Are you monitoring your employees? They may soon quit

Are you monitoring your employees? They may soon quit | Grit is good, but too much can hamper leadership | Leadership lessons are everywhere -- even in video games Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( January 31, 2023 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE]( ADVERTISEMENT Leading the Way [] [Are you monitoring your employees? They may soon quit]( [Are you monitoring your employees? They may soon quit]( (Boris Zhitkov/Getty Images) The vast majority of employers report that they are using monitoring software to keep tabs on their workers, but researchers have found such measures may decrease productivity, increase cheating and prompt employees to leave. "I do think that employers, even acting entirely in their own best interests, may decide to limit monitoring to make their workplaces more attractive to in-demand workers, so that people want to stay in their jobs for long periods of time," says Karen Levy, an associate professor at Cornell University. Put it into practice: Researchers found that when companies are transparent about their monitoring activities -- what kind of data they're collecting and how it can be used to enhance jobs -- employees were less likely to have negative reactions. Full Story: [BBC]( (1/30) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] [Grit is good, but too much can hamper leadership]( Leaders who put too much emphasis on "grit," or their personal perseverance, run the risk of burning out, becoming depressed or suffering from clouded judgment in a single-minded pursuit of their goals, writes Lolly Daskal. "Therefore, leaders should strive to balance grit with adaptability and flexibility, and seek feedback and support to help them navigate their careers," Daskal writes. Put it into practice: Take a moment to review your goals and reflect on whether you're pushing yourself too hard without taking time off or seeking help from others. Grit is good, but only when it's tempered with self-awareness. Full Story: [Lolly Daskal]( (1/30) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( 2023 Year Ahead Outlook In the U.S., what are the chances for a mild recession and quick recovery? Will China's reopening spark a consumer-led rebound? Could bonds and stocks rise as markets regain a solid footing? Will the surge in commodities continue? BofA Global Research analysts share their latest views. [Read the interviews]( ADVERTISEMENT: [] SmartBrief on Leadership [] [Leadership lessons are everywhere -- even in video games]( [Leadership lessons are everywhere -- even in video games]( Screenshot of key achievement in Roblox’s "Tapping Simulator" game. (Patrick Hopkins) Playing the Roblox "Tapping Simulator" game with his children has taught SmartBrief copy editor and writer Patrick Hopkins several leadership lessons including the value of long- and short-term strategies, the advantage of talking to competitors and working both harder and smarter. "Whether you're bootstrapping a business or striving to get ahead as an employee, 'dedication, sound work ethics, and pure single-mindedness' point the way to success in money, market share and more," Hopkins writes. Put it into practice: Truly, leadership lessons are everywhere just waiting to be recognized. What areas in your daily life contain such lessons? Can you identify and apply them to your own leadership growth? Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (1/30) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Smarter Communication [] [3 steps to avoid being seen as negative by co-workers]( Avoid being seen as negative by co-workers when they present ideas by first affirming something about the idea before offering solutions or improvements, writes Karin Hurt, offering advice developed by David Dye. Gauge your feelings, too, before responding and ask to talk about an idea later if you're in a negative frame of mind, Hurt advises. Put it into practice: Temper your responses depending on who you're talking with, Hurt recommends. Goal-oriented people may take your feedback as a roadblock while "idea people" may feel crushed by your comments. Leading with a positive note can help you be heard, and avoid misunderstanding. Full Story: [Let's Grow Leaders]( (1/30) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Free eBooks and Resources Free eBooks and resources brought to you by our sponsors - [4 Simple Productivity Improvement Points To Dominate Your Day]( - [The Ultimate Guide To Developing Self-Discipline]( - [30 Life Lessons Learned in 30 Years]( - [How to Find Average Salary Information for US Workers]( - ["I Will Teach You to be Rich" Book Summary]( [] Smarter Strategy [] - [Don't confuse short-term missions with aspirational ones]( Strategy+Business (1/30) [] - [6 things to consider to boost the chances of strategic success]( NOBL Academy (1/29) [] - [Could inflation become endemic?]( Kellogg Insight (1/25) [] SmartPulse [] How willing are you to change your decisions when presented information that could be counter to the original decision you made? Very willing: new information means new decisions even after I've made them 59.24% Somewhat willing: I have strong beliefs and it takes concrete new information to get me to change 35.54% Not very willing: I have a hard time changing direction even in the face of new information 3.48% Not at all willing: I want to see my decisions through and not be seen as being "wrong" 1.74% [] New information, new decision. Decision making flexibility can be challenging. We make a decision and share it with our teams. We own that decision. It's hard to say "I was wrong" and change course when new information is presented because no one wants to be seen as "wrong," especially in front of their team. Here's a different way to think about it. Instead of saying "I was wrong" or "I made a bad decision," say "I made the best decision I could with the information that was available at that time. Since then, I've received new information that requires me to make a different and better decision." It's possible to be right and be right again. This is a mindset you can adopt that will make it easier for the 40% of you who say you have some challenges changing your decisions. -- Mike Figliuolo is managing director of [thoughtLEADERS](, which includes TITAN -- the firm's e-learning platform. Previously, he worked at McKinsey & Co., Capital One and Scotts Miracle-Gro. He is a West Point graduate and author of three leadership books: ["One Piece of Paper,"]( ["Lead Inside the Box"]( and ["The Elegant Pitch."]( [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] POLL QUESTION: What kind of challenge do you find the most interesting or exciting? [Vote]( [Taking something that's been successful and building on that success]( [Vote]( [Taking something that's failing and turning it around]( [Vote]( [Building something new that no one has ever built before]( [] In Their Own Words [] [Executive encourages team to advance, even if they leave]( Vickie Bulger, senior vice president and insurance chief compliance officer at Primerica Life Insurance Co., says she's dedicated to the advancement of her people after a past boss arranged a job interview for her at another company after she maxed out her possibilities in that role. "A growth mindset keeps you improving and really makes you better suited for your current and future roles," Bulger says. Full Story: [Profile magazine]( (1/30) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Data: Expect fewer Arjuns & Ariyahs to be born this year]( Expect fewer baby boys to be named Arjun, Walter or Royce, and fewer baby girls to carry monikers including Hayden, Ariyah or Mira, according to data from BabyCenter, which warns such names could go "extinct" in 2023. Researchers analyzed the 500 most popular baby names to determine which experienced the "steepest year-over-year declines" since last year. Full Story: [Fox News]( (1/25) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] About The Editor [] Candace Chellew Candace Chellew Candace Chellew [Monitoring employees]( can be a hot button issue, and as the research indicates, it can lead employees to be less productive and more inclined to cheat. No one can blame employers for wanting to know if remote employees are working, but researchers say transparency is key to prevent team members from feeling spied on or mistrusted. What's your experience with monitoring? Are you using it in your company? Why or why not? Are you an employee being monitored? How does it make you feel? Would more transparency make a difference? [Let me know your thoughts](mailto:candace.chellew@futurenet.com). 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]( [Twitter]( [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 [] [] The only thing that makes things even slightly bearable is a friend who knows what you're talking about. [Eve Babitz](, writer, visual artist [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email](   SmartBrief publishes more than 200 free industry newsletters - [Browse our portfolio]( [Sign Up]( | [Update Profile]( | [Advertise with SmartBrief]( [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy policy]( CONTACT US: [FEEDBACK](mailto:leadership@smartbrief.com) | [ADVERTISE](mailto:lengel@smartbrief.com) SmartBrief, a division of Future US LLC © Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036