6 ways leaders can eclipse their team's dark behaviors

A study by Gartner shows nearly half of managers are at risk of failure because they lack skills such as self-awareness, empathy and effective communication, which can result in underperforming teams, write Gartner researchers Swagatam Basu, Atrijit Das, Vitorio Bretas and Jonah Shepp. Companies should provide training to managers before putting them on the job and consider having them mentored by already successful managers, says Lia Bosch, the founder of the consulting firm Thrive People Strategies.

Put it into practice: Gartner found that companies can lessen the risk of manager failure by surveying the teams they're managing to address any concerns and investing in programs to help managers become more self-aware. "The organization needs to make management development and employee development a strategic priority because the future depends on the skills and the knowledge that these individuals need to have," says Bosch.

Leaders can eclipse misguided values or behaviors among their team by practicing deep listening, encouraging a growth mindset, leading with empathy and prioritizing growth over titles, writes Julie Winkle Giulioni. "When it comes to leadership, small movements can cast large shadows capable of eclipsing the most significant challenges we face in business today and illuminating a brighter workplace," Winkle Giulioni writes.

Put it into practice: Motivate employees by creating a culture of competence, connection and control that sparks an intrinsic motivation for them to do their best work, Winkle Giulioni advises. That, Winkle Giulioni notes, "allows employees to enjoy genuine fulfillment while unleashing a sustainable source of motivation that far surpasses what external rewards can accomplish."

Some people are hard to please and never seem grateful, which means you must adjust your approach by not seeking their validation and instead focusing on the joy you receive from giving, writes Steve Keating. If the ingratitude becomes overwhelming or toxic, calmly express how it makes you feel and be willing to set boundaries or walk away from the relationship if nothing changes, Keating advises.

Put it into practice: Keep a gratitude journal for the things and people you're thankful for to remind yourself of the kindnesses you do and those you have received, Keating suggests. "Just because someone else may not be grateful for the things you do, doesn't mean you can't be grateful for those things."

Adequate sleep makes people feel younger than their chronological age, while sleepy people can feel 10 years older, according to research on subjective age, an internal measurement of self-perception of age. "Safeguarding our sleep is crucial for maintaining a youthful feeling," says psychologist Leonie Balter, an author of the study in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

Despite having the world at our fingertips through Google Maps and GPS, old-fashioned globes of the Earth are still popular across socioeconomic classes, according to London globemaker Peter Bellerby, who sells his maps of the world to families, businesses and even moviemakers. Jan Mokre, vice president of the International Coronelli Society for the Study of Globes in Vienna, says nostalgia plays a role in globe purchases, along with "the hard-to-control desire to turn them."

Phyllis M. sent this beautiful shot of the sun setting at the Cooper River Bridge in Charleston, S.C.

Where have you been lately that's beautiful or off the beaten path? Share your photos with us!

John Bunyan, author of the classic "The Pilgrim's Progress," wrote: "You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you."

It may be wise to remember those words if you work with or for someone who has trouble expressing gratitude or even saying "thank you" for the slightest assistance. As a native Southerner, I learned to say "Please" and "Thank you" for even tiny kindnesses, but though we may expect it from others, Steve Keating's advice for the times when gratefulness is not forthcoming is sound.

These are the moments when we must find joy in the act of giving itself and not in the validation of our giving. I do like his advice to keep a gratitude journal to remind ourselves not just to be generous people but to remember the kindnesses of others toward us and say, "Thank you."

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