Leaders must practice self-compassion before they can build a culture that is radically transparent, writes former Aviall CEO Eric Strafel. He outlines three ways leaders can create such transparency, emphasizing that such communication is not one-way.

People guiding organizations can learn valuable lessons from a set of 13 rules for effective leaders written in 1989 by the late Gen. Colin Powell, former secretary of state and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Powell's advice touches on subjects such as vision, clear thinking, anger management and recognizing the work of others.

Leaders who are doing well right now are flexible, trusting of employees and "rethinking their values and about what it means to work at their company," says LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky. "[T]he sooner you adopt a flexible approach in your leadership style, the better you're going to be able to manage a company through the pandemic -- instead of trying to pinpoint a date when we're all going to be back together," he says.

The kind of deep-learning retreats CEO Banks Benitez took this year aren't possible for all leaders, but shorter educational opportunities -- especially those outside one's field -- are vital to career success, as they can broaden an outlook and offer fresh approaches, Cassie Werber writes. Such experiences "give us new models or metaphors through which to think about old problems; create a sense of spaciousness and hope in an otherwise packed existence; or simply give us new energy," Werber writes.

Preparing for a negotiation includes knowing which possible outcomes would be acceptable to you and when to walk away, writes John Spence. "Never sit at a table and negotiate with someone angry, as you will always lose that negotiation," Spence adds.

Leaders giving tough feedback should focus on "disappointment" as their emotion with employees rather than frustration or anger, writes Ed Batista. Saying you're disappointed will "convey vulnerability, in a regulated and measured form, making it more likely that employees will actually empathize with the leader and be motivated to work with them to resolve the problem without undermining faith in the leader's capabilities," he writes.

Good leaders delegate, but the trick is knowing how much detail to provide and when to trust your people to figure things out, writes Ken Downer, who offers three concrete steps. "As we put together our delegation plan, we should seek to do it in a way that develops skills, builds trust, reinforces team culture, follows the vision, and stays true to our cornerstone values," Downer writes.

Team members can develop a sense of internal accountability when they are clear on their responsibilities, feel supported in how they do their work and are rewarded for their results, writes consultant and trainer Kammy Haynes, who offers eight areas to target. Accountability is "all about taking ownership of the decisions and actions you take to achieve a stated goal or objective," Haynes writes.

Paid time off and flexible schedules were the top priorities for workers experiencing or threatened by burnout, but only 39% said their companies encouraged time off, according to an annual workplace report by Aflac. Meanwhile, mental health not only has a personal effect, but one-third of US workers report that such struggles also affect work outcomes.

A time-lapse video animation produced by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center shows a typical view from the Moon's south pole over three months, featuring a sun that barely peeks over the horizon and an Earth that is seen upside down and spinning in the opposite direction.

Volunteers play an important role in the mission and vision of APIC. Whether you are looking for a long-term opportunity or a short-term project, APIC invites you to become involved! Explore the volunteer opportunities and apply by Nov. 5. 

Given our workloads and the blurring of work and life, setting boundaries has never been more important. Join us for a free webinar to learn a simple process for identifying your boundaries. You'll leave ready to set boundaries and reduce pressures. Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. ET. Register. Thank you to our sponsor, APIC Greater New York (Chapter 13).