How to ruin a meeting in 8 easy steps

6 strategies to try when things go sideways | Want to become a more human-centric leader? Play games | Why you might want to buy a paper calendar this year Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( December 21, 2022 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE](  [] Leading Edge [] [6 strategies to try when things go sideways]( Deal effectively with feelings of being overwhelmed by admitting that it's happening, talking with a coach or accountability partner and focusing on areas where things are working to foster a sense of success, writes Lolly Daskal. "If you're serious about wanting to get back on track, surround yourself and your team with ideas that inspire you, listen to things that motivate you and keep your own messages supportive," Daskal writes. Full Story: [Lolly Daskal]( (12/20) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Want to become a more human-centric leader? Play games]( Using games in the workplace can build a sense of trust, safety and connection among teams and develop a human-centric focus among leaders, who may often need practice at being vulnerable and empathetic, writes Lauren Fitzpatrick Shanks, the founder and CEO of KeepWOL. "What's great about games is that they allow you to practice and exercise new skills in an environment that's more at ease," writes Shanks. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (12/20) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email](   [] Strategic Management [] [Why you might want to buy a paper calendar this year]( People who used paper calendars to plan their activities -- whether for school or finishing a project -- were more likely to complete their tasks than those who used calendars on their phones, according to a study. Researchers say paper calendars "allow people to see the big picture" and create more detailed and cohesive plans to accomplish their goals. Full Story: [Chief Executive]( (12/19) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( 2023 Employee Engagement Trends for HR [Download this new report]( with trends HR needs to know for employee engagement in 2023. Reward Gateway surveyed 3,000 HR leaders and employees, uncovering core strategies for leaders, including relevant statistics and human-centered strategies. ADVERTISEMENT [] Smarter Communication [] [8 things you should do when laying off employees]( When letting someone go from your company, do it with compassionate respect, express sorrow over the decision, remember the good they have contributed and commit to ensuring the process goes as smoothly as possible, writes Liz Kislik. "Hoping for their better future will make you better able to be with them in the present difficult moment," Kislik writes. Full Story: [Liz Kislik Associates]( (12/20) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [How to ruin a meeting in 8 easy steps]( Meetings are ruined when leaders allow distractions, don't provide material for review ahead of time and fail to spell out what needs to happen afterward, say experts. "Over time it creates a sense of little or no progress, which demotivates people, as well as makes them develop a cynical attitude toward work," says author and development coach Stefan Falk. Full Story: [Fast Company (tiered subscription model)]( (12/19) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Digital Transformation in High Tech Sponsored Content from Kalypso L.P. [Data Driven Design Reuse and Part Rationalization Value Opportunity]( Join Kalypso's global director of enterprise technology, for a poolside chat to discuss the dramatic resurgence of investments in PLM to support digital as the physical and digital worlds converge. [Find out more.]( [] In Their Own Words [] [How kids' basketball made Ron Howard a better director]( [How kids' basketball made Ron Howard a better director]( Howard (Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images) Actor and director Ron Howard says he relied on the skills he learned coaching children in basketball -- building on their strengths to make them better players -- to work successfully with stars like Wilford Brimley, Tom Hanks and Bette Davis. "I would do the same thing with actors around their character, building their confidence in their character, and my ability to work with them in a scene," Howard says. Full Story: [Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model)]( (12/20) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Analysis shows which human names have gone to the dogs]( When someone mentions a Jackson, Hunter or Bonnie at home, you may want to double-check if they're referring to a human or a dog, since those are several of the names that overlap between people and canines, according to a Washington Post analysis of dog and baby names from Petfinder and the Social Security Administration. The three most common people names for dogs are Bella, Luna and Max, and a tool is provided so you can check to see how popular your name is among the furry four-legged community. Full Story: [The Washington Post]( (12/16) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] SmartBreak: Question of the Day [] POLL QUESTION: Partner asks: "Can you bring me my wallet?" What do you fetch? There's no right or wrong answer, but check out [WhoWhatWear]( for stylish wallet and purse ideas for holiday gift-giving. [Vote]( [Wallet]( [Vote]( [The whole purse]( [] Answer to Tuesday's quiz: Which "American Idol" winner turns 40 today? [David Cook](, who won the seventh season of American Idol in 2008, hit the big 4-0 yesterday. [See how your fellow readers answered](. 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 [] [] It isn't important what you do, it is the attitude with which you proceed through the world that matters. [Jenny Diski](, writer [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, a division of Future US LLC © 1100 13th St. NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005