Actively maintain joy as a crucial source of strength, recognizing that losing joy signifies a loss in the face of adversity.
Approach difficult or sorrowful situations with a sense of joy to preserve your mental and emotional resources, enabling more effective engagement.
When receiving criticism or engaging in conflict, non-judgmentally summarize the other person’s points in your own words before responding. This can de-escalate tension and improve communication.
Develop active listening skills by truly hearing what others say and reacting in real-time, rather than just waiting for your turn to speak. This is especially useful in collaborative or improvisational settings.
As a leader, empower your team by delegating tasks and trusting them to perform their jobs without micromanagement. Reduce unnecessary meetings to allow focus on core responsibilities.
Encourage ‘big swings’ and new ideas within your team, creating an environment where individuals are not blamed for trying and failing. This promotes innovation and creativity.
After a performance or event, resist the urge to conduct immediate debriefs. Instead, allow time to pass to gain perspective and determine if issues are still relevant or if it’s better to move on.
After experiencing a setback or failure, quickly shift your focus to the next task or opportunity. Avoid dwelling on past mistakes.
Be a good friend to others, as this approach is likely to result in a network of supportive, good friends. This also contributes to a positive self-perception.
Actively develop and diversify your professional skills and projects to build career longevity and maintain control over your future. This is especially important in roles that are not permanent.
View mild stage fright or ‘butterflies’ before an important task or performance as a positive sign that you care deeply about the outcome. This indicates you are ready to engage.
Compartmentalize your news and digital consumption to specific times or work hours. Intentionally focus on personal and family life when outside of work.
As a leader, be highly aware that your actions and demeanor directly influence the culture and behavior of your entire organization. It is crucial to model decency and respect.
Bring a sense of humor to your own foibles, frailties, and imperfections. This fosters self-compassion and a healthier internal atmosphere.
Recognize that sarcasm and ‘withering put-downs’ are ineffective and counterproductive communication tools when trying to guide or motivate children.
When creating content that draws from your family life, especially involving children, make yourself the subject of the humor. This acknowledges your own shortcomings and protects your children’s privacy and feelings.
Guide children to understand the balance between being fearless and being careful. Teach them what to be genuinely afraid of while also developing appropriate risk aversion.
Gain sufficient ‘reps’ or experience in your field to build confidence. This helps to mitigate performance anxiety by knowing that, more often than not, things will work out well.
Adjust your interviewing approach to suit the specific needs and style of each guest. Avoid trying to force them to conform to your preferred interview format.
Conduct extensive research before interviews to avoid asking questions that the interviewee has already answered many times. Aim for fresh and engaging topics.
Learn to differentiate between constructive criticism, which offers valuable insights for improvement, and bad-faith criticism. Quickly identify and ignore the latter.
View ‘all over the place’ or challenging interactions as opportunities to ‘juggle more balls.’ This makes the experience more dynamic and engaging.
Understand that expressing anger or losing your temper, especially with children, is often ineffective. It can make you appear foolish and does not achieve desired outcomes.
Incorporate meditation into your routine, even if inconsistently. Any amount of practice is considered beneficial for mental well-being.
To combat the withering of adult friendships, initiate structured activities, such as starting a podcast or a regular gathering. This ensures consistent interaction with friends.
Recognize that some individuals, particularly politicians, may come to conversations with pre-scripted answers. Adjust your approach to avoid predictable and unengaging interactions.