Authentic leadership often involves "leading from behind," a strategy that can be more effective than the traditional approach of forging ahead, writes leadership coach Piers Fallowfield-Cooper, who notes that this method requires leaders to pace themselves with their teams, foster trust and create a sense of shared ownership of solutions. "To truly lead, you must stay close enough to your team to know when they're ready for the next step. Only then can you turn around and find them walking with you," Fallowfield-Cooper writes.

Put it into practice: You must lead your team from the front in times of crisis, opportunity or when there is an apparent lack of direction, but leading from behind is effective when someone else has more expertise, you're new to a team or you can learn by supporting another leader, Fallowfield-Cooper writes. "Learn how to select a style that works for the context in which you find yourself."

Your team may react negatively to change due to negativity bias and other factors, but you can help ease transitions by following five steps, writes executive coach Dave Coffaro. The steps include recognizing change as a continuous process, unifying the team around a clear vision, declaring progress and setbacks and repeating these actions to overcome resistance, Coffaro recommends.

Put it into practice: Change initiatives don't succeed without providing your team a clear vision of where you're going, giving them ownership in the transition and making adjustments where needed, Coffaro writes. "Until we develop mental and emotional engagement in the vision, navigating change among our team members is likely to remain stuck at the starting line."

Executives often struggle with public speaking, but PR teams can help by ditching scripted talking points, building trust, providing honest feedback and conducting regular training, says Steve Atkinson of Spectrum Science. "You can have the most groundbreaking technology in the world, but if you don't know how to share information about it in an engaging way and in the right format, it will fall flat," Atkinson says.

Put it into practice: It may be uncomfortable, but you must give your CEO honest feedback on their performance by mixing constructive advice with praise for what they do right, Atkinson advises. "You're only going to harm yourself and the person you're trying to help if you're not being honest," Atkinson notes.

The leadership of NFL coaches Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions have served as inspiration for Mike McVay, president of McVay Media, especially how they emphasized the importance of having a clear plan, hiring talent who can do the job and knowing what success looks like. "The very best leaders know that success starts and ends with them as the coach. That and a plan designed to accomplish the team's goals," McVay writes.

A study published in Scientific Reports found that dogs trained to use soundboards formed intentional two-word combinations, indicating purposeful communication. Common combinations included "outside" with "potty" and "food" with "water." Researchers say that button presses were not random or merely imitative, and next they will study whether dogs can use soundboards to express ideas about the past or future.

Automakers are adjusting their strategies to accommodate the growing demand for hybrid vehicles. General Motors plans to reintroduce plug-in hybrids by 2027 while Ford aims to have a complete hybrid lineup by 2030. Stellantis is focusing on multi-energy platforms that support various propulsion types, including hybrids. These strategic shifts reflect the industry's response to consumer preferences and regulatory requirements, balancing the push for electrification with the practicality and familiarity of hybrids.

The research on how dogs use soundboards to communicate with their humans fascinates me. My dog, Pax, seems to communicate his needs just fine with his puppy dog eyes, raised or lowered ears and tail wags. I figure if I had one of those fancy boards that allowed him to talk to me, all he'd ever say is, "food" and "walk."

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