Leaders who cultivate wisdom will always be in demand

AI may take over some work from humans, but human wisdom, especially among leaders, will always be in demand, writes Chip Conley, the founder & CEO of MEA, who outlines six qualities of a wise leader, including the ability to spot patterns and glean insights from them along with being comfortable with paradox and differing opinions. "A wise leader creates the space for people to not always toe the company line, whether that means they're dissenting in a meeting or submitting a crazy new idea for the company," Conley writes.

Put it into practice: Wisdom also springs from staying open to new ideas and experiences so you can learn to "see life as a curriculum for becoming more conscious," Conley writes. "Wise leaders explore the art of long life learning, which teaches how to live a life that's as deep and meaningful as it is long."

The fastest-growing workplace segment is employees age 65 and older, writes Mila Semeshkina, founder and CEO of Lectera, and companies should strive to provide continuous learning for all employees to manage a multigenerational workforce effectively. "With the right culture and support, companies can make every employee feel heard and valued, leading to enhanced innovation, productivity and overall performance," Semeshkina writes.

Put it into practice: Methods to keep older workers engaged include mutual mentorships and flexible work arrangements. "Balancing guidance and autonomy helps optimize team performance amidst multigenerational teams and changing workplace dynamics," Semeshkina writes.

Small talk can have a big effect on your career, but don't worry if you get nervous before engaging in chitchat -- start by asking open-ended questions and showing interest in the other person while avoiding gossip or judgmental responses. Communications professor Matt Abrahams says small talk allows us to "connect and learn about ourselves and others and how to collaborate with people."

Put it into practice: Introverts and extroverts alike can benefit from small talk, though introverts may have more social anxiety. "Even introverts felt more connected to others and more energized," said Jessica Methot, an associate professor at Rutgers University, after participating in small talk.

Sleeping longer over the weekend may help reduce heart disease risk for people who have trouble getting the recommended amount of rest, researchers said at the European Society of Cardiology conference. Investigators noted that individuals who slept the most over the weekend were 19% less likely to develop heart disease, compared with those who had the lowest amount of sleep on weekend days.

Not all dogs will fetch an object, but about 78% will at least sometimes, as will about 41% of pet cats, according to a study in PLOS One. Highly active cat breeds and highly trainable dog breeds are the most likely to fetch, and study leader Mikel Delgado says selective breeding of dogs through the centuries may have favored those that retrieved, but cats were never bred to retrieve, so why cats would play fetch is more of a mystery.

Chris Creed, chief investment officer at the Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office, explains how the LPO deploys public funds and attracts private capital to provide loans and loan guarantees for energy, transportation and manufacturing projects that advance technologies and deliver jobs across America. Creed also shares his insider perspective on how the LPO's financial programs help established companies expand operations and help newer companies build what the LPO calls a "bridge to bankability."

Small talk has always been a big problem for me. I like deep, meaningful conversation, and sometimes, just talking about the weather and things of little consequence feels awkward and unrewarding. However, the experts in the Washington Post article make some interesting points about the value of small talk. It can help us connect to others in meaningful ways, even if the conversation isn't very deep. We all have to begin somewhere to make friends and business connections, right?

I  like the advice to ask questions of others and keep your body language open, which means not looking away a lot or scrolling on your phone while they talk. Inviting others nearby into the conversation can help, too, especially if you need to make your exit.

Finding areas where you can bond with others can make the whole experience worthwhile, says Nicholas Epley.

"Once you do that, you realize that people have things to tell you, you have things to learn from them, and they're interesting," he said.

If this newsletter helps you, please tell your colleagues, friends or anyone who can benefit. Forward them this email, or send this link.

What topics do you see in your daily work that I should know about? Do you have any feedback you'd like to share? Drop me a note. And while you're at it, please send me photos of your pets, your office and where you spend your time off so we can share them.