Empathy is in decline. Now what?

That classic novel could make you a better leader | Empathy is in decline. Now what? | Get ready for a long fight over sports betting Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( April 18, 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 [] [That classic novel could make you a better leader]( Leaders who are emotionally aware can meet challenging situations as an opportunity instead of falling into self-doubt, writes former FBI agent LaRae Quy. She notes that emotional intelligence can be learned, and she recommends reading good literature as one way to develop empathy. [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (4/17) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Empathy is in decline. Now what?]( The ability to empathize with people has declined this century, according to research by Sara Konrath, and empathy appears increasingly reserved for those with similar opinions and viewpoints. As an antidote, try thinking about empathy as a way to selfishly expand your worldview instead of turning away, argues Fritz Breithaupt in his book "The Dark Side of Empathy." [National Public Radio]( (4/15) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( California Employment Laws Creating Compliance Challenges 2019 has already seen a dizzying array of new laws for employers in California. Our latest guide helps you navigate these complexities and addresses; salary history bans, sexual harassment laws and more…[Download the XpertHR Guide Now]( ADVERTISEMENT [] Strategic Management [] [Get ready for a long fight over sports betting]( Sports leagues, gaming operators and betting companies are each hoping to benefit from the Supreme Court ruling that expands legal gambling. Among the challenges are disagreement over who controls the data generated by sporting events and the state-by-state regulatory structure of sports betting. [Fortune]( (4/10) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Smarter Communication [] [Trust is essential to strategic discussions]( Without trust, management teams won't be able to communicate effectively, and they also will be less successful, Art Petty writes. "Do the top managers trust each other enough to allow warts, hiccups, and opportunities for improvement to become visible?" he writes. [Art Petty]( (4/17) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Be specific and direct with feedback]( Be critical or give praise, but don't mix both into the same conversation, writes executive coach Mari Carmen Pizarro. "When it's necessary for leaders to provide negative feedback -- and every leader will have to at some point in their careers -- I believe they need to prioritize directness over their need to be liked," Pizarro writes. [Forbes]( (4/16) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] The Big Picture Each Thursday, what's next for work and the economy [] [Will automation create "superjobs" for humans?]( When companies use artificial intelligence and other automated systems to take over repetitive tasks, it will free up humans to develop "superjobs" that involve problem solving, communication, data analysis and customer service, according to this Deloitte analysis. "The challenge before organizations now is to execute this reinvention in a manner that leads to positive results for themselves, their workers, and the economy and society as a whole," researchers write. [Deloitte Insights]( (4/11) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Think about robots as squirrels]( Robotics, artificial intelligence and other technologies are meant to augment our abilities in specific ways, much like how squirrels are better than humans at storing nuts and finding them months later, argues Maurice Conti, chief innovation officer for Telefonica's Alpha unit. "Successful organizations in the future will figure out how to partner robots and humans to achieve things that neither can do by themselves," he argues. [The Boston Consulting Group]( (4/11) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [A spelling bee champion shares her story]( Rebecca Sealfon won the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 1997, and she writes about the long road to victory. This year's event will be held in May in Washington, D.C. [Smithsonian]( (5/2019) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Editor's Note [] More insights from SmartBrief Besides our more than 200 newsletters, SmartBrief publishes [original insights]( on leadership, marketing, education and more. Here's what you may have missed: - [Helping high schoolers with dyslexia successfully transition to college]( - [How the pet food market is entering the premium space]( - [Delegation defined… and applied]( - [Where does the food industry stand on romaine lettuce?]( [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [] If you treat every situation as a life and death matter, you'll die a lot of times. 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