7 reasons to pay attention to your body language

Leading with kindness should not be mistaken for weakness or even being nice; instead, it is a way to invest in others so they can claim their agency, with the hope for a future return on their goodwill, writes James Rhee, the Johnson Chair of Entrepreneurship at Howard University, in this excerpt from his book "Red Helicopter -- A Parable For Our Times." "By calling on us to behave in ways that might, on the surface at least, run counter to our self-interest, kindness also requires courage -- and a leap of faith," Rhee writes.

Put it into practice: Rhee writes that he believes in leading with "kindness and math" because it brings value to stakeholders and society. "Along the way, you might also notice more joy, not just in yourself but in the energy of those around you."

Consciously using gestures when you speak can create a sense of trust in your audience, make you appear more credible and confident and help you be more succinct and organized with your thoughts, writes author and communications expert Frankie Kemp. "Not only do we formulate our thinking as we gesture, but movements help us express these thoughts," Kemp notes.

Put it into practice: If you're feeling stuck or need to make a decision, Kemp advises using gestures to explain and work through the problem. "Previous research with young children on problem solving has backed this up, in which those who used gestures in math lessons gained a deeper understanding of the problems they're taught."

Audiences will remember the first and last things you say in your speech or presentation, so choose something that will capture their attention, such as humor, a story, a quotation or a question, writes communication expert Gary Genard. To make a speech "sticky," the ending should "vividly re-focus listeners on your core message," Genard notes.

Put it into practice: Use what Genard calls a "Triple-T" of powerful conclusions, such as President Abraham Lincoln's triad, "of the people, by the people, for the people," wrap-up of his Gettysburg Address. Genard offers three examples of ending with a thesis-antithesis, triad or tribute.

Successful CEOs focus on people skills during their first time on the job, as 40% of new CEOs fail in the first 18 months, according to the Harvard Business Review. David Roche, author of "Become a Successful First-Time CEO," writes that new CEOs "are most often unprepared for the psychological and emotional intricacies and impacts associated with the role."

Some amphibians make sounds at frequencies higher than humans can hear, using the noises to frighten predators away or to alert other animals that might attack the predators, say researchers who report their findings in the journal Acta Ethologica. The scientists describe the use of ultrasound calls by the leaf litter frog, Haddadus binotatus, to deter bats, rodents and other possible predators, and the researchers plan further study of how the call affects the predators.

A study of futurists from TATA Consultancy Services shows that 90% are optimistic about forthcoming AI changes, and 72% envision significant contributions to employee well-being. What does this mean for job loss? Remote work? Get TATA futurist Bill Quinn's insights about work experience transformations -- from potentially shorter workweeks to who owns AI's work -- and participate in an audience Q&A during SmartBrief's April 18 "AI Redefining the Work Experience " webinar. Register now for the free event.

As someone who used to write sermons weekly, Gary Genard's advice on how to create a hook at the beginning of a talk and a memorable ending rings true. When you have 15 to 20 minutes to fill, and you have what you feel is essential information to share, getting the attention of your audience up front is vital, as is the call to action or the cherry on top at the end.

I don't know that I nailed it every week, but I knew when I did because people would tell me about the impact of my words on them afterward. The weeks I received little to no feedback, I'd go back and spot the weakness in my talk and find ways to fine-tune next week's message.

My favorite starters have always been jokes or stories, but I'm careful to bring the humor back around at the end or save one important detail of the story to add at the end to give the audience a surprise or a conclusion that will stick with them for the week.

If you're searching for ways to make your next presentation sticky, Genard's "Triple-T" method is a great place to start.

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