5 ways you can sabotage performance conversations

The power of leverage | Being courageous pays dividends | Shareholders loved what Mayer did for Yahoo Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( June 6, 2017 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Google+]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [FORWARD]( [] Leading Edge [] [The power of leverage]( Leverage is a concept that's important to understand when you're seeking breakthroughs or embroiled in negotiations, writes Shane Parrish. Such leverage is situational, variable and depends on social and other contexts, says Roger Volkema. [Farnam Street]( (6/5) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( [] [Being courageous pays dividends]( Being courageous in the workplace sometimes means confronting a poor performer and being clear about the situation and possible consequences, writes Michael Ray Hopkin. Overcoming the fear of making a decision can improve your confidence, compounding the benefits of courage. [Lead on Purpose blog]( (6/5) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( [Could Siri Become Your Leadership Coach?]( Successful leaders have trusted advisors, confidantes, and mentors. It's possible that in the not-too-distant future, one of those advisors will be a machine. [Read more]( and tell us what you think [#DDIChallengingThinking](. ADVERTISEMENT [] Strategic Management [] [Shareholders loved what Mayer did for Yahoo]( Shareholders loved what Mayer did for Yahoo Mayer (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images) Yahoo failed to regain its past glory under CEO Marissa Mayer and has been sold to Verizon, yet she collected an average of $900,000 per week in large part because the company's stock price soared. Shareholders appreciated her unlocking of the company's valuable holdings in Alibaba and Yahoo Japan even if righting the core business was an impossible task. [The New York Times (free-article access for SmartBrief readers)]( (6/3) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( [] [Zebras can be as valuable as unicorns]( Disruption is a popular theme among tech companies, but a better model than such "unicorns" is that of the "zebra" company that improves society while still turning a profit, writes James Rosseau, LegalShield chief commercial officer. "A company that is authentically true to its values will attract talent that shares similar ethics, increasing internal collaboration, reducing turnover and incurring goodwill that translates into sales," he notes. [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (6/5) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( [] Smarter Communication [] [5 ways you can sabotage performance conversations]( Performance conversations can go wrong when managers have ulterior agendas, such as seeking to punish their reports or only meeting to comply with company policy, writes Marlene Chism. "Take a moment to get clear on what the employee can do or should stop doing in order to improve performance," she writes. [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (6/5) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( [] Innovation & Creativity A weekly spotlight on making the next big thing happen [] [Small ideas can have big returns]( Innovation needn't only be disruptive, as complementary ideas can add great value to existing offerings, says David Robertson of Wharton. "It starts with that question, 'What are our crown jewels?' " he says. [Knowledge@Wharton]( (6/1) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( [] SmartPulse [] When you make a really big mistake, how do you handle it? Immediately fess up and fix it quickly 89.86% Try to fix it quietly yourself so others don't know 9.52% Ignore it and hope no one else notices 0.62% [] Fess up fast. That's the preferred approach for almost all of you. When you’ve made a mistake, regardless of size, getting in front of the issue appears to be the best policy. Doing so has several benefits. It eliminates the uncertainty and fear that comes along with worrying about being found out. It demonstrates to the organization that you're fallible but willing to take responsibility for your actions. It gets people focused on fixing the problem instead of tracking down causes and figuring out where the blame resides. Putting your head in the sand or trying to work behind the scenes to clean up your mess presents many problems. The next time you mess up, try getting in front of the issue instead. The consequences are usually less severe than if you're found out by someone else. -- Mike Figliuolo is managing director of [thoughtLEADERS](. Before launching his own company, he worked at McKinsey & Co., Capital One and Scotts Miracle-Gro. He is a graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point. He's the author of three leadership books: "[One Piece of Paper](," "[Lead Inside the Box](" and "[The Elegant Pitch](." [] Are you a procrastinator on big projects? [Vote]( [Absolutely not -- I tackle projects as soon as I can]( [Vote]( [Not really -- I'll procrastinate from time to time]( [Vote]( [Kind of -- I put off most things with a few exceptions]( [Vote]( [Absolutely -- I always wait until the last minute]( [] In Their Own Words [] [Why Rachel Zoe's many ventures are worth the effort]( Why Rachel Zoe's many ventures are worth the effort Zoe (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) Fashion mogul Rachel Zoe says wearing many hats and having a multifaceted career can be difficult, particularly for women, but has its positives. "The biggest reward of starting our company is that we provide what we believe is not only a great place to work but also a place where someone can build a career," she says. [Forbes]( (6/5) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Companies are preparing for the end of .com choices]( Dot-com domain names are in short supply, with many companies failing to own their namesake addresses, writes Alan Dunn. Many are beginning to turn to .com alternatives, including brand-name domains such as .nike, he notes. [Quartz]( (6/2) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( [] [] Whatever can be done another day can be done today. Michel de Montaigne, philosopher [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( [Sign Up]( [SmartBrief offers 200+ newsletters]( [Advertise]( [Learn more about the SmartBrief audience]( Subscriber Tools: [Manage Subscriptions]( [Update Your Profile]( [Unsubscribe]( [Send Feedback]( [Archive]( [Search]( Contact Us: Jobs Contact - jobhelp@smartbrief.com Advertising - [Laura Thompson](mailto:lthompson@smartbrief.com) Editor - [James daSilva](mailto:leadership@smartbrief.com) Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004 © 1999-2017 SmartBrief, Inc.® [Privacy policy]( | [Legal Information]( Â