Why leaders must be a master of all trades

Why leaders must be a master of all trades | practice | Sexist jokes at work are no laughing matter Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( August 21, 2023 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE](  [] Leading the Way [] [Why leaders must be a master of all trades]( [Why leaders must be a master of all trades]( (Pixabay) Leaders must be continuous learners so they can master their craft, which means knowing their own strengths and weaknesses, being an expert in their industry and collaborating with their team to set clear strategies and goals, along with policies that don't hinder progress, writes Jay Sidhu, the CEO of Customers Bancorp, Inc. "It comes down to being proactive and agile in the face of change, persevering despite obstacles, and passionately seeking continuous improvement," Sidhu writes. Full Story: [Chief Executive]( (8/18) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: [Sidhu holds both off-site and in-house meetings]( with his team so they can go over strategy, uncover problems and get suggestions for improvement. "[W]hen management is focused and engaged on priorities, execution and results are better." [How Marriott Addresses Sustainability Around The World]( With more than 8500 properties spanning 138 countries and territories, Marriott's hotel portfolio is massive. The variety of sustainability challenges those properties face is seemingly endless. [Learn how Marriott tackles sustainability on a global scale.]( ADVERTISEMENT [] SmartBrief on Leadership [] [Sexist jokes at work are no laughing matter]( [Sexist jokes at work are no laughing matter]( (Carol Yepes/Getty Image) Women who respond to the "bro" culture at work by telling sexist jokes themselves can benefit in the short run with a boost in social status and career benefits, while men who did so didn't fare as well, according to research from Mandy O'Neill of George Mason University and Natalya Alonso of Simon Fraser University. But women who try to be one of the boys start to lose their career advantage after about eight years -- and often "burn out and disengage," O'Neill found in additional research, and sexist joking from anyone can "perpetuate gender inequality, including increasing leniency toward discrimination ... and self-objectification of women." Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (8/18) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Managers can let jokesters know how they're coming across, enlist co-worker allies to call out the humor when it happens or address underlying causes, such as feeling threatened by women, write O'Neill, Alonso and Benjamin Kessler of George Mason University. Learning the researchers [three criteria for sexist humor]( can make the job easier.   [] Smarter Communication [] [Note to self: I am capable of improving with self-talk]( Positive self-talk not only helps with self-esteem and self-confidence, it also aids focus, productivity and makes it easier to take on challenges by whisking away taxing negativity, chartered accountant Keeley Tan writes. "Mastering the art of positive self-talk is a powerful tool for personal growth and development," Tan notes. Full Story: [Medium (tiered subscription model)/Keeley Tan]( (8/16) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Enhance self-talk with visualization, mindfulness and positive affirmations, Tan suggests. Among [Tan's other tips](: Focus on your strengths and successes, and keep company with positive people. Free eBooks and Resources Free eBooks and resources brought to you by our sponsors - [Mastering Microsoft Outlook: 20 Expert Tips & Tricks]( - [70+ Excel Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows (Free Cheat Sheet)]( - [The Future of AI in Technology]( - [How To Improve Your Stage Presence For Public Speaking]( - [6 Worthless Security Tactics That Won't Go Away]( [] Smarter Strategy [] - [How governance helps or hinders innovation]( MIT Sloan Management Review (tiered subscription model) (8/16) [] - [Look for these 3 opportunities to boost strategic success]( CEOWorld Magazine (8/18) [] - [Why the best strategies are often counterintuitive]( Business Daily (Kenya) (8/17) [] Smarter Working A weekly spotlight on doing more without working longer [] [Use grocery store lines and traffic jams to "get ahead"]( [Use grocery store lines and traffic jams to "get ahead"]( (Pixabay) It's natural to feel like you're falling behind when you're comparing your success to others, but executive coach Ed Batista suggests using grocery store lines and traffic jams to reveal the illusion behind this feeling so you won't over-correct by pushing yourself to feel like you must get ahead. "If your definition of 'winning' rests upon your ability to obtain 'more' than the people around you in order to feel 'ahead,' you will eventually, inevitably lose," Batista writes. Full Story: [Ed Batista Executive Coaching]( (8/17) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [This falling fish had some electrifying aim]( [This falling fish had some electrifying aim]( (Sayreville Police Department/Facebook) A bird apparently trying to send its surf-minus-turf meal back to the chef dropped it above Sayreville, N.J., where it crashed onto -- and exploded -- a utility transformer, cutting power to part of the town. A police sketch of the flying suspect was released on Facebook by the good-humored local law enforcement. Full Story: [United Press International]( (8/16) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Most Read by CEOs The most-clicked stories of the past week by SmartBrief on Leadership readers [] - [Organizational culture change needs 6 characteristics]( SmartBrief/Leadership [] - [How leaders can douse burnout's 6 top causes]( SmartBrief/Leadership [] - [If passion for your job is waning, try these remedies]( The CLEMMER Group [] - [Use these tactics to extract yourself from conversation]( John Millen blog [] - [Lizzo lawsuit highlights need for workplace protections]( BBC [] SmartBreak: Question of the Day [] Mexican actor Cantinflas crossed over to American cinema and won a best actor award for his role in "Around the World in 80 Days." Which award? [Vote]( [Academy Award]( [Vote]( [British Academy Film Award]( [Vote]( [Golden Globe]( [Vote]( [National Society of Film Critics award]( [] Editor's Note [] [Workforce expert to speak at AI Impact Summit]( SmartBrief's inaugural virtual [AI Impact Summit](, Sept. 27 to 28, will feature OpenAI's Zack Kass as the opening keynote speaker. The event will explore business, workforce, marketing, tech and other topics, such as how AI is intersecting with reinvented workforce training and a talk by Michael Schmidt, vice chair of the labor and employment department at Cozen O’Conner, on what employers need to know about AI in the workplace. [Register by Aug. 25.]( Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (8/16) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] About The Editor [] Candace Chellew Candace Chellew Chellew I always pick the wrong line in the grocery store. Inevitably, someone in front of me will have difficulty with an item, requiring the presence of a manager, or they'll write a check! (That's still a thing?) [Ed Batista's suggestion]( to use grocery lines and traffic jams to show yourself the illusory quality of "getting ahead" was eye-opening. When I finally escape the slow lane, I suddenly feel like I must rush to my car and get home as quickly as possible. That's the overcorrection Batista warns about. Instead, why not get comfortable where we are when we feel behind? It all gets done; the line eventually moves, the traffic jam clears and inevitably we're right where we're supposed to be anyway. 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 [] [] Pick a theme and work it to exhaustion … the subject must be something you truly love or truly hate. [Dorothea Lange](, documentary photographer, photojournalist [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