No. 14 OBSERVE The Odgers Berndtson Global Magazine_ Issue 02 2018 odgersberndtson.com

WELL

WORKINGA special issue on wellbeing at work For more than 50 years, Our special thanks to the following Odgers Berndtson has Odgers Berndtson contributors helped some of the to this issue: OBSERVE world’s biggest and best Leon Ayo, Johannesburg, South Africa organisations find their Eric Beaudan, Toronto, Canada senior talent. Kenny Chen, Singapore We do so by forming Jacqueline Foley, Toronto, Canada strong relationships Adam Gates, Odgers Connect, London with the most talented Mark Houghton, Dubai, UAE people, with those John Jakenfelds, London, UK seeking them and between our own teams Stuart Morton, London, UK globally to bring both Julie Steiner, Sydney, Australia sides together. It is Elizabeth Stewart, London, UK because of our deep, non-transactional and lasting partnerships that our clients can acquire, develop and retain their strongest leaders.

We deliver executive search and leadership services to businesses and organisations varying in size, structure and maturity. We do that across more than 50 sectors, be it commercial, public or not-for-profit, and can draw on the experience of more than 250 Partners and their teams in 29 countries.

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Join the conversation at: @odgersberndtson #obobserve Linked Odgers Berndtson No. 14 OBSERVEThe Odgers Berndtson Global Magazine_ Issue 02 2018 odgersberndtson.com

INSIDE: Resilience Happiness Diversity Mindfulness Diabetes crisis Neuroscience and much more

Contents

The roots of wellness 6 Under observation are ancient, its Well working stories worldwide corporate history a much more recent one. 7 Apps and tech Clearly, the ideas and Seven ways to help your wellbeing practices of wellness in the workplace have 8 Mindfulness in mind exploded globally, Should you believe all the hype? alongside a flurry of It depends on the research you read digital technology. But does well 10 The social question working, as we’ve called it, merit all the Well working and social media: attention it’s getting? new analysis from Shareablee We’re devoting this edition of Observe 12 Changing attitudes to answering that question in an in-depth Companies around the world with examination that goes beyond the hype a radical approach to well working and headlines. We ask whether well working is merely a 16 The power of resilience sticking plaster on badly managed businesses Resilient CEOs make all the difference desperate to adapt to relentless change, or an opportunity for a genuine competitive edge in 20 Happiness a world where the line between life and work Don’t worry, be happy! is increasingly blurred. Our well working debate ranges far and 24 Turn off, switch on wide. Among other things, it takes in buildings The benefits of a digital detox built for happiness, the macro forces of ill health 28 The invisible epidemics threatening workforces, stress and personal An in-depth look at the growing diabetes resilience, the hard facts behind the mindfulness and dementia crises worldwide craze, the ups and downs of independent working, the best apps to aid well working, 34 Diverse opinions and understanding how your brain works. Multi-ethnic boards are in short supply We hope you’ll enjoy the debate and our conclusions, and find some useful advice and 38 State of independence tips along the way. How to work well when you’re going it alone In short, we hope ‘well working’ works for you. 42 Happy buildings Mark Houghton Why the design of your building can Managing Partner, make all the difference to well working Odgers Berndtson Middle East 46 Neuroscience Latest developments, plus some practical advice for boosting your brain 50 Singapore swing How Singapore is turning to wellbeing to @odgersberndtson

No. 14 combat diabetes and poor diet OBSERVEThe Odgers Berndtson Global Magazine_ Issue 02 2018 #obobserve odgersberndtson.com 54 A sense of being Self-aware leaders can transform organisations Observe To read any of the great 58 Turning over a new leaf content featured in Observe WELL over the past three years, The power of plants and nature in the WORKINGA special issue on wellbeing at work go to odgersberndtson.com workplace to aid well working and click on the ‘Insights’ tab

@odgersberndtson OBSERVE 2/18 5 Under observation Tech

against elite athletes from around Stories and of workers the world in the annual, four-day at companies CrossFit Games held last summer in Skagen Hybrid. A smart Pacifica says it is the Muse is a brain sensing statistics that 91% that support Wisconsin, USA. The games are truly alternative to the ubiquitous “number one app to headband that helps you wellbeing efforts say arduous. Athletes run, bike, swim, Fitbit or Apple Watch, help deal with get the most out of look at global lift weights, do calisthenics, climb 1Skagen’s Signatur Connected 4stress, anxiety and depression 5meditation practice. Put on the they feel motivated to ladders, and compete in other shows (Source: American hybrid smart watch is a stylish alongside a supportive headset and complete breathing wellbeing and do their best. of strength like handstand push-ups. Psychological Assocation) item of wrist wear that tracks community” and is based on exercises to the sound of waves How many CEOs reading this can well working match McKinnon’s efforts? basic activities automatically, cognitive behavioural therapy (neutral), storms (bad) and and synchronises with your and mindfulness meditation. tweeting birds (good) each iOS or Android smartphone. thinkpacifica.com or via the indicating how focused you are. 61% skagen.com App Store Available via the App Store of employees agree that 7 Cups is an on-demand focus@will is a music they’ve made healthier emotional health and service that claims to lifestyle choices because of wellbeing service. be able to pinpoint your 6 in 10 their company’s wellness 2Anyone who wants to talk 6personality type through two + has taken an innovative approach Canadians believe “their programme. about whatever is on test questions from which it will to getting its employees fit. Every (Source: Aflec) employer has some Friday they are asked to leave their their mind can quickly then offer you the appropriate responsibility in ensuring desks at the company’s Stockholm reach out to a trained, music genre to improve your their good health”. headquarters to have their weekly compassionate focus. Based on its survey of (Source: Buffett National Wellness Survey) workout at a nearby gym. listener through the 22,000 active users, focus time For more than two years the 7 Cups global network. increased four-fold, thus company founded by the Swedish Boo ks tennis legend has made on-the-job It has hundreds of optimising productivity. exercise mandatory at the initiative listeners who come focusatwill.com The Growth Delusion: of chief executive Henrik Bunge. from all walks of life Wealth, Poverty and “If you don’t want to exercise or be and have diverse the Well-Being of a part of the company culture, you experiences. Life Analytics Nations have to go,” says Bunge. So far no 7cups.com or is a handy app by David Pilling, published by one has felt the need to leave Egonomicsr Bloomsbury, £20/$26/€21 because of the fitness regime. via the App Store that “visualises Please be seated 7your daily life” and Writing in Foreign Affairs magazine, If you are prepared to spend automatically analyses reviewer Richard between $1,500 and $2,500 Spire claims to how you spend your N. Cooper rightly (€1,377 to €2,298; £1,190 to £1,990) be “the world’s time based on location pointed out that 80% you can avail yourself of one of the only breath data. It uses graphs “growth often of employees in pet-friendly world’s most expensive office chairs. 3and activity tracker arranged by categories becomes a fetish workplaces say having pets The Xten, a collaboration between for politicians and nearby while they work iconic Italian design firm Pininfarina proven to decrease for home, work and policymakers, who makes them feel “happy, and furnishings pioneers Ares Line stress and increase leisure. Because have given it priority over many relaxed and sociable”. was developed in 2008 at a cost productivity”. most people’s actions are other aspects of national wellbeing. of $1.5m and looks as good today It measures your linked with locations like (Source: Purina) This informative and sometimes as it did at the outset. Made from breathing patterns where they work, live and humorous book serves as a useful Technogel, a customised to determine your shop, Life Analytics analyses antidote to that myopia.” And how polyurethane material, and Dynatec, Ftnessi timely it is. “When it comes to the a fabric designed for Olympic state of mind and your daily life based on that economy,” Pilling argues, “officials Mr Muscle athletes, it’s the ultimate in well help achieve calm. location data. and leaders should pay a little more working (or well sitting). spire.io or via Available via Not some bulging AMY L

