As the pandemic throws everyone out of their comfort zones, many will rethink their careers in this transition period, writes Herminia Ibarra, professor of organizational behavior at London Business School. People should take this time to do "inner business" rather than time-killing self-improvement efforts, as neurological studies suggest the downtime is crucial for motivation and planning for the future. Full Story: Harvard Business Review online (tiered subscription model) (4/27)
Defining traits of leadership in a crisis The ongoing crisis will allow for new talent to be recognized, according to John Baldoni. Leaders should keep their eyes out for employees that show signs of confidence, trustworthiness, team ethos, creativity and critical thinking, while not drawing all of the attention to themselves. Full Story: SmartBrief/Leadership (4/24)
Is now the time for you take a big risk? It might seem counterintuitive considering all the uncertainty during the last couple of months, but there's an argument that can be made that now is the time to take that big risk you've been pondering. The time away from your career now can also allow you to try something you might've thought you didn't have time for, like training for a marathon or learning a new language. Full Story: Fast Company online (4/27)
The Landscape
Survey: Many employers plan limits on onsite workers A Mercer Human Resource Consulting survey of nearly 400 employers found that 54% of respondents expect to limit the number of employees returning onsite in the months ahead. About three-fourths of respondents said they will offer flexibility in work arrangements amid the transition. Full Story: Business Insurance (tiered subscription model) (4/24)
Due to coronavirus-related family demands, 14% of women are considering quitting their jobs, according to a survey from Syndio, in which only 11% of men responded the same. "It's concerning to see more women than men contemplating leaving the workforce, even for a short time," says Syndio CEO Maria Colacurcio. Full Story: Fortune (tiered subscription model) (4/23)
Balancing Yourself
Breathing technique helps prevent illness The breathing technique of "inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth" is effective for the way it creates nitric oxide, according to Louis Ignarro, the Nobel-Prize winning researcher who co-discovered the molecule nitric oxide. He explains in a new paper on COVID-19 that nitric oxide causes muscle cells around arteries to relax, thereby widening the arteries and increasing blood flow to all organs. Full Story: Forbes (4/27)
Researchers say the ways in which the world has changed due to the coronavirus pandemic are having a rapid and profound impact on human senses -- from the quiet of cities to the temperature of takeout food. "Touch is the obvious sensory casualty in all of this. Centuries of handshaking habits have evaporated; high fives are gone," writes sensory historian Mark Smith of the University of South Carolina. Full Story: The Conversation (4/27)
Sharing SmartBrief on Your Career with your network keeps the quality of content high and these newsletters free.
