How to cultivate the extraordinary Some people are able to rise above chaos and lead projects, teams and companies through challenging times, and it may seem difficult to find such "unicorns." "Perhaps the best way to find more unicorns is to begin by looking in the mirror and cultivating unicorn behavior in ourselves," Steve McKee writes. Full Story: SmartBrief/Leadership (4/7)
Workplace communication isn't one way or the other Asynchronous communication can improve focus, flexibility and onboarding but can be insufficient for culture-building. "Teams will still want real-time communication to make decisions, do creative brainstorming, and build relationships with their colleagues and customers," says Github executive Erica Brescia. Full Story: BBC (free registration) (4/8)
Many rides on public transit systems became free during the pandemic, and authorities in places like Virginia and Massachusetts are considering making that permanent. This goal is to help low-income users as well as attract commuters who might be returning to on-site work. Full Story: SmartCitiesWorld (free registration) (4/1),Greater Greater Washington (Washington, D.C.) (4/7)
Dems urge salary threshold hike for overtime pay Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh is being urged by four congressional Democrats to raise the earnings threshold for overtime pay from its current annual threshold of $35,568 under the Fair Labor Standards Act to a minimum of $82,732 by 2026. The group is also calling for automatic increases. Full Story: HR Dive (4/7)
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Less can be more When aiming to make something better, people often add elements to an existing design. However, an equally effective strategy might be to steer toward minimalism and existing features. And just in case you think the expert in this article, Leidy Klotz, might not practice what he preaches when it comes to minimalism, check out the background during his portion of the video. Full Story: Scientific American (tiered subscription model) (4/2021)
The mental health of people living in areas that have greater biodiversity was found to be better than those living in places with fewer birds or plants, according to results reported in the journal Landscape and Urban Planning. "Our results show that nature conservation can, indeed, be understood as a means to promote human health.. investing in biodiversity can promote the health of the urban population," said senior study author Katrin Rehdanz. Full Story: HealthDay News (4/7)
The Water Cooler
A lonesome cowboy became a rustling cowboy David Marriott spent his two-week quarantine in an Australian hotel being productive -- well, if turning paper delivery bags into a cowboy outfit and paper horse (using the room's ironing board and desk lamp as skeleton) is productive. With his skills as an art director on TV commercials, Marriott even made video clips using his new persona, The Clingfilm Kid and his trusty sidekick Russell. Full Story: The Associated Press (4/7)
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