When we wish someone "good luck," we often mean well, but we may be instilling a fixed mindset in their subconscious by implying that success comes by chance and not effort, writes speaker and author Jeff Haden. "By praising results based on effort, you help foster a growth mindset, one where success or initial failure seems due more to time and application, not innate talent," Haden notes.
Put it into practice: Luck can undoubtedly play a role in our success, but using helpful encouragement can be better, like saying, "I know you can pull this off because you never give up," to acknowledge the hard-working nature of your team member, Haden writes. "Whatever you say, leave luck out of it."
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Building a leadership pipeline requires empowering team members through ownership and decision-making, writes Shawn Cole, the president and co-founder of Cowen Partners Executive Search. Leaders can model a growth mindset by embracing challenges, setting stretch goals and supporting external learning, Cole writes, noting that this approach fosters a culture of continuous development and prepares team members for leadership roles.
Put it into practice: Give your team ownership over projects and involve them in decisions to provide "real-world leadership experience without throwing them into the deep end too soon," Cole writes. "This process of cultivating leaders at every level is crucial in building a strong leadership pipeline that drives sustained success and innovation."
As a leader, it's vital that you communicate the importance of your team taking their paid time off, making it "part of the holistic employee experience, just like your paycheck or health insurance," says Johnna Muscente, vice president of communications and PR at The Corcoran Group. By modeling PTO-positive behavior and setting boundaries against hustle culture, you can foster an environment where employees feel comfortable taking necessary time off.
Put it into practice: There may be some hard workers on your team who don't want to take time off, but you should normalize taking vacations as a mental health imperative, Muscente says. "No one should feel pressured to work without rest or take pride in not taking time off."
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Effective leadership relies on the three C's of challenging people, building confidence and coaching employees to achieve their best, writes Paul Thornton, the author of "The Leadership Process." "Each new challenge, especially the big ones, often requires some tailored coaching and affirmation to ensure a strong start," Thornton writes.
Holiday train rides inspired by "The Polar Express" can get you in the Christmas spirit this year by offering unique experiences, from the immersive theatrical recreation on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Colorado to the scenic Napa Valley Wine Train in California. Each train offers festive activities, such as Santa visits, holiday lights shows and themed meals, making them a perfect holiday outing.
There's nothing like mentioning being an introvert that makes the introverts come out of the woodwork! Yesterday, I confessed my introversion and how leaders can bring out the best in their introverted team members.
Robin M. wrote in to say that the article was a revelation. Robin, like me, can appear extroverted being "adept at public speaking." However, after reading my note, Robin reflected on noticing a feeling of "needing to come down" after such presentations. "Mentally and physically, I tend to feel odd, perhaps overstimulated. Sitting in a chair and just staring at a wall for a few minutes seems to help. I never thought of that feeling that I am calling overstimulation as an indication that I am really an introvert."
Yes, Robin, welcome to the introvert club!
Tony J. wrote to share how he realized why being in a crowd is so exhausting for him: "I think that it is all the work required to listen to the verbal communications and to watch body language to fully understand what others are trying to communicate and then trying to analyze what is new and truthful information, whether it comes from the speakers' experiences or emotions, both of which may be valid."
And William B. says that while interactions with others have become natural, it "is soon personally exhausting." He's found a silver lining, though, writing: "I have more time for reflection, planning, and so on, so perhaps I'm more thoughtful about my work environment."
Thanks to Robin, Tony and William for sharing their experiences as introverts. We genuinely do have many strengths to offer to our workplace and the world, but realizing that we need time alone to recharge can help us be even more productive and helpful when we are out in the world.
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