How our ape ancestors can help evolve your leadership

Working at a natural pace and doing fewer things with a focus on quality work can boost productivity, according to Cal Newport, a Georgetown University professor and author of "Slow Productivity." By taking time to produce quality work, Newport says you'll build a reputation of getting work done, even if it's not immediate, which means your boss's stress "is gone as soon as they hit send," Newport notes.

A hummingbird can hover over a flower and sip nectar without touching the flower because its brain creates a 3D map of its surroundings, according to a study in Current Biology. Clusters of neurons in specific regions of the forebrain are activated by an acute sense of touch in the bird's wings, face, bill and head and a sense of the air pressure on its wings and legs.

I had never heard the term "gray rocking" before running across it in the New York Times. I've employed this technique numerous times, especially around political conversations, but I never knew it had a name.

It is pretty effective, especially with those who thrive on argument and drama. If you're not giving out what they're looking for, they tend to move on to greener, more argumentative pastures.

The caveat against using it too much rings true, as well. Not fully engaging with others in a meaningful way can disconnect us from our feelings and authenticity, so this method is best used sparingly. As a leader, especially, you don't want to gray rock so much that you lose touch with your team or the reason you became a leader in the first place.

The VAR method mentioned in the article may serve leaders better over the long run. Validating another's feelings, asserting your need to take a break and reinforcing your willingness to engage in a less emotionally charged exchange can be just the technique needed to quell office disputes.

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