Your managers might be bullies

Is your leadership suffering from deja vu? | Your managers might be bullies | Read more from Marlene Chism on SmartBrief on Leadership Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [Update Profile]( | [Web Version]( February 2, 2021 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE]( ADVERTISEMENT Leading Edge [] [Is your leadership suffering from deja vu?]( People who are stuck in unproductive or unfulfilling habits need to examine their patterns, routines and processes, writes Karin Hurt. "You have time to consider what matters most, what lights you up, and how you can add the most value to the world," she writes. Full Story: [Let's Grow Leaders]( (2/1) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Your managers might be bullies]( Some leaders are good at managing up, which obscures the awful ways they're treating their reports, writes Marlene Chism. She offers three areas for executives to monitor, both for the well-being of their organizations and to avoid legal liability. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (2/1) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Read more]( from Marlene Chism on SmartBrief on Leadership Custom Executive Education Solutions Help your organization steer ahead in uncertain times. Our custom online, in-person, and hybrid learning programs are tailored for your company's unique goals. Executives learn from world-class Chicago Booth faculty in a transformative experience.[Download a brochure to learn more](. ADVERTISEMENT: [] Strategic Management [] [Why worst-case scenarios can teach us the most]( No plan is immune from surprises, and so being prepared for all possible scenarios is wise even when you are hopeful for the best outcome. Such preparation can help us handle adversity, learn from experience and regroup for new possibilities. Full Story: [Farnam Street]( (2/1) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Strategic success requires acknowledging emotions]( Nokia's board of directors transformed a culture of fear into one of openness and innovation by allowing executives to express their emotions and let go of processes that no longer worked, write INSEAD professors Quy Huy and Timo Vuori. "Without recognizing the dangers unconstrained emotions pose to strategy-making, managers may not do the hard work of keeping themselves consistently in check," they write. Full Story: [INSEAD Knowledge]( (2/1) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Ready to reopen? The pandemic sent many employees home last spring, but now businesses are ready to reopen. How can they do that safely? How can they monitor workplace sanitization and employee health without impinging on workers' privacy? [Watch the on-demand webinar]( to get answers. ADVERTISEMENT: [] Smarter Communication [] [Your next meeting can be better with these tips]( Ice-breakers can help meeting participants connect with each other and improve the rest of the time together, writes Elizabeth Doty. "Your goal here is just to spark the group's interest; if people start diving into detailed problem-solving, you may need to gently intervene to keep things on track," she writes. Full Story: [Strategy+Business online (free registration)]( (1/26) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( 5 Ways to Hire Like It’s 2021 We dug deep to learn what job seekers want from an employer for 2021. While there are more candidates seeking work, there's also more competition among businesses for the most qualified people. [Get the leading edge with this free guide](. ADVERTISEMENT: Sponsored content from The Wall Street Journal Free to read exclusively for SmartBrief readers - [How to Win the War Against Clutter]( - [Forget Positive Thinking: How Sweatpants Managers Can Stay Motivated]( - [Take the Guilt Out of Takeout]( - [What to Expect From Travel in 2021]( - [How to Stop the Negative Chatter in Your Head]( [] SmartPulse [] Have you ever been through a merger/acquisition process during your career? Yes, I've had my company be acquired by another 45.22% Yes, I've been at a company that acquired another one 35.31% No, I've never been involved in one of those situations 19.47% [] Merger challenges. 80% of you have been involved in mergers, either as the buyer or the bought. They're extremely challenging and stressful situations. One of the most challenging aspects of any merger is managing the culture combination. Processes, technology, products, operations, financials -- those are all relatively straightforward to sort out. The big leadership challenge is creating one new culture from the two that came together. Failure to do so creates great risk for the organization and can definitely adversely affect the merger's outcome. As a leader, stay focused on cultural issues. Pay attention to brewing culture conflicts and get in front of them. Define the culture you want to build and find every opportunity you can to reinforce it. Pointing out actions that are or are not consistent with the desired culture helps people understand what you're building toward. Your team can handle the operating details -- they need you focused on combining two cultures into one successful one. -- Mike Figliuolo is managing director of [thoughtLEADERS](, which includes TITAN-- the firm's e-learning platform. Previously, he worked at McKinsey & Co., Capital One and Scotts Miracle-Gro. He is a West Point graduate and author of three leadership books: ["One Piece of Paper,"]( ["Lead Inside the Box"]( and ["The Elegant Pitch."]( [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] POLL QUESTION: How would you characterize your organization when it comes to strategy execution? [Vote]( [We stay diligently focused on our strategy and avoid distractions]( [Vote]( [We generally follow our strategy but occasionally chase distractions]( [Vote]( [We mostly focus on distractions but still spend some effort on the core strategy]( [Vote]( [We chase every shiny new distraction that comes along]( [] In Their Own Words [] [How happy accidents propelled Cicely Tyson's career]( How happy accidents propelled Cicely Tyson's career Tyson (Amy Sussman/Getty Images) The late Cicely Tyson recently discussed her memoir and career with Phylicia Rashad, saying that she became a model and actor almost by accident because strangers noticed her beauty and talent. "What I've realized is that when you reach a pinnacle of any kind, you probably never thought you were actually going to get there," she said. Full Story: [Interview magazine]( (2/1) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Naked mole rats have dialects based on their colony]( Research of seven colonies of naked mole rats suggest that each colony uses and recognizes distinct sounds, akin to a dialect, to identify and greet members of their own community. "There is some evidence in prairie dogs and in other species that there is transmission of different alarm calls, but in terms of a greeting call in rodents, I think this is the first," said researcher Alison Barker. Full Story: [New Scientist (free content)]( (2/1) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] About The Editor [] James daSilva James daSilva Hi, it's your SmartBrief on Leadership editor! I've had the great fortune of editing this email for nearly 10 years. Before that, I was a copy editor, including at a small daily newspaper in upstate New York. My last haircut was Jan. 27, 2020. Thank you for reading and subscribing. I know you don't need to read SmartBrief on Leadership. Rather, you're here because you're on a lifelong journey -- a journey of being a better leader, communicator and thinker. 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? A favorite story from The Onion? [Drop me a note.](mailto:jdasilva@smartbrief.com) 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 [] [] Don't give them what you think they want. Give them what they never thought was possible. Orson Welles, actor, director, screenwriter, producer [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [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, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004