How failures and disasters can fuel our optimism

How failures and disasters can fuel our optimism | 6 ways leaders can use their power wisely | Don't withhold training over a fear employees will leave Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( January 9, 2023 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE](  [] Leading the Way [] [How failures and disasters can fuel our optimism]( [How failures and disasters can fuel our optimism]( (Pixabay) A healthy optimism turns on the knowledge that true progress is made because, as a species, we strive to get better and more innovative and we tend to learn valuable lessons from our mistakes, failures and disasters to improve our future lives, writes Morgan Housel. "People spend years or decades discovering a new truth, then the next generation begins their careers with those new truths," Housel writes. Put it into practice: Recall a time when a mistake or failure led you to rethink a problem and come up with an innovative solution. What drives innovation is our ability to pick ourselves back up after we're knocked down and see new ways to meet the challenges we face. Full Story: [Collaborative Fund]( (1/5) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [6 ways leaders can use their power wisely]( Leaders can best use their power and influence to inspire their team when they communicate their vision, goals and expectations clearly, build strong relationships and display adaptability, empathy and problem-solving skills, writes Lolly Daskal. "To be an effective leader, it is important to continuously develop and improve your leadership skills, and to stay open to learning and growth," Daskal writes. Put it into practice: Connection is at the heart of all successful leaders because it builds trust among your peers and your employees, which inspires them to do their best. Full Story: [Lolly Daskal]( (1/7) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] SmartBrief on Leadership [] [Don't withhold training over a fear employees will leave]( Leaders often feel torn over training their employees in new skills, fearing they may invest time and money on team members who then leave the company, writes Diane Youden, a PwC HR Transformation Leader, who points out that neglecting training will lead to an even worse fate -- a poorly skilled workforce. "By investing in your employees, you create a powerful, collaborative workforce that shares your goals, values and drive for excellence, and one that is in turn invested in the well-being of your company," Youden writes. Put it into practice: Surveys show most workers want to enhance their skills, and if the programs are transparent and the company is committed to their growth, many of them will stay and put those new skills to work for the company. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (1/6) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Connection lessons leaders can learn from TCU football]( [Connection lessons leaders can learn from TCU football]( Dykes (Chris Coduto/Getty Images) The Texas Christian University Horned Frogs are the first Texas college team to make the College Football Playoffs and they got there, writes Michael Lee Stallard, because of the organization's commitment to a culture of connection that created strong relationships between coaches and players. "Coach [Sonny] Dykes emphasizes the importance of frequent, in-person, private, one-on-one conversations among coaches and teammates that foster a shared understanding, accountability, and a calm emotional environment where people are even-keeled, not too emotionally high and not too emotionally low," Stallard writes. Put it into practice: Do it the Dykes way by creating opportunities for team members to connect with their superiors in meaningful ways so they know they play a vital role in your company's vision and their input is valued. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (1/6) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Read more]( from Michael Lee Stallard on SmartBrief on Leadership [] Smarter Communication [] [4 ways leaders can get their teams to hear them]( Employees are demanding more transparency and communication from their companies, but leaders are relying on outdated forms of communication that don't break through the clutter of emails, texts and social media, writes Jim VandeHei, CEO of Axios. VandeHei suggests that leaders learn to listen more, keep their messages clear and short and hire communication professionals to do the heavy lifting. Put it into practice: If your messages to your employees are falling flat or getting lost in the shuffle, it may be time to rethink your style and seek out a coach or training. Poor communication skills presents a danger to a company's "culture, productivity and future success," VandeHei notes. Full Story: [Axios]( (1/5) [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]( [] Smarter Strategy [] - [How Y.O.D.A. can help you improve decision-making skills]( Forbes (tiered subscription model) (1/5) [] - [Should your company keep relying on modeling for strategy?]( Strategy+Business (1/3) [] - [How Walmart has improved its social consciousness]( Next Big Idea Club Magazine (1/5) [] Smarter Working A weekly spotlight on doing more without working longer [] [Is it time to cleanse your calendar?]( Conduct a calendar cleanse to remove commitments you can't keep, schedule tough tasks for times when your energy is fresh and use time blocking instead of scheduling specific tasks to improve efficiency and focus, writes technical recruiter Jennifer Magley. "The intent of a cleanse is to jumpstart a process of improvement by getting rid of toxic and unhealthy things," Magley writes. Put it into practice: This is not a tidying of your calendar, Magley notes, but a brutal assessment of how you spend your time and removing tasks that aren't serving you as a leader. Full Story: [Forbes (tiered subscription model)]( (1/5) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [How a pastel painting became our first image of Mars]( While NASA awaited the first image of Mars from the Mariner 4 probe in 1965, scientist Richard Grumm decided to use pastel chalk to make a "paint by numbers" rendition of the narrow strips of ticker tape that recorded the 0's and 1's of the raw data. Grumm's red, brown and yellow creation became the first image of the so-called red planet to be broadcast on television. The later black and white image rendered by the probe is, as you can imagine, far less dazzling than the images currently being sent to Earth by the James Webb telescope. Full Story: [This Is Colossal]( (1/5) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] A View from the Office [] One desk for standing, another for sitting One desk for standing, another for sitting Stand to the left, sit to the right Each Monday, we'd like to feature a photo of your office area, whether you're working from home, in the office or in a hybrid manner. This is the home office of my partner, Beth, who likes to stand for most of her day but also have an option to sit. This is a very small space in our home, which shows you don't need a ton of room to create an ergodynamic office space. Some of the features of her office include multiple screens, an ergonomic keyboard and mouse, a soft mat for when she stands as well as a foot rest. There are multiple sources of light as well as artwork that brings her joy and an essential oil diffuser for fragrances she enjoys. A note for the frugal: Setting up a home office needn't be expensive. The foundation of her standing desk came from a piece of furniture that she found on the side of the road and repurposed and the wood for both desks came from the local home supply store. [Show us your office space](mailto:candace.chellew@futurenet.com) so we can see how you work! [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] About The Editor [] Candace Chellew Candace Chellew Candace Chellew A friend of mine once labeled me "the most optimistic pessimist" that she had ever met. I admit, I have my cynical side, but as [Morgan Housel points out]( in today's brief, blind optimism is just as bad a blind pessimism. What keeps this world moving forward are the optimistic pessimists who know that failure is almost always assured when you're seeking to innovate, but that trying again means this time we have experience under our belt and lessons learned. Are you an optimist, a pessimist, or like me, an optimistic pessimist? How has your mindset paid off for your in your career as a leader? [Let me know](mailto:candace.chellew@futurenet.com)! If this newsletter helps you, please tell your colleagues, friends or anyone who can benefit. Forward them this email, or [send this link](. What topics do you see in your daily work that I should know about? Do you have praise? Criticism? [Drop me a note](mailto:candace.chellew@futurenet.com). And don't forget to send me photos of your pets, your office and where you spend your time off. [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 [] [] Personalityness. There's a lot of traffic in my head, and it's two-way. [Jonathan Lethem](, 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 © Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036