How Paul Simon's musical magic translates to leadership

Don't be afraid to deflate your own ego as a leader | practice | How Paul Simon's musical magic translates to leadership Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( August 2, 2023 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE](  [] Leading the Way [] [Don't be afraid to deflate your own ego as a leader]( [Don't be afraid to deflate your own ego as a leader]( (VladSt/Getty Images) Allowing your ego to be taken down a few notches by soliciting honest (and, frankly, perhaps painful) feedback from customers, direct reports and trusted advisors can help you inoculate yourself against what Todd Ordal calls "big-shot-itis." "You don't want so much that you lose confidence, but you want enough that you lose certainty," Ordal writes. Full Story: [Applied Strategy (Todd Ordal)]( (8/1) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Taking a stroll through the office, or examining the processes of your remote workers, can reveal areas where "some of your decisions made work harder," [Ordal notes](. Only do this, though, "if you're willing to change," Ordal warns.   [] SmartBrief on Leadership [] [How Paul Simon's musical magic translates to leadership]( [How Paul Simon's musical magic translates to leadership]( (10'000 Hours/Getty Images) Songwriter Paul Simon's habit of "leaving a space" after difficult lyrics to let others catch up translates beautifully into a leadership lesson: "You have to make space for others to join you," says consultant Larry Robertson. Leaders who pause are letting others into the process, which can broaden or focus ideas and help eliminate mistakes. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (8/1) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: A deliberate pause at critical junctures offers individuals perspective and a chance to improve. Giving the gift of pauses to your team -- ["arguably the most important leadership tool of all"]( -- encourages them to thrive, Robertson says. [] [Read more]( from Larry Robertson on SmartBrief on Leadership [] Smarter Communication [] [Focus on climbing ability when eyeing corporate ladder]( Employees who want to move up in their company can't wait idly for a promotion; they must be proactive in setting the stage, writes career coach Raju Venkataraman. Flex your ladder-climbing muscles by developing a rapport with your boss, helping them do their job effectively and assessing and improving your strengths and weaknesses. Full Story: [FM]( (7/27) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Adjust to your boss' preferred method of communication and their communication style, and "[r]eframe and redirect when their instructions are not clear," [Venkataraman suggests](. Avoid surprising your boss, and step up to take on challenges, Venkataraman adds, also explaining how to ensure you're likeable. 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 A.I. A weekly spotlight on how A.I. is affecting leadership [] - [Managing risk will be a fundamental piece of AI implementation]( VentureBeat (6/30) [] - [Avoid these pitfalls when creating an AI strategy]( Forbes (tiered subscription model) (7/26) [] - [How to reduce the potential legal perils of using AI]( Computerworld (7/28) [] In Their Own Words [] [Replace generalists with experts for real leadership]( Companies can increase retention and job satisfaction by handing the reins to experts in their core business who will build a culture of excellence, purpose and sustainability instead of generalists who tend to build cultures that rely on other generalists, writes Amanda Goodall, a professor of leadership at Bayes Business School in London. "Generalists have created workplaces riven with bureaucracy, metrics, management jargon, and other impediments to productivity, longevity, and innovation," Goodall writes. Full Story: [Next Big Idea Club Magazine]( (7/31) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Puppies take a sleepy tumble in viral TikTok]( [Puppies take a sleepy tumble in viral TikTok]( (BabySheps/TikTok) Five German Shepherd puppies who refuse to wake up, even while being tipped gently from a basket onto a blanket, have attracted 3.6 million views and more than 541,100 likes. The video's caption says, "Nothing can shake these guys out of a nap." Full Story: [Newsweek (tiered subscription model)]( (7/31) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] SmartBreak: Question of the Day [] The US and Myanmar are the two countries that haven't adopted the metric system. What country is also a metric system holdout? [Vote]( [Brazil]( [Vote]( [Liberia]( [Vote]( [Malta]( [Vote]( [Switzerland]( [] Pets of SmartBrief Leaders [] Jammy and Coco get some lap time Jammy and Coco get some lap time (Magdalena Smrdelj) Magdalena Smrdelj sent in this photo of cat Jammy and Chihuahua Coco spending time with her during the workday. "They love to hang out together and share the space with three other cat girlfriends; Lala, Bjorkie and Fairy Dust. Lucky me," Magdalena writes. Seems like everyone lucked out! What non-human companions keep you company on the job, or greet you when you come home from the office? [Send me photos](mailto:candace.chellew@futurenet.com)! [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] About The Editor [] Candace Chellew Candace Chellew Chellew I encountered one of my favorite bosses when did public relations work for a grant project at the University of South Carolina. She was an expert at [taking her own ego down a few notches](, admitting what she didn't know and [hiring people who were experts in their field]( instead of generalists. This allowed her staff to do their jobs without a lot of micromanaging. She was always available for questions and clarifications, but you knew she trusted you to get the job done. It was quite a contrast from some of the egotistical, controlling managers I had encountered in the past. What have been the traits of your favorite bosses? Have you tried to emulate them in developing your own leadership style? [Tell me about it](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 [] [] There is opportunity to do work that is infused with moral purpose. You don't have to choose between doing good and doing well. [Tim Cook](, chief executive officer of Apple [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