There's a sweet spot between hustling and "quiet quitting"

There's a sweet spot between hustling and "quiet quitting" | practice (split each time) | Stop pursuing happiness and focus instead on well-being Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( February 22, 2024 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [X]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE]( ADVERTISEMENT Leading the Way [] [There's a sweet spot between hustling and "quiet quitting"]( [There's a sweet spot between hustling and "quiet quitting"]( (Rudzhan Nagiev/Getty Images) Leaders seem caught between the impossible demands of wanting the most effort out of their employees while also feeling pressured to offer balance and flexibility to prevent burnout or "quiet quitting." The answer is 85%, says Kristin Lytle, CEO of The Leader's Edge, which is the level of dedication managers can expect because giving 100% all the time is difficult and when employees can't it "doesn't mean they are not contributing and fulfilling their obligations to the team or organization." Full Story: [Success magazine]( (2/2024) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Leaders should adopt [a more holistic mindset about their employees]( since many will take work home with them or answer business emails off hours, Lytle notes. Getting to know your employees and their preferred work habits can also go a long way to creating a culture that best fits your workers' talents and career goals, adds Barbara Palmer, founder of Broad Perspective Consulting. [Retirement Outlook 2024]( Explore key considerations for plan sponsors in 2024, including markets, declining retirement confidence and how some DB plans are evolving. [Find out more.]( ADVERTISEMENT: [] SmartBrief on Leadership [] [Stop pursuing happiness and focus instead on well-being]( [Stop pursuing happiness and focus instead on well-being]( (Flashpop/Getty Images) To find the highest meaning for life, we must trade the endless pursuit of happiness for a sense of well-being and purpose, writes former FBI agent turned consultant LaRae Quy, pointing to great philosophers and research that confirms true happiness is an inside job. "To be happy, we should focus only on things under our control, namely our reactions and responses to situations in the world," Quy writes. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (2/21) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: When you find yourself [putting happiness ahead of well-being](, Quy offers some questions to ask yourself, including, "What are the things that give you a sense of significance, a sense of purpose?" and "How are you connected to your community and those around you?" "The relationship between ethical goodness and living a good life is of far more consequence than simply settling for happiness," Quy notes. [] [Read more]( from LaRae Quy on SmartBrief on Leadership [] Smarter Communication [] [How employers can help employees meet child care needs]( [How employers can help employees meet child care needs]( (Pixabay) Child care has become a critical need for working parents, but employers can help by offering caregiving stipends and partnering with services that offer child care provider lists, caregiving industry executives say. "Also, make sure managers are aware of the benefits so that when an employee comes to them and says, 'I'm contemplating what we're going to do when I return from paternity leave,' you're putting it forward so that you get the most utilization," says Lynn Perkins, CEO of UrbanSitter. Full Story: [Employee Benefit News (free registration)]( (2/20) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Leaders should ensure that [child care benefits and assistance offered by the company are clearly communicated]( to employees and prospective hires and supported through parent Employee Resource Groups and other programs. "Employers have a responsibility to bring awareness to the challenges [of child care], make them OK to talk about and help solve them," says Julie Devine, chief growth officer at Cariloop. 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]( [] Future of Work Your work future could include ... [] - [Could the work week be 15 hours long by 2030?]( Forbes (tiered subscription model) (2/15) [] - [Develop these skills to keep up with the changing workplace]( Allwork (2/21) [] - [No direct deposit and 3 other trends affecting the future of work]( The National (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates) (2/15) [] In Their Own Words [] [CEO: Leadership, as in sports, is all about teamwork]( Sports has been a mainstay in the life of Varsity Brands CEO Adam Blumenfeld, with a father who founded BSN SPORTS and Blumenfeld's own dream of tennis glory, but building out his company taught him success is not about individual success. "It's about working as a team, elevating others, putting yourself second, embracing the ethos of servant leadership, and understanding that the energy and intention you put out there has a way of circling back to you, often magnified," Blumenfeld notes. Full Story: [Texas CEO Magazine]( (2/20) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Photos allow us to see what it's like under the sea]( A striking image of a diver inspecting whale bones off the coast of Greenland, taken by Swedish photographer Alex Dawson, has earned him the title of 2024 Underwater Photographer of the Year in the annual contest. Other honored images include a close-up of a gray whale that seems curious and friendly, a face-to-face encounter with a butterfly blenny that had taken up residence in a discarded bottle and a toothy (and scary) smile from a lemon shark. Full Story: [My Modern Met]( (2/20) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] SmartBreak: Question of the Day [] On this date in 1959, photographer T. Taylor Warren furnished the first visual evidence via photo proving who was the winner of the Daytona 500? [Vote]( [Johnny Beauchamp]( [Vote]( [Lee Petty]( [Vote]( [Richard Petty]( [Vote]( [Speedy Thompson]( [] About The Editor [] How do you handle political conversations at work? I will argue my position at the drop of a hat 1.62% I can't work with anyone who holds a different political view 0.41% I seek to understand another person's point of view but will argue for my position 15.72% I get curious about why they feel that way and search for common ground 20.16% I don't talk politics at work 58.87% Something else 3.22% [] Candace Chellew Candace Chellew Chellew When it comes to talking about politics in the office, nearly 60% of the 246 of you who answered prefer to keep mum on the subject altogether. Almost 36% said they would seek common ground or try to understand the other person's point of view but would still make their opinion known. Understandably, keeping your political feelings to yourself in a work environment feels safer. But finding ways to constructively talk to those around you helps your work culture and can heal some of the rifts politics has caused in the world around us. One reader, Mary B., asked how to handle someone "whose views feel not grounded in facts." Mary says she's open to hearing other views to find her blind spots but finds it challenging to be patient with those who won't hear another opinion. Mary did not ask about this specifically, but I found [a great article on talking to people who believe in conspiracy theories]( (which is fewer people than we may be led to believe). Even if the person you're speaking with doesn't believe in conspiracy theories but is fuzzy on the facts, this article's advice can go a long way to finding that common ground. The authors recommend being open-minded and asking people when they first started believing what they believe and how it has affected them psychologically. Then, express empathy for their feelings and encourage them to think critically about their views. Finally, realizing that some closely held beliefs are about things outside our control can help you point out some areas where they have full agency to give them a sense of personal authority. This, of course, takes some effort, and the office may not be the best place to tackle such a process. But, if you want to better understand your colleagues, even a short, empathetic conversation where you can affirm at least a shred of commonality can go a long way to making your teams more efficient and enjoyable. 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. Help Spread the Word [SHARE]( Or copy and share your personalized link: smartbrief.com/leadership/?referrerId=japnABMSAp [] [] The Earth is a weird place, I wish it didn't have to be so painful sometimes, but as you know, there's good, too. I'm seeking the good times, man. [Dexter Romweber](, singer, guitarist 1966-2024 [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email](   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:leadership@smartbrief.com) | [ADVERTISE](mailto:lengel@smartbrief.com) [SmartBrief Future]( Copyright © 2024 SmartBrief. All Rights Reserved. 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