Effective teams recognize the importance of inclusion

Leaders, like mountain climbers, must be aware of the risks they're taking and change the story in their own heads to reframe setbacks and challenges as opportunities to grow, writes Aytekin Tank, the founder and CEO of Jotform. "It's a subtle psychological shift that can transform your experience of your emotions -- similar to how actors overcome pre-performance jitters by viewing them as (positive) excitement rather than (negative) fear," Tank writes.

Put it into practice: It's often tempting to focus solely on your goal, but Tank recommends taking time to look back at how far you've come. "[I]t's essential to pause every so often and appreciate the progress you've made -- the skills, the experience and the accomplishments you've already achieved, even the mistakes you've made and what you've taken away from them."

A culture of safe, open and supportive communication is vital for teams to function well and for employees to feel valued, writes Advita Patel, founder of CommsRebel. Inclusive leaders and managers aren't afraid to get to know colleagues, and they understand how to handle unconscious bias, personalize interactions with team members, encourage the sharing of feedback, reflect on people's individual strengths and practice what they preach at all times, Patel writes.

Put it into practice: Don't overwhelm your team with messages that don't explain why the information is important or don't include a clear call to action, Patel writes. In addition, leaders need to be consistent in their messaging and make it safe for team members to ask questions.

Taking time each week to list out what's happening in your life in categories such as work, family, body and spirit, marking down small wins and brainstorming about the next right steps can help you reduce fatigue and uncover new possibilities, writes Kristin Hendrix. "Each Monday, I start with a fresh blank page and resist the temptation to look at prior weeks. I'm prioritizing what is important now, and if something didn't get done, I'll worry about it when it becomes pressing," Hendrix writes.

Taking breaks (including time to nap, exercise or meditate) may seem counterintuitive to productivity, but experts say stepping away from a task can improve concentration once you return. "In addition to these science-backed methods, it's essential to maintain a balanced diet, stay hydrated and manage stress levels, as these factors can also impact concentration," says psychiatrist Sasha Hamdani.

Watching kids jump rope can be engaging, but Mimi Youu, a performer based in Paris, takes the activity to a new level, synchronizing her moves to music while twirling the rope, releasing and catching it in midair and occasionally standing on it while she adds extra dance moves. If you're interested in learning her moves, she has a different Instagram dedicated to teaching her "Rope O'Clock" moves.

I have a couple of confessions to make: I can't skip rope and I really kind of like candy corn.

Please don't unsubscribe!

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. And don't forget to send me photos of your pets, your office and where you spend your time off.