Charismatic communicators develop this ability by becoming attuned to the many cues people give off through their body language, word choice and voice, writes Vanessa Van Edwards. "Cues unlock our communication, and every single cue you add to your toolbox makes it easier to communicate and signal to the world," Van Edwards writes.
The pressure to respond to work communications outside of the office is playing a role in the high cases of distracted driving, according to The Travelers Companies. It found that one-third of managers expect their employees to take work-related calls while driving.
Clean power is the practice of power and influence without "abuse, office politics, backstabbing and manipulation" -- requiring leaders to regularly revisit their networks, create reciprocity with key stakeholders and organize coalition for big issues, writes Art Petty. "Couple this effort with a genuine effort to generate visibility for individuals helping you make it happen, and you reinforce the reciprocity effect in a virtuous manner," Petty writes.
Positive drug tests among workers hit the highest level since 2001 last year, with marijuana, cocaine and amphetamine use soaring, according to the Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index. Positive results accounted for 4.6% of drug tests in 2021, up 31.4% compared with a decade ago. Still, with labor market conditions challenging recruitment and retention, companies are left to weigh how concerned they are about what workers do on their own time.
Employers added 431,000 jobs to nonfarm payrolls in March, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the unemployment rate reached 3.6%. There was a 0.4% increase in average hourly earnings.
Conditions are ripe for a housing bubble: Demand is greater than supply, home prices are skyrocketing, investors are flooding the real estate market, and buyers are skipping steps like appraisals and inspections to secure a home. Analysts are concerned the US is repeating some of the mistakes that led to the 2006 housing crash, which helped fuel the Great Recession. Household finances are better off than they were back then, and there are more stringent requirements in place to secure home loans, so the fallout from a potential bubble burst likely wouldn't be as calamitous, experts say.
Pink Floyd, a flamingo that made a break from a zoo in Kansas in 2005, was recently seen by Texas wildlife officials along the state's Gulf Coast. The bird, estimated to be around 27 years old, has also been spotted over the years in Arkansas, Louisiana and Wisconsin.
