The World's Best Book Summaries
What is the hyperactive hive mind? What causes this mindset? Cal Newport’s book A World Without Email describes the term “hyperactive hive mind workflow” (HHMW). This is where all members of an organization are in constant, frantic, and often unnecessary communication. Let’s look at the four factors that create and drive the hyperactive hive mind workflow.
What are the benefits of a shorter workweek? Why are there also drawbacks? The push to reduce work schedules gathered momentum during the pandemic, which forced employers to become more flexible about working arrangements and led many workers to reflect on unhealthy work cultures. However, workers and businesses are still trying to evaluate the viability of a shorter workweek. Read on for an overview of shorter workweek benefits as well as the drawbacks to reducing working hours.
Where are you headed in life, and how fast are you going? What’s your niche? Should you be a generalist or a specialist? If these questions resonate with you, you’re probably figuring out how you fit in the larger scheme of things. You have a unique combination of personality, strengths, and interests, which means that you have a unique place to thrive. Now you just need to get there. Continue reading for tips on how to find your place in the world.
What’s the Red Queen effect? What are some ways to thrive in the midst of competitors? In The Great Mental Models Volume 2, authors Rhiannon Beaubien and Shane Parrish introduce two evolutionary models—the Red Queen effect and adaptation. They use them to explain the importance of keeping up with our competition and the mechanisms by which we can do so. Continue reading to learn how to apply these models to your life and work.
Should college students choose a career-oriented program or a major they enjoy more? What kind of mindset will help them succeed? In Excellent Sheep, author and former Yale professor William Deresiewicz argues that college students can actively create a high-quality education for themselves. He recommends that they connect with inspiring professors, follow their interests, and expect and embrace failure. Continue reading to learn about these three tips for college students.
What does long-term unemployment (LTU) mean? What are the risks of LTU? Which workers have been affected the most? A year after Covid-19 was declared a pandemic and the economy ground to a halt, 4.1 million workers fell into long-term unemployment—unemployment for six or more months. Workers experiencing LTU are finding it increasingly more difficult to rejoin the workforce. Read on to learn how long-term unemployment is harming workers post-Covid.
How does hiring bias affect different groups of workers? Why are educated (knowledge) workers experiencing more hiring bias currently? Educated workers have been disproportionately trapped in long-term unemployment because of biases potential employers have. These include age biases or the belief that something must be wrong with someone who’s been out of work for a while. Keep reading to learn why the stigma of hiring bias is disproportionately affecting educated workers.
How are jobs after the pandemic different? How has the workforce changed? What can companies do to accommodate these changes? Acknowledging how the pandemic has fundamentally changed the workforce will lead to both happier workers and a more adaptable team. To retain current workers or hire new ones, companies should allow for more autonomy, acknowledging that less supervision doesn’t mean less productivity. Keep reading to learn more about how jobs, hiring, and the entire workforce are changing post-pandemic.
What’s more important—your team’s success or your own? At what cost will you protect your leadership position? In his book Hit Refresh, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella explains that a good leader prioritizes the success of the team above his own. He also discusses the importance of involving your team in decisions so that everyone has a say. Read more to learn about Nadella’s philosophy and practice of selfless leadership.
Do you find it difficult to get yourself to sit down and do your work? Do you tend to put off work until the last minute and then end up scrambling? According to Neil Fiore, the author of The Now Habit, avoiding work is a symptom of anxiety rather than laziness or lack of motivation. Therefore, discipline is not an enduring solution. To address the problem, you have to tackle the underlying psychological reasons that make you dread work. Here’s why you’re avoiding work and just can’t get things done.