Forget in-person vs. remote. Meet me in the Metaverse!

Forget in-person vs. remote. Meet me in the Metaverse! | practice (split each time) | Learn how to harness anger to motivate your team Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( February 5, 2024 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [X]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE]( ADVERTISEMENT Leading the Way [] [Forget in-person vs. remote. Meet me in the Metaverse!]( [Forget in-person vs. remote. Meet me in the Metaverse!]( (XH4D/Getty Images) The Metaverse may offer companies another option between remote and in-person working arrangements, giving employees a way to interact virtually through avatars, which Jason Gesing, the co-founder and CEO of OMNUS Technologies, Inc. writes, can offer an in-person feel for meetings as well as create space for socializing. "When employees feel connected to their leaders and teammates in small ways, they will be more likely to be transparent with significant matters -- presenting opportunities for more durable relationships in the workplace that foster a sense of safety," Gesing notes. Full Story: [Chief Executive]( (2/2) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Any Metaverse space that companies develop as an alternative to in-person or remote work [will need a code of conduct and clear boundaries](, Gesing writes. "Trust and transparency are built in environments where colleagues can relax and interact informally, and the Metaverse excels at creating those moments. Transform your leadership expertise ASU's online faculty-led certificates in Business Analytics, Artificial Intelligence in Business, and Supply Chain Management are designed to enhance leadership and business acumen from the top down. Custom programs are also available. [Join us!]( ADVERTISEMENT: [] SmartBrief on Leadership [] [Learn how to harness anger to motivate your team]( [Learn how to harness anger to motivate your team]( (PeopleImages/Getty Images) Anger, when used recklessly, can damage trust with your team, but when used strategically, it can help leaders "drive high-level performance and engage others," writes author and business consultant Scott Edinger. Getting at the root of anger and then turning it into a sense of urgency can motivate teams and build a sense of trust and cohesion, Edinger notes. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (2/2) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: When anger arises as you work with your team, point out the team's mistakes, then [work with them to solve the problem](, Edinger advises. "This kind of open and straightforward communication builds team cohesiveness and trust." [Create products that resonate with your customers]( Our research says you aren't developing products that your customers love, even though you think you might be. In 5 minutes, determine your instant benchmark to find out how you compare to your industry leaders. [Learn More.]( ADVERTISEMENT: [] Smarter Communication [] [Customers feel the pinch. Here's how to bring relief]( Overall, the US economy may be doing well, but customers say they're feeling an inflationary pinch on their wallets, writes Christine Alemany, the chief marketing officer at i2c, who recommends clearly communicating pricing strategies and promptly addressing customer complaints or inquiries. "Train customer service teams to provide empathetic and informative responses by ensuring they have the knowledge to explain pricing changes and address customer dissatisfaction effectively," Alemany recommends. Full Story: [Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model)]( (2/2) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Identify and communicate with your most at-risk customers and show them [your company is determined to meet their needs](, Alemany writes. "Build trust with customers at the most difficult times, and you will secure it when things calm down." 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 [] - [Tools and strategies for effective succession planning]( JD Supra (1/30) [] - [HR leaders cite need to teach employees new skills]( HR Dive (1/30) [] - [How to achieve cultural alignment during a merger]( McKinsey (2/1) [] Smarter Working A weekly spotlight on doing more without working longer [] [Avoiding tasks? Don't avoid these ways to fix that]( Avoiding tasks can lead to them morphing into real problems, writes Gregg Vanourek, who offers 17 ways to accomplish your goals including noticing avoidant behavior, seeking its cause, setting deadlines and developing habits that lead to action. "If you get in the habit of creatively exploring ways to solve challenges instead of avoiding them, you'll build a valuable capacity for it and also your confidence when it comes to facing up to challenging situations in the future," Vanourek writes. Full Story: [Gregg Vanourek]( (2/1) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Clownfish attack based on number of stripes]( [Clownfish attack based on number of stripes]( (Pixabay) The clownfish in the movie "Finding Nemo" seem like such friendly creatures, but new research shows that common clownfish, which live in colonies and fight intruders, increase their aggression for each additional white stripe on an outsider. In lab experiments, the common clownfish, Amphiprion ocellaris, were roughest with three-striped members of their own species, "mildly bullied" other clownfish species with two or three bands and hardly engaged with stripeless fish. Full Story: [Popular Science]( (2/1) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Most Read by CEOs The most-clicked stories of the past week by SmartBrief on Leadership readers [] - [3 ways to make yourself, and your team, more efficient]( SmartBrief/Leadership [] - [What the Challenger disaster can teach leaders today]( Forbes (tiered subscription model) [] - [Recess! All work and no play makes leaders less sharp]( Cultivating Leadership blog [] - [Want results? Make sure you're asking powerful questions]( Leadership Freak [] - [Macaque and a tea party win underwater photo contest]( My Modern Met [] SmartBreak: Question of the Day [] If William Burroughs had second thoughts about his career as Beat lit writer, what might he have done if he went into the family business instead? [Vote]( [Built automobiles]( [Vote]( [Drilled for oil]( [Vote]( [Opened up a haberdashery]( [Vote]( [Sold adding machines]( [] About The Editor [] Candace Chellew Candace Chellew Chellew If avoidance was an Olympic sport, I'd be a gold medal winner. I put the "pro" in procrastination. If something needs to be done, I'll likely find something else that needs to be done first. This is why my house gets so clean when I have a writing project to tackle. [Gregg Vanourek's advice hit home for me](, especially his urging to look at the underlying emotions involved in avoidance and noticing when you're engaged in that behavior. I know I will be happy to finish my task, but getting started is sometimes difficult because I fear that I won't turn out my best work. (Hello, perfectionism!) I get going by trying to turn around my negative self-talk and focus on that positive feeling of accomplishment. Then, I work on finishing a smaller part of the project or answering an email I've avoided to give myself some forward momentum. Start with any of Gregg's 17 pieces of advice, and soon you'll find yourself gaining steam. How do you deal with avoidance and procrastination? [Share your tips with us](mailto:candace.chellew@futurenet.com). 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]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Sharing SmartBrief on Leadership with your network keeps the quality of content high and these newsletters free. 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