Empathy is the skill managers need most

Why you should celebrate company wins | Empathy is the skill managers need most | Here's the missing ingredient for would-be senior leaders Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( April 20, 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 [] [Why you should celebrate company wins]( Celebrating success can make leaders feel vulnerable or open to criticism, but not celebrating can create a culture where employees feel like money and promotions are the only way to win recognition, writes Ed Batista. "Celebrations aren't a substitute for such rewards, of course, but they can augment them by helping to create and sustain the fulfillment to be derived from group experience," he writes. Full Story: [Ed Batista Executive Coaching]( (4/17) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Empathy is the skill managers need most]( Empathy is only growing in importance at work, with managers increasingly working apart from their reports and employees expecting more support from their bosses with work and life matters, write Gartner HR experts Brian Kropp, Alexia Cambon and Sara Clark. They focus on the challenge facing midsize companies, whose managers retain individual workloads and don't have access to large learning budgets that big corporations possess. Full Story: [Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model)]( (4/15) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Innovation Starts With People When your mission is to protect the nation's industrial infrastructure from cyber attacks, you need smart, passionate people behind you. Tapping into Maryland's cybersecurity talent pool gives Dragos the edge it needs to complete its mission. Innovation lives here. [Meet our innovators.]( ADVERTISEMENT: [] Video Insights on Leadership [] [] [Here's the missing ingredient for would-be senior leaders]( Skills, talent and performance are essential for career growth, but possessing executive presence with key stakeholders is the trait that helps people reach senior leadership levels, says Joel Garfinkle in this blog post and [video](. "You need to be the leader who commands respect and whose opinion everyone seeks out," he says. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (4/19) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Read more]( from Joel Garfinkle on SmartBrief on Leadership A new energy podcast: Renewable Energy SmartPod Listen to interviews with industry leaders and get the latest news about the trends and technologies powering the energy transition. [Subscribe to the Renewable Energy SmartPod.]( ADVERTISEMENT [] Strategic Management [] [COVID-19 exposes a lack of institutional adaptation]( Too many parts of American society and government are operating on pandemic advice that was reasonable in March 2020 but has been displaced by further research, such as businesses spending precious time and money on deep cleaning surfaces, writes Derek Thompson. "In the pandemic and beyond, this might be the fundamental crisis of American institutions: They specialize in the performance of bureaucratic competence rather than the act of actually being competent," Thompson writes. Full Story: [The Atlantic (tiered subscription model)]( (4/13) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Top Workplace Tech Innovations Winners have been announced for the Innovation Awards for Workplace Technology, presented by SmartBrief and AV Technology. Each entrant submitted their product for consideration and was evaluated on uniqueness in the market, ability to solve a problem and suitability for use. Read more [here]( and view the winning innovators [here!]( ADVERTISEMENT Free eBooks and Resources Free eBooks and resources brought to you by our partners - [Guide - 101 Best Excel Tips & Tricks]( - [Cheat Sheet - Self Improvement Cheat Sheet Bundle]( - [eBook - The Best-Kept Secret in Executive Leadership And Why You Need To Know About It]( - [The Essentials of IT Management - 2021 Kit]( - [Guide: 3 Tips to Avoid WFH Burnout]( [] Smarter Communication [] [Keep your writing short and clear]( Your writing can be effective and concise when you use simple words, tell short stories and refine the message to its essence before sitting down to write, writes Josh Spector. "You can't write clearly until you're clear in your own mind about what you want to say, why, and who you want to hear it," he writes. Full Story: [Josh Spector]( (4/13) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Enter to win $50 for a charity of your choice We are seeking input from those in foodservice and hospitality to better understand the current attitudes about the state of diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry. Results will be included in a report that will identify action steps for the industry in exploring anti-racism initiatives and instilling sustainable programs. [Take the survey.]( ADVERTISEMENT: [] SmartPulse [] How do you handle a situation where someone backs out of a commitment they made to do some work for you? It doesn't bother me unless it's a huge deliverable that will fail 23.25% I accept it, don't say anything, but then don't give them work again 23.25% I express my dissatisfaction, pull the work and don't give them work again 35.08% I try to hold them to their original commitment and make them back out of others 18.42% [] A variety of ways to deal with missed commitments. There seems to be no clear consensus on how respondents deal with someone backing out of a commitment to deliver work. Some of you aren't bothered, while others directly express dissatisfaction or try to hold to original commitments. The bigger question here is how to make sure you don't end up in this situation in the first place. Some suggestions include understanding their workload fully before asking them to commit and pushing back if it seems like they're overextending themselves. Also, make it clear it's acceptable to ask for assistance and that it's best to do so early in the project rather than later, when it's harder to recover from missed commitments. Finally, establish regular communication to stay on top of progress, and identify risks early so you can act on them sooner. -- 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 good of a negotiator are you? [Vote]( [Excellent: I'm rigorous in my approach and usually successful]( [Vote]( [Good: I generally use the same process and get decent results]( [Vote]( [Average: My approach is haphazard, and results are hit or miss]( [Vote]( [Not good: I lack a real approach and find success elusive]( [Vote]( [Poor: I don't know how to negotiate, and I usually have bad outcomes]( [] In Their Own Words [] [Remember what you'll need after the crisis]( The Parkinson's Foundation was careful not to make deep cuts in 2020 because leaders were optimistic that growth would return if they could just hang on, says John Lehr, president and CEO. "No one has a crystal ball, and economic downturns happen, but planning for better days should always be worked into your strategy," he says. Full Story: [Forbes (tiered subscription model)]( (4/19) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Are you going to San Francisco? This big bear is, too]( Jesse Larios is walking from Los Angeles to San Francisco while wearing a teddy bear suit under the persona Bearsun. Larios, who ran a marathon in the outfit last year, has been sharing the latest journey on his [Instagram account](. Full Story: [CNN]( (4/15) [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. 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 the lifelong 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) [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 and share your personalized link: smartbrief.com/leadership/?referrerId=japnABMSAp [] [] Read, every day, something no one else is reading. Think, every day, something no one else is thinking. Christopher Morley, writer, editor, journalist [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