INTHEBLACK November 2021 - Magazine - Page 15
T E D TA L K
WORKING WEEK
Alex Soojung-Kim Pang is a workplace
consultant and the author of a new book –
Shorter: Work Better, Smarter, and Less. In this
TED Talk, he examines how companies around
the world have moved to a four-day working
week while improving productivity. The keys,
he says, are shorter meetings (some companies
set a timer), introducing “focus time” and
making better use of technology. A shorter
working week requires some adjustments
to thinking as well as integration with workfrom-home initiatives, but it can lead to more
satisfied (and healthier) employees and better
bottom-line results.
WAT C H T H E T E D TA L K H E R E
REPORT
RISKY BUSINESS
The pandemic, as well as increasing cybersecurity threats and global instability, has led company boards to see
risk management as their key activity. However, most boards acknowledge that they are not where they want
to be in this area. A survey of 500 global board members by finance giant EY reveals that risk management is
not always aligned with business strategy, and is often focused on short-term issues instead of emerging
challenges. The survey points to the need to rethink how the board operates, its composition and its role in
setting an organisational purpose that extends beyond maximising returns for shareholders.
DOWNLOAD THE REPORT HERE
ARTICLE
PA P E R
REPORT
UPSKILLING
HONEST POLICY
LOOKING AHEAD
When it comes to landing a job or a
promotion, demonstrating mastery of “soft”
skills is becoming increasingly important,
according to this interesting article from
recruitment firm Hays. The article offers
advice on how to position your skills portfolio
to showcase empathy, creativity and selfmotivation gained outside of the workplace,
for example, through doing volunteer work or
learning a new language. Other possibilities
are starting or contributing to a professional
blog, taking part in webinars and events, or
working through a curated reading list. These
activities can be used to strengthen a CV and
showcase personal abilities in an interview.
COVID-19 has underlined the difficulty –
and the growing necessity – of effective
communication. According to a paper by
Professor Karin Sanders from the School of
Management and Governance at the University
of New South Wales Business School, leaders
must work to develop a communication style
that engenders trust in their messaging.
Among the critical first steps, she lists
being upfront about the limitations of the
information, ensuring a consistent message
across the organisation, being honest about
the likely impact of hard decisions, and
expressly acknowledging the importance of
employees and the broader community.
The first report from McKinsey’s Technology
Council identifies the trends most likely to
underpin competitive advantage in the next
decades. The Tech Trends Index examines nextgen computing, distributed infrastructure, nonhuman coding, biomachines and nanomaterials
as areas to watch. Some of these are close
to maturity, while others are in the advanced
research stage, but all are likely to eventually
have a critical impact on business. The report
makes for fascinating reading, in non-technical
language. It will be followed by a cross-industry
strategy guide that explains how to integrate
emerging technologies into organisational
structures and culture.
READ THE ARTICLE HERE
R E A D T H E PA P E R H E R E
READ THE REPORT HERE
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