attention to quality and a little less A wrestler type, XtenChair.com the App Store the App Store to quantity.” (See our feature on Todd McKinnon national happiness on p20.) is co-founder and

/REX of businesses K CEO of Okta, a say employee Hahe lt publicly traded A range of apps identity management company 78% wellbeing is W orking out for based in San Francisco and valued a critical part of their and other tech to well working at $2 billion. Last year he became business plans. help you improve Swedish fashion and sports retailer the world’s 14th fittest man in the (Source: Virgin Pulse) AMY/SHUTTERSTOC L A Björn Borg (yes, that Björn Borg) 45 to 49 age group after competing Just do it! your well working

6 OBSERVE 2/18 odgersberndtson.com @odgersberndtson OBSERVE 2/18 7 Mindfulness

It was Kabat-Zinn who came up employee number 1072, software systems proves it’s more than with “mindfulness-based stress engineer Chade-Meng Tan”. Back just a fad. According to a paper reduction” as a way to deal with in 2007, Tan launched ‘Search published in 2017 by the UK conditions that were seen as Inside Yourself’, a seven-week Mindfulness All-Party otherwise difficult to treat. “By mindfulness meditation course Parliamentary Group, “a culture Is deploying the early 2000s,” adds Statka, for Google employees. “At first, of mindfulness in the workplace “the concept of mindfulness had his colleagues were reluctant,” could certainly be a step in the mindfulness in the ballooned in popularity.” said the Wired report. “They right direction to improve workplace really And as the world gets questioned what, if anything, employee wellbeing. The tougher, more stressful, more a mystical, new-age, candlelit, potential benefits of practising beneficial or is it, as connected and more manic, deep-chanting practice could mindfulness at work exercises some argue, fraught anything that helps calm us do for them. But it wasn’t long could include improved down must be good, right? before Tan’s colleagues learned resilience, fewer absences due with conflicting that a mindfulness practice that to sickness, the cultivation of evidence? Trials and tribulations helps you to be truly present positive workplace relationships Nevertheless, the critics still with yourself and others had and better collaboration persisted. American Psychologist the power to change the way between colleagues … reported that only around nine they worked and lived. Soon, mindfulness is a technique that’s per cent of research into Googlers who went through even recommended by the UK’s mindfulness-based interventions Tan’s class were raving about National Health Service to had been tested in clinical trials its benefits. They felt calmer, improve mental wellbeing.” that included a control group. clear-headed and more focused.” Jacqueline Foley, Chief The journal went on to say that Marketing Officer at Odgers multiple large placebo-controlled The ultimate tool Berndtson Canada, agrees: meta-analyses concluded that Similar beneficial experiences “Today’s leaders are facing mindfulness practices have often have been recorded by numerous unprecedented change,” she The produced unimpressive results. aficionados from organisations says. “They are often stressed A 2014 review of 47 meditation both big and small. For example, and distracted, making it difficult trials, collectively including more Nike’s ‘Headspace’ app is, to focus and be in the moment than 3,500 participants, found according to Andy Puddicombe, with others. I think mindfulness no evidence for benefits related Headspace co-founder, “the enables you to be more mindfulness to enhancing attention, curtailing ultimate tool for any athlete at compassionate, because you are substance abuse, aiding sleep any level. It [mindfulness] can taking the time to listen to and f, as some major global or controlling weight. help strengthen motivation, check in with people. Then in organisations argue, Counter those findings with increase focus, improve resilience, turn people feel more heard, mindfulness has had a the seemingly inexorable rise enhance form, optimise recovery and they feel more respected.” Iprofound and positive effect debate of mindfulness use in the and, perhaps most important of The general conclusion is that on their employees – from argued: “Many psychologists, often void of a control group workplace and it seems that all, get us out of our head and yes, mindfulness can be a useful boardroom to shop floor – neuroscientists and meditation to rule out the placebo effect.” some organisations are carrying into the body for an enjoyable leadership tool (even if the then why isn’t every business experts are afraid that hype So far as its provenance goes, on regardless, whatever the and fulfilling training session.” scientists are still debating) – for using it? [about mindfulness] is outpacing most scientists, practitioners formal science concludes. Not all the respected scientific people who are first trained by The answer is more complex the science. In an article in and users do agree that Mindfulness meditation is journals are in the ‘inconclusive’ a properly qualified practitioner than you might think. Much of Perspectives on Psychological mindfulness is rooted in being deployed as part of camp. According to a 2011 study and then do it as a daily practice. the debate focuses on the Science, 15 prominent Buddhist thought and theory; employee development in a published in the Journal of “You make the time and fit it into existing – and often very robust psychologists and cognitive that it was later taken up in number of high-profile Fortune Neuroscience, just four days of your schedule,” Foley concludes. – evidence that has been scientists caution that despite the 1970s by Professor Jon 500 companies, including such mindfulness meditation halved “For me, honestly, it’s been conducted over recent years its popularity and supposed Kabat-Zinn at the University behemoths as Google, Apple pain perception in participants transformational.I am calmer into whether or not mindfulness benefits, scientific data on of Massachusetts; and that and Nike. This is good news for compared to those who did not and more thoughtful which I really works. And much of that mindfulness is woefully lacking. Kabat-Zinn, a cognitive scientist those involved in the US$1.1bn practise it. It presents compelling believe makes me a better evidence is, well, inconclusive. Many of the studies on who founded the university’s mindfulness and meditation evidence for meditation’s ability colleague and team leader. It’s a mindfulness and meditation, Stress Reduction Clinic and the industry, which in turn makes up to improve the quality of life for practice anyone can take on and Believe the hype? the authors wrote, are poorly Center for Mindfulness in 7.4 per cent of the overall $15.1bn those suffering from pain. benefit from, and I think that is Writing in the October 2017 designed – compromised by Medicine, was advocating its alternative care market in the US. Perhaps the fact that even why it has really taken off. I’m edition of the renowned journal inconsistent definitions of what astounding efficacy in dealing Just last year, Wired reported some governments have adopted just sorry it took me so long to

