How to keep your team on pitch and prevent mission creep

How to keep your team on pitch and prevent mission creep | practice | Gamifying learning, development is a winning strategy Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( May 17, 2023 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE]( ADVERTISEMENT Leading the Way [] [How to keep your team on pitch and prevent mission creep]( [How to keep your team on pitch and prevent mission creep]( (Pixabay) Creating a "tuning fork" moment can be a way to bring everyone back into harmony with your company's mission and vision when they seem to drift away from it by talking about what's happening and affirming what they're getting right, writes Scott Cochrane, the vice president of International, Global Leadership Network. Cochrane offers three questions to ask to spot mission drift and how to bring everyone back on pitch. Full Story: [Scott Cochrane]( (5/14) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Evidence of "mission drift" can be subtle, [Cochrane writes](, so leaders "must be constantly listening and watching" for signs. "Tuning-fork leadership is an ongoing, never-ending process." Harvard Online Leadership Courses Learn More. Earn More. Flexible, 100% online certificate courses that help you develop the leadership and management skills to get things done and bring out the best in your team, whether you're an aspiring, new, or seasoned leader. [View Certificate Courses.]( ADVERTISEMENT: [] SmartBrief on Leadership [] [Gamifying learning, development is a winning strategy]( [Gamifying learning, development is a winning strategy]( (anyaberkut/Getty Images) Professional development and training that uses gamification can awaken and improve interpersonal skills in a way traditional programs don't, writes Lauren Fitzpatrick Shanks, CEO of KeepWOL. Research shows that employees who are more engaged are better connected, higher performing and more motivated, Fitzpatrick Shanks writes. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (5/16) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Try live, multiplayer training games to improve collaboration and retention, [Fitzpatrick Shanks suggests](. A "What If?" game can help colleagues get to know one another better and recognize the value and humanity of each other. [] Smarter Communication [] [How 3 key phrases reduce conflict, boost connection]( Understanding and empathizing with an employee who's upset creates a better chance of resolving workplace conflicts than ignoring those human connections, write leadership experts Karin Hurt and David Dye Phrases such as "It sounds like you're feeling ..." and "I care about the team and ..." can help temper conflict by clearly acknowledging a colleague's feelings from the start. Full Story: [Let's Grow Leaders]( (5/15) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: If a conversation is particularly heated, it helps to say, “Let’s pause this for a minute” so cooler heads can prevail, [Hurt and Dye write](. The ideal outcomes are more likely if all parties can take a step back before resuming the conversation more productively. [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Free eBooks and Resources Free eBooks and resources brought to you by our sponsors - [2023 State of B2B Content Consumption and Demand Report for Marketers]( - [Best Practices for Email Etiquette]( - [70+ Excel Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows (Free Cheat Sheet)]( - [Creating Positive Habits - The Ultimate Guide]( [] Smarter Strategy [] - [Whatever happened to innovation?]( Forbes (tiered subscription model) (5/15) [] - [The global M&A market is beginning to show signs of life]( McKinsey (5/16) [] - [Trying to grow your business? Use these 6 strategies]( Real Business (UK) (5/15) [] In Their Own Words [] [This CEO says he learned listening skills from dad]( Simon Freakley, CEO of consulting firm AlixPartners, learned the importance of listening to employees from his father who owned a small boatyard and went "from workbench to workbench and talked to each employee about their projects and how they were going and what their issues were." Freakley says, "He would listen to them and then roll that into what he wanted in terms of an outcome, but in a very gentle but strong way." Full Story: [LinkedIn]( (5/16) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Florida professor breaks record for living underwater]( University of South Florida biomedical engineering professor Joseph Dituri set the record for the most time living underwater without depressurization when he reached 74 days this weekend -- and he plans to stay there until he reaches 100 days on June 9. Dituri, a retired US Naval officer, lives in the Jules' Undersea Lodge in Key Largo and provides data on how the body responds to extreme pressure while teaching online classes to USF students. Full Story: [The Associated Press]( (5/15) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] SmartBreak: Question of the Day [] The first-ever color photograph of a tartan ribbon was taken by the inventor of the single-lens reflex camera. Who was it? Check your answer [here](. [Vote]( [George Eastman]( [Vote]( [Louis Daguerre]( [Vote]( [Joseph Nicephore Niepce]( [Vote]( [Thomas Sutton]( [] Pets of SmartBrief Leaders [] Gracie goes undercover Gracie goes undercover (Mark Hinkes) Mark Hinkes sent in this photo of Gracie, who he says, "stays in my wife's office with her most of the day, being sure my wife gets all the love necessary for her to be productive!" Honestly, I don't think I'd get much done with that adorable face staring at me! What non-human companions keep you company in the office? [Send me photos](mailto:candace.chellew)! [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] About The Editor [] Candace Chellew Candace Chellew Candace Chellew The theme of this issue seems to be cultivating listening skills to ensure your team [remains on mission](, [stays engaged]( and knows how to [reduce conflicts](. It's been my experience that when I have superiors who really listen to my concerns and celebrate my victories, the longer I want to work for them. How are you honing and using your listening skills? [Let me know](mailto:candace.chellew)! 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 [] [] Everyone must dream. We dream to give ourselves hope. [Amy Tan](, writer May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage 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