Cultivate decency as a leader to create top-notch teams

Cultivate decency as a leader to create top-notch teams | practice | Managers, not HR, must focus on retaining employees Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( August 23, 2023 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE](  [] Leading the Way [] [Cultivate decency as a leader to create top-notch teams]( [Cultivate decency as a leader to create top-notch teams]( (FG Trade/Getty Images) Leaders must be able to effectively solve problems and be emotionally mature, writes leadership coach Grace Ueng, but they also must have a high DQ, or decency quotient, which creates "a genuine desire to care for those around them." Leadership coach Scott Eblin lays out a blueprint for developing DQ that involves listening to your team, providing them resources and growth opportunities, as well as coaching them and having their backs. Full Story: [Eblin Group]( (8/22), [WRAL TechWire (Raleigh, N.C.)]( (8/22) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Leaders who make it [a practice to cultivate decency]( will find, according to Ajay Banga, the CEO of Mastercard, that "you will make the company a lot of fun for people -- and people will enjoy being there and doing the right thing." [Eblin notes]( that it's the decent bosses that become our favorites over time. "A wealth of insights" —Kirkus Reviews Get the best from accelerating social change with the new book from the "acclaimed thought leader" (Kirkus). Adam Grant says it "invites us to rethink our careers, our families, and our future plans." Mohamed A. El-Erian calls it, "A must read." [Order your copy!]( ADVERTISEMENT [] SmartBrief on Leadership [] [Managers, not HR, must focus on retaining employees]( [Managers, not HR, must focus on retaining employees]( (Pixabay) Human resources tends to be saddled with the task of retaining employees, but that department usually doesn't have the authority to make the kind of meaningful changes this effort requires. "Only senior leaders have the responsibility to toss stupid policies and invest in the creation of a work environment that makes respect as important as results," executive consultant S. Chris Edmonds says. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (8/22) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Let go of a "my-way-or-the-highway philosophy" and learn about the policies, procedures and training workers really want. "Shifting from awareness to implementation requires senior leaders to model, coach, measure, celebrate and mentor those players so respectful treatment is the norm," [Edmonds explains](. [] [Read more]( from S. Chris Edmonds on SmartBrief on Leadership [] Smarter Communication [] [Culture shift: Communicating with different employees]( Inter-company communications at a large organization can be tricky when your employees hail from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures, and even something as seemingly straightforward as asking for questions at the end of a meeting can hit cultural snafus, Inez Odom, vice president of professional development at Team Lewis, says. When your company has different audiences, a "one-size-fits-all approach isn't always the best way to go," says Amber Micala Arnold, a vice president at MikeWorldWide. Full Story: [Ragan]( (8/21) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Choose a group of advisers who are well-versed in each location or culture for suggestions, feedback and alerts, suggests Michelle Egan, chief communications officer of Alyeska Pipeline Services Co. [Pay attention to the different groups' verbal and written communications](, levels of formality and body language to help you shift your style, Arnold recommends. 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 [] - [Will AI be in charge of your next hire?]( The Muse (8/21) [] - [IBM study: Reskilling of workers imperative as AI ascends]( ZDNet (8/18) [] - [Why banning AI could put your company at greater risk]( Tech News Today (8/16) [] In Their Own Words [] [PepsiCo exec: Why mentoring is a must for leaders]( Chris Kuechenmeister, senior vice president of communications at PepsiCo, says his mentor Randy Melville, a retired Frito-Lay executive, taught him the value of diverse teams, and how listening and being vulnerable and authentic can boost leadership skills -- lessons he tries to pass on to others. "I've learned from him not just about work relationships, but how to be a good husband, a good dad, and how to give back to the community. I never expected that. He demonstrated to me the impact that one person can make on many lives," Kuechenmeister says. Full Story: [CO— (US Chamber of Commerce)]( (8/22) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Farm owners: Keep bloomers on while enjoying the blooms]( Farm owners: Keep bloomers on while enjoying the blooms (Pixabay) Some visitors to a picturesque sunflower field on Hayling Island in England have been getting a bit too close to nature as they strip down to nothing for photos in full view of others. After three incidents in just one day, farm owners Sam Wilson and Nette Petley have begged people to show respect, rather than rumps, at the family-friendly site. Full Story: [United Press International]( (8/19) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] SmartBrief Podcast Network [] [Lium's Cruise shares a mixed forecast for solar industry]( According to a recent report from the Solar Energy Industries Association, US solar and storage companies have announced more than $100 billion in private sector investments since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. So while there's certainly momentum and capital flowing in the right direction for solar, the forecast is not entirely sunny. Daniel Cruise, partner and head of renewables at Lium Research, discusses which segments of the solar sector are looking bright and which segments might have a cloudy future. Full Story: [Renewable Energy SmartPod]( (8/22) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] SmartBreak: Question of the Day [] Since Season 33, the US version of reality TV game show "Survivor" has been played in Fiji. When it debuted in 2000, where was it played? [Vote]( [Belize]( [Vote]( [Borneo]( [Vote]( [Fiji]( [Vote]( [Philippines]( [] Editor's Note [] [Workforce expert to speak at AI Impact Summit]( 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 When I contemplate the leaders I have worked under during my career, the ones with [a high "decency quotient"]( are my favorites. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has worked for cold, uncaring, goal-driven bosses who believe they control your time and don't care about your life away from work. That's what makes decent bosses so memorable; they know that having balance in your life benefits you and them. If you're trying to emulate those bosses you've had with a high DQ, [Scott Eblin's action list]( is a great place to begin! 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 [] [] In terms of creativity, you don't want to play it safe -- it's important to push the boundaries of the art form you're dealing with. [Bernardine Evaristo](, writer [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