Leaders who remain outwardly open and curious, instead of showing a negative reaction to their team's ideas or questions, will build trust and respect and encourage more creativity, writes Kate Nasser. "Replace your negative reaction with sincere interest in what all employees have to offer," Nasser writes.

Employers can increase their talent pool, improve workforce diversity and find people who have relevant and specific skills by considering candidates who have obtained certificates through credentialed training programs, instead of exclusively requiring college degrees, HR leaders say. "We call these 'new-collar jobs,' and they're aligned to careers that require the right set of skills and a commitment to lifelong learning," says Tommy Wenzlau, talent leader for IBM's new-collar initiatives.

A tight labor market is keeping the US work-from-home trend strong as employers continue to use remote work policies to attract and retain talent, according to John Chang of Marcus & Millichap. Unless a more serious economic recession develops, the job market is "simply too tight for companies to bring employees back to the office full-time" right now, Chang said.

Some companies aim to improve recruitment and retention by helping employees buy their homes, executives say, but they add it's important to educate people about finances before giving them lump sums. "By handing people money for a down payment without having those basic financial skills, you could be setting your workforce up for even more financial stress," says Melanie Langsett, leader of rewards, recognition and well-being at Deloitte.

Turning down requests can be easier for both you and those who ask when you act with confidence and humility, keep your eye on what must be accomplished and give them alternatives or other forms of assistance, writes Karin Hurt. "If someone is asking you to do something unethical, immoral, or illegal, a hard no may be in order," Hurt writes.

Stefanie Whitley's 8-year-old cat Lilly went missing for several days recently on Long Island, but when the family's doorbell rang late one night, the front door camera revealed that it wasn't a Good Samaritan returning the lost cat, it was Lilly, meowing to be let inside. "She's a very smart cat," Whitley says.