Why leaders should embrace multiple passions

Leaders can "mistake-proof" their thinking by being aware of cognitive biases that lead them to limit their perspective to what's best for them, jump to conclusions or ignore how random events can influence outcomes, writes Susan Krauss Whitbourne, a professor emerita at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. To minimize the chances for mistakes, Krauss Whitbourne recommends "pre-mortems" that play out the future results of a decision and slow down to gather more information before committing to an option.

Put it into practice: Use the "Delphi method" to work with others to systematically work through several solutions to a problem, Krauss Whitbourne writes. That group should include diverse opinions, including people who's point of view is different from yours.

Leaders can benefit from having multiple "whys" or motivations to leverage different passions and drive innovation to have a broader impact, writes David Zimmerman. "Leaders who recognize and cultivate their own multipotentiality and that of their teams are better positioned to navigate uncertainty and achieve more meaningful, sustained success," Zimmerman notes.

Put it into practice: Allowing yourself to pursue multiple passions creates space to explore your interests, and Zimmerman writes that you should encourage your direct reports to do the same. "This could lead to a more dynamic, motivated and innovative team."

Getting into the habit of making excuses for your behavior instead of taking responsibility for shortcomings and making a plan to improve yourself can undermine your leadership and professional growth, writes Steve Keating. Eliminate excuses by adopting a "problem-solving" mindset that sees opportunities for growth amid challenges, embracing discomfort and holding yourself accountable when you slip back into excuses, Keating advises.

Put it into practice: Pay attention to the moments when you're making excuses instead of taking responsibility and change your self-talk from "I can't" to "I will find a way to overcome this," Keating advises. "Instead of blaming external factors or people, acknowledge that you're in control of your actions."

Dale Whelehan, the CEO of 4 Day Week Global, advocates for a four-day workweek to combat job burnout, improve work-life balance and address recruitment and retention challenges. The trend is seeing increased adoption in regions such as Australia, Europe and Japan, but is less common in the US, where a 2022 survey by Gallup found only 8% of full-time employees worked four days a week.

Food and drink flights have returned in iterations like pancakes at Denver's Snooze A.M. Eatery, queso at Goat Bar and Grill in New Hampshire and lattes at Craft Coffee House in Pendleton, N.Y. Social media is driving interest in the sets of small-scale beverages and bites with the TikTok-famous hard-boiled eggs of creator Alice Choi.

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