X]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE](   Leading the Way [] [Leadership requires reflection, tough self-assessment]( [Leadership requires reflection, tough self-assessment]( (Oscar Wong/Getty Images) As a leader, you must be confident, but you can often be your own worst critic, which is why executive coach Ed Batista recommends finding time for self-reflection (even if it's in small doses), separating the urgent from the important to see where you're adding value as a leader and finding feedback from organizational data and trusted sources. "If you shrink from a candid assessment of your weaknesses and missteps, your critics won't hesitate to do so, and you may find yourself unpleasantly surprised by how they leverage that information," Batista notes. Full Story: [Ed Batista Executive Coaching]( (7/23) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Try to strip emotion from your self-critiques and maintain confidence in yourself and your team because [there's a direct relationship between optimism and effective leadership](, Batista writes. "[T]here are moments when you can't look to anyone else for encouragement because everyone is looking at you." We make work, work. You don't know what we do, but you'd know if we didn't do it. From automating order generation to AI-powered document processing, and everything in between. [Learn more about our solutions »]( ADVERTISEMENT: [] SmartBrief on Leadership [] [A tale of two work cultures shows power of positivity]( [A tale of two work cultures shows power of positivity]( (Luciano Lozano/Getty Images) A tale of two work cultures demonstrates the power of the positive culture found at Radio Flyer, where 99% of employees would recommend working for the company, says S. Chris Edmonds, an executive consultant with The Purposeful Culture Group. On the other end of the spectrum is the toxic work culture at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which received more than 500 complaints from employees over mistreatment, and Edmonds offers ideas to learn where your current work culture may fall between these two extremes. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (7/23) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: How can you tell if your work culture needs a makeover? Edmonds recommends searching for reviews on Glassdoor and combing through employee surveys to "discover gaps that need prompt attention -- and [gaps that require ongoing focus in the days and months ahead](." [] [Read more]( from S. Chris Edmonds on SmartBrief on Leadership [] Smarter Communication [] [No, no, no! The customer isn't always right]( Learning how to say "no" to customers can be a daunting task, but setting boundaries can help establish a relationship with mutual respect, writes Allison Dunn, a business executive coach. Dunn recommends offering alternative solutions while empathizing with the customer's problem and providing clear reasons why their request is not possible. Full Story: [Deliberate Directions]( (7/22) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Dunn offers 10 strategies to say "no" without losing a customer relationship but emphasizes the need to remain polite and respectful. "Remember, saying 'no' doesn’t have to be a negative experience; it can be [an opportunity to showcase your commitment to quality and integrity]( and foster a mutually respectful relationship with your customers," Dunn writes. Free eBooks and Resources Free eBooks and resources brought to you by our sponsors - [Nonverbal Communications Skills -- The 10 Skills You Need to Learn]( - [70+ Excel Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows (Free Cheat Sheet)]( - [Best Practices for Email Etiquette]( - [11 Habits That Will Give You A Complete And Successful Life]( - [Creating Positive Habits - The Ultimate Guide]( [] Smarter A.I. A weekly spotlight on how A.I. is affecting leadership [] - [Stay human while addressing AI's opportunities and challenges]( INSEAD Knowledge (7/23) [] - [AI framework is crucial for balancing innovation, risk]( ComputerWeekly (UK) (7/22) [] - [Companies reduce ambitions with AI models]( The Wall Street Journal (7/17) [] In Their Own Words [] [When it comes to AI, leaders need to put humans first]( It can be tempting to delegate AI adoption to your tech team, but David De Cremer, a dean and professor at the D'Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University in Boston, says leaders must make a business case for AI and be involved in every step of creation and adoption, including ensuring "a human-centered approach" that puts AI firmly in the backseat. "The future is augmentation, where AI is in service of human intelligence," De Cremer writes. Full Story: [Next Big Idea Club Magazine]( (7/17) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Why Dum-Dums have been around 100 years]( [Why Dum-Dums have been around 100 years]( (Spangler Candy) As Spangler Candy celebrates Dum-Dums 100th birthday, CEO Kirk Vashaw reflects on the brand's staying power and the positive economic impact it has had on the community where it is made. "Dum-Dums is just such a popular candy and part of the reason I think it's lasted for 100 years is that we haven't changed it," Vashaw said. "The product's the same, but it takes a lot of smart people and hardworking people to make" 12 million Dum-Dums a day, Vashaw added. Full Story: [WTOL-TV (Toledo, Ohio)]( (7/20) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Featured Job Listings [] When you click or apply to one of these jobs through the link in our newsletter, we may receive an affiliate commission. 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Scott D. sent in this photo of Gracie Ann, a 5-year-old Cavachon who loves to keep watch over the neighborhood from her "condo" bed that sits atop an adjustable side table so she can get the best view. If she's not watching out for her humans, she's right by their side or under their feet as they work. Scott says her favorite toy is a child-sized Croc because it's chewy and it bounces all around, making it challenging to chase and catch. Thanks for sharing Gracie Ann with us, Scott! What non-human companions keep you company as you work or greet you when you get home? [Send me your photos](mailto:candace.chellew@futurenet.com)! [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] About The Editor [] Candace Chellew Candace Chellew Chellew As leaders, it can be easy to be our biggest critic. We may question our decisions and actions and feel like we're not living up to our expectations. Ed Batista makes the point, though, that [it's essential to balance out that self-criticism with some self-praise](. Becoming your own biggest fan is important because it will bring balance and clarity to your thoughts and actions. Besides, as Batista points out, if you're not taking time for self-reflection to rightly divine what is urgent and what is important, your critics will be the first to point out your shortcomings. It's better to have that clear-eyed view yourself to avoid those missteps. Look for feedback on how well you're doing as a leader within your company's performance, seek it from trusted advisors and take time for yourself to deeply ponder where you're doing well and where you may need improvement. "The idea isn't that reflection must occur on a rigid schedule, but like all important-but-not-urgent activities, it won't happen with any consistency if you don't make it a practice," Batista notes. 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 [] [] If there's pleasure in action, there's peace in stillness. [Emily St. John Mandel](, writer [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.