Frustrated by Gen Z? Embrace them with fresh energy

Why great leaders are always telling the best stories | practice | Frustrated by Gen Z? Embrace them with fresh energy Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( September 29, 2023 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE]( ADVERTISEMENT Leading the Way [] [Why great leaders are always telling the best stories]( [Why great leaders are always telling the best stories]( (Pixabay) Leaders can improve trust and build a sense of connection with their team by sharpening their storytelling skills, listening to stories from those different from themselves and acting on the vision they're unfolding in their narratives, writes Christina Blacken, founder and chief narrative strategist of The New Quo. "You can inspire those around you with a more precise conviction of a vision," Blacken writes. Full Story: [Quartz]( (9/28) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Increase the diversity of the stories you can tell by doing [what Blacken calls a "story audit,"]( going through those you already tell and identifying where you need to deepen your understanding of narratives outside your experience. "Add one new story to your list that you typically wouldn't have been drawn to, and create a practice where you do this audit and add a new source of inspiration at least once a month," Blacken suggests. New Innovations for Storage Performance Supermicro's Open Storage Summit brought together leading storage experts from across the industry to discuss the latest in storage technologies and how they will solve tomorrow's data challenges, from the data center to the intelligent edge. Watch the six sessions, now on-demand, to get the latest on key storage trends from industry experts. [Watch now.]( ADVERTISEMENT [] SmartBrief on Leadership [] [Frustrated by Gen Z? Embrace them with fresh energy]( [Frustrated by Gen Z? Embrace them with fresh energy]( (FilippoBacci/Getty Images) The idea that workers from Generation Z are "lazy, entitled and difficult to please or manage" hurts a leader's ability to create a dynamic, welcoming workplace, Gloria St. Martin-Lowry, president of HPWP Group, writes. Gen Zers were raised differently than other generations, and they bring that new perspective to offices, so leaders who listen and engage will be able to take advantage of new ideas and opportunities, suggests St. Martin-Lowry. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (9/28) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: To embrace Gen Z, managers can [discard any preconceived notions, rethink expectations]( and not force business as usual, St. Martin-Lowry suggests. Ask, rather than assume, what they need, and consider different working styles and types of employees to help your company innovate and grow. [Webinar: Keys to solopreneur success]( What are the first steps to making this move? What are the potential landmines and how do you avoid them? How do you set up support systems? How do you secure benefits for your ongoing health? [Register now]( for the 10/10 webinar (2pm ET) and find answers and best practices from workplace futurist Kerry Hannon. ADVERTISEMENT [] Smarter Communication [] [Flavor your next speech with measured use of slang]( Slang is an informal language that spices up a speech, but it should be used moderately to avoid overwhelming the taste of your message. Slang is "a powerful stimulant that keeps language, and our speeches, alive and growing," and it helps you connect to the audience when used well, writes communication consultant Jim Anderson of Blue Elephant Consulting. Full Story: [The Accidental Communicator]( (9/26) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Think of slang as a metaphor, creating [word pictures that engage your audience](, Anderson suggests. It can serve many purposes, such as injecting some playfulness or bringing numbers to life, as in having "more balls than strikes." 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 Strategy [] - [Can a lean framework help grow digital-first companies?]( Strategy+Business (9/1) [] - [Use this updated VUCA strategy to improve the bottom line]( Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model) (9/28) [] - [Predict your competition's next moves with this method]( McKinsey (9/28) [] Smarter Living Get your mind and body right each Friday [] [Park the car and get local to recenter yourself]( Recenter yourself by keeping the car parked for a couple of days to reconnect with family, friends and local activities you can walk or bike to, such as time in nature away from the television or other distractions, writes executive coach Allison Dunn. "Embracing the local life means recognizing the value in what's immediately around you," Dunn suggests. Full Story: [Deliberate Directions]( (9/24) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Slow but steady: Tortoise escapes vet clinic for 3rd time]( [Slow but steady: Tortoise escapes vet clinic for 3rd time]( (WNEP-TV (Scranton, Pa.)) Tank the tortoise just made his third escape from his home in a pen outside a Pennsylvania veterinary clinic, and vet tech Megan McFarland thinks "he caught wind that Dr. Mike was going to bring him in for the season, and he just decided he was going to high-tail it and go on an adventure." Or maybe Tank has another home in mind, like [a determined dog mentioned in SmartBrief a few weeks ago](. Full Story: [WNEP-TV (Moosic, Pa.)]( (9/25) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] SmartBreak: Question of the Day [] In the Black Sox Scandal of 1919, the Chicago White Sox team fixed their loss in the World Series. So, who "won" that year? [Vote]( [Brooklyn Dodgers]( [Vote]( [Cincinnati Reds]( [Vote]( [New York Yankees]( [Vote]( [Pittsburgh Pirates]( [] About The Editor [] Candace Chellew Candace Chellew Chellew [Yesterday's story]( about the decline in customer service representatives and others saying, "You're welcome," when thanked and replying instead with "No problem" or "mmhmm," really hit a nerve with some of you. The overall impression from your responses is that the phrase, "You're welcome," conveys a more genuine sense of appreciation, with the answer, "No problem," being the most problematic since it implies your request had the potential to be troublesome. Many of you had other suggested replies for when you're thanked, including, "My pleasure," "Happy to help," "Glad to be of service" or "No worries." Paul Z. made a good point, writing: "Funny how hard it can be to communicate in a day and age when communication tools are rampant. It is unfortunate that it seems too many people default to assuming everyone is cynical." Meredith W. says she was taught to say, "You're welcome," but the prevalence of "No problem" has wormed its way into her vocabulary. Meredith may have summed it up best, though, writing: "The attitude of the person responding means just as much, if not more, than the specific words they are using. Culture and background have great influence, so if we start from a place of understanding and respect for each other first, prior to passing judgment, I think a lot of these type of issues could be resolved without someone feeling slighted." Thank you all for taking the time to chime in! (I hear you all saying, "You're welcome!") 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 [] [] Who Said It? Without desire there is no life. Everything will stand still. Become emptiness. 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