SHUTTERSTOCK Scientific American, Brett Statka mindfulness actually is, and with a number of problems. on the experiences of “Google mindfulness within their health finally do it.”■

8 OBSERVE 2/18 odgersberndtson.com @odgersberndtson OBSERVE 2/18 9 Happiness Sleep and as a key to workplace Insight a business’ wellbeing Design and Insight success Happiest architecture in the workplace Workplace cities to work in have available for their employees. analysed in the Shareablee culture success, with more than Well working conversations on 3% Deutsche Bank’s posts spoke about study. In particular, two posts E 4% 66 per cent of total ‘Actions’ M 4% E social media abound, as research relieving negative stigma around on workplace wellbeing made 4% arising from posts with either

mental health and the services it up seven per cent of total Y TH or both. Shareablee analysis by Shareablee demonstrates 5% T B

provides to combat the issue. engagement and achieved N 49% found that posts that included E Management’s Meanwhile, SAP (via its ‘Life at SAP’ 40 times more engagement M 8% a photo or included a link had E Mental active role in

page) hosted TEDx speaker and than Marriott Careers’ average AG health workplace the most engagement, with most

G wellbeing hen Virgin CEO The sample included brands, workplace happiness expert Holly post engagement. posts linking to a company’s EN 23%

F Work/life

Sir Richard publishers (publishing houses Landau at an internal event. Perhaps unsurprisingly, O website for a full article. balance

Branson posted and news organisations such as The private sector leads the US-based organisations lead R Ultimately, work-life balance

Wfrom his own social media The New York Times, Forbes and wellbeing in the workplace the conversation with a 59 per SHAE posts sparked the most account to promote his the Harvard Business Review) conversation, with 71 per cent of cent share of total engagement. conversation or were the most- company’s Extended Shared and public institutions such as total engagement on the subject. The UK followed with 17 per commented posts, with 22 per Parental Leave policy in 2015, Public Health England (which Shareablee analysed the top- cent of total engagement, cent of all post comments.

it became the most shared posted about sleep deprivation performing posts on the subject then Swiss-based businesses M Physical activity such as doing R post on Facebook on the topic. and work performance), the and found that the most engaging with 13 per cent and Australian O 36% more exercise also trended high TF

A Facebook Branson’s use of social media Cleveland Clinic and the World posts featured an organisation’s pages ranking at 10 per cent. 57% on social media. The Luxottica to promote his sprawling Health Organisation (which senior management taking an PL Twitter Group (a leader in the design, organisation’s well working posted tips to promote ways active role in promoting wellbeing Action and reaction manufacture and distribution S practices is just one high-profile to combat mental health issues – and specifically happiness – in Where companies are posting 7% of luxury eyewear) took to PO TS BY example of the way in which at work). the workplace. CEOs, take note. on ‘workplace’, wellbeing had Instagram Facebook touting its investment social media is being used to Prominent organisations such Marriott Careers’ Facebook page, an impact as well. While in promoting physical activity great effect to discuss this as Deutsche Bank, GSK and featuring its ‘Wunderlust’ podcast Twitter saw the most posts for its employees and offering increasingly important topic. SAP use their social media series and including interviews with on the topic, Facebook posts healthy meal options in its 5% It also enabled Virgin to pages to talk about their own its Chief Human Resources Officer had the most engagement Twitter cafeteria, while Deloitte used M spread the well working word initiatives to promote well David Rodriguez, had the most with 82 per cent of total R 12% Instagram in 2016 to showcase O Instagram to global followers and working and the resources they engagement of the 2,250 posts engagement occurring on TF its new Toronto offices with A

employees quickly, effectively that platform. Photos and PL dedicated spaces for mental and with high engagement link posts had the most Y and physical health. T B N

(e.g. likes, shares, reactions E 83% Global furniture designers M and comments). E Facebook Steelcase and Knoll also used

Apart from Branson’s very G social media to talk about the specific post, what does social EN AG important role furniture media as a whole have to say ergonomics and office design about wellbeing and well play in an employee’s satisfaction working? Quite a lot, according and overall happiness in the AB OUT SHAREABLEE to data compiled by social Launched in 2013, Shareablee workplace. The designers had media analytics firm Shareablee. empowers brands by providing the most success on Instagram data that can help them define and drive success on social using stylised images that feature Social analytics media by arming them with well on the platform. Shareablee analysed more than metrics and predictive analytics This is just a snapshot of the that inform powerful best 900 organisations who posted practices. It is the leading dynamic social media activity on the topic between January 1, authority on audience being undertaken by companies 2015 and March 31, 2018. intelligence, competitive promoting their well working benchmarking and actionable insights across the social web, credentials. With more than measuring more than 500,000 73 billion engagements on global properties across all Facebook, Twitter and Instagram major social platforms every day. It helps marketers quantify in 2017 in the USA alone, why the value of their audiences would companies not want to by providing insights and take to social media to extol the data-driven assessments virtues of their well working A social about how consumers are engaging with their brands activities and better connect and competitors on Facebook, with their employees? ■ Twitter, Instagram, Google+, Tumblr and YouTube. shareablee.com ALAMY experie nce 10 OBSERVE 2/18 odgersberndtson.com @odgersberndtson OBSERVE 2/18 11 Well working leaders The breakers rule Globally, corporate wellbeing is a $40bn industry. From unlimited vacations and sabbaticals, through growing organic vegetables and astronomical personal budgets for the workplace, Observe highlights 11 companies offering a unique approach to well working

