Leaders can identify the best strategy for new products or ideas by thinking small and asking interesting questions, writes best-selling author Seth Godin, who points to a man named Duncan Hines whose travel guidebook and convenient make-at-home meals answer the question: "How will the car change the way people eat?" "We spend too much time in focus groups and feasibility studies and not nearly enough time putting solutions into people's hands," Godin says.

Put it into practice: On a recent episode of the podcast "The Good Life Project," Godin talked about how he no longer reads any reviews of his books because he wants to choose critics who can give him the best insights. "When we pick our critics, we pick our future. And if you look at anybody who has a fashion sense, they didn't develop their fashion sense by listening to people who wanted them to fit in and wear beige Land's End clothes; they did it by ignoring those people," Godin explains.

Storytelling can be a powerful tool for inspiring change and fostering healthy competition within teams, executive coach and consultant Laura Barnard writes. Barnard outlines the five steps of the IMPACT Communication Framework to develop corporate storytelling, which involves identifying challenges, describing solutions, showcasing outcomes, explaining broader impacts and providing measurable results.

Put it into practice: When one team shares the stories of their success, it can spark a healthy competition with other teams who want success stories of their own to tell, Barnard writes. "Competition isn't about tearing each other down; it's about lifting up everyone by making success contagious."

Gallup and Workhuman research highlights a disconnect between employees' feedback preferences and what drives engagement, finding that only 27% of employees want weekly feedback, even though frequent feedback correlates with higher engagement. Leaders can address this by providing timely feedback that includes recognition and coaching, thereby helping to improve employee performance and reduce burnout.

Put it into practice: Using weekly check-ins or more casual connections can make feedback a routine part of your team's culture and can enhance its perceived value, according to Gallup researchers. "This holistic approach helps employees feel supported and gives clear direction for performance, leading to higher levels of engagement and organizational success," writes Gallup's Andy Kemp.

Fruits such as strawberries, pomegranates, apples and mangos can be beneficial to heart health because of the fiber, vitamin C and other nutrients they contain, says cardiologists Joel Kahn and Chauncey Crandall. "Fruit is colorful, delicious and associated with many benefits like a lower risk of heart disease, better brain function and superior sexual health. It is nature's candy," Kahn says.

Tom Kenny and Bill Fagerbakke, the voices behind SpongeBob and Patrick, reflect on their roles for "SpongeBob SquarePants" as the show turns 25, with both remaining enthusiastic about the show and how it has expanded into various media formats over the years. "We're just as giddy about this job as we were 25 years ago. Neither of us would trade jobs with the biggest movie stars in the world," Kenny says.

I was happy to read the story about "Spongebob Squarepants" turning 25. I have always enjoyed that show, and Spongebob, especially, has many lessons to teach leaders, including positivity, being passionate about your work, showing empathy and remembering to have fun.

If you've ever watched the show, you notice immediately that Spongebob is the eternal optimist. Even under pressure, his morale remains high, providing a role model for those around him. In a similar vein, Spongebob rises each morning with the refrain, "I'm ready! I'm ready!" as he bounds to his job at the Krusty Krab. No matter how repetitive or mundane his job is, he loves it, and his passion shines through.

Spongebob is always emotionally attuned to those around him, whether it's his best friend, Patrick or even crabby old Squidward. He never fails to show kindness, even when others are unkind to him. The best leaders are those who can step outside of their ego and create a culture of trust and belonging.

Finally, Spongebob knows the importance of play, which brings both him and his friends joy. Good leaders incorporate creativity and a sense of fun into their culture, which reduces stress and helps build a cohesive and motivated team.

Celebrate Spongebob's milestone by tuning in for a few episodes and seeing what other leadership lessons you can pick up from the residents of Bikini Bottom.

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