3 ways interviewing others can improve your leadership

Leaders must master three areas of communication -- connection and engagement on a personal level, reaching stakeholders through various channels and focusing their message on their mission, writes David Schreiner, the president and CEO of Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital in Dixon, Ill. "Leaders, take note: As I have discovered, you don't have to be interesting; rather, you have to be interested. That's what executive involvement is -- it's relationship," Schreiner writes.

Put it into practice: Schreiner lays out 15 practices leaders can adopt and use immediately, such as asking great questions to spur positivity, expressing gratitude and making sure your team members feel included and informed. "Instead of barking orders or commands, we inform and use our soft skills, like supercharged communication, to pull people together into a cohesive team."

Wendy Cai-Lee, founder and CEO of Piermont Bank, came to the US with her family when she was 11 and found herself as their translator and problem-solver, which taught her how to overcome challenges and focus on things she can control, something she looks for in employees. "I think the reason there are few really effective leaders is because people are not very good at making hard decisions and having difficult conversations, including firing people," Cai-Lee says.

Workers at Google's Bay View office complex in Mountain View, Calif., could have trouble doing their own Google search since the Wi-Fi in the building is notoriously spotty and often inoperable, prompting bosses to tell their teams to go outside to connect or visit the adjoining cafe for better service. Employees say the building's curving and swooping rooftop could play a role in disrupting connectivity.

In response to yesterday's story about why shirt buttons are gendered -- with men's buttons on the right, and women's on the left -- Andrew W. pointed out another theory having to do with men in battle. Since the majority of us are right-handed, men would hold their swords in their right hand and their shields in their left. If they needed to unbutton their shirt, it would be more efficient to be able to use the left hand to do so.

There are other theories, of course. Women tend to cradle their children in their left arm, freeing up their right hand to cook, answer the phone or unbutton their shirt if they are breastfeeding.

Honestly, I still can't get over the irony of Google employees having to go outside or to a nearby cafe to get a Wi-Fi signal.

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