Warren Buffett believes that the key to success lies in the ability to say "no" to most requests, thereby protecting one's time for high-priority tasks. Bill Gates supports this view, noting that a packed schedule is not a true indicator of productivity. Instead, both emphasize the value of free time for strategic thinking and making better decisions.

Being easily distracted from the task at hand may be your brain's way of asking for a break just to daydream, rest or process information, writes JiJi Lee, who recommends blocking out some time on your calendar to allow your mind to wander. If the distraction is not helpful, such as doomscrolling social media, stop yourself when you notice and make a list of 10 other useful actions you could be taking, Lee recommends.

Recognizing team members for a job well done on a weekly basis can create a sense of psychological safety, but psychologist Jordan Scott Birnbaum says leaders resist doing so because they may feel such frequency will only pump up an employee's ego. Recognition, though, isn't the same as a compliment, Birnbaum clarifies; it's a clear message that their work matters to the organization and their job is secure.

According to the Bank of America Institute, job hopping has slowed, with the rate of job-to-job changes decreasing from almost 4% during the Great Resignation to around 3%. The median pay raise for those changing jobs has also dropped from over 20% to approximately 10%. "This continued downward trend suggests the labor market is no longer as tight, and the balance of power between employer and employee has shifted back towards the hiring firm," according to the report.

US job seekers face a tougher market as the unemployment rate climbed to 4.1% in June, the highest in three years. The number of unemployed people rose to 6.8 million, driven by more people entering the workforce and the quit rate holding steady at 2.2%.

Walmart and McDonald's are among major employers collaborating with colleges to convert job training into college credit, aiming to bridge the gap between work experience and formal education. The programs enhance workforce skills and loyalty, reduce turnover, upskill in-house talent and allow employees to gain college degrees more affordably and quickly.

Corporate employees should invest in professional headshots to make an initial strong digital impression, writes personal branding consultant Goldie Chan. High-quality headshots convey professionalism, enhance personal branding and foster approachability, Chan writes, adding that they also make "you appear more approachable."

Did you know: Most major universities now have a free, self-service photo booth in their career center just for headshots that is available for students, staff and alumni. My daughter, Sophie, had this one taken at George Washington University while she was a master's student. -- Janet Connor Kahler, editor of Your Career

A support concept that involves grandmothers with basic mental health training sitting on easily accessible benches to help distressed people in Zimbabwe is gaining traction around the world, with founder Dixon Chibanda receiving $150,000 from the McNulty Foundation to expand it. The HelpAge USA organization in Washington, D.C., is incorporating the model into its DC Grandparents for Mental Health initiative, and 20 grandmothers have been trained so far. "They have an amazing ability to use what we call 'expressed empathy'… to make people feel respected and understood," said Chibanda.