Joining the management ranks can bring unexpected, undesired surprises and the realization that you may not want the job after all, consultant Julie Winkle Giulioni writes. Whether you're seeking a management position or guiding colleagues who may want to advance, the answers to three key questions will provide better insight.

Business leaders will need to adopt a human-centered approach and focus on emotional intelligence as artificial intelligence plays an increasing role in the workplace, writes Constantine Alexandrakis, CEO of Russell Reynolds Associates. "For leaders today, there are only two options: embrace AI or fall behind," Alexandrakis writes.

Imposter syndrome is common among even high-achievers, but it's possible to implement changes that help you feel more confident and project that confidence to others, writes career coach Rachel Wells. Keeping a log of your achievements, trusting your gut on your decisions, ensuring that your conclusions are backed up by data and expressing confidence in your verbal and nonverbal cues are among six strategies to help improve your self-esteem in your career, Wells writes.

Legendary basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski says it's not enough to deliver a message, you need to ensure the message is heard and understood in the way it was intended. This podcast is full of tips from Coach K about how to communicate with teams or other groups of people -- and individuals within those teams and groups. Coach K also reveals the two questions he always asked his team in order to understand them better.

The growing rate of employee retention may be a positive trend, but HR should survey and meet with employees to understand why they're staying, says Amy Marcum, manager of HR services at Insperity. "This will help determine if employees are satisfied and engaged in their positions, or if they are staying because they feel they do not have viable options in today's economy," Marcum says.

Nearly a quarter of employers use "quiet cutting" -- reassigning employees in the hope that they'll quit -- to cut the cost of termination and ease reorganization and employee turnover, according to a Zetwerk survey, but the practice damages employee loyalty and trust. "When termination is necessary, being honest and straightforward with employees can mitigate negative impacts on morale and company reputation," says Madeline Weirman, creative strategist for Zetwerk.

As 77% of Americans say they experience stress from work, according to the American Psychological Association's 2023 Work in America Survey, taking time off from work for mental health reasons has never been more critical. Employees can combat vacation shaming by letting coworkers know the benefits of taking time off, including better productivity and overall effectiveness once back to work.

Remember when buying something meant it was ... you know ... yours to do with whatever you please. Tesla has inserted a section in its Motor Vehicle Order Terms that tells buyers of its Cybertruck they will be charged for reselling it within a year of purchase, unless they have a valid reason for doing so. I wonder if "I didn't realize how ugly the truck was until after I bought it" is considered a valid reason.

Mike Wietecki, SVP of strategy and regulatory affairs at Powin, says the Inflation Reduction Act is supercharging the expansion of a battery energy storage sector that was already well-positioned for growth before the bill was enacted. Wietecki says investment tax credits related to labor, location and domestic content are having a big impact on manufacturing. Wietecki explains how batteries are enhancing grid resiliency in places like Texas, California and Sydney Australia, and how Powin is working with companies like IKEA to create a blueprint for the expansion of battery energy storage in the corporate market.