EDITION 826
13 JULY 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 be an effective workplace leader. A good leader knows there’s no “I” in team, but a truly effective one knows how to build workers up to be future leaders. To encourage your team to reach its full potential and to become the best role model you can be, fostering leadership in the workplace is crucial. Here are some ways to do that. [READ MORE]

2. Lockdown has made many families happier. Lockdown has put a strain on a lot of families, but according to a new study, a quarter of parents say their relationship with their children has improved  in the past three months – and less than 5% say it has got worse. Previous studies from the Understanding Society Covid-19 Survey found that women have taken on a disproportionate amount of the childcare burden during lockdown. But slightly more women than men said they were getting on better with their children. MSN

3. Two magic words for work discussions. Work conversations - whether it's with a boss, a colleague or a client - can sometimes feel like dangerous territory. Just when we need them most, words can fail us. Two words that can help open conversations are: "Tell me." When we start a question with "tell me," we give our conversation partners the space to share their views openly, free of language that may lead them in one direction or another. An answer to a "tell me" question could give you the kind of window into another person that can help build stronger relationships. This technique is among many presented during the communication lesson of 10/10, our government funded leadership development and mentoring programme. [LEARN MORE]

4. Government set to launch ‘Get Ready for Brexit’ campaign. The government will launch a “Get Ready for Brexit” campaign next week. As part of the multi-million-pound initiative, controversial Brexit border plans will be published on Monday along with fresh detail on post-Brexit immigration. Meanwhile, the government has secretly purchased 11 hectares (27 acres) of land 20 miles from Dover to build a new Brexit customs clearance centre for the 10,000 lorries that come through the port. The Guardian

5. Covid-19 spreads fastest at 4ºC. Covid-19 spreads fastest at 4ºC, government scientists have concluded, fuelling fears of a winter resurgence. The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies studied the precise temperature as Melbourne, which is currently in its coldest month, re-entered a six-week lockdown due to a steep spike in cases. Average temperatures in Britain during January and February have fluctuated between 3º and 5ºC in three of the last six winters. The Telegraph

6. Coronavirus immunity may be lost within months. Covid-19 survivors may lose their immunity to the virus within months, according to new research. Scientists who analysed the immune response of more than 90 patients and healthcare workers at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS foundation trust found that while 60% of people had a “potent” antibody response at the height of their battle with the virus, only 17% retained it three months later. BBC

7. Workers in no rush to return to the office. With the pandemic shaking up how and where workers toil, it seems most of us aren’t in a rush to head back to the office - for a full five days a week, in any case. One recent study found that 47% of newly remote workers would prefer to continue working from home between one and four days each week, while 40% want to stay home every day and just 14% prefer the office. But when it comes to whether working from home lends itself to both productivity and creativity, experts remain divided. The Times

8. Working to pension age far from assured. By 2028, people won’t be able to claim their state pension until they’re 67 – but though we are living longer, we may not be healthy enough to work for longer. Researchers used data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing to calculate how long the typical 50-year-old in England can expect to remain healthy and in work.  They found that the “healthy working life expectancy” of this age group is about nine years – which means many people may not be healthy enough to work to the current pension age, let alone future ones. The Observer

9. Keir Starmer boosted by results of opinion poll. A poll has found that half of UK voters say they have formed a more favourable view of the Labour party since Keir Starmer became its leader in April. Some 52% of voters now say they could imagine Starmer inside No 10. Two weeks ago, another study found more people cited Starmer as their preferred choice as prime minister (37%) than Boris Johnson (35%). The Express

10. The bottom line. Only a year after he signed over a quarter of his fortune to his wife, the Amazon founder is richer than ever. Jeff Bezos’s net worth was estimated at $171.6bn last week, more than the GDP of Hungary or Algeria. Daily Mail