Managers and coaches in professional sports have shorter tenures than your average CEO, but according to McKinsey research, many of them have found the formula for building high-performing teams by establishing a culture of high standards, choosing members with diverse skills, codifying how work gets done and working to boost team confidence and abilities. "The great teams that I have been on, it's all about trust and accountability, with everyone working toward a common goal," former Notre Dame volleyball player Ella Sandt told McKinsey researchers.

Put it into practice: Sports organizations thrive by codifying routines, expectations and behaviors for every role, from athletes to support staff. For businesses, adopting this strategy means creating clear guidelines for execution, reinforcing a culture of shared responsibility and enabling teams to adapt and excel amid change.

Put it into practice: Employees can lack understanding of the purpose behind development, or can already feel overwhelmed by their current duties. "Coaching or mentoring can offer the concurrent benefits of growth and support for an overwhelmed employee," Winkle Guilioni writes.

Many employees tone down their true feelings to keep the peace at work, writes Sean Devlin, an editor at Ragan Communications, who cites a recent survey from MyPerfectResume that found 74% of employees reported "adjusting their communication at work to avoid conflict." Instead of tamping down open expression, Devlin recommends offering a framework for employees to discuss sensitive topics such as politics while respecting the viewpoints of others.

Put it into practice: Respectful engagement in hot topics can be a tricky act to pull off in today's charged climate, but Devlin says starting from the top is key. "For instance, communicators can help organize Q&A sessions with leaders in which top brass can address hot-button issues and reiterate the company’s line," Devlin writes.

Including at least 15 minutes of fast walking into your daily routine can significantly benefit your health, according to a study in American Journal of Preventative Medicine. The practice has been shown to reduce the risk of premature death by nearly 20%, manage weight, control blood sugar levels and lower the risk of diseases such as cancer and type 2 diabetes. Fast walking also supports cardiovascular health by helping to regulate blood pressure.

Each state in the US has at least one town or geographical name that is a tongue-twister, according to a list based on a study by language learning website Preply, and if you're not a local, you'll probably say it wrong. Some of the names are impossibly long as well as impossible to say, such as Alaska's Nunathloogagamiutbingoi Dunes (pronounced "Noo-nath-loo-ga-ga-mee-oot-bin-go-ee"), while others look familiar, such as Cairo, Nebraska, or Berlin, Connecticut, but are pronounced like Karo syrup instead of like the capital of Egypt and "BURR-lin" not "ber-LIN," respectively. But the last word in unpronounceable is Zzyzx, an abandoned town in California's Mojave Desert. It's pronounced, "ZY-ziks."

Of the 150 of you who took time to read yesterday's musically themed Leadership on SmartBrief, most of you liked what you saw. I appreciate the feedback, and it lets me know that on occasion, you're okay with me shaking up the format of the brief from time to time.

It's good to try new things and stretch ourselves from time to time. With that in mind, I hope you take time this weekend to try something new or out of the ordinary. It can give you a new perspective!

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