Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson identifies three types of failure: basic, complex and intelligent. Basic and complex failures should be minimized, but intelligent failure, which involves learning from mistakes in unfamiliar areas, is crucial for growth and innovation. Edmondson advises approaching tasks as experiments and setting clear goals to embrace intelligent failure. Full Story: Big Think (5/21)
Workplace incivility, defined as consistent rudeness and impoliteness, is a cultural issue that thrives when accountability is lacking, writes Sharlyn Lauby. Organizations should enforce conduct policies, provide communication training and ensure psychological safety to address this issue. Full Story: HR Bartender (5/22)
Colorado Mountain College, the Buena Vista School District and The Powerhouse museum in Durango, Colo., plan to create a total of 330 child care seats over the next two years with funding from state grants, addressing child care shortages in rural areas. The grants, part of a program funded by federal COVID-19 stimulus money, support employer-based child care to reduce staff turnover and improve morale. Full Story: Chalkbeat/Colorado (5/21)
If you spend too much time "in the trenches" with our team, or with your head in the clouds as a visionary, it's a good bet your team sees you as a poor leader, which is why Suzy Welch, a professor at NYU Stern School of Business, recommends becoming a "lanager" who can balance leadership and management skills. "Lanagers" must be able to move between practical execution and big-picture thinking and have the conviction needed to make tough decisions, says Welch. Full Story: Big Think (5/20)
A recent study revealed a 50% decline in the use of semicolons over the last two decades; continuing a long-term trend of disdain for a punctuation mark some view as elitist. Despite criticism from figures like Kurt Vonnegut, many authors and scholars argue for the semicolon's preservation, citing its utility in creating complex sentences. Full Story: The Conversation (5/21)
Editor's Note
SmartBrief closed Monday, May 26 SmartBrief will be closed on Monday, May 26 in recognition of Memorial Day.
About the Editor
Reflections
(Kanoe Namahoe)
Welcome to Friday Faves! Every Friday, I spotlight books, podcasts, articles, email newsletters, documentaries or other content pieces that I enjoy. I also share suggestions that I get from you. Got a favorite for your peers? Send it to me. I may include it here for a future column. My Friday Fave this week comes from Wednesday’s issue, the SmartQuote from Uncle Israel Kamakawiwo'ole: “Be strong, know who you are, no be shame, stand up, e ala e.” I love this! We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Flawed, yet valuable. Gifted, with unique talents and purpose. Stand in that, Uncle Israel says with this quote. Own who you are -- own who God made you to be. Don’t be ashamed; there’s strength in that. Arise, awaken -- e ala e. Enjoy the long weekend folks. Get out into the beautiful weather and live! Do you enjoy this brief? Share it with others. Want different stories? Something about it bug you? Tell me. In the words of Frasier Crane, “I’m listening.”
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