Leaders who exhibit mental strength are willing to admit when they don't have all the answers and can acknowledge their weaknesses, writes Amy Morin. Such leaders also constantly look for ways to improve and don't try to bully others into compliance, Morin writes.

Effective communication at work begins with sincere body language, including consistent eye contact. Make sure to be a good listener and pick the right time to address serious topics or major changes, writes Hallie Crawford.

Even if you aren't sure about your networking goals, it's important to get out there and meet other professionals in your industry, writes Emmanuel Nataf. Try to make networking a habit in which you focus on making connections, not finding ways to ask others for favors.

The Federal Reserve's Beige Book shows modest to moderate economic growth, with consumer spending, aside from auto purchases, still weak. Wages reflect a tightening job market as low-skilled positions remain unfilled and demand for skilled labor grows.

Embrace the missteps that can occur as your career develops, but don't feel that job-hopping is a requirement in order to try new things, advises Flywheel Sports CEO Sarah Robb O'Hagan. Volunteer for projects that you can use to expand your current role, she suggests.

Mastercard is partnering with Subway, The Cheesecake Factory and Fresh Direct to offer chatbots that work with digital wallet Masterpass to let customers purchase food and gifts through Facebook Messenger. Users can interact with the bots via text or icon.