Alone in the office? You could be a workaholic

Alone in the office? You could be a workaholic | practice | Challenging situation? Try ally listening Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( June 2, 2023 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE](  [] Leading the Way [] [Alone in the office? You could be a workaholic]( [Alone in the office? You could be a workaholic]( (Pixabay) You could be a workaholic if you prioritize work over relationships, worry about work when you're away from it, are the first to start work and the last to finish or you feel too pressured to take time off, writes leadership coach Gregg Vanourek. Some cures include setting boundaries, working on a few key projects at a time and being intentional about taking time away from work, Vanourek writes. Full Story: [Gregg Vanourek]( (5/31) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Some of the causes of over-working include a fear of disappointing others, easing some manner of emotional or psychological pain or believing in a "hustle" culture that prizes exhaustion as badge of success, [Vanourek writes](. "If we're highly motivated by extrinsic factors like financial or status rewards, we can tell ourselves that working all the time will bring us the satisfaction and happiness we crave." [] SmartBrief on Leadership [] [Challenging situation? Try ally listening]( [Challenging situation? Try ally listening]( (Nuthawut Somsuk/Getty Images) Consciously choosing to put a coworker's priorities above your own is a hallmark of listening as an ally, a strategy that can help both parties through challenging situations, Rachael Grail of leadership consulting firm Interaction Associates writes. It starts with understanding that listening is a leadership skill that must be developed, Grail explains. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (6/1) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Focus on curiosity as you strive to truly understand what your coworker is saying, then mirror and paraphrase their words and express empathy. [Grail also suggests]( asking everyone on the team to commit to listening as an ally for the best results. [] Smarter Communication [] [Bad news? Be straightforward, take control in 5 ways]( When State Farm recently announced it would no longer accept certain new insurance applications in California, it provided a brief, straightforward explanation that pointed to "historic" cost increases "outpacing inflation" and said the move was necessary to improve its strength and uphold standards for existing customers. It also didn't blame state government decisions for its position and made sure customers knew nothing else was changing. Full Story: [PR News (tiered subscription model)]( (5/31) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: "Get in front of the news," share important data without wasting words and avoid alienating stakeholders, [Dustin Siggins, founder of Proven Media Solutions, advises](. Look forward as State Farm did by saying it would work "constructively" with the state and continue to evaluate the situation. 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 Strategy [] - [Innovation does not need to be disruptive]( INSEAD Knowledge (5/31) [] - [See your strategy as a "portfolio of options"]( Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model) (5/31) [] - [Change your frame to reduce resistance to change]( Prosci (5/31) [] Smarter Living Get your mind and body right each Friday [] [How to cultivate PERMA-nent happiness]( [How to cultivate PERMA-nent happiness]( (Pixabay) Pursuing happiness, even though it's enshrined in the US Constitution, pretty much guarantees its elusiveness, according to researchers, but using the PERMA method, developed by University of Pennsylvania psychology professor Martin Seligman, has been proven to produce lasting happiness. Author Eric Barker lays out the meaning behind the method that includes cultivating relationships, creating positive emotions, finding meaning and achieving a sense of accomplishment. Full Story: [Barking Up The Wrong Tree]( (5/28) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Man recreates Mr. Rogers' neighborhood from 1,968 LEGOs]( Matt Smith has spent around 125 hours and has used 1,968 LEGO pieces to create a model of Mister Rogers' neighborhood, including King Friday's Castle, a red trolley and a green sweater hanging in the living room closet. Smith's prototype has garnered [more than 5,900 votes so far](, but needs 10,000 total votes before LEGO will consider it for production. Full Story: [Religion News Service]( (5/30) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] SmartBreak: Question of the Day [] When Frances Folsom married US President Grover Cleveland on June 2, 1886, she was and still is the youngest first lady. What was her age? Check your answer [here](. [Vote]( [19]( [Vote]( [21]( [Vote]( [33]( [Vote]( [42]( [] Away from the Office [] Breakfast with a view Breakfast with a view The Asheville, NC, skyline from The Grove Park Inn (Candace Chellew) We spent a long weekend in Asheville, N.C., during our recent vacation. We had a nice little AirBnb, but Saturday morning we went to The Grove Park Inn for their massive, and delicious, breakfast buffet. The view of the Asheville skyline and the glorious Blue Ridge Mountains was spectacular! Where have you vacationed recently? [Send me photos](mailto:candace.chellew@futurenet.com)! [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] About The Editor [] Candace Chellew Candace Chellew Candace Chellew "You work seven days a week," my spouse, Beth, said to me the other day. She was standing in the doorway to my office where I had been sitting at my computer for several hours already on a Saturday. It's true, I do work seven days a week. As the leader of a small spiritual community, I have a lot of responsibilities when my shift at SmartBrief is over each day. Saturdays, as any clergyperson can tell you, is a prime day for preparing for Sunday morning (which I rarely get to take off). [Gregg Vanourek's article](, though, feels like a wake-up call. I see myself in his signs of workaholism including being preoccupied with work when I'm away from it, working weekends, feeling like there's not enough time to get it all done and the big one -- sacrificing time with friends and family to work more. I will work at setting some boundaries around my time and find ways to delegate more work so maybe I might have at least a Saturday or two free. Imagine! What about you? Do you see yourself in the description of a workaholic? What will you do about it? [Let me know](mailto:candace.chellew@futurenet.com)! Maybe we can all help each other reclaim our time off. 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 [] [] Who Said It? It's the imperfections that make things beautiful. 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