How leaders can LEAD the way out of racism

No matter what style of talkaholic you are -- over-explainer, know-it-all, enthusiastic gusher or others -- remember that most people have about an eight-second attention span and are likely tuning you and your overabundance of words out, communication coach John Millen writes. Millen offers tips for taming the talkaholic in you and recommends a swap of 80% talking for 80% listening to "see if you get different reactions and results."

Put it into practice: To trim your talkative nature, be self-reflective and ask people you trust for feedback, Millen writes. Focus on a central message and come prepared -- and practice -- to avoid rambling. And remember that less is more, as illustrated by President Abraham Lincoln's clear and eloquent two-minute, 272-word Gettysburg Address.

Expand the applicant pool. It's disappointing that almost 40% of you report that promotion opportunities aren't easy to find until it's too late.

While you may have a favorite candidate, not publicizing positions can have severely negative effects. First, you might miss out on a better candidate you didn't know was in the organization. Second, it might lead your people to feel like the game is "fixed" and there's no way they can advance because they don't even have visibility into promotion opportunities. That may lead them to leave the organization since they know they won't get a fair shot at advancement.

Finally, it could prevent you from identifying the next generation of talent. People who apply might not be right for that role but they could fill future ones and should be n your radar when new openings arise.

Bottom line: publicize the promotion opportunities and give everyone an equal shot at advancement.

-- 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."

Retail Alliance CEO Jenny Crittenden spent four years on the organization's board before taking the top job, giving her an insider's insight, and she advises others to surround themselves with good people, even if they don't have credentials, such as a college degree (which she admits she doesn't have). "[W]e have to be careful not to overlook some people in the workforce who have extremely strong skill sets, a burning desire in their belly to always do more and achieve, and who have the aptitude and the skill set to actually make things truly happen," Crittenden says.

An underwater view of a newt dining on freshly laid frog eggs has captured the grand prize in the Nature Conservancy's 2023 photo contest for Hungarian photographer Tibor Litauszki. Other honored images include three wolves frolicking in India, a cactus in Argentina reaching up into the starry sky and the skin of a Corn Snakelet illuminated with ultraviolet light.

Spend enough time around people, and you're likely to encounter a chatterbox who prattles on and on about anything and everything. I know several who can't help themselves. They buttonhole you even though you're obviously busy or headed out the door. No amount of body language that shows you moving away or "That's great, but I gotta go" interjections seem to get their attention.

Or, maybe you're the chatterbox, and you don't know it.

How do you deal with a non-stop talker? If you're a recovering chatterbox, how did you tame your tongue? Tell me about it (briefly!).

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