Asana Z appos Google as well as the PiLab – or local communities for four employee assistance Well working is at the forefront At Zappos, decentralised Arguably an obvious choice, People & Innovative Lab hours per month. programme offers education at this San Francisco-based organisation reigns. Their but as a pioneer of innovative – which researches and It is, says Mark Levy Airbnb’s on matters such as stopping software company established model removes the typical employee well working initiatives develops new techniques for former Global Head of smoking, weight and overall by Facebook co-founder Dustin corporate command-and- Google is worthy of inclusion. employees’ wellbeing. Employee Experience, about fitness, gym and exercise Moskovitz and software engineer control structure, instead Its ‘Optimise Your Life’ “creating memorable workplace classes and spousal Justin Rosenstein, both of whom replacing it with one in programme focuses on Airbnb experiences that span all healthcare. Workers are were involved with improving which everyone becomes improving “self-actualisation and Airbnb’s ‘workplace as an aspects of how we relate to also offered healthy eating employee productivity at the a leader in their own role. self-fulfilment” through three experience’ vision is built on employees, including how we initiatives, as well as on-site social media giant. Despite trading in sports pillars: emotional health, physical creating memorable workplace recruit them, develop them … grocery and personal care Alongside wellbeing ‘must footwear, Zappos foregoes health and financial health. experiences and a true sense of the type of volunteer services, a host of extensive haves’ like daily yoga, gym the more clichéd gym classes In practice, this includes, belonging for every employee. experiences we offer them, and mentor programmes and memberships, mentoring and fitness regimes when it among other things, life A ‘belong anywhere’ the food we share together”. [1] learning opportunities. programmes focused on comes to well working. Rather, coaching, deep sleep sessions, environment encourages staff learning and health, executive the company champions brain training, flexible hours to create their own workspaces, Microsoft Rdo ale Inc. coaching and unlimited holiday, ‘Wellness Adventures’ in and vacations, support groups while each employee has his From an annual wellbeing The international publisher, Asana even gives each new which employees take part in and ‘recharge pods’. or her own webpage on a week for all staff to the known for its Women’s Health starter a $10,000 budget to regular group activities off-site, Google’s Campus hosts dedicated intranet, from which ‘Microsoft Living Wellness and Men’s Health titles, create his or her own unique ‘Recess Tuesdays’ in which physicians, chiropractors, they communicate and interact Health Center’, Microsoft views somewhat unsurprisingly workspace. Motorised desks that playground toys are distributed, healthcare professionals, socially with others in the employee health as essential practises what it preaches. allow an employee to sit or stand and ‘Energy Pods’ available for fitness centres and classrooms business. Employees are also for well working. Employees are provided with

ALAMY/IKON are the most popular choice. employees to take naps in. for extra-curricular activities, encouraged to volunteer with The Microsoft CARES on-site fitness facilities and ➝

12 OBSERVE 2/18 odgersberndtson.com @odgersberndtson OBSERVE 2/18 13 Well working leaders classes, but the emphasis is free doctor’s appointments fitness classes, ergonomic very much on the outdoors. and a six-month ‘Your Way environment options, A dedicated outdoor running/ to Wellness’ programme. massage and therapy walking trail encourages time It works, too – the company sessions, extensive wellness out in its headquarters’ reportedly has a staff turnover programmes and more. surrounding woodland, and a rate of less than four per cent. garden area lets employees According to Vice President and N etflix relax by growing their own Chief Human Resources Officer Granted, the idea of motivating vegetables and organic produce. Jenn Mann: “It’s critical for us your employees to work by Focused on mental, to provide a workplace that telling them they don’t have to emotional and professional incentivises great talent. This can seem odd. But it’s through development, Rodale also allows them to be motivated, being unencumbered by provides wellness days, creative and innovative.” [2] policies and rules that Netflix meditation facilities, private encourages its employees’ nursing rooms and seminars. Unilever wellbeing, fulfilment at work The global consumer goods and creative spirit. Responsible BP Canada brand delivers employee The company’s holiday Wearable tech from Fitbit is wellbeing and health via policy, now being more people thrive at the heart of BP Canada’s dedicated wellness areas. widely adopted elsewhere, wellbeing initiative. The Its ‘Wellbeing Zone’ features is that there is no policy. on freedom company’s ‘Elements for four sub-zones focused on Employees are free to take Life’ programme uses the individual health aspects. as much, or indeed as little, technology to gather a The ‘Movement Zone’ holiday as they wish and detailed overview of employee includes yoga, stretching whenever they wish. The only wellbeing to ensure a healthy exercises and massage, while stipulations to this ‘formal’ plan work-life balance. the ‘Connection Bridge’ are that work must be covered Four key factors drive encourages employees to take and managers must know ‘Elements for Life’: physical, a break and communicate with where employees are. ■ emotional, financial and social each other. A ‘Refreshment health. The innovative points- Centre’ offers healthy meals 1. https://bit.ly/2Grxssk 2. https://bit.ly/2GtQ7np based system encourages free of charge, and a dedicated employees to take part in ‘Silent Zone’ promotes activities from which they meditation and rest during earn points and are then the working day. rewarded via online tools that monitor professional D eloitte and personal progress. The global consultancy uses a leader-driven, holistic SAS ‘Wellness Strategy’ that focuses A regular on various lists of not only on its employees’ ‘best companies to work for’, professional wellbeing but SAS has nurtured a positive also their personal health. work-life balance since its Leaders must recognise and inception. The company, which reinforce a healthy, balanced has been named as a best place and safe working environment to work for millennials, working across three key tiers: mind, and single parents, offers a body and purpose. It is, says wellness initiative from its Deloitte, only through carefully Recreation and Fitness Center. balancing these three This includes a multitude of elements that employees exercise and fitness classes, can realise their health-conscious eateries, full potential in on-site childcare, educational the workplace. courses and an on-site Workers are healthcare programme including offered gym and

