Why good relationships can make you more influential

Leaders contemplate the benefits and dangers of AI | practice | Take an enlightened approach to ongoing challenges Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( February 6, 2023 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE]( ADVERTISEMENT Leading the Way [] [Leaders contemplate the benefits and dangers of AI]( [Leaders contemplate the benefits and dangers of AI]( (NurPhoto/Getty Images) Mentions of artificial intelligence by leaders from companies such as Alphabet and Microsoft are on the increase as OpenAI's ChatGPT gains popularity, but Ohio State University dean Ayanna Howard says caution is needed "to be able to get the benefits of AI while ensuring broad access and without sacrificing privacy." Brad Smith, Microsoft vice chair and president, writes that the company is working "to ensure that our AI systems are responsible by design" and offers three key goals to guide AI development to boost competitiveness and broadly serve society. Full Story: [Stern Strategy Group]( (2/2), [Microsoft AI Blog]( (2/2), [Reuters]( (2/3) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Microsoft's Smith envisions a world where AI plays "a pivotal role" in serving humanity, but for that to happen, leaders must ensure that they learn all they can about the technology and how their companies can use it responsibly, then transfer that learning to their employees. "We're entering a new era. We need to learn together," Smith writes. [] [Take an enlightened approach to ongoing challenges]( The shifting economic landscape and workforce demands mean leaders will need to be cognizant of costs when it comes to spending on office space, labor costs, sustainability initiatives and corporate social responsibility, writes Sairah Ashman, global CEO of brand consultancy Wolff Olins. "Enlightened leaders will continue to focus on supporting their employees through health and wellbeing initiatives, DE&I activities, training and career progression and help navigating challenging economic times," Ashman writes. Full Story: [Forbes (tiered subscription model)]( (2/1) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: It can be tempting to rely on the same old strategies that worked in the past, but Ashman warns, "[T]hat tactic is counterproductive in light of the changes we've been through in the last few years and those to come, such as the rise in AI-driven tech." [] SmartBrief on Leadership [] [Why good relationships can make you more influential]( [Why good relationships can make you more influential]( (Olivier Le Moal/Getty Images) Wherever you are on the leadership rung, you can influence the people around you by taking time to learn their interests and showing how your ideas can help them achieve their goals, writes Paul B. Thornton. "The more you know about the people you're trying to influence, the better able you are to connect with them and address their situation," Thornton writes. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (2/3) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: By appealing to someone's head, heart and hands -- meaning their intellect, emotions and need for useful ideas and products -- you can show them how your ideas and influence can help them fulfill their needs and achieve their goals, Thornton writes. [] Smarter Communication [] [Are you communicating enough? Your team may disagree]( Employees would rather their leaders communicate with them too much in an effort to meet their needs than to withhold information or not tell them enough, according to a Stanford University study. Researchers say it's best to ask employees what they prefer, but to err on the side of overcommunicating, even if it feels like you're micromanaging. Full Story: [The Horizons Tracker]( (2/3) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Overcommunicating may feel like you're hampering your teams' feeling of independence, but researchers say, "[I]f that ultimately helps your employees' development, that might be a trade-off a manager has to make for the benefit of the people who work with them." 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]( [] Smarter Strategy [] - [Want to blunt inflation risks? Keep your employees]( Chief Executive (2/3) [] - [5 M&A themes executives should be aware of this year]( Bain & Co. (1/31) [] - [Consider these factors before making sustainable investment decisions]( Morgan Stanley (2/2023) [] Smarter Working A weekly spotlight on doing more without working longer [] [Want to improve productivity? Try a new email app]( A glitch in his Gmail forced Harry McCracken to try a different mail app, an experiment that showed him that trying new technology can bring challenges, but ultimately presents new, more productive ways to work. "It's not only helped me spend less time on email, but also made the time I do spend surprisingly pleasant," McCracken writes. Full Story: [Fast Company (tiered subscription model)]( (2/1) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] In Their Own Words [] [Brewer: Expect obstacles, and make the most of them]( [Brewer: Expect obstacles, and make the most of them]( Brewer (Walgreens Boots Alliance) Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Rosalind Brewer recently sat down with Carlyle Group Co-Chair David Rubenstein to discuss how she views obstacles, the health care industry's ongoing challenges and the dearth of Black women among Fortune 500 CEOs. "It's filling the pipeline, effectively getting people of different races in operating roles and having the confidence that they can do it because they absolutely can," Brewer says. Full Story: [Bloomberg]( (2/2) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Dumped before Valentine's Day? These kitties dump back]( If Valentine's Day this year is less than appealing because of a bad breakup, you can get back at your ex, and help homeless dogs and cats, by making a donation to animal shelters in either Nevada or Ohio where your ex's name will be written on kitty litter boxes. "Let our shelter cats cover your former #1 with lots of #2," The Animal Foundation in Las Vegas said on its website. Full Story: [KLAS-TV (Las Vegas)]( (2/3), [The Cincinnati Enquirer (tiered subscription model)]( (2/3) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Most Read by CEOs The most-clicked stories of the past week by SmartBrief on Leadership readers [] - [4 tactics to silence office gossips]( Let's Grow Leaders [] - [Do you have any of these 7 bad leadership traits?]( Forbes (tiered subscription model) [] - [Stunned by layoffs? This Broadway farewell letter can help]( Forbes (tiered subscription model) [] - [Are you monitoring your employees? They may soon quit]( BBC [] - [7 things to remember before having a tough conversation]( Mike Robbins [] A View from the Office [] Window in a window Window in a window This is a view from my standing desk. My office is a bedroom with outdoor windows, which was once probably the back of the house, but now looks out on an enclosed porch with picture windows providing me a beautiful view during my workday. What's the view from your office like? [Send me your photos](mailto:candace.chellew@futurenet.com)! [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] About The Editor [] Candace Chellew Candace Chellew Candace Chellew My other full-time job is leading a small spiritual (but not religious) community and when I was in seminary 21 years ago (Yikes!), one of the things I learned was that the moment you're tired of saying the same thing over and over again -- such as the mission and values of your organization -- is when your audience is really just beginning to hear it and take it in. In other words, you may feel like you're overcommunicating with your team, but in reality, when you feel like a broken record, they're just beginning to get it. I have repeated our mission and values so many times over the years that now there are parts of it that I let the congregation say instead of me. That's when you know the values you've repeated ad nauseam are now part of your culture. What message are you tired of telling your people? Rest assured, they're just now really hearing you, so don't stop! 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 [] [] My theory is, strong people don't need strong leaders. [Ella Baker](, civil rights activist February is Black History Month [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