EDITION 855
8 FEBRUARY 2021

As another week 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 would be very grateful if you did.

1. How to deal with a tough boss. Let's face it, dealing with tough managers has never been an easy task, and it's become exponentially more challenging from a remote-pandemic standpoint. Gone are the days for many of us when we could just pop into a boss's office for clarity on a subject or project. Here are some useful tips on communicating with a tough boss from afar: [READ MORE]

2. The countries leading innovation. Switzerland, a world leader in financial and biological technology, was the highest ranking European country in third place. Germany (fourth), Sweden (fifth), Denmark (sixth), Finland (eighth), the Netherlands (ninth) and Austria (tenth) were the other European countries in the top 10 of the latest Bloomberg Innovation Index. South Korea ranked first thanks to its increase in patent activity, strong R&D and manufacturing performance. Second-placed Singapore scored high because of its advanced digital economy and globally competitive universities. The US slipped to 11th place, while China claimed the 16th spot. The UK showed up in 18th place, same as last year. Bloomberg

3. Black leaders in FTSE 100 flatlines. The number of Black people leading Britain’s biggest listed companies has fallen to zero. There are no Black chairs, chief executives or chief financial officers at any FTSE 100 company after leadership changes at packaging group Mondi and cruise operator Carnival was demoted from the index last year. There is now doubt over a government-backed target of employing at least one director from an ethnic minority by 2021. Earlier this week, investment bank Morgan Stanley announced a new scholarship geared at improving diversity in the City. Sky News

4. The art of a career change. Career changes are gaining popularity as the pandemic continues to make people re-evaluate their professional goals. Yet, many people struggle to make the move to a new field. There are a few steps people can follow to make a career change a little easier. [1] Be open to new experiences; [2] Talk to other people about their jobs; [3] Use conversations to learn about careers and fields; [4] Start doing the work; [5] Don’t do it alone. Editor

5. Online giants face tax raid. Amazon and other online giants are facing a double tax grab under government plans. Leaked emails show that Treasury officials have summoned tech firms and retailers to a meeting ahead of the budget to discuss an online sales tax. There are also proposals for an excessive profits tax on companies that have seen profits surge as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Sunday Times

6. Self-improvement tips to live by. Being able to adapt is just one component of emotional intelligence (EQ), and it's become an increasingly essential trait in leaders and team members alike during these pandemic times. In order to improve our EQ, we have to practice better self-management. To become a more effective leader: [1] Control impulses and emotions; [2] Focus on opportunities in a tough situation, not the problem; [3] Make sure failure is a learning opportunity; [4] Understand your own reputation in the workplace; [5] Be consistent with your values and beliefs; [6] Work on moving past fear and embracing change. Editor

7. What does your bookshelf say about you? Video calls in the WFH era have provided insights into others’ homes, but for many – particularly public figures – what appears on their shelves is rarely an accident. Social media accounts rating people’s rooms sprang up early in the pandemic and unusual backgrounds can send a TV interview or workout video viral. For one bookshop, the frenzy has seen them get requests from celebrities, CEOs and politicians, with people seeking tomes not only on specific subject matters to signpost their knowledge but also just classic-looking books purely for the aesthetics. BBC

8. Flu almost 'wiped out' as rates plummet 95%. The number of people diagnosed with the flu has plunged by 95% in England this year, to levels not seen for 130 years. In the second week of January – usually the season’s peak – GPs reported a flu rate of 1.1 per 100,000, compared with a five-year average of 27. In the same week, at a time when there are usually thousands of serious cases, zero flu patients were admitted to hospital. Experts credited better hygiene, good flu jab uptake and social distancing for the drop. Yahoo

9. Calling time on city-slickers. Living in major cities has often been seen as the gateway to opportunity – but congestion, the high cost of living and the rapid shift to remote work prompted by the pandemic are pushing some professionals to leave. In Italy, more than 100,000 people working in the north have moved south in the past year while working remotely, with Milan alone losing 12,000 inhabitants. London, one of the most expensive cities in Europe, is also seeing an exodus as many seek more space and cheaper living costs outside the city. The Guardian

10. The bottom line. The combined increase in wealth of the world’s ten richest men during the Covid-19 outbreak is £400bn, according to Oxfam. The charity claims that figure would be enough to pay for a coronavirus vaccine for the world and reverse the poverty increases since the pandemic began. The Independent