14 OBSERVE 2/18 Leadership Leadership To survive and thrive in the senior leadership arena, you need resilience to enable you to combat the myriad challenges faced every day. keiron pim reports

ompeting to work his psychiatrist devised, which “Resilience is the ability to the longest hours, will include mindfulness, manage a sprint as well as a struggling on through psychological testing and marathon,” says Elizabeth Stewart, illness, toughing it out nutrition analysis. This comes Odgers Berndtson’s Head of Cwhen chronic stress takes its toll within a growing corporate Executive Assessment and – for many executives, life in the awareness that trying to be Development in London. For boardroom has more often than Superman is not the best option Jacqueline Carter, Partner and not been a case of survival of either for an individual or their Director, North America of the the fittest. But what is changing business, and that leaders need Potential Project, a global leader is our understanding of how to a more effective toolkit to in providing mindfulness-based keep physically and mentally fit handle their challenges. In a organisational effectiveness for life at the top. word, they need resilience. programmes, “a simple definition The question of how leaders is the capacity to recover quickly can withstand extreme pressure Publicising problems from difficulties”, and it’s “a mental came to the fore last year when, Horta-Osório is not alone. quality that can be trained through in the UK, Lloyds Banking Although other high-profile practising mindfulness”. Group’s CEO António Horta- leaders publicly acknowledging Osório revealed that anxiety their mental health problems Duty of care and insomnia “almost broke are few and far between, there For Rob Stephenson, whose social [him]” while he led the have been some notable cases. enterprise Inside Out aims to change company’s turnaround from The Australian billionaire James corporate culture by encouraging being partly Government- Packer, director of casino executives to discuss their mental owned into a private bank again. operator Crown Resorts and son wellbeing, “resilience is all about Within months of starting the job of the late media mogul Kerry the ability to respond to adversity in 2011, he said, he had a spell in Packer, stood down from his or difficult situations, and there’s a a clinic to avert a breakdown. role in March of this year for strong element of flexibility … I think “I thought I was Superman,” personal reasons believed to be it’s misconstrued that resilience he told The Times. “I felt I could depression and anxiety, which means strength or toughness.” do everything. Before this, I had he is known to have experienced A City of London tax and finance thought that the less sleep and during the past two decades. expert, Stephenson co-founded the more work, the better. It In 2017 Ton Büchner quit as Inside Out in response to his showed me I was not Superman.” CEO of Dutch manufacturer experience of coping with bipolar Now Horta-Osório plans to AkzoNobel, which owns Dulux, disorder in a corporate environment. put 200 of his executives because of health reasons “I think corporates are realising through a programme he and relating to stress. they have a duty of care to help ➝ Leadership individuals manage their mental culture of resilience within resilient,” she says. She suggests Health Organisation has named wellbeing, regardless of where the business. He identifies two doing so by building a ‘growth stress the “health epidemic of the issue may have arisen,” he says. further factors: physical and mindset’ whereby executives 21st century”, and it is estimated “Businesses are starting to psychological fitness. “practise approaching each to cost American businesses up to understand it’s not just workplace “The first piece of resilience situation from the perspective $300bn a year. Her London-based stress they need to be supporting is moving your body,” says May. that it’s not going to be about colleague Louise Chester adds: employees on.” “Get 10,000 steps today. This is their performance, but about “We are seeing tangible evidence Another aspect of corporate life not for fitness, it’s for how they can learn – that having from our work with a large number that is ripe for change is the culture mitochondria – little powerhouse all the answers is both not of leading companies who are of ‘presenteeism’, when employees energy cells. That wakes the possible and not helpful in taking this issue very seriously and turn up for work despite being body up and gets the system generating new ideas. placing both focus and significant unwell, whether physically or working properly.” On top of “Equally important to building budget in this area. mentally. A Deloitte report from that, ensure you do at least resilience is building what we “In London, for instance, we October 2017 titled Mental Health three to four hours’ physical call ‘capacity’ to lead,” Gunn facilitate an ongoing peer-to-peer and Employers: the Case for activity a week to increase VO2 continues, “giving yourself forum for leaders from 30 or so Investment cites this as the greatest max, your body’s maximum rate recovery time so you can of our global clients to explore cost to the UK economy – costing an of oxygen consumption, “which recharge and focus your energy. why resilience is a vital business estimated £17bn-£26bn compared also increases our ability to The science shows that being imperative and a leadership with absence costs of around £8bn switch between stress and in a constant state of stress responsibility, and to confidentially – so tackling it would be a win-win recovery. Movement gives you reduces our ability to engage share challenges and solutions. situation for the business and the energy, and physical activity in creative or lateral thinking, “We are also currently working individual. The report also notes helps us regulate emotion.” and make effective decisions. one-to-one with a number of that businesses that intervene to Good nutrition is also Being low on energy can also CEOs and C-suite teams who address employees’ mental health, essential: ensure your sugar lead to poor self-regulation acknowledge that the resilience whether through individual therapy consumption is moderate, eat and increased reactivity. of their organisation’s people sessions or group workshops to regular meals including protein, “We all know the feeling of is a vital contributor to the build resilience, see an average “which has dopamine to fuel the being worn out and the ‘short sustainable financial wellbeing return on investment of 4.2 to 1. body”, and plenty of fresh fruit fuse’ that creates for us. Our of the organisations they lead. “That’s really where businesses and vegetables, he says. ability to be resilient, and to They realise that resilience starts can make a difference,” Stephenson Secondly there’s psychological bounce back when something with the leaders themselves, with says. “It’s one of the rare cases fitness. Instead of being rigid and inevitably doesn’t work out as their own behaviour and the where the moral case of it being beholden to a ‘fixed mindset’, we planned, depends on having culture they create.” ■ the right thing to do, and the try to develop flexibility in your the reserves that help us to be business case of it being good for thinking. “With thinking skills, reflective and learn from a productivity and the workforce, 50 per cent is genetic, 40 per failure, rather than reacting and REFERENCES are aligned.” cent is trainable and 10 per cent blaming ourselves or others.” • Deloitte report – compiled to is lifestyle,” May believes. Meanwhile the Potential support the UK Government’s Independent Review of Mental Keep in condition Training thinking skills to Project’s Jacqueline Carter Health and Employers: Going hand in hand with this is the become more flexible helps says there’s still much to be https://bit.ly/2yMfnD7 individual executive’s obligation to leaders adapt to changing done at a corporate level. • KPMG Australia’s Performance develop resilience by keeping in circumstances and thus become “In our experience, too many Clinic on resilience: optimum condition for work. So more resilient in trying times. organisations are not addressing https://bit.ly/2k9twnj how should they do this? Above the root causes of a lack of • Inside Out: inside-out.org all else Stephenson recommends Business buy-in resilience: busy, overworked, prioritising a good night’s sleep, His KPMG Australia colleague overloaded minds. Although • The Potential Project is a global which boosts our ability to make Dr Jane Gunn, a Partner in the there are many great leader in providing customised, organisational effectiveness decisions and cope with stress. Too Management Consulting programmes to enhance programmes based on little sleep negatively affects this. division in Canberra, notes that resilience, too many of them mindfulness. Its mission is Be disciplined about your bedtime businesses there are addressing provide information and to enhance individual and company performance, and avoid screens and social media the issue – “from mining guidance on what to do, but fall resilience and creativity. It has late at night, he advises, to help companies through to our short on the ‘how?’, which in our brought mindfulness training your body naturally wind down. public sector organisations, view requires training the mind to 100,000 individuals in more than 500 companies across In Australia, Andrew May of businesses are starting to see to change how we process the the world. KPMG’s Performance Clinic is the value in ensuring that their difficulties we experience.” potentialproject.com leading the charge to build a leaders and their workforces are She adds that the World

