... continued from Cover your business. What do you want to accomplish? Where is the company headed? These details will help empower your staff to make better decisions. Play to your team’s strengths. No one is good at everything. For example, some people struggle with numbers but connect easily with people. Know where each team member excels and
where they tend to fall short, and delegate tasks appropriately. Not taking each person’s unique set of skills into account sets them up to fail — and it sets you up to shut down and start micromanaging again. Provide constructive feedback. No one is going to complete every task perfectly the first time around. Learning new jobs and skills takes time. Give your workers some grace while they’re still getting the hang of things, and let them know what they’re doing well and where they need to improve. It’s the only way the situation will get better. But just as crucially, be open to feedback yourself. The people you delegate tasks to may have suggestions to make the process better or more efficient. That’s not a mark against you — it’s a win for the entire company. Once you give up a little bit of control to your team, you might be surprised to find they’re happier, too. Most people want to be trusted, recognized for their skills, and make a substantial contribution. (And everyone hates being micromanaged.) Empowered employees are usually better employees. It’s up to us as business leaders to create an environment where they can thrive.
In Recognition of J.R.R. Tolkien Day Explore the World of Middle-Earth
On Jan. 3, we recognize J.R.R. Tolkien Day in honor of one of the most prolific storytellers and world builders of the past century. Tolkien is responsible for creating the world of Middle-earth, which most people are familiar with thanks to “The Lord of the Rings” books and movies. The talented author has inspired many individuals with his work, including “Game of Thrones” author George R.R. Martin and even Led Zeppelin. If you’re a fan of “The Lord of the Rings” or anything hobbit- related, you might want to take advantage of J.R.R. Tolkien Day. Here are a few ways to get your Middle-earth fix in early January. Read Tolkien’s books. The books are where Middle-earth first came to life. With “The Hobbit,” “The Lord of the Rings,” and “The Silmarillion,” there’s no shortage of Middle-earth stories to consume. These books are written elegantly and contain much more detail than Peter Jackson’s film adaptations. These books are lengthy, especially if you’re planning to read the entire “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, so make sure you have ample time to read. Watch shows and films inspired by Tolkien’s work. Peter Jackson’s collection of “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” movies are fantastic adaptations of Tolkien’s original work and are always worth a rewatch when J.R.R. Tolkien Day
rolls around. You can also watch Amazon Prime’s new “The Rings of Power” show that dives deeper into the lore of Tolkien’s expansive world. If you’re looking to learn more about the man himself, try watching the 2019 British-American biographical drama film, “Tolkien.” Play video games that take place in Middle-earth. If you’re into video games and Tolkien’s work, you’re in luck! “Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor” and “Middle-earth: Shadow of War” are both well-received games that are highly beloved by fans of Tolkien’s work and gamers who enjoy stealthy action games. Over the past few years, a game that allows you to play as Gollum called “The Lord of the Rings: Gollum” has been in development and will surely bring joy to fans everywhere when it is released.
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