How the art of a nuanced "No" can enhance innovation

Ami Cole founder carves out inclusive beauty space | Creating psychological safety? Leaders must model it first | How the art of a nuanced "No" can enhance innovation Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( August 31, 2023 CONNECT WITH NEXTUP  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( €‰€‰[Tik tok]( [NEW SmartBrief]( Gender equity news from NextUp, Advancing All Women in Business [SIGN UP]( â‹… [SHARE]( ADVERTISEMENT Top of the week [] [Ami Cole founder carves out inclusive beauty space]( [Ami Cole founder carves out inclusive beauty space]( N'Diaye-Mbaye (Getty Images) Diarrha N'Diaye-Mbaye founded makeup brand Ami Cole in 2021 to boost inclusivity in the clean beauty space and, late last year, the brand signed a retail partnership with Sephora which started selling Ami Cole products online and in 277 stores. "Funding brands like mine was originally considered a risk or too niche to invest in," says N'Diaye-Mbaye. "It takes a lot of grit and courage to continue to knock on doors that shut in your face, but that's what I did to push through." Full Story: [Forbes (tiered subscription model)]( (8/28) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Harvard Online Leadership Courses Learn More. Earn More. Flexible, 100% online certificate courses that help you develop the leadership and management skills to get things done and bring out the best in your team, whether you're an aspiring, new, or seasoned leader. [View Certificate Courses.]( ADVERTISEMENT: [] Today's leadership [] [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 as 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]( [] [How the art of a nuanced "No" can enhance innovation]( [How the art of a nuanced "No" can enhance innovation]( (Pixabay) Leaders often find it difficult to say no to new projects or requests, but they can develop a nuanced approach that preserves goodwill and still encourages innovation without feeling like they must defend their decisions, writes Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio, founder and CEO of People Culture Drive Consulting Group. "The overarching goal is to cultivate an environment where the act of sharing ideas feels not only safe but also encouraged, ensuring that subsequent proposals resonate with creativity and enthusiasm," Cecchi-Dimeglio notes. Full Story: [Forbes (tiered subscription model)]( (8/29) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Saying thanks, checking in and other keys to onboarding]( Well-planned onboarding primes business relationships -- with employees and clients, alike -- to be positive and productive for years, PR firm owner Emily Reynolds Bergh writes. Bergh shares five steps for internal and for external onboarding, with both lists including expressions of gratitude and check-ins for no reason beyond, "How are things going?" Full Story: [Entrepreneur]( (8/24) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [To enhance your leadership reputation, be vulnerable]( When leaders, either male or female, disclose something personal about themselves -- such as being nervous about public speaking -- they are seen as more authentic by their employees, says Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University professor Maryam Kouchaki. "[I]nstead of leading people to see you as very polished, getting people to see you as human -- as an honest and trustworthy person -- I think that's the goal here," Kouchaki notes. Full Story: [Kellogg Insight]( (8/28) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Career advice from leading CIOs]( Prominent technology executives featured in CIO magazine's 2023 Hall of Fame share certain traits, such as a passion for technology and problem-solving as well as a desire to influence strategies and decisions, a commitment to continuous learning and a willingness to take risks. Their advice: Stay connected to others, learn to articulate a vision, seek mentors, make career moves with growth in mind, be empathetic and humble, put experience to work, become a subject matter expert and bet on yourself. Full Story: [CIO (free registration)]( (8/28) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Read the latest from SmartBrief [] - [AI can be a powerful leadership tool when used smartly]( SmartBrief/Leadership (8/30) [] - [Fearless or fear(less)? Why the latter is better]( SmartBrief/Leadership (8/29) [] - [Don't wait: Recognize, communicate with top workers]( SmartBrief/Leadership (8/28) Free eBooks and Resources Free eBooks and resources brought to you by our sponsors - [The Newbies Guide to Internet Marketing]( - [Apache Kafka Essentials Cheatsheet]( - [12 Ways to Approach the Cybersecurity Skills Gap Challenge in 2023]( - [Data Center Acronyms Cheat Sheet]( - [ITPro Today's 2023 Salary Survey Report]( [] Diversity & Inclusion Trends [] [Why corporate DEI efforts are safe from court ruling]( The US Supreme Court's rejection of affirmative action in college admissions poses no serious legal risks for corporate diversity, equity and inclusion programs, writes University of California-Hastings law professor Joan C. Williams, who points out people challenging DEI efforts would have to prove program goals caused improper hiring and hurt their careers. "The most effective approach to DEI is also the best for controlling legal risk: Focus your DEI program on interrupting the bias that's constantly transmitted through basic business systems," Williams writes. Full Story: [Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model)]( (8/29) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Gain brand loyalty of LGBTQ+ community by being an ally]( Brand coach Sonia Thompson offers ways for brands to become LGBTQ+ inclusive without singling out just one month each year. Foster allyship with awareness of the community, amplification of voices and perspectives, and policies that are welcoming to everyone, Thompson writes. Full Story: [HubSpot]( (8/24) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Words matter in your company's success with DEI]( Most business leaders should change the way they talk about diversity, switching from the far more common and more positive values approach ("This is good for us") to a contingent one ("It's good, but we must overcome some challenges"), according to a new study. Co-author Lisa Leslie of New York University says leaders will find more success -- contrary to conventional wisdom, fewer negative results -- because employees tend to put more energy into challenges and often dismiss more straightforward mandates as inconsequential. Full Story: [Charter]( (8/27) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Q&A: Making DEI an integral part of a company]( Diane Primo, CEO of Purpose Brand marketing and public relations firm, says in this Q&A that companies that make DEI a priority thrive and documents examples in her new book, "ADAPT: Scaling Purpose in a Divisive World." Those values need to be reflected in recruiting and managing employees and working with vendors and customers, Primo says. Full Story: [Black Girl Nerds]( (8/28) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [] I try to just be as straightforward as possible, and then I don't really have to question what I said or regret anything [Amy Adams](, actor [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( LEARN MORE ABOUT NEXTUPâ„¢: [About Us]( | [Events]( | [Regions]( | [Partners]( | [Learning](   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:nextup@smartbrief.com) | [ADVERTISE](mailto:cwarne@smartbrief.com) SmartBrief, a division of Future US LLC © Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036