How to address 17 biases that affect leadership Humans have myriad biases, but strong leaders are those who work to become more aware of and manage their biases, writes inclusive leadership trainer Julie Kratz. Leaders can work to overcome biases by actively seeking out diverse perspectives, identifying allies and establishing a culture of feedback and accountability, Kratz writes. Full Story: Entrepreneur (5/30)
The new definition of the ideal job candidate The characteristics of the ideal job candidate have changed since the start of the pandemic, with employers emphasizing soft skills more than ever instead of looking at just technical abilities or experience and schooling. Companies want employees that can collaborate well with others, are adaptable and have strong communication skills. Full Story: BBC (5/26)
Curb office politics that can inhibit a company's growth and employee retention by supporting team members, being transparent about issues, providing a clear path to advancement and ensuring that awards and incentives are doled out fairly, writes Kurt Motamedi, a professor at Pepperdine University Graziadio Business School. "If an employee leaves under circumstances related to a negative office politics environment, they will let their colleagues know to avoid that workplace," Motamedi writes. Full Story: Chief Executive (6/1)
Tips on how to retain your best employees People stay working for people, not companies, writes Martin Zwilling, CEO and founder of Startup Professionals. He shares tips from Jennifer Nash, author of "Be Human, Lead Human," who says business owners should work on their active listening skills, always say "thank you" and recognize employees for work well-done, motivate them by sharing what has previously led to success and always exhibit humanity. Full Story: Startup Professionals Musings (6/4)
The Landscape
Insurance company pays all employees the same wage Travel insurance startup SafetyWing pays the same wage to all 68 of its remote employees -- from the CEO and CFO to the software engineers and content writers. Pay transparency laws and geographically-based salaries losing their appeal due to remote working could make SafetyWing's approach, or aspects of it, more common in the future, Megan Carnegie writes. Full Story: Wired online (UK) (5/30)
339k jobs added to US payrolls in May US employers added 339,000 jobs to the nation's payrolls in May, while the unemployment rate rose to 3.7%, from 3.4% in April, according to the Labor Department. It also revised upward March and April's totals for a net gain of 93,000 jobs, illustrating the ongoing strength of the labor market despite rising interest rates and persistently high inflation. Full Story: The Wall Street Journal (6/2)
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Do you need an IRA if you already have a 401(k)? Many employees -- even those who have access to 401(k)s through their jobs -- should consider setting up IRAs to bolster their retirement readiness. IRAs may offer a broader range of investment choices than a typical 401(k), and Roth accounts can be helpful for managing the tax burden in retirement, advisors note. Full Story: The Wall Street Journal (6/4)
In securing 14 out of 20 spots, India dominates this list of the Top 20 Most-Polluted cities on Earth. However, the top spot isn't a city in India. Full Story: Visual Capitalist (6/4)
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SmartBreak: Question of the Day
Computer programmer Alexey Pajitnov may be familiar to you, if you like games. What did he invent? Check your answer here.
