Want to become a better leader? Take a walk

Inviting a direct report or colleague on a walk outside, especially if the conversation may be difficult, can give leaders a chance to enhance communication and feelings of goodwill, write Laurence Stybel and Maryanne Peabody, the co-founders of Stybel Peabody Associates, Inc. They also recommend taking walks to inspire "whoa" moments of awe that can boost creativity and provide new perspectives, which can improve problem-solving skills.

Put it into practice: Taking a walk to search for "whoa" moments of awe intentionally can help reduce stress and anxiety and can result in noticing beauty and other inspiring things around you, Stybel and Peabody write. "The more you open yourself up to 'whoa' moments, the more creative the perspective you bring to yourself and your team."

Human resources executives face mounting pressures from both management and employees, often leading to high turnover and stress, and to combat that Michael Lee Stallard and Katharine P. Stallard recommend cultivating a culture of connection within HR teams and across organizations. Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella serves as a model for this approach, they write, having successfully enhanced Microsoft's workplace culture and financial performance through connection-focused leadership.

Put it into practice: When leaders see their workers as human beings and not tools to use to enhance shareholder value, they will create a connected and engaged workforce, write the Stallards. "The reality is that human beings have needs in the workplace for respect, recognition, belonging, autonomy, personal growth, meaning and progress."

Leadership is deeply rooted in relationships, which are shaped by countless daily micro-interactions -- such as tone of voice, timing or body language -- that can significantly influence the quality and effectiveness of those relationships, writes executive coach Sarah Langslow. "The work for you to do is, as far as possible, to eliminate or transform those micro-interactions which are at best frustrating to others and, at worst, cause harm, even when unintended," Langslow advises.

Put it into practice: Langslow gives an example of an unpredictable CEO she once worked for whose mood swings and micro-interactions eroded staff trust. "As a leader, as someone who people look to for guidance, it's even more important to consider exactly what messages your micro-interactions are sending."

Leaders need guidance on how to prioritize their initiatives during an ever-changing business climate, says Olesea Azevedo, chief administrative officer at AdventHealth. "An HR leader's role includes assisting the organization in identifying the most impactful objectives and helping employees internalize this understanding, fostering enduring outcomes and meaningful achievements," says Azevedo, who adds leaders should build trusting relationships, be passionate about continuous learning and listen to others carefully before offering insight.

Dogs can understand human speech better when we speak slowly, and many people instinctively adjust their speech patterns when speaking to dogs, according to a study in PLOS Biology. Humans speak at a rate of about four syllables per second, dogs vocalize at a rate of about two utterances per second, and people typically slow their speech to about three syllables per second when they talk to dogs.

With Climate Week in full swing, Battery Council International President and Executive Director Roger Miksad explains how batteries of various chemistries are advancing to power things like data centers, EVs, microgrids and more. Miksad also provides an update on the circular economy for batteries and highlights how policies like the Inflation Reduction Act and the proposed USA Batteries Act are shaping the future of the battery industry.

Two of the universities I have worked for were located in beautiful downtown areas, so I would take regular walks around campus and the connected business areas every afternoon (weather permitting). I didn't know it then, but I was taking those "whoa" walks that Laurence Stybel and Maryanne Peabody recommend for leaders.

Every day, I would see something that awed me, whether it was the beauty of the green spaces on campus, the architecture of the old buildings or watching students scurrying between classes or taking a nap on the lawn. There was always something to notice and appreciate. I would return from my walks refreshed and ready to get back into my work, feeling more creative and calm.

Their advice to take challenging conversations on a walk is rooted in research that found that when we walk "shoulder to shoulder" with another person while talking, we experience more profound feelings of goodwill and collaboration. When we walk, we're not gazing at each other's faces, so we're more intent on listening to the other person than we are trying to read their expression, which may account for the different feelings we experience.

I invite you to take a walk sometime today if you can. Whether you're out walking to discover those moments of awe or to chat with a co-worker or direct report, you'll come back in a better state of mind.

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