This Christmas carol offers important leadership lessons

The best way to support your team in difficult times

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December 20, 2024

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Leading the Way

This Christmas carol offers important leadership lessons

(Pixabay)

The Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslas" highlights leadership principles such as being zealously focused on goals while remaining vigilantly protective of one's team, writes leadership coach Scott Cochrane. The story of Wenceslas, a 10th-century Bohemian leader, showcases his ability to balance mission focus with a servant's heart, emphasizing the importance of caring for the welfare of those you lead, Cochrane notes.

Full Story: Scott Cochrane (12/19)

Put it into practice: In the song, King Wenceslas encourages the page to walk behind him to stay warm, much like a leader provides support and guidance to help others navigate challenges, Cochrane writes. The page was not sure he could brave the cold, but Wenceslas models perseverance, showing the page he could rise above his fears and limitations.

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SmartBrief on Leadership

The best way to support your team in difficult times

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Trying to balance work while dealing with his father's recent death helped management consultant Marc Cugnon realize the importance of leaders showing empathy to their team and proactively offering support and redistributing tasks. "Nobody at your job can take away the personal angst and agitation, but they help alleviate some of the everyday sources of stress and pressure," writes Cugnon.

Full Story: SmartBrief/Leadership (12/19)

Put it into practice: Not every member of your team will feel comfortable sharing personal information, even if it's the death of a loved one, Cugnon writes, which is why it's critical to know your team and be attentive to their needs. "Allow your people to be open with you. Reward their honesty with empathy and a sense of safety."

Read more from Marc Cugnon on SmartBrief on Leadership

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Smarter Communication

How saying less can get more people to read your emails

As leaders, we send numerous messages and write many reports, but they often go unread because we may be sharing too much information, overusing jargon, committing grammatical errors or assuming others know what we're talking about, writes Chandra Clarke, the founder of Scribendi.com. "If you have the time, set the document aside for a while and then come back to it fresh. Make the delete key your best friend," Clarke writes.

Full Story: ThoughtLeaders (12/18)

Put it into practice: You don't need to include every member of your team in the back and forth when a project is under discussion, Clarke writes. "If you really feel that the thought processes or methodologies need to be captured for posterity, then make use of a wiki or project management board that outsiders (or management) can refer to if they really feel the need to find out how you arrived at your decision."

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Smarter Living

Get your mind and body right each Friday

How to stay healthy during the holiday season

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Ten registered dietitians share their top tips for maintaining health during the winter and holiday season. Lena Bakovic emphasizes the importance of immune-boosting nutrients such as vitamin C and zinc, found in foods like citrus fruits and legumes. Vitamin D intake is crucial during the darker months, says Amy Davis, with foods like salmon and eggs being beneficial. Other suggestions include incorporating anti-inflammatory foods and staying hydrated to support overall well-being.

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Daily Diversion

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Researchers have investigated the vocalizations of baby humpback whales, focusing on their interactions with mothers, according to a study in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. By attaching recording devices to calves near Sainte Marie Island in Madagascar, the researchers analyzed sounds associated with behaviors such as nursing and playing, finding low-frequency noises just before nursing that suggest the calves where asking to be fed.

Full Story: PhysOrg (12/18)

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About The Editor

Candace Chellew

Chellew (Photo credit: Lester Boykin)

The Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslas" holds many good lessons on leadership, as Scott Cochrane points out. However, that's not the only carol that we can glean new insights from.

"Do You Hear What I Hear" shows how effective communication works as the wind sends a message to the shepherd boy, who passes it to the king, who relays it to the people. This shows the value of teamwork for leaders who must bring clarity and inspiration to their team to move their collective vision forward.

"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" was written during the Civil War and moves from despair to a renewed faith in goodwill and peace. From this, leaders can learn how to find inspiration around them and remain resilient and hopeful during uncertain times.

"We Three Kings" speaks to the persistence and dedication leaders must have in pursuing their purpose, emulating the long journey the the Magi undertook to reach the manger.

Finally, "Silent Night" reminds leaders of the importance of taking time to reflect, rest and find peace even amid the chaos and noise of leadership.

Each of these carols embodies qualities essential for leadership — humility, compassion, vision, perseverance and the ability to inspire others. By reflecting on their messages, leaders can find ways to align their actions with timeless values that create lasting impact.

What Christmas carol can you think of that offers joyful and challenging leadership lessons?

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