Why every leader needs "a personal courage ladder"

Use this strategy to make better decisions | 3 ways to model healthy habits in crisis | Read more from Alaina Love on SmartBrief on Leadership Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( August 24, 2021 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE](  [] Leading Edge [] [Use this strategy to make better decisions]( One way to improve your decision-making skills is simply to pause and seek more information, as you'll uncover more possibilities and potentially unravel difficult problems, writes Eric McNulty. He offers five ways to avoid snap judgments and ultimately make a better decision. Full Story: [Strategy+Business]( (8/23) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [3 ways to model healthy habits in crisis]( Leaders need to take care of themselves, get help where needed and model that behavior for their employees, especially as this pandemic drags on, writes Alaina Love, CEO of Purpose Linked Consulting. "As a leader, it's your job to manage the environment your employees are experiencing, which is even more difficult when the environment is not the office," she writes. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (8/23) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Read more]( from Alaina Love on SmartBrief on Leadership [] Strategic Management [] [Use this 3-step approach to revamp strategic planning]( Start at the team level with strategic planning this year and build in adaptability by introducing any changes gradually and collaboratively. This article discusses three steps to using "Adaptive Planning," an approach that means "you need to leave time and space for learning and reflection at the end of each quarter, and to iterate your ongoing approach accordingly. Full Story: [NOBL Academy]( (8/22) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [What The Beatles can teach leaders about creativity]( [What The Beatles can teach leaders about creativity]( The Beatles in 1966 (Evening Standard/Getty Images) The Beatles' ability to collaborate, remain fresh and keep their sense of humor drove their creativity and ultimately their popularity, writes John Baldoni, who points to lessons learned from a new series on Paul McCartney. "The result is a celebration of the human spirit -- its potential for creativity, individually and collaboratively," Baldoni writes. Full Story: [Forbes (tiered subscription model)]( (8/20) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Smarter Communication [] [Do your homework to be heard during meetings]( You have a better chance of contributing to meetings when you know the agenda, bring a list of possible points and questions, and can anticipate other people's reactions, writes Karin Hurt. "A little advanced notice about the conversation gives some time to gather your thoughts and prepare your point of view," she writes. Full Story: [Let's Grow Leaders]( (8/21) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] SmartPulse [] Where do you spend the majority of your time and energy on people leadership? I spend it mostly with my high performers 36.67% I spend it mostly with my average performers 35.83% I spend it mostly with my low performers 27.50% [] The best use of your time. A large portion of you report spending most of your time and energy on your high performers. The question is, what is your return on that time investment? Do they really need you spending that much time with them or are you spending it there because it's fun and easy? Why aren't you spending more time with your low performers helping them improve? There may be bigger gains there in terms of the time investment to performance improvement ratio. Ask yourself if your high performers really need that much of your time. They might feel like you're wasting their time or that you're micromanaging them. Take a step back. Give them space to grow. Reinvest that time in average performers to boost them to the next level or your low performers getting them up to the standard. Your time is a finite resource -- get the highest return out of it that you can! -- 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 well connected do you stay with people from your school years (high school, university, advanced degree)? [Vote]( [Very: We're in touch all the time]( [Vote]( [Somewhat: We'll get together occasionally, but it's sporadic]( [Vote]( [Not very: I'll see them at a 5-year scheduled reunion interval]( [Vote]( [Not at all: I am totally out of touch with them]( [] In Their Own Words [] [Why every leader needs "a personal courage ladder"]( Courage doesn't require massive risk or huge change, and placing "courageous acts at different levels of difficulty on the different rungs," is a good way to get yourself started, writes Jim Detert of the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business. "If you want to change your behavior, the only 'wrong' ladder is one that you're not willing to climb," Detert writes. Full Story: [Next Big Idea Club Magazine]( (8/23) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Why the wait for this Airbnb is so long, and worth it]( A 100-square-foot geodesic hut called The Mushroom Dome in Aptos, Calif., is the world's most-booked Airbnb, hosting more than 5,000 guests and maintaining an eight-month waitlist. The property is relatively inexpensive, and owner Katherine "Kitty" Mrache's longtime relationship with Airbnb's founders makes the property one of the most highlighted by the company. Full Story: [The Hustle]( (8/21) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] About The Editor [] James daSilva James daSilva Hi, it's your SmartBrief on Leadership editor! 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? [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 [] [] The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. 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