Hard conversations go better when you know yourself

Why leverage should be used carefully | Flex work isn't new, as this CEO can tell you | Virtual project teams can succeed but have flaws Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( September 1, 2021 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE](  [] Leading Edge [] [Why leverage should be used carefully]( Resist the temptation to automatically use leverage, as there may come a time where you need the other party's help or accommodation, writes Ken Goldstein. "Be the kind of person in business people want to call all the time, not just when either one of you has a temporary advantage," he writes. Full Story: [CorporateIntel]( (8/30) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Flex work isn't new, as this CEO can tell you]( Kaiser Consulting has operated for 30 years with hourly employees who, in collaboration with the business, craft schedules that are flexible and allow for project-based work to be completed, writes CEO Lori Kaiser. "We decide who gets assigned to client work using a process where we review for technical skill set, 'soft' skill set, hours available, schedule fit with other assigned work and the length of the commute," Kaiser writes. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (8/31) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Strategic Management [] [Virtual project teams can succeed but have flaws]( A study suggests that the very best project work comes from virtual teams, but that these teams also lingered on untenable projects compared with on-site teams that quickly moved on. "Equally there were difficulties in terms of effectively communicating the state of the project and on reaching agreement on precisely when it's time to abandon it," Adi Gaskell writes, citing the study. Full Story: [The Horizons Tracker]( (8/31) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Smarter Communication [] [Hard conversations go better when you know yourself]( Conversations that challenge our identity or safety can be especially difficult, and so understanding triggers and "identity-shaping stories" can help us become more effective communicators, writes John Sautelle. "Increasing our capacity to regulate our response also paves the way for us to help the other person do likewise, thereby increasing our confidence to lean into future conversations we might otherwise avoid," he writes. Full Story: [Cultivating Leadership blog]( (8/31) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Be quick and responsible when you're bearing bad news]( Don't procrastinate about delivering bad news to higher-ups but have a game plan for quickly conveying the situation, accepting your responsibility and potentially offering solutions, writes Suzi McAlpine. And going forward, have "reporting tools for key success factors that will give you early signals when things are going off track," McAlpine writes. Full Story: [Suzi McAlpine]( (8/31) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] In Their Own Words [] [Corral power by measuring for empathy and humility]( One way to curb leaders' abuse of power is to deliberately measure for humility and empathy within the organization, says Rotman School of Management professor Tiziana Casciaro. "Instead of having the usual performance ratings, for example, add a couple of critical questions: 'How have you benefited from the effort and contributions of others?' 'How have you helped others succeed?' " Full Story: [McKinsey]( (8/31) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Winning photos highlight Australia's natural beauty]( A backlit photograph of a leafy seadragon swimming off the coast of southern Australia was the winning shot of the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2021. Other winning photos captured an albatross, galah birds in the Strzelecki Desert and aerial landscape. Full Story: [Digital Camera World]( (8/26) [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 forgot this note in Tuesday's email, and you might notice I switched photos again. I guess I need an update, but one reader especially did not like Monday's replacement (I think the note was in good humor). Alas. Today's article about [how to operate hybrid work with flexible hours]( does contain an important caveat: These employees are hourly and miss out on certain benefits if they work 24-29 hours per week. That said, CEO Lori Kaiser's approach matters because the emphasis is on workplace policies that meet today's employees and businesses. Many organizations, by contrast, are crafting policies around some default from 2019 or the 20th century, 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 [] [] Saddle your dreams before you ride 'em. Mary Webb, writer, poet [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