Year in Review: Top Posts of 2019

As 2019 comes to a close, it’s time to look back at the most read posts of the year! From management advice to emotional intelligence to rebuilding trust as a leader, the top posts in the past 12 months come from a wide range of topics. So before we close the books on 2019 and look forward to 2020, check out your top 10 most-read articles of the year!

Emotional Intelligence: The Key to Effective Leadership

“Business acumen, leadership experience, and managerial skills are crucial traits that help you rise in your organization and lead a team of professionals, but what differentiates a good leader from a great leader? Simply put, it’s the emotional competencies that make up a leader’s Emotional Intelligence that determine success and effectiveness. According to Oxford’s Dictionary of Psychology, ‘Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the ability to monitor one’s own and other people’s emotions, to discriminate between different emotions and label them appropriately, and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior.’”

5 Reasons—Other Than Pay—Star Employees Leave

“It’s a job seeker’s market and skilled workers have more options than they’ve had in more than a decade. The struggle to recruit workers with the right mix of skills and expertise needed to fill open positions is reaching a fever pitch, which means businesses must go to greater lengths to attract top talent, including luring workers away from the competition. So, even star employees who seem happily engaged in their current jobs may be tempted to test the waters with another company if the offer is right.”

Three Steps to Rebuild Trust after You’ve Lost It

“Obviously, the scandals that make the news are extreme examples of leadership misconduct and not typical of most businesses. In fact, according to recent research from Gallup, 75% of employees describe the morals of their CEO as “excellent” or “good.” But, even the most respected company leaders aren’t immune to making decisions—even when made with good intentions—that erode employee trust in their leadership. And, once it’s lost, trust is often difficult to rebuild.”

Blurred Lines: Potential Pitfalls of Hiring Friends and Family

“On paper, hiring friends and family to work for you often seems like a great idea. You already know each other’s personalities, work ethics, strengths, and weaknesses and are able to easily communicate with each other about important topics or issues that arise. However, in practice, that’s not always how it works out. Before you hire your college BFF or a younger sibling to come to work for you, it’s important to consider a few of the potential pitfalls of working with friends and family.”

New Leaders in a Toxic Office: Restoring Order and Employee Trust

“Sometimes, the most unexpected and overwhelming challenge new management faces is the uncertainty of entering a toxic office environment. Moreover, if the negative environment is caused by disengaged or disgruntled employees, it could have a costly effect on the high performers in your office. In cases like this, your star employees may have to pick up a larger workload, causing burnout and eventual turnover.”

Diversity vs. Inclusion and Why They Matter

“Current work philosophy dictates the best possible team is one chock-full of varying viewpoints, personalities, and skills. Differences in opinion and beliefs result in more stimulating brainstorming sessions and a higher degree of innovation overall. Many employers are starting to embrace ‘diverse’ workplaces with employees coming from a wide range of walks of life. But HR folks still say that this ‘diversity’ is not enough. There needs to be inclusion as well, but this can be a difficult concept for employees to understand.”

The Empathetic Leader: The Lasting Effects of Empathy on Culture and Retention

“Leadership styles vary from one person to the next, but one character trait that is steadily becoming essential in the modern workplace is empathy. It’s the age-old saying of putting oneself in others’ shoes to fully understand and experience their feelings. It’s the importance of taking into consideration how your actions or inaction affect those around you. And in organizations, it’s the key to building a strong culture and retaining employees.”

6 Questions to Ask Yourself When Confronted With Ethical Issues

“While not necessarily as outwardly heroic or newsworthy, we’re all faced with our own ethical issues every day. From the workplace to our personal lives, for most of us the right decision feels more or less automatic. However, there are times when ethical dilemmas are more abstract and the right course of action is less apparent. The next time you find yourself facing ethical issues of your own, arriving at the right answer may be as simple as asking yourself a few important questions.”

Top 3 Strengths—and Weaknesses—of Extrovert Employees

“Both personality types have their distinct advantages and disadvantages in the workplace, and as their leader, an important part of your role is helping them all work together. In a previous article, we highlighted some of the strengths and weaknesses of introvert employees. Now, it’s time to turn the tables and take a look at extroverted employees, beginning with a few of the major areas where they tend to struggle.”

10 Great Quotes About Responding to Criticism

“To achieve something great – something you truly believe in – you have to be prepared to address the naysayers. Constructive criticism should always be considered, but not dwelled upon. The next time you’re feeling the pressure of a heavy critique, keep these 10 quotes about criticism in mind.”

What were your favorite Refresh Leadership posts of 2019? What types of articles would you like to read in 2020? Let us know in the comments section below!

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