When too many stars can be a bad thing

When too many stars can be a bad thing | What is pro-level thinking? | Fashion brands can't shake their reliance on department stores Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( August 9, 2017 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Google+]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [FORWARD]( [] Leading Edge [] [When too many stars can be a bad thing]( A team that's too loaded can see a decline in performance, along with less cooperation and teamwork, according to a study. "To find the right balance within a team, leaders should ask a very important question of their team members: 'What do you love to do?' " writes Jennifer V. Miller. [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (8/8) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( [] [What is pro-level thinking?]( An amateur's mindset means taking criticism personally, giving up too soon and lacking a process for success, writes Shane Parrish. A professional, by contrast, will seek out constructive criticism, see failure as part of the path to growth and plan for the long term. [Farnam Street]( (8/7) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( [See what Bridgestone and Daimler have in common]( The birthplace of stock-car racing and a NASCAR hub, see why North Carolina is home to more than 290 automotive manufacturing companies and an industry workforce of 26,000. ADVERTISEMENT [] Strategic Management [] [Fashion brands can't shake their reliance on department stores]( Fashion brands can't shake their reliance on department stores Ralph Lauren store (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Ralph Lauren is among fashion companies pulling back from department stores and reducing brand count, writes Sarah Halzack. CEO Patrice Louvet will have to be careful, however, because Ralph Lauren still relies heavily on wholesaling to big-name stores like Macy's and Hudson's Bay. [Bloomberg Gadfly]( (8/8) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( How to Innovate and Grow Your Business Innovation doesn't have to be expensive, time-consuming, or even all that difficult. Award-winning trend expert Scott Steinberg shares 4 inspiring stories of innovation from the smallest startups up to household brand names to demonstrate how your business can learn and grow. [Read the guide]( ADVERTISEMENT [] Smarter Communication [] [Proofread your writing or risk credibility and opportunity]( Typos can make you appear less intelligent, confuse your audience and harm your professional and personal relationships, writes Lennox Morrison. Spell-check and autocorrect technologies can't replace proofreading and lead to many common mistakes. [BBC]( (8/8) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( [] [A guide to instilling courage in your team]( Leaders can inspire courage by telling people they are appreciated, offering congratulations and pointing out where effort made a difference, writes Dan Rockwell. Leaders can also motivate by asking, "What would you like to try?" or saying "You're on the right track." [Leadership Freak]( (8/7) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( Do-it-yourself vs. Doing it right A highly-engaged workforce drives results and employee engagement programs are key to success. But most companies still lack on-the-ground programs for employee engagement and alignment. Learn how to leverage time and resources with a social recognition program in the whitepaper ["Do-it-yourself vs. Doing it right"](. ADVERTISEMENT [] Customers First A weekly look at serving customers better [] [Be cautious when using big data for customer decisions]( Increased access to and reliance on big data has left many businesses vulnerable to incorrect information, with consumers saying that data on them is incomplete or wrong, according to research. "Therefore, executives should complement the decisions derived from big data with their own insights based on experience and other research methods and sources (such as small-sample qualitative research)," write John Lucker, Susan Hogan and Trevor Bischoff. [Deloitte University Press]( (7/31) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( [] In Their Own Words [] [How Jerry Jones got to the football hall of fame]( How Jerry Jones got to the football hall of fame Jones (Joe Robbins/Getty Images) Jerry Jones was always an entrepreneurial sort, seeking to buy into the NFL at age 23 and finally able to do so in 1989 with the Dallas Cowboys, where his tenure has brought Super Bowls and a hall of fame induction. Although the Cowboys are considered the world's highest-valued sports franchise, Jones says he bought the then-unprofitable team more to be in football than to make money. [Houston Chronicle (tiered subscription model)/San Antonio Express-News]( (8/4) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [World Dog Surfing Championships has repeat winner]( [World Dog Surfing Championships has repeat winner]( (YouTube/KQED News) The second annual World Dog Surfing Championships drew more than 1,000 people to Pacifica, Calif., to watch dozens of dogs get judged on their surfing skills. Abbie Girl, an Australian kelpie, won the championship for the second year in a row for her solo ride. [KQED]( (8/7) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( [] [] It is a fool's prerogative to utter truths that no one else will speak. Neil Gaiman, writer [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Google+]( [Email]( [Sign Up]( [SmartBrief offers 200+ newsletters]( [Advertise]( [Learn more about the SmartBrief audience]( Subscriber Tools: [Manage Subscriptions]( [Update Your Profile]( [Unsubscribe]( [Send Feedback]( [Archive]( [Search]( Contact Us: Jobs Contact - jobhelp@smartbrief.com Advertising - [Laura Engel](mailto:lengel@smartbrief.com) Editor - [James daSilva](mailto:leadership@smartbrief.com) Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004 © 1999-2017 SmartBrief, Inc.® [Privacy policy]( | [Legal Information]( Â