Talk about your company's past to move toward the future

Get buy-in for organizational changes by telling the story of the company and how this new chapter fits with the overall growth and positive trajectory of the business, writes Shane Snow, the CEO of SHOWRUNNER. "This has now become a habit for me just about any time I'm introducing something new to a team; I don't always recap the long version of the story, but I almost never jump into what's next without talking about what came before," Snow writes.

Put it into practice: If you approach change as a "get on board or get off the ship" ultimatum to your team, you may find many of your more valuable crew members will bail, Snow observes. However, using storytelling to show how you've all come through difficult changes before can motivate your team to stay on and chart the new course.

To lead bigger, Anne Chow, author of "Lead Bigger" and former CEO of AT&T Business, says leaders must look past their personal interests and think about the consequences of their actions on their people and their business. "The business does not drive people. And the quicker you realize that the quicker you realize that it is our job as leaders; leadership is all about people. You manage things, you lead people," Chow says in this interview with John Baldoni.

Put it into practice: Leading bigger means assembling a diverse team and welcoming their ideas, which Chow says can best be worked out in person, but there's still room for hybrid work. "I don't think there's a single person who would disagree that in-person is better for building deep connection, but it is not necessary to get every bit of every job done."

Drama classes for those of any age can teach the skills needed to succeed in the workplace, including teamwork, solving problems through improvisation, learning public speaking and developing critical and creative thinking, write Deakin University senior lecturer Jo Raphael and associate professor Joanne O'Mara. "Research shows drama develops empathy, social skills, well-being and confidence," they write.

Put it into practice: Even if you don't want to perform, going to see plays and talking with your friends, family and colleagues about the topics and issues they cover can help to hone your skills at making cogent arguments, write Raphael and O'Mara. "Knowing how to formulate your point and articulate it in a compelling way is a valuable workplace skill."

Publix CEO Kevin Murphy shares how he started his career at the grocer as a teenage bagger along with why the company places an emphasis on promoting from within and why it takes pride in being the largest employee stock ownership company in the US. "If you own something, you are willing to go above and beyond for it -- if you own for something, you are willing to work harder for it," Murphy said.

Veterinary ophthalmic surgeon Lauren Charnock led the team at the University of California, Davis that performed laser surgery to remove a tumor from the eye of an 11-year-old white Bengal tiger. The tiger, one of 68 seized from a private zoo in Oklahoma made famous by the "Tiger King" TV series, previously had a soft tissue sarcoma removed from his face.

I'm what's known as a "theater widow" because my spouse gets herself cast regularly in community theater plays. As you can imagine, plays take loads of rehearsal time. During her last play earlier this year, she missed both my birthday and our anniversary. The show must go on!

I took drama classes in high school and again in college. As Deakin University senior lecturer Jo Raphael and associate professor Joanne O'Mara point out, I learned a lot about things like teamwork, improvisation and critical thinking skills. What I fondly remember most about my college drama class was when we each had to memorize and deliver a monologue. I was definitely not a public speaker in my late teens and early 20s, but getting on stage and performing that monologue is where I got bitten by the public speaking bug. I loved it.

However, I wouldn't say I liked being in plays. What excited me was the art of speaking. I enjoyed putting together a talk, a presentation or a sermon that allowed me to share ideas and hopefully educate, engage and entertain my audience.

I don't think I would have had the courage to do that had it not been for that drama class.

It's never too late to take some acting or improv classes. Some community theaters offer them, and many colleges will allow you to audit courses. As Raphael and O'Mara note, you don't need to become the next Robert De Niro or Julia Roberts. You need the skills drama classes can teach you to become a better team member and perhaps advance your career on the stage called life.

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