Hello and welcome to Working It. We have some exciting workplace news to share this week! Amy Edmondson, a Harvard Business School professor, recently visited the FT to discuss the concept of psychological safety at work and how we can learn from our failures. Interestingly, she refers to failures as the “right kind of wrong,” which is also the title of her new book. This book has been shortlisted for the FT/Schroders Business Book of the Year Award, which you can find the full list of nominees here. In our podcast episode with Amy, she confirms that failure alone does not teach us anything or make us wise, despite what social media may suggest. Learning from failure requires hard work and honesty.
Now, let’s delve into the benefits of having “boomerang” staff who return to their previous employers. This trend is becoming more prevalent as hiring managers seek qualified individuals to fill gaps in their teams. Rehiring former employees is akin to dating an ex; it may not be perfect, but there’s a familiarity and understanding. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has embraced this trend and is actively rehiring ex-staff. To further promote this, the company hosted an alumni event at their Dreamforce conference, where former employees were given special seats and custom swag, including a boomerang-themed stuffed animal. This concept of boomeranging is expected to continue as longer lifespans contribute to individuals seeking additional income or wanting to reenter the workforce after retirement.
While some may view returning to a lower-level position as a setback, it can actually be beneficial for individuals earlier in their careers. Working in different environments expands one’s horizons and can lead to accelerated growth. In the past, employers often viewed employees who left as traitors, but this mindset is changing. Companies now cultivate strong alumni networks and stay connected with former employees, creating a pool of potential returners. Deloitte, for instance, regularly hosts events and maintains a monthly alumni newsletter and LinkedIn group. The familiarity these boomerangers have with the business allows them to make a quicker impact compared to first-time hires.
However, it’s important to consider that if you left a job due to issues with corporate culture, managers, or clients, those factors are unlikely to have changed upon your return. Despite potential setbacks and toxic colleagues elsewhere, some individuals realize that their previous workplace may not have been as bad as they initially perceived.
In this week’s Working It podcast episode, we explore the growing trend of individuals retraining as counsellors and psychotherapists. Many people are seeking a better work-life balance and are eager to assist others with their workplace and personal problems. The workplace is often compared to a grand theatre, where daily dramas unfold. This episode features insights from Michael Skapinker, a former colleague who is now a counsellor, and Bethan Staton from the FT who discusses the surge in therapy-related careers.
In our Office Therapy segment, we address a common problem faced by an executive assistant. She finds her boss’s communication style in emails and texts to be brusque, lacking greetings and pleasantries. While it may be challenging at first, our advice is to adapt to your boss’s communication preferences as they likely indicate that you’re doing well. It may also be helpful to seek advice from colleagues who have been in a similar role or have talked to them about their experiences. Remember, each person brings their own perspective to digital exchanges, so it’s crucial to understand and adapt to different communication styles.
If you have any questions, problems, or dilemmas for our Office Therapy segment or if you have alternative advice for our readers, please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected].
Here are the top five stories in the world of work:
1. Dyson and the divide over working from home: This in-depth article explores the extreme workplace culture at Dyson and the consequences of enforcing return-to-office regulations.
2. Paternity leave in finance: Financial services companies are making efforts to provide generous parental leave for both men and women. However, the disconnect between policy and reality still exists, highlighting the challenges that men face when taking their leave.
3. Success is more complicated than one exceptional individual: This insightful column challenges the notion of the great leader and emphasizes that success is a collective effort rather than the achievement of an exceptional individual.
4. Bosses won’t like it, but WFH is a happier way to work: In this column, the author shares their personal experience as a happy home worker and highlights the joys and efficiencies of remote work, contrasting them with the return to the office after summer.
5. Net zero was never going to be an easy win for workers: This article discusses the challenges that workers face in achieving net-zero goals, highlighting the complexities and potential sacrifices involved.
Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences on these topics. You can reach me at [email protected].
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
