Positivity is good, but ditch the rose-colored glasses

Positivity is good, but ditch the rose-colored glasses | practice | Weave purpose, praise into teamwork development Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( May 19, 2023 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE](  [] Leading the Way [] [Positivity is good, but ditch the rose-colored glasses]( [Positivity is good, but ditch the rose-colored glasses]( (by-studio/Getty Images) Optimism and positive thinking can be dangerous for leaders unless they are tempered with a realistic view of the world, writes Gregg Vanourek, who recommends being suspicious of simplistic solutions, getting diverse points of view on situations and being humble about our own knowledge. Executive coach Dan Rockwell offers five "real world affirmations" to temper blind positivity including leading with curiosity, bringing your best self to the job and showing up to serve. Full Story: [Gregg Vanourek]( (5/17), [Leadership Freak]( (5/18) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: [Vanourek offers]( seven ways to create a more realistic worldview including being clear on expectations, acknowledging risks and measuring how things worked out against your original expectations. "Positive thinking improves life, but nonsense doesn't work," [adds Rockwell](. Help your working caregivers thrive. 73% of U.S. employees are also caregivers. You can help support those in your workplace witha range of tip sheets, tools, and guides available at no cost. See how they can lead to higher productivity and lower turnover. [Learn more.]( ADVERTISEMENT: [] SmartBrief on Leadership [] [Weave purpose, praise into teamwork development]( [Weave purpose, praise into teamwork development]( (Flashpop/Getty Images) Reiterating your company's purpose frequently and acknowledging the contributions of every employee go a long way toward making workers want to do their best, writes leadership coach John Baldoni, expanding on a recent speech from movie director Christopher Nolan that credited good films to everyone down to the popcorn servers. Keep in mind your company's mission, and don't worry about getting credit for yourself, Baldoni suggests. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (5/18) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Take time to discuss the why behind the company's purpose, which may include touching people's hearts. To give employees the "urge to contribute," recognize (and applaud) that their inspirations and efforts are weaving the very fabric of the company, [Baldoni writes, quoting Nolan](. [] [Read more]( from John Baldoni on SmartBrief on Leadership   [] Smarter Communication [] [Efficient relationships are lousy ones for leaders]( Leaders who are pros at building efficient relationships at work often have employees who "are quantifiably less productive than those who feel valued and whose voices are considered," writes Jason Zickerman, CEO of The Alternative Board, a business coaching group. Making substantive, meaningful connections with every employee can result in ideas you'd might never have heard as well as companywide engagement. Full Story: [Entrepreneur]( (5/16) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Get to know "employees as people, not just contributors," [Zickerman advises.]( Schedule individual, in-person chats with the whole staff and talk about their lives and passions to see them beyond their role at work. 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 [] - [What color is your organizational structure -- orange or teal?]( People Development Network (5/18) [] - [CEOs must lead the charge to break organizational silos]( Texas CEO Magazine (5/17) [] Smarter Living Get your mind and body right each Friday [] [Food study shows you really are what you eat]( A study examining the connection between dietary choices and personality traits found that individuals who are open and agreeable tend to make better food choices while those who are more extroverted or neurotic make poorer choices. The research, published in the Journal of Cleaner Production, surveyed individuals in the US and Norway and sought to link their attitudes toward food -- whether healthful, hedonistic, altruistic or rational -- to their dietary choices. Full Story: [News Medical]( (5/14) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [How velvet cakes turned red]( [How velvet cakes turned red]( (Pixabay) Velvet cakes -- named for the silky mouthfeel produced by the cornstarch and softer wheat used in baking -- have been around since the 1800s, but they didn't turn red until the wife of the grandson who founded Adams Extract and Spice added the company's red dye to the mix in 1947. Its signature cream cheese frosting didn't materialize until the 1970s, and Vallery Lomas, a winner of "The Great American Baking Show," says, "If you see a vanilla buttercream, it's a missed opportunity." Full Story: [Atlas Obscura]( (5/15) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] SmartBrief Podcast Network [] [Podcast: A roundup of the latest sustainability stories]( In the latest episode of the Sustainability SmartPod, SmartBrief editors discuss whether the estimated 33 tons of carbon whales capture during their lifetime should be monetized in the carbon offset market. The team also explores seaweed-based bioplastic, sustainability trends in fashion and the practice of overpackaging as a form of greenwashing. Full Story: [Sustainability SmartPod]( (5/9) [LinkedIn]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] SmartBreak: Question of the Day [] The New York Times reported on May 19, 1964, that a spy tip led to the discovery of microphones hidden in US Embassy walls in Moscow. How many mics were discovered then? Check your answer [here](. [Vote]( [10]( [Vote]( [40]( [Vote]( [200]( [Vote]( [More than 1,000]( [] About The Editor [] Candace Chellew Candace Chellew Candace Chellew [According to the research](, I am a rational eater, who focuses mostly on the taste and price of food. However, if you put [a red velvet cake]( in front of me, all rationality disappears. I'm taking a little vacation next week, but I'm leaving you in the capable hands of Diane Harrington who will be flying the Leadership plane in my absence. I'll see you after Memorial Day! 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. 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