Reject mediocrity for a culture of excellence in 2025

When your company culture becomes complacent and rewards merely adequate work, innovation and engagement can suffer, writes author and business advisor John Rossman, who urges CEOs to create a culture of excellence by providing "clear, objective indicators of performance and opportunities for improvement." Raising the bar may result in some resistance, but Rossman writes that many teams "discover they are far happier in high-performing environments."

Put it into practice: Hold yourself and your team accountable for building an excellent culture by rejecting low expectations and aligning purpose, principles and people to create a unified and high-performing organization, Rossman writes. "Cultures that foster this sense of pride and shared values surrounding hard work and achievement turbocharge well-devised organizational strategies and wisely placed Big Bets."

Simon & Garfunkel's classic song, "The Sound of Silence," holds relevant leadership lessons, writes Shani Magosky, founder of The LeaderShift Project, who notes how the song's themes of communication and apathy mirror challenges such as leaders not walking the talk and tolerating -- or engaging in -- passive-aggressive behavior. "The most fruitful work you can do is to communicate early and often in ways that engender trust, mutual respect and commitment," Magosky writes.

Put it into practice: Silence in the workplace can lead to widespread unhappiness, dysfunction and even scandals, writes Magosky. Leaders must break this silence and model good communication to prevent these issues and foster a healthier work environment.

In a world overwhelmed by external noise, leaders must practice listening inward, writes Camille Preston, a business psychologist and the founder and CEO of AIM Leadership, who emphasizes that tuning to our inner selves is essential for maintaining personal clarity and authenticity. "When leaders listen inward, they lead with authenticity, presence, and purpose. They create space for others to do the same," Preston writes.

Put it into practice: The cost of disconnection from our inner selves is profound, affecting our decision-making and authenticity, Preston writes. Recognizing these costs is crucial to reclaiming balance and leading with purpose in both personal and professional spheres.

Common pitfalls of setting unhealthful New Year's resolutions include extreme dieting and unrealistic weight loss goals, which can lead to failure and negative health outcomes. Registered dietitian nutritionists Kelsey Kunik, Alissa Palladino and Brittany Scanniello emphasize the importance of setting realistic and sustainable goals, such as gradual dietary changes and manageable exercise routines. They recommend avoiding resolutions that involve giving up entire food groups, setting extreme weight loss targets or fixating on specific numbers on the scale.

A study has identified two phases during non-rapid eye movement sleep in mice that help distinguish between new and old memories, marked by pupil constriction and dilation. This research, detailed in Nature, could have significant implications for memory enhancement and AI development by providing a non-invasive way to monitor brain function.

We each have "a wealth of insight within ourselves," writes business psychologist Camille Preston, which is why leaders must do what she calls "listening inward." A practice of contemplation -- whether we do it through journaling, mindfulness, retreats or taking walks in nature -- can improve our focus, give us more clarity and lead to more visionary thinking as those insights arise.

When we take time to go inward, we become more self-aware, seeing our biases, motivations and triggers more clearly. This can help us create deeper relationships with others and improve our emotional intelligence.

Contemplation can give us the clarity, wisdom and inner strength needed to navigate complex challenges and inspire others. It's a timeless practice that fosters thoughtful, meaningful and sustainable leadership.

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