New executives can get off track if they can't adapt to new situations, build teams or work with others, writes Ed Batista. "[T]he longer they remain in the role without trying to improve, the more likely it is that they'll have a negative impact on the performance and retention of their direct reports and peers," Batista writes.

Leaders will be more successful when they can express their emotions in a controlled manner and learn to manage their emotional triggers, writes Marlene Chism, who offers examples of both techniques. "What makes emotional integrity distinct from emotional awareness and emotional intelligence is intentional transparency," Chism writes.

Good business strategy is narrow, plays on personal strengths and company advantages, isn't unduly ambitious and is flexible enough to be changed as the environment shifts, writes James Kenefick of Azafran Capital Partners. "Where a good strategy honestly acknowledges challenges and offers ways to overcome them, a bad strategy overlooks problems and creates aimless ambitions," Kenefick writes.

Sears' evolution into a "zombie brand" with just 34 stores owned by Transformco can be attributed to "brand-diminishment" behaviors, including dominance complacency, financial focuses over customer satisfaction and a lack of attention toward consumer behaviors and competitors, writes Arcature CEO Larry Light. "When a brand loses relevance, it can come close to death," Light writes.

Events such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing pandemic can cause emotional stress for employees, writes Allison Shapira, founder and CEO of Global Public Speaking. "Many organizations are matching their employees' donations to certain relief organizations, which both supports their employees and supports relief efforts," Shapira writes.

It's all connected. While 40% of you stay closely focused on the global economy and its impact on your strategy, 60% of you pay it less to little attention. Consider increasing your awareness of it. It's all connected. Global impacts might not hit your business directly, but the knock-on effects of large-scale global issues and opportunities certainly do.

You might be wondering how. Don't just think about your business. Think about your customers. Think about your suppliers. If you're dealing with individual consumers, global events impact their mood, their wallets, and even their ability to go out and shop. If you're dealing with large corporations, global events affect their budgets -- and how much they can spend with you -- and their strategies. You're affected whether you realize it or not. It's probably time to realize it so you can proactively prepare for global impacts instead of reacting to them after it's too late to do something meaningful about them.

-- Mike Figliuolo is managing director of thoughtLEADERS, which includes TITAN -- the firm's e-learning platform. Previously, he worked at McKinsey & Co., Capital One and Scotts Miracle-Gro. He is a West Point graduate and author of three leadership books: "One Piece of Paper," "Lead Inside the Box" and "The Elegant Pitch."

Hard work, fairness and sharing the limelight have helped Bridge Housing CEO Ken Lombard succeed, although that requires speaking up against unfair actions. "You can waste so many years in a situation where someone's got their foot on your neck and you're not doing anything about it, and you end up frustrated," Lombard says.

Canvases with hundreds of nails in them provide the backdrop artist Konstantin Hlanta needs as he winds numerous pieces of colored string around them to create intricate and detailed images of hands, eyes, animals and puppets. Hlanta posts his creations on his Instagram account.