As a leader, you must be confident, but you can often be your own worst critic, which is why executive coach Ed Batista recommends finding time for self-reflection (even if it's in small doses), separating the urgent from the important to see where you're adding value as a leader and finding feedback from organizational data and trusted sources. "If you shrink from a candid assessment of your weaknesses and missteps, your critics won't hesitate to do so, and you may find yourself unpleasantly surprised by how they leverage that information," Batista notes.

Put it into practice: Try to strip emotion from your self-critiques and maintain confidence in yourself and your team because there's a direct relationship between optimism and effective leadership, Batista writes. "[T]here are moments when you can't look to anyone else for encouragement because everyone is looking at you."

A tale of two work cultures demonstrates the power of the positive culture found at Radio Flyer, where 99% of employees would recommend working for the company, says S. Chris Edmonds, an executive consultant with The Purposeful Culture Group. On the other end of the spectrum is the toxic work culture at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which received more than 500 complaints from employees over mistreatment, and Edmonds offers ideas to learn where your current work culture may fall between these two extremes.

Put it into practice: How can you tell if your work culture needs a makeover? Edmonds recommends searching for reviews on Glassdoor and combing through employee surveys to "discover gaps that need prompt attention -- and gaps that require ongoing focus in the days and months ahead."

Learning how to say "no" to customers can be a daunting task, but setting boundaries can help establish a relationship with mutual respect, writes Allison Dunn, a business executive coach. Dunn recommends offering alternative solutions while empathizing with the customer's problem and providing clear reasons why their request is not possible.

Put it into practice: Dunn offers 10 strategies to say "no" without losing a customer relationship but emphasizes the need to remain polite and respectful. "Remember, saying 'no' doesn’t have to be a negative experience; it can be an opportunity to showcase your commitment to quality and integrity and foster a mutually respectful relationship with your customers," Dunn writes.

It can be tempting to delegate AI adoption to your tech team, but David De Cremer, a dean and professor at the D'Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University in Boston, says leaders must make a business case for AI and be involved in every step of creation and adoption, including ensuring "a human-centered approach" that puts AI firmly in the backseat. "The future is augmentation, where AI is in service of human intelligence," De Cremer writes.

As Spangler Candy celebrates Dum-Dums 100th birthday, CEO Kirk Vashaw reflects on the brand's staying power and the positive economic impact it has had on the community where it is made. "Dum-Dums is just such a popular candy and part of the reason I think it's lasted for 100 years is that we haven't changed it," Vashaw said. "The product's the same, but it takes a lot of smart people and hardworking people to make" 12 million Dum-Dums a day, Vashaw added.

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Scott D. sent in this photo of Gracie Ann, a 5-year-old Cavachon who loves to keep watch over the neighborhood from her "condo" bed that sits atop an adjustable side table so she can get the best view. If she's not watching out for her humans, she's right by their side or under their feet as they work. Scott says her favorite toy is a child-sized Croc because it's chewy and it bounces all around, making it challenging to chase and catch.

Thanks for sharing Gracie Ann with us, Scott!

What non-human companions keep you company as you work or greet you when you get home? Send me your photos!

As leaders, it can be easy to be our biggest critic. We may question our decisions and actions and feel like we're not living up to our expectations. Ed Batista makes the point, though, that it's essential to balance out that self-criticism with some self-praise.

Becoming your own biggest fan is important because it will bring balance and clarity to your thoughts and actions. Besides, as Batista points out, if you're not taking time for self-reflection to rightly divine what is urgent and what is important, your critics will be the first to point out your shortcomings. It's better to have that clear-eyed view yourself to avoid those missteps.

Look for feedback on how well you're doing as a leader within your company's performance, seek it from trusted advisors and take time for yourself to deeply ponder where you're doing well and where you may need improvement.

"The idea isn't that reflection must occur on a rigid schedule, but like all important-but-not-urgent activities, it won't happen with any consistency if you don't make it a practice," Batista notes.

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