EDITION 788
21 OCTOBER 2019

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. 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 navigate political discussions at work. Talking about politics at work can be tricky: However strong your views are, you don’t want to alienate your colleagues. Here are some strategies for having a tactful, diplomatic dialogue. [MORE]
    
2. Have UK voters changed their minds? According to the averaged results of four polls taken between April and September, in which respondents were asked to choose between various scenarios, 23% of voters would like Britain to leave the EU without a deal. 9% would like to leave with Theresa May’s deal. 14% would like to leave but remain in the single market and customs union. 34% would like the UK to remain in the EU. 21% don’t know. BBC
    
3. Keep your handshakes to three seconds. There are many ways to mess up a handshake. They can be too firm, too soft and, perhaps most awkward of all, too long. In fact, researchers from the University of Dundee found that handshakes that exceed three seconds can sully a social interaction. The researchers found that those who were subjected to extra-long shakes laughed less and showed signs of increased anxiety post-handshake. While long handshakes may be considered a sign of dominance, if you’re looking to build a strong bond, keep it brief. The Telegraph
    
4. Renewable electricity overtakes fossil fuels in UK for first time. In the last quarter, renewable energy provided more of Britain’s electricity than fossil fuels for the first time since the first power station was built in 1882. Wind, solar and biomass made up 39% of electricity generation. Ten years ago, gas and coal generated 80% of the UK’s electricity. Coal now accounts for less than 1%. The Guardian
    
5. Passion is developed, not discovered. Many a well-intentioned graduation speaker and family member have told budding professionals to find their passion and then follow it. The one problem with this advice? It’s not helpful. That’s because passion is not a fixed thing. Instead, it’s something we cultivate over time. What can do we instead? Pay attention to what you care about - whether it’s a part of work or not - and devote your effort to that. With some time and elbow grease, you may end up with a full-fledged passion. TEN LTD
    
6. Aim high, but build in some wiggle room. We’re prone to give up on ambitious personal projects or goals at the sign of the first slip. This is referred to as the “what the hell effect,” when an initial stumble makes us think we might as well take the day off from our goal. Suddenly, one day off turns into forever. To prevent such slippages, build in emergency reserves. Keep those ambitious goals, but build in a set amount of wiggle room for occasional missteps. When we plan for the occasional stumble, we can still feel like we’re on track. BBC
    
7. The downside of remote work. Office-free jobs offer plenty of benefits, but it’s not all sunshine and roses. Separating work from a physical space can make it hard for employees to develop trusting relationships and disconnect from the job at the end of the day. Such dynamics can exact a toll. A 2017 UN report that found 41% of remote workers suffered from high stress levels, compared to 25% of office employees. What might help? Making regular, meaningful communication with colleagues a priority, and encouraging remote workers to establish boundaries from work. The Economist
    
8. World's longest flight successfully touches down. The world's longest flight has been a success, with 50 passengers and crew travelling non-stop for nearly 20 hours from New York to Sydney. Qantas Flight 7879 touched down in Australia on Sunday morning after travelling 16,200km (10,066 miles) in 19 hours and 16 minutes. The research flight was an experiment to see how ultra-long-haul travel affects those on board. Sky News
    
9. Omnishambles enters OED. Omnishambles enters OED. Among the 203 entries added to the Oxford English Dictionary last week was “omnishambles” - the terms popularised by the BBC popularised by the BBC political satire The Thick of It, defined as “a situation that has been comprehensively mismanaged." Perfect description for the parliament’s handling of Brexit…? Editor
    
10. The bottom line. Do you have a secret? According to new study, you likely have around 13 secrets brewing in that head of yours - five of which you'll never tell a soul. The researchers say that it isn't the number of secrets you keep that's significant. Rather, it's the burden of those secrets - they weigh on you, literally. BBC