What managers say they need from leaders

Seizing opportunities key for Suntory Beverage's new CEO | How asking "why" moved Julie Sweet to the CEO post | Follow this road map when the questions get hard Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( December 21, 2022 [WFF Leadership SmartBrief]( Advancing and Empowering Women Leaders [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE](  [] A Leader's Edge [] [Seizing opportunities key for Suntory Beverage's new CEO]( Once Makiko Ono takes over as CEO of Tokyo-based Suntory Beverage & Food early next year, she will explore overseas opportunities for the business and, she hopes, inspire more Japanese companies to provide management roles for women. "Career opportunities are now becoming more fair, so I hope that women will not give up and will seize whatever chances come their way," said Ono, who has risen through the ranks since joining Suntory four decades ago. Full Story: [Reuters]( (12/20) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Simplify Online Ordering for Less Transform your restaurant's POS integration for less just in time for the holiday rush. Enjoy no set-up fee (a $250 value) and up to $60 OFF when you sign up with Chowly before the end of the year. [Get Started Today.]( ADVERTISEMENT: [] Career Progression: Developing Leaders [] [How asking "why" moved Julie Sweet to the CEO post]( Julie Sweet says her practice of routinely asking "why" when she sought to understand the business helped her build credibility within Accenture and eventually move from general counsel to become the company's first female CEO. "If you're wondering 'why,' there's someone else in the room who is as well," Sweet says. Full Story: [Duke University]( (12/15) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Follow this road map when the questions get hard]( When faced with answering a tough question, lead with empathy for the questioner and be as honest as possible in your reply, especially if there are things you don't know, writes Allison Shapira, founder and CEO of Global Public Speaking. Prepare for tough questions during meetings by reviewing the agenda, role-playing a scenario with others and pausing before answering when the questions arise. Full Story: [Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model)]( (12/19) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [How new leaders can excel amid hybrid work]( Shifting employee needs and hybrid and remote work situations mean leaders need to focus on basic tasks such as setting clear expectations, listening and practicing transparency while also developing some new skills, writes Leah Carey. "It falls to senior leaders and the organization as a whole to provide leadership experiences, networking opportunities and mentorship and coaching in order to accelerate the growth of these rising leaders," Carey writes. Full Story: [Chief Learning Officer online]( (12/16) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [What managers say they need from leaders]( Managers are facing a variety of challenges, and many say they need more resources to develop employees' skills and better tools to communicate effectively, according to Betterworks data. "Investing in strengthening managers through tools that promote alignment, flexible goal-setting, high-quality conversations and better collaboration can yield better business outcomes while making work better for all," writes Michelle Gouldsberry. Full Story: [Betterworks]( (12/15) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Diversity and Inclusion [] [Black women find promotions often come with big hurdles]( As companies take steps toward diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, many Black women have been asked to take on demanding roles but with insufficient funding or support, leading to burnout or even failure. "[W]hen people are applauding themselves for giving Black women these leadership roles that they deserve and almost never get, I think they are forgetting the part where you give them the resources, you give them the tools and you give them the support that they need to succeed," said Kyra Kyles, CEO of YR Media. Full Story: [CNN]( (12/17) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [How to make DEI a "team sport" and monitor progress]( Implementing plans for diversity, equity and inclusion should be a "team sport" for all employees and not driven only by the HR department, says CEO Christie Lindor of Tessi Consulting. Nine measurements can gauge progress in DEI initiatives in the coming year. Full Story: [Senior Executive]( (12/16) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Gender equity makes modest progress, data suggests]( The percentage of women CEOs at top companies reached an all-time high this year, but women's wages have made little progress in catching up to men's, according to reports and surveys. The materials and industrial industries have seen the biggest growth in women executives over the past 10 years, but women leaders also left companies at the highest rate ever in 2022, data shows. Full Story: [CNBC]( (12/20) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [How to create a unified, yet diverse, company culture]( Success at building a cohesive culture that still honors the diversity of employees hinges on applying your company's purpose and values in ways that meet their unique needs and expectations, says Denise Lee Yohn. "[Y]our responsibility as a leader is to ensure absolute clarity and widespread alignment throughout your organization on your desired culture -- and then to empower managers to determine how their groups will contribute to it," Yohn adds. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (12/16) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Free eBooks and Resources Free eBooks and resources brought to you by our sponsors - [How Technology Can Help you Get a Good Night's Sleep]( - [10 Ways to Manage Stress in the Workplace]( - [10 Secrets For Managing Your Time]( - [The Life Changing Manage of Tidying Up Book Summary]( - [Microsoft Excel 2021 Basic - Quick Reference Guide]( [] Women and Innovation in the Workforce [] [How Wendy's diversity chief ensures teams are seen, heard]( Wendy's Chief Diversity Officer Beverly Stallings-Johnson's strategy to increase diversity and inclusion started by surveying team members across all levels and then using that information as a compass to launch initiatives that would address any deficient areas, like retention, education and training. "We actually take that feedback and, we try to adapt and recognize where we need to go with this, specifically from an inclusive perspective," Stallings-Johnson said. Full Story: [Franchise Times (Minneapolis)]( (12/15) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] WFF News [] [Use this time to indulge...in a digital detox]( Whether you call it a "digital Sabbath," vacation or even a digital fast, disconnecting from technology, even for a short time, can feel really good. Greater connection to the natural world, more quality time with loved ones, better sleep, more time for self-care and the opportunity to introduce new interests into your life are just some of the benefits. Thinking about giving it a try? Now may be just the time to experiment with unplugging for an hour, a day or whatever you can handle as the year draws to a close and you focus on what and who matters to you most. [Read more](. [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( LEARN MORE ABOUT the WFF: [About the WFF]( | [Join the WFF]( | [WFF Programs]( [] [] 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:wff@smartbrief.com) | [ADVERTISE](mailto:cwarne@smartbrief.com) SmartBrief, a division of Future US LLC © 1100 13th St. NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005