After reaching middle management, it can be difficult to continue climbing the corporate ladder to an executive role if there is not a specific path to follow. Here is a closer look at one specific situation and the need for aspiring executives to advocate for themselves.

Companies can make all the plans they want, but leaders must be ready to improvise when challenges arise, writes Steve McKee. "Leadership isn't just about pointing a team in the right direction, it's about determining what must be done when you face stiff opposition or get knocked off course," McKee writes.

Create a sense of welcome and a feeling of connection for your new hires by holding an "enter-view" with the team on their first day for introductions, providing them with a small task to complete and scheduling quick one-on-one check-ins, writes David Burkus. "Even better, schedule this check-in mid-way through the afternoon and then tell them to take the rest of the day off," Burkus writes.

Researchers say that as the pandemic dragged on, many people suffered a decline in their ability to navigate social situations, trust others, think creatively, and act responsibly. What's most troubling is that young people were the hardest hit by a reversal in their "development towards maturity" and the experts aren't sure if the changes are temporary or permanent.

American Express is the latest large financial services firm to announce that as of Nov. 1, it is dropping its requirement for those in its offices to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Having said a year ago that it wanted all staffers to resume office work as quickly as possible, AmEx now offers one of the most flexible arrangements in its sector, with 40% of the workforce working remotely full-time, and a majority are in the office two days a week.

Business transformation requires a holistic company view and puts people first by letting go of toxic employees, modernizing the leadership structure and nurturing those leaders, writes Noelle Federico, CEO of Delta Hire. "Whatever challenge is at the forefront, leaders who approach an obstacle as an opportunity and create a strategy to find a solution tend to be the most effective," Federico writes.

A cocktail bar in Barcelona that is hidden behind a pastrami shop has been named the best bar in the world for 2022. The bar fancies itself a modern day speakeasy and is pretty impressive. So are the rest of The World's 50 Best Bars.