Creating psychological safety? Leaders must model it first

Creating psychological safety? Leaders must model it first | practice | Are colleagues reading or dreading your emails? Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( August 28, 2023 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE](  [] Leading the Way [] [Creating psychological safety? Leaders must model it first]( [Creating psychological safety? Leaders must model it first]( (sesame/Getty Images) Create psychological safety for your team by clearly outlining what behaviors are acceptable, such asking questions, making mistakes and sharing challenges, and modeling those actions within the senior leadership team, writes Elizabeth Freedman, a member of the senior leadership team for BTS East. "No matter how many times you champion the importance of psychological safety at your organization, most employees won't trust your commitment until they see you practice those behaviors and create accountability with other executives," Freedman writes. Full Story: [Chief Executive]( (8/24) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: [Be sure to celebrate even the smallest amount of progress]( in creating psychological safety by "regularly communicating examples of smaller 'befores' and 'afters'" to keep employees motivated and show them it's okay to be vulnerable and take risks, Freedman writes. "Be upfront about the methods you're using, talk about what's having an impact and what's not, and share what you're learning." [] Smarter Communication [] [Are colleagues reading or dreading your emails?]( [Are colleagues reading or dreading your emails?]( (Pixabay) The typical worker receives 30 emails each day, a Statista study reports, but the ones we send tend not to be inviting or especially helpful. Common errors include poor subject lines, a lack of greeting, huge blocks of text, no call to action (or too many) and a lack of gratitude, writes nonprofit strategic communications executive Joel Schwartzberg. Full Story: [Newsweek (tiered subscription model)]( (8/24) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Use a clear subject line that starts with all-cap URGENT:, MEETING CHANGE:, FOR REVIEW:, etc., followed by a few words of detail. Cancel the curt with a courteous "Hi, Belinda" up front. Trim your text: "Bullets facilitate quick scanning by removing the need for complete sentences, punctuation and conjunctions," [Schwartzberg says](. [] [Tools to help write a riveting opening to a speech]( "Your ability to engage an audience is more than just a technique; it's a disciplined approach that weaves together various elements to create a captivating experience," executive coach Patricia Fripp writes in a [two-part article](. Those elements might include current news, an enticing rhetorical question or a "bold claim," Fripp says. Full Story: [Patricia Fripp]( (8/20) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Inject real-life by reading part of an email that illustrates the topic, or resort to a genuine compliment for the audience that fosters a connection. "[E]ach method has its unique appeal," but they all are designed to "[connect, inspire, and ignite curiosity](," Fripp writes. 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Check your priorities to find more time]( (Pixabay) If you think you're short on time, you're really short on your priorities, writes Steve Keating, who offers 14 strategies including delegating, batching similar tasks and declining tasks that don't fit with your values or goals. "Experiment with different strategies to find what works best for you, and be willing to adapt as your circumstances and goals evolve," Keating writes. Full Story: [LeadToday]( (8/24) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Scientists study if sabertooth cats roared or purred]( Sabertooth cats had a unique bone structure that may have enabled them to roar or purr, researchers report in the Journal of Morphology. The ancient cats had seven bones in their hyoid structure, much like roaring cats such as lions and tigers, but the shape and size of the bones resemble that of purring cats such as cougars and domestic cats -- leaving the question of the animal's vocalizations still a mystery. Full Story: [Popular Science]( (8/22) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Most Read by CEOs The most-clicked stories of the past week by SmartBrief on Leadership readers [] - [You may be an ineffective leader if ...]( SmartBrief/Leadership [] - [Why leaders must be a master of all trades]( Chief Executive [] - [Cultivate decency as a leader to create top-notch teams]( Eblin Group [] - [What you can learn from Taylor Swift's PR blueprint]( PR Daily [] - [Top 50 blunders by network TV executives, ranked]( Rolling Stone [] SmartBreak: Question of the Day [] Mick Jagger, now 80, wasn't kidding when he sang, "Time Is On My Side." 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Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (8/16) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] About The Editor [] Candace Chellew Candace Chellew Chellew One of the things I've always enjoyed about working for SmartBrief is the sense of psychological safety the leadership has worked to create. If I have a question, a concern, a problem or an idea, I can go to my supervisor or even higher if I feel the need. Our leadership has modeled this behavior, showing us their vulnerable side and striving daily to create a collegial atmosphere of professionals. I've been in jobs where management had no trust in employees and micromanaged them to the point that those who could leave did. Those bad experiences made me appreciate good leaders even more. Do your employees feel safe to speak up? Do they know that you trust them? If not, [Elizabeth Freedman's advice]( might be a great place to start building that psychologically safe workplace your employees crave and need. 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 [] [] I'll allow myself to be flawed. The illusion of perfection is an illusion anyway. 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