EDITION 868
10 MAY 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 succeed in a new job. If have you started a new job remotely in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, you may be feeling hesitant about the return of in-person working. How should you interact with colleagues you’ve only met by email? What time does everyone arrive and leave? A few rules new starters could follow, include: READ MORE

2. Economy bouncing back, says Bank. The Bank of England says Britain is on course for its strongest year of economic growth since the Second World War as households splash their lockdown savings and businesses increase their investment. After contracting by 9.8% in the worst recession since 1709 last year, growth will bounce back to 7.25% this year. The forecast was described as ‘a hefty upward revision’. BBC

3. Boris to eclipse Iron Lady. Boris Johnson is preparing for a ‘decade in power’ after last week’s historic victories in Labour’s former heartlands. Tory ministers say there has been a permanent change in the nation’s political identity and suggested that Johnson could outlast Margaret Thatcher, who was in Downing Street for 11 years. The PM has vowed that he would embark on a “massive project” of levelling up the country. The Times

4. Letter to your younger self. Richard Branson, founder at Virgin Group, was recently asked if he could say something to his 10-year-old self, what would it be? Here's a snippet of his answer. "If I could say something to my 10-year-old self, it would be a gentle reminder that being different does not mean you are flawed. It does not mean you are lazy or stupid. Thinking differently makes you unique and allows for so many different ideas, innovations and adventures to unravel. Don’t be afraid to embrace the quirks, think bigger, follow your passions, explore your creative thoughts, and hold onto to your underlying sense of optimism." What would you tell your 10-year-old self? Please CONTACT us and let us know.

5. Office return sparks wellbeing worry. Alongside anticipation about the reopening of society, a return to the workplace has many feeling apprehensive. Research in the UK shows 40% of people – and 50% of those under 35 – believe a full-time return to the office would be bad for their mental wellbeing. For some, this means seeking a new role, with firms that actively combat burnout proving particularly attractive. Making small adjustments could be enough to help, one idea being that employers “champion wellbeing” and give people as much control over their days as possible. For more on leadership and wellbeing, join 10/10, our government supported leadership development and mentoring programme. For more details, please CLICK on the image below.

6. A good week for us keen cyclists. A new route that takes cyclists through some of Cornwall’s finest scenery on 150 miles of bridleways, byways and quiet lanes is due to open later this year. Called the West Kernow Way, it begins and ends in Penzance and takes in Land’s End, the Lizard Point and the open-air Minack Theatre, overlooking the Atlantic. The route is being officially launched in the autumn, when the summer rush has calmed down. According to Cycling UK, its aim is to encourage people to visit Cornwall out of peak season, when it is less busy. The Guardian

7. Children rediscover joy of reading. In a rare silver lining to the pandemic, it has emerged that the first lockdown sparked a revival in reading in children. Last spring, 55.9% of children aged nine to 18 said they read for pleasure, up from 47.8% the year before, according to a National Literacy Trust survey. It was the first time the proportion had risen since 2016. More than half of the children surveyed said books had provided a refuge; a third said reading had raised their spirits when they were missing friends and family. The Observer

8. Good week for divorce lawyers. Star US divorce lawyers will be busy after Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda announced they are ending their 27-year marriage. Bill Gates, worth $130.5bn, is the fourth-richest man in the world and the divorce will be the biggest division of assets since the $150bn split between Jeff Bezos and his wife Mackenzie Scott in 2019. Both spouses have hired lawyers who worked on that case, while Melinda’s team includes Robert Cohen, who has worked for two of Donald Trump’s ex-wives. Mail on Sunday

9. Idea of the week. One way to avoid burnout is to focus on our values and purpose. What we notice about what matters deeply to us shapes our mindset; directing our attention to our values and sense of purpose. This, in turn, helps us find a sense of energy and meaning, thereby living a life by design and not by accident. Editor

10. The bottom line. The value of the “Union dividend” – the difference between what each person received in public spending and what they paid in tax – to each person in Scotland in was £2,543 in 2018-2019, compared to just £91 in England, according to the Institute for Government think tank. The dividend was £4,412 in Wales and £5,118 in Northern Ireland. BBC