Getting back into the swing of things at work after a vacation can feel jarring, so give yourself a gentle runway by blocking off the first half of your first day to ease in and get reacquainted with your workload and use the clarity of time away to audit your calendar and set new priorities, writes speaker and writer Alli Kushner. "Let your team meet the slightly softer, more present version of you. Let your calendar witness you ... rest. Radical, I know," Kushner notes.

Put it into practice: Carry one vacation habit back into your workday, such as midday walks or ten minutes of enjoying your coffee before checking your phone, Kusner writes. "Your OOO self had some (maybe not all!) good instincts, let one or two stick around."

Empathy is more than a soft skill leaders ought to have; it is a strategic asset that can help you connect authentically and build trust within your teams, writes LaRae Quy, who recommends creating an "empathy protocol" to define empathy, encourage active listening and establish healthy boundaries. "Empathy requires us to gain the perspective of a person who may be quite different from us. It means we become the learner as we listen," Quy writes.

Put it into practice: If "empathy" is too squishy a word to use with your teams, Quy suggests other phrases such as "building rapport" or "being on the same wavelength." "Whatever the term, it should be something upon which everyone agrees and understands. Of utmost importance is that these conversations bring value to the team."

If you're relying on AI to write emails or summarize meetings, you could be missing emotional nuances and team dynamics that can point to underlying frustration or disengagement among your teams, writes Debra Roberts, an interpersonal communications expert. "Your success as a leader still depends on how you listen, engage, resolve conflicts, give feedback and respond to questions. It will always depend on how you connect with others," Roberts writes.

Put it into practice: Don't let AI communication get in the way of having honest conversations with your staff, writes Roberts, who recommends teaching your team how to speak up, listen and handle conflict. "AI can enhance your systems, but it will never replace the relationships that hold your team together."