Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes in action (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes demonstrated leadership this past weekend by trusting his teammates during a crucial moment in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers, writes author Minda Zetlin. With the Chiefs trailing and close to the end zone, Mahomes took a knee to set up a field goal instead of attempting a touchdown, showing confidence in his special teams. "We believe in each other," Mahomes said. "It's never one group. It's everybody -- offense, defense, special teams."
Put it into practice: As leaders, we often think the success of our team falls only on our shoulders, but as Mahomes shows, passing off to others during a crucial time can produce the best results. "The objective is for your organization to succeed, not for you to make sure you get all the glory," writes Zetlin.
You can inspire and positively influence your direct reports to support your ideas and decisions by getting to know them, giving them relevant and rational information and using storytelling to create emotional connection, writes Paul Thornton. "Authentic passion is a powerful catalyst -- when you believe deeply in your ideas and show it, you effortlessly ignite the same spark in others," Thornton writes.
Put it into practice: Facts and appeals to emotion can only go so far in winning support from others, notes Thornton, who writes that you must also let them come to their own conclusions by addressing concerns and encouraging curiosity before asking for their support. "Do not assume people will take the next step on their own."
Read more from Paul Thornton on SmartBrief on Leadership
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If you have a co-worker who consistently misspells your name or you feel they are slighting you in some deliberate way, Brittney Maxfield recommends getting clear on your own story before addressing it: are you making yourself a helpless victim and them the villain? After reframing the situation so you feel empowered, you can approach the conversation calmly because you realize, as Maxfield writes, "[M]ost people need and deserve the opportunity to hear feedback and act on it."
Put it into practice: Pointing out an error or slight to a co-worker in a relaxed manner doesn't usually result in them resenting you, Maxfield writes and may give you a chance to create a stronger relationship and help you speak out more often. "Speaking up will also serve you because what we don't talk out, we act out."
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Research from University College London suggests that a half hour of moderate to vigorous exercise and at least six hours of sleep can enhance a person's cognitive performance the next day. The research, involving adults aged 50 to 83, found that each half-hour increase in physical activity led to a 2% to 5% improvement in memory scores, while more sedentary behavior was linked to a decline in memory.
The 2020 Geminid Meteor Shower as seen over the Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area near Punta Gorda, Fla. (Getty Images)
The annual Geminids meteor shower is due to peak at the end of the week, and "observing by radio might be the best way to track what they are doing," Space.com columnist Joe Rao notes. An open frequency on a sensitive FM radio can transmit pings -- the audio representation of the meteor shower -- and while they "usually aren't strong in signal strength and sometimes don't even last a second ... if you're fortunate, you can hear bursts known as 'trains' that can exceed a minute in duration," RadioWorld's Nick Langan writes.
Astronomer Tycho Brahe changed our world view in the 16th century when he proposed that the sun was the center of our universe. Brahe was also once involved in duel in which he lost what body part?
If we bring one of three mindsets into a conversation -- victim, villain or helpless -- we're guaranteed "to bring resentment, emotion and a whole lot of assumption into the conversation -- none of this will serve you well," Maxfield writes.
We're a victim when we take things personally, which can make us feel helpless to change things, especially of we see the other person as a villain who is treating us poorly on purpose. Instead, we can reclaim our power by seeing ourselves as a contributor to solving the problem, trying to see the situation from the other person's viewpoint and seeking the best path to move forward.
Remain calm during the discussion and stay focused on the one subject you want them to correct, Maxfield advises. If the behavior you're trying to correct continues, you may need a deeper conversation or take it to a supervisor to correct. Be sure to document the conversations you do have!
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