Moodsonic creates a nature-inspired sound for offices | Economic output is falling, but so is unemployment | Train your managers in order to keep your employees
Moodsonic spent two years developing nature-inspired "biophilic" soundscapes that can be used in offices, healthcare setting and schools. "The biophilic sounds give people a sense of mental and psychological well-being they are not able to find in other spaces," says Gale Moutrey of Steelcase, which tested the technology in its home office in Michigan.
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If the US is in or near a recession, it doesn't look like any other on record: Economic output is declining, but so is the unemployment rate. Demand for workers remains strong, and labor is scarce, with even pessimistic economists seeing only a modest job downturn in coming months. "We are going to have a very unusual conflict between the employment numbers and the output numbers for a while," Northwestern University economics professor Robert Gordon says.
Denise Leaser, president of GreatBizTools, explains how technology such as cognitive career fit tools are changing the workforce and workplace for the better. "[N]ew career-fit tools are leveling the playing field, stripping out age, gender, race, and biographical information so employers can focus on skills and potential," Leaser writes.
The majority of millennials dedicate more time to planning a vacation than planning for retirement, according to a Personal Capital survey, perhaps reflecting the fact they are young enough to embrace a "set it and forget it" savings strategy. Meanwhile, a survey by Fidelity Investments shows 45% of millennials and Generation Z see no value in retirement saving "until things return to normal."
Seemingly endless months of remote meetings have demonstrated several lessons, including the value of being prepared as well as engaging everyone in discussion and giving participants breathing room when needed, writes Scott Cochrane. "You may find yourself in fewer Zoom meetings than before, but if you've been paying attention, the lessons from this season can enhance your leadership," Cochrane writes.
Preparation speaks volumes to the people we lead, as we see in today’s HR Leader story. I’ve learned that the hard way. I’ve seen the looks of confusion, embarrassment or disappointment on faces when I’ve stumbled through something because I wasn’t prepared. I discovered that you don’t get multiple chances to earn people’s trust. Sometimes you just get one.
I’ve kept that in my head. It convicts me and causes me to plan my day and time better. Leadership is a privilege. But I know I need to keep earning it daily by being prepared.
It’s my mission daily.
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