EDITION 821
8 JUNE 2020

As another week of working from home slips by, here are 10 things which caught my attention and may have escaped yours. This newsletter is sent to 50,000+ subscribers each Monday at 10am. Please share on social media and forward to your colleagues and friends so they can subscribe, learn and engage. I'd be very grateful if you did.

1. How to find a new job. If you’re reeling from a recent layoff due to the pandemic, you’re not alone. Many millions of people around the world have lost their jobs. Yet despite the grim circumstances, the tried-and-true methods of getting back on your feet still apply. READ MORE >>

2. Leadership under the spotlight. Britain is failing to cope with the Covid-19 epidemic as well as other countries in Europe and East Asia have, reports The Independent. The failure is devastating on a single day last week, 359 people died from coronavirus in the UK – more than the number of deaths in all 27 EU countries over the same 24 hours. The UK is starting to exit lockdown while the epidemic has not been brought under control, despite all the economic self-destruction. The Guardian reports that health chiefs have told Boris Johnson to ditch “cheap political rhetoric” and plan to tackle a second wave of coronavirus infections. Senior figures from the NHS have warned of a “dramatic” drop in capacity at NHS hospitals. Meanwhile, a poll for The Observer found that public confidence in the government’s ability to deal with the pandemic has dropped 21 points since the beginning of lockdown. Editor

3. Confidence is an up and down matter. Confidence is dropping among millennials when it comes to how they feel about their jobs, finances and career opportunities. The fortnightly Workforce Confidence Index plots confidence levels on a scale of -100 to +100, and the latest round of data puts millennials (aged 25-39) at +13 on that scale, down 24%. Meanwhile, Baby Boomers (aged 55+) are feeling most confident across age groups in their ability to get or hold onto a job, with a score of +31. Confidence in the UK in general is stable, with a score of +13 (the same as the previous three editions of the index). Editor

4. Finding motivation in hard times. As large portions of the professional world adapt to remote work amid the pandemic, many face a dearth of feedback from managers and others. We often rely on such information and encouragement to find meaning in our work. So, what can we do to stay motivated? For starters, we can remind ourselves that a lack of feedback isn't necessarily a bad sign. We can also remember the value we have on the many different people [and animals] in our lives. And we can always model the behaviour and offer kind words and helpful feedback to colleagues. The favour may very well be returned. Editor

5. A subtle leadership power. We often associate leadership with qualities like charisma and bravado. But a body of research suggests that another, often quieter trait can pack a sizable leadership punch: Humility. Findings from our 360 leadership appraisals reveal that those who were rated as humble outperformed others. And managers who display humility inspire greater satisfaction, engagement and collaboration among their staff. What gives humility such power? It opens our eyes to what we don't know and pushes us to seek out new information. It also sends a message to others that it's okay to do the same. Please contact us if you'd like to complete your own Leadership 360.

6. Tory rebellion as government pushes ‘quickie’ divorces. ‘Quickie’ divorces will be legal from as early as next month. Boris Johnson is facing a backlash for introducing the plans when many marriages are under stress because of the coronavirus lockdown. Dozens of Conservative MPs are expected to oppose the legalisation of ‘no fault’ divorces amid concerns that the relaxation of marriage laws will lead to a spike in annulments. The Daily Telegraph

7. Want to sell your home? Make the garden look nice. Owners putting their homes on the market are being told to show off gardens in marketing photos as house-hunters search for space. Pictures of the kitchen had previously been considered key to attracting the attention of browsers. Lockdown has changed the priorities of buyers and renters, many of whom have been working from home, research by property portal Rightmove suggests. Flats are the big losers, as indoor and outdoor space becomes a bigger draw. A better home workspace and access to parks make up the top three priorities. BBC

8. Why do we dream? Some believe that dreams are random images and brain waves. Others consider them subconscious desires, unsolved problems, and experiences. The study of dreams is called oneirology. Scientists claim that dreams symbolize something hidden deep in the human psyche, but no one knows what exactly. Metro

9. Ronaldo pips Messi to 2nd spot. Cristiano Ronaldo has pipped Lionel Messi to the crown of the highest earning footballer in the world in a new list revealed by Forbes. A combination of his wages and prize money for playing on the pitch and endorsements off it sees Ronaldo's earnings reach a staggering £85.8million in 2020, ensuring that he is behind only Roger Federer when it comes to the world's highest earning sports stars. Messi and Neymar are third and fourth on the list, and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah is next making him the highest-earning Premier League player. Sky

10. The bottom line. The estimated cost to Nasa each time it sends its astronauts into space aboard SpaceX’s capsule is $55m, compared with the $86m it currently hands to Russia’s space agency to do the job for it. The Observer