Some of the inner narratives you tell yourself about your work may be harmful or destructive, so it's important to take a moment to analyze whether they are really true, writes consultant and coach Darrah Brustein. Slow down, and recognize that some of these distracting thoughts "conflict with one another and/or with what's actually transpiring," Brustein writes.

Employees are more engaged and innovative when they feel psychologically safe to express themselves in meetings and they know that failure will be treated as a learning experience and not punished, write Karolin Helbig and Minette Norman. Leaders can ensure this safety by listening deeply and creating ground rules and opportunities to speak up and collaborate in meetings, they write.

When direct reports ask for help, managers must walk a fine line between providing too much and too little support. Instead of laying out exactly what they should do, guide employees to create their own action plans by asking a series of 10 insightful questions.

Working in HR is now a popular choice for young executives thanks to the department's increasingly important role and its higher profile during the coronavirus pandemic. "I think many people who get into HR have that passion for being able to help people [grow professionally] and also wanting to help organizations be successful," says Amber Clayton from the Society for Human Resource Management's knowledge center.

The coronavirus pandemic's indelible effects on the way we work prompted some experts to suggest a 4-day workweek could help reduce employee stress and foster retention. The results of a study led by the researchers at the University of Cambridge adds credence to that the theory. The numbers are pretty convincing: 

• 71% of employees self-reported lower levels of burnout
• 65% reduction in sick days
• 57% fall in the number of staff leaving
• Revenue increased by 1.4% on average for the 23 organizations that could provide data.

The timing of a resumption in federal student loan payments could depend on when the Supreme Court issues a decision on the Biden administration's debt forgiveness plan. Here is a closer look at the potential time frame and what borrowers should expect.

"An uncoachable sales team is easy to spot -- they lack direction, motivation and cohesion," while coachable teams are invested in the team's success as well as their own, Erin Rodrigue of HubSpot writes. Interview questions and role-playing ideas can help managers hire coachable team members, while four tips can aid existing staff who need a nudge.

Beethoven deafness has historically led some music scholars to suggest that metronome markings on his symphonies, particularly his ninth, should be ignored. However, if one is to take them at face value, Beethoven's 9th could be performed much faster than we're typically accustomed to. Those in attendance at the Boston Philharmonic on Friday will get to hear the difference firsthand. It's not only an artistic difference; you can also argue it's a different retelling of musical history. Some fear that getting through the symphony in an hour, while technically accurate, may drain the piece of its intended feeling.

The final tally is here.