Looking for new leadership ideas? Talk to some kids

In his fourth-grade Virginia classroom, teacher John Hunter created the World Peace Game, asking students to solve real-world problems that showcase how questioning can lead to effective decision-making and collaboration, a practice beneficial for leaders at all levels, writes Larry Robertson, the founder of Lighthouse Consulting. Three questions served as inflection points for the game that Robertson says any leader can use: "Can we pay for it?" "Can we deal with the consequences?" "Does it make sense?"

Put it into practice: Getting into the habit of asking questions (no matter the age or experience of those you're quizzing) and listening carefully to their answers is a mark of a good leader, Robertson writes. "World peace may not be what you're after day to day, but whatever it is, the habit of questions is still the key."

If you're afraid to speak up for yourself at work, there could be some internal beliefs about your worthiness and competence holding you back, executive coach Joel Garfinkle writes. Some common fears include being judged or feeling unimportant, and Garfinkle offers strategies such as valuing your perspective, being assertive and contributing to workplace discussions.

Put it into practice: If you find yourself being constantly interrupted when you're speaking in meetings or other workplace situations, Garfinkle advises you to say, "Let me just finish that thought," to show that your voice is essential. "It's crucial to speak up for yourself at work to make sure you're getting the air time you deserve."

Conducting stay interviews can significantly impact employee retention by providing a platform for candid discussions about job satisfaction and career goals, writes David Grossman, the founder and CEO of The Grossman Group. The one-on-one interviews should be part of regular communication practices to strengthen workplace culture, writes Grossman, who cautions against linking them to performance reviews to avoid stifling open conversation.

Put it into practice: Conduct stay interviews at least twice each year, Grossman advises, and compile data to spot any emerging trends you may need to address. Also, Grossman recommends following up with employees to let them know how their input or concerns are being addressed.

As a leader, "It's not just about having a navy; it's about the Navy SEALs," says Dave Stephenson, Airbnb's chief business officer. Leading then becomes about collaboratively directing those elite people so that "you don't need to be in every single element of the details, but you should be alongside them."

The Heliconius butterfly's ability to remember and plan routes between food sources has been linked to its unique brain structure, according to a study in Current Biology. The research highlights how the butterfly's brain structure, which exhibits a mosaic pattern of neural growth, supports its ability to plan and remember routes between floral resources, similar to following a bus route.

I remember watching a video about John Hunter's World Peace Game and how his students, working together, solved what at first seemed to be an intractable global crisis. They did it by realizing that personal goals to win the game had to be put aside for the good of everyone.

As Todd Wass at The Mount Vernon School said when his eighth-grade  students played the game: "The only way to win was to come together and  work on the interconnected problems in a collaborative way."

Whether it's world peace or a challenge facing your business, "winning" is only possible as a collaborative venture. We often see dynamic leaders looking as though they are succeeding all by themselves. What we often don't see is the solid infrastructure they've built below them. They may be the public face of their company, but in reality, they only succeed because of the collaboration of their teams.

You may not be working to bring about world peace, but if you're not relying on the strengths (and even the weaknesses) of your team for your business to succeed, then you'll only be creating discord among your staff. It's collaboration that ultimately brings us all success.

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