odgersberndtson.com @odgersberndtson OBSERVE 2/18 19 Happiness Happiness

hen we talk about happiness, I don’t refer to pleasures or Wmomentary feelings. It’s the authentic, Don’t long-term happiness.” So said Ohood The UN urged bint Al Roumi, the Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing in the United members to measure Arab Emirates, who took up the newly created role in 2016. happiness and wellbeing Minister for Happiness? Yup. It really exists. Add in that this is happening in the Middle East and the role is performed by a woman, and it is clear that happiness is increasingly becoming a key measure of social progress. For Clarke, the head of the UN Development many nations, happiness is the Program, spoke against what she called overarching goal of public policy. the “tyranny of GDP”, arguing that what worry, matters is the quality of growth. More than a feeling Some countries, like the tiny kingdom The happiness journey of Bhutan, have long advocated Ms Roumi’s role in the UAE continues treating happiness as much more this global trend. Her aim is nothing than just an unconnected personal less than to create ‘The Happiness sensation. It coined the phrase Journey’ by focusing on five main Can you work well if you aren’t ‘happy’? ‘gross national happiness’ as themes: mind wellbeing, physical far back as 1972 when the 4th wellbeing, emotional wellbeing, Ultimately, it depends on how you define King of Bhutan, King Jigme gastronomy and arts. By ‘happiness’. And it isn’t just about how much Singye Wangchuck, declared: deploying interactive, multi- “Gross National Happiness is sensory and motivational money you have. jonathan arnold reports more important than Gross sessions, cognitive experiences Domestic Product.” and workshops, Roumi hopes to In 2011, The UN General Assembly give participants the “opportunity passed Resolution 65/309 ‘Happiness: to understand the nature of these towards a holistic approach to relationships and their direct impact development’, which states that on their own happiness and wellbeing”. happiness is “a fundamental human Interestingly, Ms Roumi’s quest for goal and universal aspiration; that GDP happiness targets all segments of by its nature does not reflect that goal; society, providing information and that unsustainable patterns of experiences in a simple and practical production and consumption impede manner that contributes to the sustainable development; and that a government’s goal of establishing more inclusive, equitable and balanced happiness and positivity as a lifestyle be approach is needed to promote and cultural trait in the UAE. sustainability, eradicate poverty, and This move towards developing enhance wellbeing and happiness”. national happiness is just one part of The UN urged member nations to a growing global quest to understand follow the example of Bhutan and exactly what happiness means in our measure happiness and wellbeing. fragmented, dangerous, always-on lives Two years ago the Organisation and the crucial role it plays. for Economic Co-operation and But what is happiness? Is it about a Development (OECD) committed itself transitory state of mind – today I feel “to redefine the growth narrative to put happy? Is it something that only applies people’s wellbeing at the centre of to wealthy Western societies who have happy! governments’ efforts”, while Helen the time and luxury to think about their ➝ 20 OBSERVE 2/18 odgersberndtson.com @odgersberndtson OBSERVE 2/18 21 Happiness

happiness status rather than simply Meanwhile, the latest edition worrying about getting enough to of the annual World Happiness eat? Is it about how much money you Report (produced by the have? Or is it something so complex Sustainable Development and so bound up with our physical Solutions Network for the and mental wellbeing that it’s too United Nations) ranks 156 big a question to ever answer? countries across six factors including GDP, life expectancy, The origins of happiness social support, generosity, In a new book called The Origins of freedom and corruption. In its Happiness [2018] the authors – all chapter on ‘Happiness at Work’ academics – seek to answer some of the report states: “Work-life balance the ‘big’ questions about happiness. emerges as a particularly strong predictor Drawing on a uniquely comprehensive of people’s happiness. Further factors range of evidence from longitudinal include job variety and the need to learn data on more than 100,000 individuals new things, as well the level of individual in Britain, the US, Australia and autonomy enjoyed by the employee. Germany, the book considers the key Moreover, job security and social capital factors that affect human wellbeing. (as measured through the support one Contrary to received wisdom, the receives from fellow workers) are also authors declare, income inequality positively correlated with happiness, accounts for only two per cent or less while jobs that involve risks to health of the variance in happiness across the and safety are generally associated with population; the critical factors affecting lower levels of subjective wellbeing.” a person’s happiness are their relationships and their mental and Which are the happiest nations? physical health. More people are in Unsurprisingly, Scandinavian countries misery due to mental illness than to rank highest, with Finland top of the list, poverty, unemployment or physical and Norway second followed by Denmark, illness. Examining how childhood Iceland, Switzerland, Netherlands, influences happiness in adulthood, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden and the authors show that academic Australia. Well outside of the top 10, performance is a less important the US ranked 18th, while the UK was predictor than emotional health one place behind in 19th position. and behaviour, which is shaped The world’s least happy country is tremendously by schools, individual Burundi, followed by Central African teachers and parents. For policymakers, Republic, South Sudan and Tanzania. the authors propose new forms of Poverty, civil wars and general cost-effectiveness analysis that place instability afflict many of wellbeing at centre stage. these poorer countries so it’s hardly surprising that they rank so low. But it isn’t only developing world countries that struggle. The UK Income inequality accounts doesn’t have a Minister for Happiness. for only two per cent of the Instead it recently appointed a Minister for variance in happiness Loneliness. What with Brexit and the country’s many problems since the 2008 financial crash, it seems that country still has a lot of work to do. ■

22 OBSERVE 2/18 odgersberndtson.com Business. Pleasure. Enjoyment.

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turn off, switch on

Digital overload is causing burnout, stress, lack of productivity and more. So is it time to put down the tech and take back control?

