C-Suite leadership is older, includes more women | Making office holidays festive while respecting sobriety | Calif. protects workers who use cannabis outside of work
C-suite leaders are becoming older, reversing a previous trend, according to a study of Fortune 100 leaders since 1980. More outsiders are being hired directly into executive roles and executives are changing jobs more frequently, particularly early in their careers before settling down. The number of women and foreign-born individuals in the top executive ranks has also increased in recent decades. Full Story: The Wall Street Journal (12/14)
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Recruiting & Retention
Making office holidays festive while respecting sobriety Employees who have chosen to remain sober or limit their drinking may find it difficult to navigate the holiday season, which presents increased availability of alcohol and the pressure of social demands around drinking. Employers should offer alcohol-free alternatives and enjoyable activities, while employees should plan ahead for the strategy that will work best for them and pursue therapy or other options to resolve root causes of substance use disorder, said Ashley Loeb Blassingame, co-founder of Lionrock Recovery, a virtual addiction treatment platform. Full Story: Employee Benefit News (free registration) (12/14)
Quick workouts beat doing nothing, but aren't perfect Exercising for five minutes or less per session, known as "micro-workouts," can improve blood vessel function and aerobic fitness level, but they should not be considered the equivalent of the 150 weekly minutes of moderate exercise recommended by the CDC. It would be a "real risk, based on what we currently know" to rely on micro-workouts for fitness, said physician and exercise physiologist Philip Skiba. Full Story: The New York Times (12/14)
Benefits & Compensation
Why Gen Zers are upbeat about their retirement prospects Nearly two-thirds of members of Generation Z are confident about their retirement prospects, and Gen Z women are significantly more confident than their millennial or Generation X peers, according to Northwestern Mutual research. Gen Zers are "open to people guiding them in the right direction and they're not scared to ask for help," said Northwestern Mutual's Veronica Fuentes. Full Story: CNBC (12/17)
Enhance your productivity by getting up from your desk to move around, whether it's a walk outside, around the office or having lunch outside, moving your body can boost creativity and concentration, writes JiJi Lee. "The sunlight will re-energize you and the fresh air will clear your mind," Lee writes. Full Story: Ink+Volt (12/14)
A WeddingWire survey shows that 40% of twitterpated couples announce their engagements during the winter holidays. Who is associated with the word "twitterpated"?
Aloha dear readers! 2023 has been quite a year. A pivotal one in my life. So, as this is the final week of the year before SmartBrief closes for the holidays, I want to spend it looking at lessons I’ve gleaned over the last 12 months. Today, I want to talk about the connection between exercise and our physical health, and our work performance. It’s 5:30 a.m and I swipe my room card to open the door to the hotel gym. I walk in yawning and bending my neck side to side to hear it crack. I’m here out of habit, but my body isn’t into it. It’s tired from the previous day’s travel and just wants a Denver omelette and coffee. I force it over to the treadmill for a warm up. After a quick power walk, I head to the free weights. More people have arrived. It’s a professional crowd, I observe. A man and woman are on the ellipticals. He’s reading The Wall Street Journal and she is watching the news. Two trim young women in leggings and ponytails chat about the conference they’re attending as they do yoga in the stretching area. Next to me, a man who looks to be in his 30s stares at his phone as he rests between sets. He’s cut and athletic; perhaps a former soccer player. Behind me, on the cable machine, an older man works on his triceps. He is tall and lean and walks with an athletic gait. Dedication to fitness seems to be a common trait among professionals, especially those in leadership. I see this at work and at my gym. And please know that when I say fitness, I don’t mean gym rats. Fitness includes any exercise -- lifting, walking, running, dancing, whatever! -- one does to maintain their health. Here are the characteristics I’ve seen in professionals who prioritize exercise. Discipline. People who are disciplined about their health are also disciplined about their work. They allocate time for routine tasks and projects that require their focused attention. They respect deadlines. They are careful about where they commit their time and energy; they don’t say yes to every project. And, they prefer to work with people who are similarly disciplined. Eat well, drink well. Smart professionals know the impact food has on their sleep, mental acuity and ability to function. They don’t frequent drive-thrus and they prefer water over sodas. They enjoy sweets in moderation. They eat a balance of lean proteins and high-quality (often organic) fruits and vegetables. Many drink red wine and are cautious about hard liquor. Focus and drive. Ambition and focus go hand in hand for successful professionals. Much of what they do is aimed at reaching a goal. For instance, many folks I work with are runners. They run 5Ks and 10Ks for fun with their kids or run clubs. They train for marathons in Boston, Los Angeles and New York. One guy I work with trained to run the rim of the Grand Canyon. Another example. My sister paddles outrigger canoe. She has been paddling competitively for roughly 10 years. She has paddled in rigorous races across the Moloka’i channel, as well as in New York, London and Australia. During season, she practices every week day. My sister also manages a high-end men’s store on Oahu. Her store routinely exceeds its sales goals, even during the pandemic. She always keeps a laser eye on that revenue goal and does an exceptional job of motivating her staff to reach it. Her focus as an athlete equals her focus in her work. Are all successful professionals and leaders committed to fitness? Of course not. But a good many are, and I like being around them. That’s why I show up at 5:30 a.m. at those hotel gyms. Their dedication convicts and motivates me. Are exercise and healthy eating sewn into the fabric of your life? Today's story on micro-workouts can give you some fun ideas. Let me know how you stay focused and what workouts are your favorites. And if you enjoy this brief, tell others so they can benefit also.
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