How to be a better listener

4 experts discuss finding opportunity in crisis | If life feels too easy, you're not learning anything | 4 traits of companies that survive the bad times Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( June 11, 2020 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE](  [] Leading Edge [] [4 experts discuss finding opportunity in crisis]( The coronavirus pandemic presents opportunities to rethink your career path, soft skills and communication habits, according to four experts interviewed by Naphtali Hoff. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (6/10) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [If life feels too easy, you're not learning anything]( Discomfort can be positive when it forces us to learn and to see the world differently, writes Ken Downer. He offers 13 questions to ask yourself as a prompt toward growth. Full Story: [Rapid Start Leadership]( (6/9) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Rewarding employees during a recession In a down economy, many companies struggle to afford rewards and recognition programs with their high markups, shipping costs and fees. [Come learn how to harness the power of Amazon]( to reduce spend by offering millions of rewards with zero markups. ADVERTISEMENT: [] Strategic Management [] [4 traits of companies that survive the bad times]( Companies that can survive disruption have four things in common: a socially responsible vision, a CEO focused on creating a sense of ownership, empowered employees and managers who serve those they supervise, write Isaac Getz and Laurent Marbacher. Full Story: [Strategy+Business online (free registration)]( (6/10) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Traditional Leadership is Dying Especially during times of crisis, your organization's style of leadership dramatically influences workplace culture. Our research shows that the old leadership model is not effective. [Download these stats]( comparing modern vs. traditional leadership. ADVERTISEMENT: [] Smarter Communication [] [How to be a better listener]( Ken Blanchard offers six tips for deeper, more thoughtful listening. "Acknowledge any emotions the person is expressing and show them you understand by restating their feelings back to them in a nonjudgmental way," he writes. Full Story: [How We Lead blog]( (6/10) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Easy ways to keep everyone connected virtually]( Morning video meetings and chat-based check-ins are just two ways to stay in touch with remote workers and maintain social and emotional connections. "It's really about thinking and changing your mindset so connection is not just about physical proximity," says Harvard Business School professor Laura Huang. Full Story: [Fast Company]( (6/10) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Featured Content Sponsored content from AARP Work Reimagined can count on an age-diverse workforce.]( age-diverse team can help your company succeed—now more than ever. In fact, 82% of employers say older workers bring valuable knowledge to the table. [Read the blog post]( to learn more about a multigenerational workforce and how it can move your business forward. [] The Big Picture Each Thursday, what's next for work and the economy [] [CEOs say disruption will become a way of life]( The world has changed because of the coronavirus pandemic and the government's inconsistent response, with CEOs and other leaders expecting continued disruption in how work is done. "If in six months we find out that the coronavirus is going to mutate every year and we're going to have to worry about this every year, then it's a very different scenario than a once-in-a-lifetime change," says board consultant Harry Broadman. Full Story: [Chief Executive online]( (6/10) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] In Their Own Words [] [CEO uses rock 'n' roll to show her power]( Enseo CEO Vanessa Ogle has brought camaraderie to a new level by playing in a band with other employees and her guitarist husband. She also discusses the best advice she received and the struggles she has faced during the pandemic, including family illness. Full Story: [The Dallas Morning News (tiered subscription model)]( (6/7), [The Dallas Morning News (tiered subscription model)]( (6/7) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Why your dog doesn't want to watch Netflix with you]( Dogs and cats will briefly watch images on a television screen, recognizing other animals and prey, but vision differences between humans and animals mean screens hold less interest for them than the real world. Dogs bred for hunting are more captivated by motion on the screen, researchers found, than dogs who rely on smell. Full Story: [Mental Floss]( (6/5) [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: - [Why entrepreneurs become bad managers and how to be a better one]( - [5 new trends in digital marketing you might have overlooked]( - [The future of offshore wind energy in the US]( - [5 pragmatic practices for educator self-care]( [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [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 & share your personalized link: smartbrief.com/leadership/?referrerId=japnABMSAp [] [] Investigate yourself to find the truth -- inside, not outside. Knowing yourself is most important. 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