8 ways to become both a better person and leader

8 ways to become both a better person and leader | Don't deflect compliments; learn how to receive them | 5 lessons from the tech world to improve strategy Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( December 22, 2022 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE](  [] Leading Edge [] [8 ways to become both a better person and leader]( Take control of your own professional growth by prioritizing development opportunities and asking for feedback and support, Hannah Sincavage writes. Taking ownership of the things you can control, such as your attitude, self-image, productivity and how you treat others can also boost your personal growth, Sincavage notes. Full Story: [Center for Management & Organization Effectiveness]( (12/21) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Don't deflect compliments; learn how to receive them]( Top leaders know how to give -- and receive -- compliments instead of seeking to deflect or minimize them, write leadership specialists Bob Vanourek and Gregg Vanourek. "If someone offers you a compliment, look them straight in the eyes, smile, and simply say, 'Thank you,' " they write. Full Story: [Triple Crown Leadership]( (12/20) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email](   [] Strategic Management [] [5 lessons from the tech world to improve strategy]( Investing in technology -- especially emerging tech and cybersecurity -- and hiring employees with baseline skills who want to learn more about the business are some strategies that can help all companies control costs in turbulent economic times, writes Chris Howard, chief of research at Gartner. "Hiring and retaining the right talent also creates a virtuous cycle, as top talent desires to work for organizations that are innovative," Howard writes. Full Story: [Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model)]( (12/20) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [4 issues to consider when building a generous ecosystem]( Creating generous ecosystems can provide companies with competitive advantages while still collaborating with other businesses to achieve a stated purpose, writes Claudio Garcia, president of the Outthinker Strategy Network. Such ecosystems need a system of governance, flexible boundaries and a way to track how each entity is benefiting, Garcia notes. Full Story: [Strategy+Business]( (12/21) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Smarter Communication [] [What to wear when giving presentations in 2023]( Next year's well-dressed speaker will choose outfits that match their brand image, are slightly dressier than the clothes worn by their audience and look good against any background, writes Nick Morgan. "Your performance will be affected by how you feel in your outfit, so spend the money and make your wardrobe bring you up rather than down," Morgan notes. Full Story: [Public Words]( (12/21) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Free eBooks and Resources Free eBooks and resources brought to you by our sponsors - [4 Simple Productivity Improvement Points To Dominate Your Day]( - [The Ultimate Guide To Developing Self-Discipline]( - [30 Life Lessons Learned in 30 Years]( - [How to Find Average Salary Information for US Workers]( - ["I Will Teach You to be Rich" Book Summary]( [] In Their Own Words [] [How moral codes can improve the world]( Adhering to moral codes, such as the value of democracy and collaboration, can help people overcome their sense of tribalism and find ways to work together for a greater good, writes David Redish, a professor at the University of Minnesota. Such aspirational goals, Redish writes, "change our decisions because they change the way that our decision-making systems process information about the world, and thus change the world we live in." Full Story: [Next Big Idea Club Magazine]( (12/20) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [KFC and other odd Christmas traditions]( While children in the US leave cookies and milk for Santa, their Danish counterparts leave rice pudding for the nisse -- elflike creatures who are said to wreak havoc when they don't receive their treat. Other Christmas traditions around the world include KFC meals in Japan and fresh carp in parts of Europe. Full Story: [Atlas Obscura]( (12/19) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] SmartBreak: Question of the Day [] POLL QUESTION: Which country welcomed the most international tourists in 2021? Check your answer [here]( before you [renew your passport](. [Vote]( [United States]( [Vote]( [Italy]( [Vote]( [Spain]( [Vote]( [Mexico]( [] Answer to Wednesday's quiz: Partner asks: "Can you bring me my wallet?" What do you fetch? The right answer depends on the preferences of your partner! You can get some [last minute handbag gift ideas](, though. [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 [] [] Hope Smiles from the threshold of the year to come Whispering 'It will be happier'... [Alfred, Lord Tennyson](, poet, playwright [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