The pace of corporate rollbacks of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives has slowed as President Donald Trump focuses on other priorities, a study by Gravity Research finds. After an initial surge in changes, particularly among federal contractors, companies are now adopting a "wait-and-see" approach. The study notes that most companies are reframing DEI rather than retreating from it, with 80% still committed to inclusion and belonging. However, DEI critics have accused firms of making superficial changes.

Instead of trying to learn everything, focus on collecting only the essential knowledge for your immediate projects, entrepreneur and author Pat Flynn advises. A lean learning approach helps reduce information overload, accelerate progress and ensure that learning directly supports action and achievement, allowing you to be more effective and make progress faster.

Influential leaders are deeply engaged, consistently accountable, and prioritize team success over personal gain, write Dave Yawman and Mike Moshier. These leaders are present in all discussions, deliver on promises and support colleagues across the organization. Key behaviors include sharing clear viewpoints, managing conflict effectively and bringing optimism to the team.

US employers are failing to meet employee expectations for paid caregiving leave, with many workers using their regular paid time off to care for family members, according to a Prudential Group Insurance report, which found 52% of employers offer the caregiving benefit. "Embracing paid leave as an essential benefit that supports the well-being of caregivers in the workforce can be a powerful strategy to attract and retain talented workers, while also supporting them in ways that can boost satisfaction, loyalty and performance," says Prudential Group Insurance President Michael Estep.

Malcolm Gladwell popularized the idea of mastery taking 10,000 hours, but Chris Schembra, the chief question asker at 7:47, sees emotional and personal development as a matter of "1,000 conversations," prizing intentional and deep human connection as the catalyst for true growth and mastery of emotional intelligence. "Conversations are not merely exchanges; they are pivotal turning points, fundamentally shifting perspectives, deepening relationships and redefining trajectories," Schembra writes.