Why leaders need to make comedians their role models

Why leaders need to make comedians their role models | Want to be a better leader? Put down that book and listen | How to be better in a crisis than Southwest Airlines Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( SmartBrief Dear Reader, We hope you had a wonderful and restful holiday season. The new year often brings change and at SmartBrief on Leadership, we have made some changes of our own. We are excited to introduce you to a new and refreshed version of our newsletter. A few changes you’ll quickly notice include: - A new masthead design at the top of the newsletter - Strategies and suggestions to put leadership ideas into practice - Community-submitted content – be featured in our newsletter! - And much more! Some things haven’t changed, though, including our promise that SmartBrief on Leadership will continue to deliver the news, information and insights you have come to rely on as you hone your own leadership skills. We welcome your thoughts, suggestions and feedback, so please don’t hesitate to reach out. Sincerely, Candace Chellew and the SmartBrief on Leadership team SmartBrief A SmartBrief subscription offers the news you need to stay ahead in your industry. January 3, 2023 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE](  [] Leading the Way [] [Why leaders need to make comedians their role models]( [Why leaders need to make comedians their role models]( (Pixabay) Many comedians begin a joke with "Have you ever noticed how ...?" followed by a funny but true and inspired insight into the world, which is a model leaders should seek to emulate, writes Antonio Garrido. "The most creative leaders are, at their core, playful -- playing with ideas and scenarios and messages," Garrido writes. Put it into practice: Schedule some time on your calendar for "thinking time" or creative practices such as journaling to learn what insights you already have that you can pass on. Full Story: [ThoughtLeaders]( (1/2) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Want to be a better leader? Put down that book and listen]( There are "a ridiculous number of books" written each year on leadership, notes Art Petty, who points out that perhaps the fastest way to improve your leadership is to ask your team what they want, and deliver it. "Your people want you to be in the moment and focused on them, their performance, and their growth," Petty writes. Put it into practice: You'll know you have the trust of your team if they ask for new opportunities, more engagement and inspiration from you. Full Story: [Art Petty]( (1/2) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Smarter Communication [] [How to be better in a crisis than Southwest Airlines]( [How to be better in a crisis than Southwest Airlines]( (Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images) Hollow apologies and placing the blame on weather, the government and its own workers as Southwest Airlines canceled flights and left passengers stranded over the holidays provides a textbook example of a crisis communication failure, says Boston University's Questrom School of Business instructor Moshe Cohen. "To rebuild confidence, Southwest's management needs to go beyond apologies, take responsibility for the chaos and disruption, and articulate in the clearest terms possible what it's doing to get back to normal operations," Cohen says. Put it into practice: Public relations consultant Shane Allen advises leaders to get ahead of bad news and prepare by testing out their crisis strategies annually to spot weaknesses. Full Story: [Forbes (tiered subscription model)]( (12/29) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [9 ways to smooth over disagreements in the office]( Disputes in the office may arise from a disagreement over rules, the behavior of others or feeling slighted by a leader or teammate, writes Christina Lattimer, who suggests that leaders create clear rules and boundaries and inspire teams to work together for a common, higher goal. "When you place your higher self in charge, you approach conflict from a place of kindness, respect and care for everyone involved," Lattimer writes. Put it into practice: Create policies that treat everyone as equal and consider the effect of decisions on your team to mitigate any potentially negative reactions. Full Story: [People Development Network]( (12/28) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Your Guide to Choosing an R&R Solution Download this eBook outlining the value of recognition and reward, and the seven elements of a best-in-class R&R experience. Read about specific features and benefits that you want in an R&R platform, and client success stories. [Read the eBook today!]( ADVERTISEMENT [] Smarter Strategy [] - [Instead of scrapping capitalism, why not get creative about its future?]