Stop using these morale-killing phrases

Play the probabilities to become "less wrong" | Engage with employees to discover ideas | Being wrong doesn't have to be permanent Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( April 8, 2019 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [FORWARD]( ADVERTISEMENT  [] Leading Edge [] [Play the probabilities to become "less wrong"]( Leaders can handle uncertainty by learning to think like gamblers who traffic in probabilities that make them "less wrong with time," writes Tomorrow CEO Mike Walsh. Good leaders, like good gamblers, are able to incorporate data as they go along to predict "the most likely outcomes and the best decisions to make," Walsh writes. [Leadership Now]( (4/5) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Engage with employees to discover ideas]( Leaders can encourage a healthy organization by actively listening, being responsive to ideas and to correspondence, and building trust with employees, writes John Keyser. "We have to model highly effective leadership by walking the halls to be with the people doing the work of our company," he writes. [Common Sense Leadership]( (4/5) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Creating and Leading High-Performing Teams Develop your ability to build, effectively lead, and successfully sustain high-performance teams. Explore team dynamics using the latest research and casework and in highly experiential exercises. June 3-7, Philadelphia, PA. [Apply Today](. ADVERTISEMENT [] Strategic Management [] [Being wrong doesn't have to be permanent]( Good leaders can admit when they are wrong and move forward by making new decisions based on better data, writes Seth Godin. "The cost of a do-over is often less than the cost of sticking with a decision that was made in good faith, on insufficient information," he argues. [Seth Godin's Blog]( (4/5) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Market concentration is on the rise in the US Multiple financial trends since 2000 all point to one conclusion: Corporate America is increasingly concentrated. But what could it mean for the economy and regulations? Barclays Research takes a closer look. [Download the report.]( ADVERTISEMENT [] Smarter Communication [] [Stop using these morale-killing phrases]( Phrases such as "I'm the boss" or "You're doing it wrong," deflate people's motivation, writes Lolly Daskal. "When you're in a leadership position, it's especially important to think before you speak," she argues. [Lolly Daskal]( (4/4) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Poor communication takes many forms]( Communication can go badly in a number of ways, including when it is vague or lacks empathy, writes Cate Huston, an engineering manager at Automattic. "When communicating anything that people have the potential to find difficult, it's crucial to have empathy and create space for people to process," Huston writes. [Quartz]( (4/4) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Smarter Working A weekly spotlight on doing more without working longer [] [The "Deep Work" guide to productivity]( No part of your day should be left to chance, argues "Deep Work" author Cal Newport, and Brad Frost describes how he's incorporated this formula into his day-to-day work. "No doubt, if I was following the process religiously, I might feel constricted, but because I'm not being too strict with it I feel like it's working for me just fine," Frost says. [RescueTime]( (4/4) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] In Their Own Words [] [CEO: 3 tips for developing yourself]( Embrace change, seek mentors outside your industry and don't be afraid to talk about times when things didn't go well, says Clarke Murphy, CEO of Russell Reynolds Associates. "It is the failures and stumbling blocks and learning moments that really result in the impactful lessons that we should be passing on to the next generation," he says. [Thrive Global]( (4/4) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Do cats recognize their names? It depends]( Do cats recognize their names? It depends (EMMANUEL DUNAND/Getty Images) Many cats can understand when humans call them by name, but it's unclear whether it's a recognition of identity or simply an association with treats, food or other rewards, [researchers found.]( Cats living communally in a cat cafe did not demonstrate this trait, however. [National Public Radio]( (4/4), [Newsweek]( (4/4) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Most Read by CEOs The most-clicked stories of the past week by SmartBrief on Leadership readers [] - [6 questions executives should ask before solving problems]( Ed Batista Executive Coaching [] - [How to spot a lack of emotional intelligence]( SmartBrief/Leadership [] - [The best leaders are coaches, not bosses]( Leadership Freak [] - [Use this improv comedy trick to improve teamwork]( Lead Change [] - [Hold people accountable and then help them get better]( Leadership Freak [] [] There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance next time. 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