Maths and science cultivate skills that are critical, which is why we need to encourage young people to take these subjects at school and beyond “Maths and science lay the foundation in applying knowledge when encountering complex principles at schools and tertiary level, as well as in scenarios beyond the classroom. Had it not been for the effort of scientists,
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Companies that work on a culture that encourages people to speak up when something bothers them are stronger and more resilient than those that discourage dialogue, says Helen Vermaak, business director at The Human Edge She says, “These companies were able to make quick pivots to confront the need to change, creating a feeling of safety to talk about things
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Companies that employ lifelong learners have the edge in a constantly changing environment “Lifelong learners will be the most important assets of tomorrow’s most successful businesses, helping them to grow and innovate at a time of rapid and constant change… BUT there is a shared responsibility between employers and employees while you can create an enabling environment and deliver the
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Getting retrenched can completely derail you, sending you into a spiral of despondency and low self-esteem, but there are ways to remain on track “Once the initial shock is over, it is very important to reassess your situation and take proactive steps to het things back on track. This is something one should not do alone as emotions can cloud
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Good managers are tough but fair, accessible but not a pushover, and definitely never resort to bullying “A toxic tough boss can use bullying tactics to express their authority. They would use phrases like “my way or the highway’. Which is not an encouraging attitude. People need to feel that they are valued, not that they are in a working
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Remote working is likely to remain part of our lives even when we return to some version of normality, and this means companies need to maximise the benefits and minimise the disadvantages “For many people, social isolation, the lack of corporate structure and disruption of their support arrangements (such as schools closing for lockdowns) are beginning to bite,” says Jeff
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None of us is completely honest, though mostly it’s white lies such as saying we don’t mind helping a colleague with a task when we really do – some people’s lies are more destructive “It is something different when we are blatantly lied to, to benefit the liar. You have the controls in your hand. Choose not to tolerate the
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After almost 18 months of remote working, getting back to the office will not be a seamless process “There are no precedents to follow in the aftermath of a global pandemic [but there are some] ‘must do’ actions that corporations, large and small, should consider when attracting new employees and welcoming back old staff,” says Linda Trim, director at workplace
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Working from home can mean employees are always available to work – If this is not addressed, it can lead to employee burnout “The lines between home and work have been blurred, and it has proved increasingly difficult to maintain work-life balance,” says Sandra Orta, general manager for SA and head of the management center for Sub-Saharan Africa at Roche
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It could be a presentation you have to give to your team or a speech at a conference, but not long after you have celebrated being chosen to shine, you are crippled by doubt and unable to stop thinking about how badly it will go “It is healthy to be a little nervous. You are honing your talents – but
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