How Socrates can help your team become problem solvers

How Socrates can help your team become problem solvers | practice | Want to expand? 5 considerations for a European outpost Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( August 4, 2023 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE](  [] Leading the Way [] [How Socrates can help your team become problem solvers]( [How Socrates can help your team become problem solvers]( A statue of philosopher Socrates, in Athens, Greece. (Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images) Using the Socratic questioning method can help your direct reports learn how to think through problems for themselves by challenging their assumptions, seeking alternative processes and promoting critical thinking, Scott Eblin writes. Eblin shares a dozen questions that can get those around you thinking deeply, evaluating options and identifying next steps. Full Story: [Eblin Group]( (8/2) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Craft questions that encourage your direct reports to get to the root of problems, spot patterns and gain a different perspective, [Eblin writes](. "The quality of the questions you ask matters a lot."   [] SmartBrief on Leadership [] [Want to expand? 5 considerations for a European outpost]( [Want to expand? 5 considerations for a European outpost]( (fhm/Getty Images) The European Commission says the US invests four times more in Europe than in the Asia-Pacific, making Europe "a natural first step when companies decide to grow internationally," writes Gavin O'Loughlin of IDA Ireland. Two of the top five countries for expansion are Ireland and Denmark, according to a Velocity Global survey, and O'Loughlin says it's best to expand sooner rather than later for a speed-to-market advantage. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (8/3) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Start small, leave room to grow and pay strong attention to European compliance issues, [O'Loughlin advises](. Don't ignore soft factors, such as cultural differences, and seek help instead of going it alone. [] Smarter Communication [] [How to keep communication from hindering productivity]( Communicating at work through email, meetings and chat consumes [57% of the average workday](, according to a recent study of Microsoft 365 users, which means "the best tool is the one that fits your team's needs and enhances, not hinders, productivity and connectivity," says Gleb Tsipursky, author of "Returning to the Office and Leading Hybrid and Remote Teams." Productivity takes a hit if communication ends up being an endless chain of distractions and interruptions, Tsipursky says. Full Story: [AllworkSpace]( (8/1) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Ensure your communication is intentional, or purposeful and examine the balance of work time versus communication time to pare back where needed, [Tsipursky says](. Maintain focus by setting aside blocks of time for deep, uninterrupted work and separate ones for communication. Free eBooks and Resources Free eBooks and resources brought to you by our sponsors - [AI Terms Cheat Sheet]( - [Getting Started with Apache Hadoop]( - [12 Ways to Approach the Cybersecurity Skills Gap Challenge in 2023]( - [Data Center Acronyms Cheat Sheet]( - [6 Worthless Security Tactics That Won't Go Away]( [] Smarter Strategy [] - [Strategy leaders will need a new strategy for their job]( McKinsey (8/2) [] - [3 ways companies can develop resilience to weather uncertainty]( Chief Executive (8/2) [] - [Why change requires the full commitment of the CEO]( MIT Sloan Management Review (tiered subscription model) (8/2) [] Smarter Living Get your mind and body right each Friday [] [Why you should go to sleep at the same time every night]( [Why you should go to sleep at the same time every night]( (Pixabay) Going to bed at different times -- like staying up later on the weekends -- can create a form of "social jetlag" in your gut as less sleep can increase your craving for foods high in fat, salt and sugar and decrease your taste for fiber-rich foods, according to new research from Kings College London. "Maintaining regular sleep patterns, so when we go to bed and when we wake each day, is an easily adjustable lifestyle behavior we can all do, that may impact your health via your gut microbiome for the better," says Sarah Berry, chief scientist at ZOE. Full Story: [woman&home]( (8/2) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Cheese spread: Taco Tuesday inadvertently comes to I-30]( Cheese spread: Taco Tuesday inadvertently comes to I-30 (Arkansas Department of Transportation/X (formerly known as Twitter)) The power of Taco Tuesday brought a long line of semitrailers and cars to an unscheduled halt on Interstate 30 near Prescott, Ark., after two vehicles collided, causing one to spread an entire load of nacho cheese across the highway, the Arkansas Department of Transportation said. Sadly, the other vehicle was not hauling tortilla chips, salsa or any other toppings worthy of a snack during the cleanup. Full Story: [United Press International]( (8/2) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] SmartBreak: Question of the Day [] When the Republic of Upper Volta gained independence from France in 1960, what was it renamed? [Vote]( [Botswana]( [Vote]( [Burkina Faso]( [Vote]( [Ghana]( [Vote]( [Malawi]( [] About The Editor [] Candace Chellew Candace Chellew Chellew I admit that I often stay up later than my usual bedtime on Friday nights -- because who wants to go to bed at 9 p.m. on a Friday? I can speak from experience about [the Kings College London study on "social jetlag" for your gut](. It takes my stomach a couple of days to recover, because no matter how late I go to bed, I still wake up at my usual 5:30 a.m., often regretting the high-fat, salty or sweet treats I allowed myself to eat before bedtime. I'm vowing to go to bed earlier tonight and watch my diet this weekend. My gut will thank me. Here's hoping your weekend is restful and full of good, gut-healthy food! 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? Work takes on new meaning when you feel you are pointed in the right direction. 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