e are more as being detrimental to willing to recognise the issues practices (such as email, SMS, to limit out-of-hours messaging plugged in than employee wellbeing – it causes and others less so. In 2016, the or instant messaging services) to reduce burnout among ever. Whether burnout, sleeplessness, lack French government initiated a at any time of the day or night, workers. Indeed, Daimler is Wemails or messenger apps, of productivity and other, new employment law to over the weekend, during days something of a pioneer in this digital workflow programmes more serious, health issues. guarantee employees the ‘right off or during training courses IBM Germany regard – as far back as 2014 it and organisational tools, video Evidence also suggests that to disconnect’. In force since originating from managers, introduced a mail-blocking calls or virtual meetings, the as the volume of technology January 1, 2017, the right to but also from their colleagues blocks employees’ policy for staff that go on inescapable fact is that our in the workplace has increased, disconnect can be described or themselves.” holiday. Yet other companies, workdays are consumed by our productivity has taken a as “the employee’s right to emails between and other countries, are more an unceasing connection to downward turn. disconnect from any digital Return to sender reluctant to join the digital digital devices. “For those who feel that device or tool used for Germany is one country at 8pm and 6am switch-off culture. It doesn’t stop there, either. they can’t switch off from professional purposes such the forefront of the digital While there’s little doubt that technology, there is a risk they as smartphones, email or the ‘switch-off’, or at least digital States of emergency digital technology has changed never get proper recovery time, internet during his or her free reduction. For example, IBM In the US employers expect, the working environment which is bad for long-term time and vacation.” The right to Germany blocks employees’ or even require, employees to immeasurably, that same wellbeing and mental health,” disconnect, in principle, benefits emails between 8pm and 6am. Hück added: “To read and respond to their mobile phones technology has, by virtue of says Emma Donaldson-Feilder, all employees, regardless of At the end of 2017 Uwe Hück, reply to emails from the boss or laptops day and night. And its handheld nature, created an occupational psychologist their professional category and head of German car maker during the evenings is unpaid with an employer-friendly a culture where many of us and director at Affinity Health related responsibilities. Porsche’s works council and working time that increases environment in the US right feel it necessary to work at Work, which specialises in More recently, French deputy chairman of Porsche’s stress – that’s just not now, it seems highly unlikely around the clock. For some improving organisational telecoms giant Orange supervisory board, said the acceptable.” any active central government of us, that compulsion has performance through enhancing declared: “Respect for private firm’s employees should be Other high-profile companies legislation to reduce digital become an addiction. workplace health, wellbeing, life and the right to switch off protected from work-related such as Volkswagen, BMW and dependency will occur soon. engagement and leadership. are considered to be emails in their free time, and Daimler in Germany, and Areva Locally, however, the Battling burnout The global situation is fundamental rights at Orange. any correspondence between and Axa in France, have also situation is changing. In March The overuse of digital devices fragmented to say the least, It is a matter of protecting 7pm and 6am should be taken matters into their own 2018, New York’s City Council has in recent years been cited with some countries more employees from intrusive “returned to sender”. hands and introduced steps declared that it is considering ➝

24 OBSERVE 2/18 odgersberndtson.com @odgersberndtson OBSERVE 2/18 25 Digital health

a law that would make it employees are encouraged to illegal for employers to require communicate with colleagues, workers be on call to answer step away from their desk and emails after clocking out for simply take a break. the day. As one commentator Good leadership “Some countries and put it: “Getting the measure organisations are trying to enacted in the notoriously requires the leader manage the issues through workaholic environment of laws, policies and mandates,” New York, a massive global to be fully present adds Donaldson-Feilder. financial and media hub that “However, it may actually prides itself on being ‘the city in their interactions be more beneficial to that never sleeps’, could prove support employees through to be far more difficult. The awareness-raising and helping measure will no doubt face them take greater control of fierce opposition from the technology rather than city’s business community, reducing control still further should it even get that far Topp ti s for digital through universal mandates.” health to be approved.” Donaldson-Feilder believes Ultimately, finding the there are essential actions that Leading by example balance between a perceived leaders must take to ensure Companies can no longer that both they and their need to be connected 24/7 and employees avoid becoming ignore the issue at the expense the repercussions of a failure to subservient to the digital world: of their employees’ wellbeing, do so is the current status quo. and the onus is on leaders to 1. B e conscious of how you use take control. “For leaders and Requirement for rest digital media and technology senior executives,” says – reflect on how to benefit But there are other, more Donaldson-Feilder, “the from the advantages and significant, side effects of avoid the disadvantages. demands and expectations avoiding or ignoring digital are potentially greater, so it is Thi nk about how your use ‘downtime’, says Donaldson- 2. even more important to find of technology impacts on Feilder: “The body and mind those you lead: communicate ways to switch off – both for never get a chance to return clear expectations and their own wellbeing and in beware of what you are to a resting state. It means that order to be effective leaders. role-modelling. For example, these individuals are ‘always avoid sending messages “Good leadership requires on’, which can be damaging out of working hours as this the leader to be fully present will give people the idea for mental and physical in their interactions with others that they also need to be functioning.” responding out of hours. in order to create relationships Preventing digital overload that inspire and support P ut away all technology has become a key part of 3. people, so it is particularly when you enter a meeting employee wellbeing or have a conversation important that they put their programmes, with the concept with someone. Instead, technology to one side not only be ‘fully present’. of ‘digital detoxing’ taking to take a break for themselves, hold in many boardrooms 4. T urn off push notifications but also to really meet others. and organisations. Virgin and ‘red dot’ badges on “To avoid digital overload, everything to have control Management, which supports it’s essential to be conscious of over when you check the Branson family and the messages, rather than the impact of that technology growth of the Virgin brand having the compulsion to your business. By creating to look at them because by developing and nurturing awareness in the boardroom you have a notification. valuable Virgin businesses, and among your employees, shuts down all emails for two 5. Create device-free time it’s possible to benefit from in your week so you can hours each week, with no the advantages while avoiding totally recover. access granted. Instead, the disadvantages.” ■

26 OBSERVE 2/18 odgersberndtson.com We never forget we are the custodians of a client’s reputation PETER JAMES FIELD JAMES PETER

The experience of every candidate counts www.odgersberndtson.com Demographic crisis

