How leaders can get professional development right

How leaders can get professional development right | practice | Does your company's communication impede productivity? Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( May 22, 2023 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE]( ADVERTISEMENT Leading the Way [] [How leaders can get professional development right]( How leaders can get professional development right (Westend61/Getty Images) Expecting employees will instantly be on track after a single training session is a common mistake leaders make, as is offering training that doesn't really connect with workers' skill gaps, writes Eric Lloyd, executive director of Denison Edge. Leaders who steer clear of training and don't link it to career pathways also aren't likely to get a return on their training investment. Full Story: [Chief Executive]( (5/19) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Map out a series of training options that will position employees for promotions or let them upskill for changing roles, [Lloyd advises](. Make clear the point of the training and how it will benefit employees, and attend the training yourself so colleagues see that it's important. Succeed on Your Terms Drexel's online MS in Entrepreneurship & Innovation offers a unique approach to entrepreneurship education, teaching students to be entrepreneurial thinkers and doers by providing the tools to cultivate the innovative mindset. [Learn more.]( ADVERTISEMENT: [] Smarter Communication [] [Does your company's communication impede productivity?]( Does your company's communication impede productivity? (Pixabay) The $1.8 trillion productivity hit that a SurePayroll study says businesses absorb each year doesn't all come from workers scrolling through phones or chatting over coffee. Mandates from managers, such as written communications, meetings, office messaging systems and more, are among the biggest productivity pirates, Barnaby Lashbrooke, CEO of Time etc, writes. Full Story: [Forbes (tiered subscription model)]( (5/16) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Since writing is a necessity in many jobs, and written correspondence is likely to be confusing or misinterpreted, provide training in effective communication, [Lashbrooke suggests](. The constant pinging of instant messages can be less disruptive by creating guidelines for its use. [] [When both boss and employees are afraid to speak up]( Half of employees say they avoid talking to their boss, but 69% of managers say they're wary about talking to their teams, according to the Journal of Management Studies and a Harris Poll, respectively. The reasons vary by person, but "the result is a communication stalemate which will negatively impact your company's success," leadership consultant Joni Naugle writes. Full Story: [Reading Eagle (Pa.)]( (5/16) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Since "[s]ilence is the root of many organizational disasters," [Naugle notes]( that the onus is on the leader to create an environment conducive to comfortable, authentic conversations. Push through your own angst, get to know your employees and ask for their suggestions rather than expecting them to speak first. Webinar: Caregiving-friendly workplaces Did you know that in addition to full-time job responsibilities, 73% of U.S. workers are also home caregivers? Get insight on the impact of caregiving in the workplace, as well as tips and advice to support working caregivers. Attend a webinar hosted by AARP. [Sign up today.]( ADVERTISEMENT: [] Smarter Strategy [] - [Squirrels, gravity and other things destined to ruin a meeting]( Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model) (5/19) [] - [Actually, it DOES matter who gets the credit, and here's why]( Scott Cochrane (5/18) [] - [Stop what you're doing and start doing this]( Shipulski on Design (5/17)   Free eBooks and Resources Free eBooks and resources brought to you by our sponsors - [Nonverbal Communications Skills -- The 10 Skills You Need to Learn]( - [70+ Excel Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows (Free Cheat Sheet)]( - [Best Practices for Email Etiquette]( - [11 Habits That Will Give You A Complete And Successful Life]( - [Creating Positive Habits - The Ultimate Guide]( [] Smarter Working A weekly spotlight on doing more without working longer [] [Corral creativity that's out of control]( Chaotic creativity may fuel innovation, but little will be accomplished if the environment lacks structure, Jeffrey James Martin, CEO of Collective Genius, writes. Aimless colleagues who never quite meet business goals, teamwork that's neither cohesive nor working, and burned-out colleagues are signs that your company's creativity needs a few guardrails. Full Story: [Medium (tiered subscription model)/Jeffrey James Martin]( (5/19) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Institute clear, long-term goals and rein in experimentation to specific places and times, [Martin says](. Frameworks and tools can bring order, as can the kind of leadership that guides as well as encourages. [] In Their Own Words [] [Why this CEO believes in the promise of everyone]( Michael Hyter learned plenty of lessons about leadership when he wasn't one and was confronted by others' low expectations, often due to his skin color -- until two people recognized his value and helped propel him forward. Today, Hyter is president and CEO of The Executive Leadership Council and says it pains him to see talent wasted simply because someone hasn't been given the chance to find their niche or hasn't been encouraged along the way -- two things that finally "gave me more confidence to lean into challenges, in the face of doubt, rather than letting someone else's doubt control me." Full Story: [LinkedIn]( (5/18) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] SmartBreak: Question of the Day [] Who is credited with inventing the 360 varial McTwist? Check your answer [here]( and see one [here](. [Vote]( [Celebrity hairstylist Frederic Fekkai]( [Vote]( [McDonald's founder Ray Kroc]( [Vote]( [Randy's Donuts owner Mark Kelegian]( [Vote]( [Skateboarder Tony Hawk]( [] About The Editor [] Diane Benson Harrington Diane Benson Harrington Harrington I'm so excited to be filling in for Candace while she's on a much-deserved vacation. The theme in today's SmartBrief on Leadership is about people who aren't quite on the same page, and I'm hoping Candace and I communicated well during this hand-off. My title at SmartBrief is education writer, but my schedule spans non-education topics too, from a little leadership to housewares to manufacturing to business transformation. I also love my role coordinating the Originals -- [the articles on our website]( that get summarized in many of our newsletters. Connecting with so many amazing contributing educators (and many of you leaders when Candace needs a hand) inspires me every day (as does the piece about Michael Hyter in today's "In Their Own Words"). Let me know what you think of today's leadership. [Reach out to me](mailto:diane.harrington@futurenet.com) with your thoughts and ideas. Have a great week! [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 [] [] We are growing into who we've always dreamt of being. [Kristiana Kahakauwila](, Native Hawaiian 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