Whether you're negotiating a contract or managing a workplace conflict, learning to read people like an FBI hostage negotiator can give you the advantage, and former FBI hostage negotiator Chip Massey and crisis management expert Adele Gambardella say you can do it in 22 seconds. You can learn what others value, desire and believe by focusing on their style of dress, speech or behavior to discern if they are easy-going or challenging, curious or defensive or guarded or open, and you can adjust your approach from there, Massey and Gambardella advise.
Purchase a 2 or 3-year membership today and get a FREE SHRM tote, keychain and Yeti tumbler with code MULTI24SB. Offer valid online only through 7/5. Blue totes may be substituted for gray totes in the event items are sold out. Delivery could take up to 6 weeks.
A "passion operating style" that doesn't really align with your true passions can lead to dissatisfaction and health issues, executive coach Alaina Love writes, discussing a client named Jamie who was sacrificing his true passions to fit into his corporate role. After some reflection, Jamie realized that setting limits on those sacrifices improved his job satisfaction and "makes me a better leader."
The quite logical Mr. Spock from "Star Trek" would have been an excellent CEO, as he never would have spoken emotionally or off the cuff -- such as Jeff Bezos blurting out a thank-you to Amazon workers for paying for his lofty space flight and MillerKnoll CEO Andi Owen's comments on how employees shouldn't whine about lack of bonuses. Drew Kerr, founder of The Four Corners Group, says knowing when to keep your mouth closed is an important leadership skill, and shares the "Three Laws of Shutting Up" and the "Wisdom of Playing Dumb."
Put it into practice: It's best for leaders to keep quiet when they don't know the answer, when information is unnecessary and when the comments would be negative. Kerr says playing dumb refers to a non-committal response, such as "I have more research to do. I can't give a definitive answer right now."
Free eBooks and Resources
Free eBooks and resources brought to you by our sponsors
Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model)
(6/24)
SmartPulse
How do you spend the majority of your weekends?
Relaxing with family/friends
34.64%
Pursuing individual activities
25.91%
Resting and catching your breath
18.98%
Working and catching up
13.25%
Some other activity
7.22%
Most are relaxing on weekends. It's encouraging to see that 80% of you are spending time with family, friends, pursuing activities on your own or just taking a break from work (and I'll assume the other 7% are doing non-work things).
For the 13% who spend their weekends/free time working, consider the cost and the impacts. You'll never get that time back and you may be neglecting your own self-care and contributing to burnout. Work during free time also takes a toll on personal relationships which can contribute to isolation, depression and further burnout.
It's unlikely your employer is paying you for those extra hours too so basically you're decreasing your pay by 15-30% by giving away that free labor. Find time for you. You deserve it and you need it. The work will still be there on Monday morning when you get paid to do it.
-- Mike Figliuolo is managing director of thoughtLEADERS, which includes TITAN -- the firm's e-learning platform. Previously, he worked at McKinsey & Co., Capital One and Scotts Miracle-Gro. He is a West Point graduate and author of three leadership books: "One Piece of Paper,""Lead Inside the Box" and "The Elegant Pitch."
Which of the following behaviors do you find to be the most frustrating to experience from a subordinate?
The best leaders take responsibility for outcomes, give their subordinates a chance to learn from mistakes and become resilient in the face of challenges so they can support others, says Michelle Noon, the founder and managing partner of Clearhaven Partners. "The hard part is dealing with the challenges and then also digging deeper into the well so that you can maintain the enthusiasm and energy and help other people with the problems and roadblocks they're facing in addition to your own," Noon says.
The so-called "dog days of summer" begins on July 3 and ends on August 11, but the term has nothing to do with the panting of overheated pups and everything to do with the position of Sirius -- otherwise known as the Dog Star -- because it rises and sets with the sun over that period of time. The earth's wobble has shifted the annual event further into summer, away from the solstice where it once was, and astronomers say that in about 10,000 years, the "dog days" will be in the winter.
June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month: The "Mother of Pride" deserves lots of the credit for developing and organizing some of the first Pride events in 1970. Who were they?
Executive coach Alaina Love writes about "passion" in her article today, and I am of the belief that our passions can wax and wane. I once was very passionate about radio and television, but now, if I consider a job in that industry, it feels like I'm taking a step back. Same with the ministry. Leading a congregation once felt like a passionate calling, but that passion has waned. Now, I'm more drawn toward music, songwriting and performing. What's next? Who knows, but I'm following the passion trail.
What about you? Have you had passions come and go? Did you stay too long in one passion, thinking it would come back around again? (I know I have!)
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. And don't forget to send me photos of your pets, your office and where you spend your time off.
Sharing SmartBrief on Leadership with your network keeps the quality of content high and these newsletters free.