New leaders need 2 traits -- and both can be learned

New leaders need 2 traits -- and both can be learned | practice (split each time) | Use these best practices to avoid new leader burnout Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( April 22, 2024 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [X]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE]( ADVERTISEMENT Leading the Way [] [New leaders need 2 traits -- and both can be learned]( [New leaders need 2 traits -- and both can be learned]( (chaofann/Getty Images) Spot potential leaders in your organization by looking for those who can toggle between concrete and abstract thinking, says psychologist and author Adam Grant, who recommends strategies for training up-and-coming leaders who may excel in one area but need improvement in the other. "We admire child prodigies in music, natural athletes in sports, geniuses in school, but focusing on where people start causes us to overlook the distance that they're capable of traveling," Grant notes. Full Story: [Big Think]( (4/19) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Aside from abstract and concrete thinking skills, [new leaders need a set of subskills]( including problem-solving, collaboration and business acumen, Grant notes. Group coaching, classes and other methods are effective, but Grant says getting a chance to practice new skills are key to solidifying them. Never stop Learning. Sharpen skills. Build teams. Vanderbilt Executive Education equips you with the tools and skills to advance your career and achieve better outcomes. We offer open enrollment programs and custom solutions for you and your organization's specific business challenges or leadership development needs. [Learn More.]( ADVERTISEMENT: [] SmartBrief on Leadership [] [Use these best practices to avoid new leader burnout]( [Use these best practices to avoid new leader burnout]( (Kobus Louw/Getty Images) New leaders may suffer from overwhelm or an urge to prove themselves, which can lead to being overextended, ignoring difficult situations or underestimating the amount of empathy and other emotional skills they'll need, writes business growth coach Zándra Bishop. Some best practices for success Bishop offers include setting clear expectations, being transparent and setting "a sustainable pace for yourself and your team" to avoid burnout. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (4/19) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Minimize mistakes as a new leader [by working with a coach or mentor](, learning all you can and delegating work as a way to build a strong team, Bishop advises. "Recognize that delegation is not a sign of weakness but a critical skill for effective leadership." [] Smarter Communication [] [When conflict arises don't get furious, get curious]( Getting curious, instead of furious, when conflict arises in your team, asking those causing disruption how they came to their conclusions and the personal significance of their opposition, writes communication specialist and author Leah Mether. Doing so fosters a sense of respect, allows the other person to feel heard and also increases the chance that they'll truly hear your response, Mether writes. Full Story: [Fast Company (tiered subscription model)]( (4/19) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: When you allow another person to tell you their perspective, [it can open up a whole new level of understanding between you]( and can show them that you care about their opinion, even if you disagree, Mether writes. "Acknowledging the other person's perspective and offering nuanced counterpoints contributes to a more constructive dialogue." Free eBooks and Resources Free eBooks and resources brought to you by our sponsors - [Nonverbal Communications Skills -- The 10 Skills You Need to Learn]( - [70+ Excel Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows (Free Cheat Sheet)]( - [Best Practices for Email Etiquette]( - [11 Habits That Will Give You A Complete And Successful Life]( - [Creating Positive Habits - The Ultimate Guide]( [] Smarter Strategy [] - [Study Musk's mistakes to improve your own strategies]( Inc. (tiered subscription model) (4/18) [] - [7 ways boards can recalibrate their strategies]( INSEAD Knowledge (4/18) [] - [What does "disruptive innovation" even mean anymore?]( Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model) (4/17) [] Smarter Working A weekly spotlight on doing more without working longer [] [Create new habits by starting slow and small]( [Create new habits by starting slow and small]( (Andrzej Rostek/Getty Images) Setting and reaching new goals requires some strategizing, such as habit stacking, where you add the new habit you want to develop to something you already do, such as exercising while watching television or counting even the slightest progress toward your new goal, such as a five minute run to build up to 30 minutes, writes JiJi Lee. "If we truly want to succeed and make these habits stick, we need to focus on tiny results and inchworm progress," Lee writes. Full Story: [Ink+Volt]( (4/18) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [These contest winners are ready for their close-up]( An underwater shot of an alpine newt dining on frog eggs in a German stream won Hungarian photographer Tibor Litauszki the top prize in the Close-up Photographer of the Year contest. Other top images include wild poppies and tiarella flowers frozen in ice, a dragonfly skating on the surface of a pond and the intricate face of a damselfly covered in dew. Full Story: [My Modern Met]( (4/18) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Most Read by CEOs The most-clicked stories of the past week by SmartBrief on Leadership readers [] - [The best way to bust a rut: Grow as a leader]( Lighthouse [] - [Phoning it in? How to jump start your motivation]( Gregg Vanourek [] - [4 ways to ensure employee recognition hits the mark]( SmartBrief/Leadership [] - [Why you need some "Debbie Downers" to rein in optimists]( Inc. (tiered subscription model) [] - [Your managers are failing. Here's how to fix it]( Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model) [] SmartBreak: Question of the Day [] John J. McDermott was the winner of the first Boston Marathon of 1897. What was the distance, in miles, that he ran? [Vote]( [13.6]( [Vote]( [24.0]( [Vote]( [24.5]( [Vote]( [26.2]( [] About The Editor [] Candace Chellew Candace Chellew Chellew I am not a natural-born leader. I like to allow others who are more extroverted and sure of themselves to take the lead. I convinced myself that I wasn't "leadership material," whatever that means. When I founded my spiritual community (from which I am now retired) 14 years ago, I felt like I had been tossed into the deep end of the leadership pool. I can look back over those years and see where I led poorly (I didn't know how to delegate) and where I led wisely (making moves that kept us alive as a small community and helping people grow spiritually). I had on-the-job training, but what I learned was, [as Adam Grant points out, that everyone can learn leadership skills](. I learned how to toggle between what Grant calls "concrete" skills (that can get you to overthink things) and "abstract" skills (that can help you move forward in times of uncertainty). If you're looking to develop leaders in your organization, just about anyone can fit the bill, Grant reminds us. It's in how we develop those leaders, tailoring training to suit each leader instead of a "one-size-fits-all" training program. Training is just the first step, though. Giving new leaders a chance to put their skills into practice and make mistakes so they can learn is also crucial. [It's also vital to support your new leaders so they avoid burning out](, as Zándra Bishop notes. New leaders are everywhere in your organization. The key to their success is in the training you create for them. If this newsletter helps you, please tell your colleagues, friends or anyone who can benefit. Forward them this email, or [send this link](. What topics do you see in your daily work that I should know about? Do you have praise? Criticism? [Drop me a note](mailto:candace.chellew@futurenet.com). And don't forget to send me photos of your pets, your office and where you spend your time off. [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Sharing SmartBrief on Leadership with your network keeps the quality of content high and these newsletters free. Help Spread the Word [SHARE]( Or copy and share your personalized link: smartbrief.com/leadership/?referrerId=japnABMSAp [] [] You have to hold yourself accountable for your actions, and that's how we're going to protect the Earth. 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