( Forbes (tiered subscription model) (12/30) [] - [Make this year your company's top year for customer service]( Shep Hyken blog (12/28) [] - [Tune up your strategic thinking to jump-start innovation in 2023]( Insights With Impact (1/2) 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]( [] SmartPulse [] When you or someone on your team gets sick, how do you approach the situation? Stay home, stop working and only focus on getting well 31.73% Stay home but stay in touch on major deliverables 29.66% Stay home and keep current on as much work as you can 30.00% Power through and go to work for important tasks 3.79% Power through, take medicine and get back to work 4.82% [] Give yourself a break. While 32% of you focus on getting well when facing an illness, the other 68% of you continue with some degree of work -- up to and including actually going into the office when sick. And note these results apply to expectations of team members as well. As a leader, the well-being of yourself and your people should come first. The work will always be there. The more you focus on getting well, the faster you'll return to work fully healthy. You'll also be sending a message to your team that their personal well-being is more important than whatever work is waiting on their desk. Carefully consider what you're communicating with your behavior as far as expectations you have of others when they fall ill. People want to work for employers who care about them as individuals and prioritize their health above the work. If you're not sending that message, you might find yourself with some open roles on your team. -- Mike Figliuolo is managing director of [thoughtLEADERS](, which includes TITAN -- the firm's e-learning platform. Previously, he worked at McKinsey & Co., Capital One and Scotts Miracle-Gro. He is a West Point graduate and author of three leadership books: ["One Piece of Paper,"]( ["Lead Inside the Box"]( and ["The Elegant Pitch."]( [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] POLL QUESTION: How robust are the employee mental health resources in your organization? [Vote]( [Very: We have a significant number of high-quality resources available to our associates]( [Vote]( [Kind of: We have some key resources available but we could do better]( [Vote]( [Not very: We have a couple of critical mental health resources but that's it]( [Vote]( [Not at all: We have no mental health resources available whatsoever]( [] In Their Own Words [] [LinkedIn CEO: Why adaptive leaders thrive in a crisis]( Adaptive leaders who can see opportunities in crises, remain upbeat and know how to constantly pivot to take advantage of the moment will be those who thrive in uncertain times, says LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky. "It's human nature to get pulled into the cycle, but the more that you can stay adaptive, I think the better folks you're going to be," Roslansky says. Full Story: [Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model)]( (12/27) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Photographer catches polar bears on summer vacation]( Think polar bears, and you probably get an image of the snow white bears lounging on icebergs, but photographer Martin Gregus has produced a series of photos of the Arctic icons lounging in lush beds of flowers during the summer. In this interview, Gregus discusses how he prepared for the trip, got close to his subjects and his pinnacle moment of "watching a mom feed her cubs in the fireweed -- an image that was on my list from day one." Full Story: [My Modern Metropolis]( (1/2) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] About The Editor [] Candace Chellew Candace Chellew Candace Chellew As 2023 begins, a lot of us are looking for ways to start fresh. In this new year, we're making some tweaks to our Leadership brief, trying out new ideas to improve a brief that has always had a mission of helping you become a better leader. We're doubling down on that promise to you. I am among those new changes you'll see this year as I step into the role of editor. I began my career at SmartBrief in 2011 as a freelance writer. I moved into a regular writing gig with the education team a few years later and was hired as a full-time editor in 2019. Shortly before that, however, I was given the honor to become the writer for SmartBrief on Leadership. I worked closely with former editor James daSilva to bring you the best content to improve your leadership chops. This is my continued goal as I assume this new leadership role. I want to hear from you as we begin this journey together this new year. Please [reach out to me](mailto:candace.chellew@futurenet.com) if you have a question, a concern or a suggestion for continuing to improve this brief. One of the new things we'll be doing is featuring your photos and input. We'd like to see pictures of your pets, your office environment and places you visit outside of work, so please send me your photos. I look forward to getting to know you all better. Here's to all the best that's coming in 2023! Candace [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 [] [] Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives ... not looking for flaws, but for potential. [Ellen Goodman](, journalist, columnist, speaker, commentator [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 © Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036