You may feel like a hero, but you may be someone's villain

When you're frustrated by a team member, avoid the temptation to paint them as a villain by realizing that we're all the hero in our own life story acting in ways we think are beneficial, writes executive coach Ed Batista, which can give us the perspective we need to form collegial relationships, even with rivals. "We can protect our interests and work toward our goals in a competitive environment while viewing other parties realistically and dispassionately," Batista writes.

Put it into practice: When we start to tell a story to ourselves about how the other person may be a villain, Batista recommends slowing down and realizing we may not have all the information we need to make that decision. Some people, though, may prove to be untrustworthy, Batista writes, "and we'll need to respond appropriately."

Empowering employees can give them a sense of ownership and boost long-term retention, writes Naphtali Hoff, a psychologist and executive coach, as well as raising productivity. "When employees feel empowered, they are more inclined to mentor others, share knowledge and contribute to an overall atmosphere of teamwork and collaboration," Hoff writes.

Put it into practice: The best way to make employees feel empowered is to give them authority and resources, while avoiding the dreaded specter of micromanagement. "Trust is key -- leaders must trust employees to manage responsibilities and solve problems independently," Hoff writes.

Research challenges the conventional wisdom that working-from-home prevents coworkers from getting to know each other, with video interactions as a top source of information, write researchers Beth Schinoff, Ashley Hardin, Kris Byron and Rachel Balven. They suggest simple steps such as unblurring video backgrounds or using prompts to spur conversation about non-work topics for employees to feel closer to each other.

Put it into practice: Allowing coworkers to glimpse personal interests through video interactions can provide incentives for cooperation. "For example, an employee who rock climbs might just leave their rock-climbing gear hanging behind them, rather than scurrying to put it away and tidy the camera view," the researchers write.

Your productivity -- and that of your team -- can take a dip during the holiday season, but Chris Laudadio, the founder of VersaDesk, writes that adding movement and creating spaces that balance individual work and teamwork can improve comfort and sustain focus and energy. "Our physical environment plays a crucial role in productivity, so improving work conditions for more efficiency and comfort can help your team approach their tasks," Laudadio notes.

The instinct to shake off when wet is common among many furry mammal species and is sparked by specific neurons that respond to touch and send signals from the back of the neck to the brain, according to a study in Science. The neurons, called C-fiber low-threshold mechanoreceptors, encircle hair follicles and are associated with pleasant sensations in response to a soft touch but also alert animals to water, dirt, a parasite or a drop of oil on their skin.

We humans are fantastic storytellers. We make stories up all the time, and often those stories are about how awful other human beings are. I am guilty of this. I encounter plenty of villains throughout the day -- the person who cut me off in traffic, the rude cashier, the friend who doesn't answer my text quickly enough or the unhelpful customer service rep.

In my story, they're the villains, and I am the poor, put-upon hero. But, in their stories, perhaps I am the villain. I am the poor driver, the exasperating customer, the overbearing friend or the customer with unrealistic expectations. There are two sides to every story, it's been said, and we only concoct the one we like.

As Ed Batista cautions, we must remember everyone is the hero of their own story. No one gets out of bed planning to be the villain. We all want to think that we're good people with good intentions.

That being said, as Batista notes, there are people out to manipulate and us and will prove to be untrustworthy, but they are still the heroes of their world. When someone shows us who they are, it's best to believe them, as Maya Angelou observed. We must act appropriately and shield ourselves from the harmful acts of others -- intentional or not.

But, if we paint everyone who offends us as villains without seeking to understand their behavior, we cut ourselves off from potentially fruitful relationships. Caution is needed, but taking a beat and realizing that we may be basing our judgments on shoddy evidence can help us weed out the good from the bad, and could lead to some heroes being able to team up to do good in the world.

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.