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August is here, and summer is in full swing! As we soak up the last weeks of the season, it's the perfect time to refocus, recharge, and get inspired. In this edition of ARC Reads, we’re spotlighting forward-thinking strategies, innovative technologies, and fresh perspectives to carry that summer momentum into fall. From AI breakthroughs to leadership insights, explore what’s making waves this month and setting the stage for what’s next.

What We're Reading This Month

‍Stop Solving Your Team’s Problems for Them -Many leaders today are struggling to balance the aspiration of being supportive with the reality of feeling overwhelmed by their own to-do list. But when a well-meaning leader becomes the default problem-solver, the entire organization pays the price. This dynamic creates decision-making bottlenecks, diminishes team ownership, and accelerates managerial burnout. When an employee brings you a problem, asking one of the following five questions can help you remain accessible while coaching them to problem-solve independently. Find out the questions here.

The Three A’s of Responsible Leadership - Rebecca, a managing partner of a law firm in New York, was faced with an executive order from the White House to explain her firm’s diversity policies or risk losing government contracts. She was torn. Should she bring it to a partner vote, make the call herself or resign in protest? Driven by loyalty to her people, she chose to stay and fight. Find out what the three A's are here.

Growth Isn’t the Only Way for Companies to Create Value-It’s a basic goal of most companies: to grow revenue each year. But as globalization recedes, populations in many nations grow older (and buy less), and sustainability concerns lead more people to scrutinize the necessity of every purchase, companies are facing headwinds to growth. And while growth can be a particularly powerful differentiator in such a challenging context, it is also particularly risky. Pushing for growth at all costs can end up destroying value rather than creating it, through wasteful investments and diverting resources from the core strengths of the firm. Find out more.

How Does Duty-Free Work? -If you’re traveling abroad for a vacation anytime soon, you’ll get to enjoy the fun and excitement of passing through Customs on your way home. Let’s take a look at a few of the other rules regarding duties and declarations, and see what’s up with the duty-free shop.

When the Best Leadership Skill Is Just Being Present -When Alex walked into my office and said she was overwhelmed, I thought: OK, she needs my help. She needs answers. I listened, asked a few clarifying questions, and then did what I’ve been trained to do—fix it. I grabbed a pen, broke the problem into parts, and offered strategies: delegating more, calendar blocking, prioritization. I could see she was struggling, and I wanted to be useful. More.