More evidence has surfaced that when it comes to making big decisions in life, sometimes the best advice you can follow is simple: Sleep on it. An experiment by Duke University researchers showed that first impressions significantly impact immediate decision-making, often causing overvaluation of the first items seen. Conversely, participants who waited until the next day made more rational choices.

Ram Krishnan, CEO of PepsiCo Beverages North America, has developed a color-coded pie chart to assist him with time management as he leads a business division that brought in $27 billion last year, and he said he's learned throughout his career to accept making mistakes and have a willingness to experiment. "I think the biggest advice I would give people is to be intentional about how you use your time," Krishnan said.

Author and leadership expert Peter Economy in this opinion piece challenges the traditional idea that careers are fixed destinations, proposing instead that they should be seen as journeys. Highlighting cultural pressures to quickly decide on a career path, Economy emphasizes the evolving nature of people's interests and work trajectories over time.

Building friendships at work is necessary, even if working remotely, and can be enhanced by joining online social groups, offering help to colleagues and setting up virtual or in-person coffee dates. "Work friends are essential because they can be real-time sounding boards," says career coach Prerika Agarwal. "They give practical advice, not just theoretical, because they've been in the same meetings and know the same people."

Companies can use "hyper-flex" to boost engagement among remote and hybrid workers, writes Al Kingsley, who outlines the necessary steps for IT infrastructure to support working at odd hours and from any location. "The new hyper-flex reality is placing a heavy burden on already burdened IT teams, though, impacting IT teams like nothing else since the pandemic," Kingsley writes.

The labor force participation rate for men ages 25 to 54 has been declining, with 10.5% neither working nor seeking employment, compared with 2.5% in 1954, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Education is a significant factor, with non-college-educated men leaving the workforce at higher rates, says a Pew Research Center study. "They used to graduate with a high school education and have good stable jobs," says Carol Graham of the Brookings Institution.

More than 80% of CEOs expect a full return to the office within three years, up significantly from a year earlier, according to a KPMG survey. Amazon announced a full-time, return-to-office policy for corporate staff last week, a move that comes as the labor market tightens and power shifts back to employers. Other companies are expected to follow Amazon's lead, but KPMG warns of a widening gap between executive and employee perspectives and emphasizes the need for flexible work arrangements to meet employees' expectations.

At the 2024 ICMA Annual Conference, Jason Dorsey emphasized the importance of understanding and connecting with different generations in the workforce. He highlighted that parenting, technology and geography are the top factors shaping generational behaviors and stressed that Gen Z, with its distinct work preferences, is the fastest-growing workforce group. Dorsey also urged leaders to recognize the value of every generation, noting Baby Boomers' experience, Gen X's skepticism, and millennials' technology dependence, while encouraging strategies to recruit and retain Gen Z employees.

Young men and teenage boys are flocking to barbershops for the "alpaca" haircut, which combines a close shave on the sides and back with a lot of curly volume on top. Popularized by figures like Patrick Mahomes and Bad Bunny, the cut is known as a "textured fringe" in the industry. Barbers say that its popularity stems from both aesthetic trends and practical reasons, including altering perceived head shapes and boosting self-confidence.

Innovators have another week to submit entries for SmartBrief's newest Innovation Awards program, which will celebrate the best of AI advancements in retail, IT/cybersecurity, education and people management. The program also welcomes ground-breaking ideas for any industry in a general innovation category. Learn more and submit by 11:59 p.m. PT on Friday.