Dementia and diabetes are two of the world’s most pressing health and workplace issues. natasha d’souza looks at what is being done to combat them ➝ Demographic crisis Demographic crisis

science of anti-ageing, we are Dementia is caused by Besides direct and indirect While many public figures living longer today – and different degenerative brain costs borne by patients, health are open about their diabetic working longer – than at diseases, with Alzheimer’s and systems and employers are condition, from British Prime any other time in history. Parkinson’s being the most paying the price for the Minister Theresa May to According to a 2017 study common. Alzheimer’s disease rampant growth of this disease. American talk show legend led by the Imperial College (AD) is the leading cause of The global cost of diabetes is Larry King, workplace School of Public Health in dementia and one of the main set to almost double to $2.5tr discrimination towards people partnership with the World sources of morbidity and by 2030 according to research with diabetes remains rampant. Health Organization (WHO), mortality in the aging by King’s College London. A survey from Diabetes UK average life expectancy population. While a host of In the United States alone, suggests that one in six people ow can organisations prepare continues to rise with South factors – genes, nutrition, the American Diabetes with diabetes in the UK have themselves for an environment Korea poised to have the lifestyle – can predispose an Association quantified the faced issues with their employer, where their employees are likely highest life expectancy (90 individual to develop dementia, economic burden of diagnosed from getting flak for multiple to become less healthy than years) in the world by 2030. age proves the biggest risk diabetes – including increased hospital visits to not having a they have ever been before? Rising human longevity may factor; the longer people live, health resource use and lost comfortable, private area at More importantly, what kind of serve as a testament to the the more they face the risk of productivity – at $327bn in work to test their blood sugar ALL PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK ALL PHOTOS: well working approaches bear marvels of modern science. developing it. Medical 2017. In the UK, diabetes costs or administer insulin injections. immediate attention and imple- Yet the socio-cultural and calls “the invisible epidemic” of breakthroughs allow for the National Health Service The word ‘diabetes’ can lead mentation in order to mitigate epidemiological shifts that non-communicable diseases improved and earlier diagnosis, (NHS) £14bn a year to treat, employers to develop concerns the impact of this looming this phenomenon presents (NCD), a complex cluster of and with better treatment and or £1m every hour. about reliability and health crisis on the bottom line? may prove problematic for diseases ranging from dementia care now available, more productivity, thereby influencing The two most significant – and the future of the modern to cancer to diabetes. NCDs people are living longer with their willingness to hire, retain global – non-communicable workforce. According to a 2016 today account for about 70 per Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. or promote an individual living diseases, dementia and diabe- study by the Global Wellness cent of deaths worldwide and with diabetes. Consequently, tes, are at the heart (or brain) of Institute, 18 per cent of the nearly half of the actual and Diabetes diabetes sufferers tend to this looming global health crisis, workforce will be over 55 by effective life years due to Diabetes represents a major withhold disclosure to their as the data that follows amply 2030, with more and more of morbidity and disability. global health threat despite a employers and colleagues and and urgently demonstrates. these individuals choosing to common perception that the alter their behaviours (forgetting Diabetes and dementia will delay retirement and remain Dementia condition is “not a disease”. In to test their blood glucose, unquestionably have a profound gainfully employed, either out Every three seconds, someone, 2017, an estimated 451 million missing meals) in order to impact on the workforces of the of financial necessity or to somewhere in the world, people (aged 18-99 years) live avoid negative reactions or future. Of that there is no doubt. pursue healthy aging by develops dementia. Given such with diabetes worldwide, discrimination, at the risk of not The question is: what should remaining mentally active a chilling statistic, it comes as compared to 108 million in 1940, just impaired performance but boardrooms know about it and and challenged. no surprise that Dr Matthew and this figure is expected to also jeopardising their health do about it? It is this segment of the Norton, Director of Policy rise to 693 million by 2045. Half and safety on the job. Also, population that is most and Strategy at Alzheimer’s of all those people today live co-workers who lack information The silver citizen susceptible to what the WHO Research UK, believes that: with undiagnosed diabetes. about diabetes can feel The mainstream media may “Dementia is arguably our uncertain about how to treat continue to profess the might greatest medical challenge.” The Global Spread of Diabetes: their colleagues with diabetes of the millennial generation, yet The numbers give cause for Prevalence (2017) and Projection (2045) who are testing their blood our world is in fact skewing pause. World Alzheimer’s Source: International Diabetes Federation Diabetes Atlas 2017 glucose, administering insulin www.diabetesatlas.org towards the so-called ‘silver Report released in 2015 and treating hypoglycaemia citizen’ segment. The United indicated that 46 million people Ranked in order of projected percentage increase in prevalence by 2045 throughout the workday. Nations projects that by the suffer from dementia, a number Region 2017 2045 Change year 2100 the world’s likely to increase to 131.5 million (in millions) (in millions) (+/- %) A trillion-dollar crisis population will be 11.2 billion, by 2050. Dementia alone also Africa 16 41 +156 Given the scale and speed with of which 3.2 billion will be at has a huge economic impact. Middle East 39 82 +110 which NCDs are impacting least 60 years old. America Today, the total estimated and North Africa individuals’ personal and alone is expected to double worldwide cost of dementia is South and Southeast Asia 82 151 +84 professional lives, on a macro its 65-and-older population US $818bn, outpacing the South and Central America 26 42 +62 level there is a compelling from 48 million to a staggering market values of companies North America & Caribbean 46 62 +35 and imminent need for a 88 million by 2050. Thanks such as Apple (US$742bn), Europe 58 67 +16 cross-sector, collaborative to advancements in food Google (US$368bn) and Western Pacific 159 183 +15 approach on both a national production, medicine and the Exxon (US$357bn). and international scale. ➝

30 OBSERVE 2/18 odgersberndtson.com OBSERVE 2/18 31 Demographic crisis Demographic crisis

Norton. Instead, “a multi-sector and a method of yielding overall wellbeing. “Public and L ikely effect of early onset dementia collaboration by the government, multiple business-boosting private employers should invest country by country on workforces the NHS and the pharmaceutical benefits – from team building to retain people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease International: World Alzheimer’s Report 2015 industry, delivered immediately, to increased morale to AD and keep them engaged, https://bit.ly/2IeXUY1 is essential to significantly productivity. “The active maybe under supervision, Region Number of people Number of people Proportionate overcome these challenges. involvement of a company’s and tap into their knowledge. with dementia with dementia increase (%) The Dementia Access Taskforce C-suite executives, with the CEO This will help also to defer the in 2015 (millions) in 2050 (millions) instituted by Alzheimer’s leading from the front, is crucial onset of symptoms and North Research UK is one such for employee uptake and the unburden their families,” America 4.78 11.74 145 example,” he cites. ultimate success of such adds Dr Pfeifer. Latin America 4.29 17.06 298 Pfeifer, a member of the programmes,” contends Ayo. Dr Norton concurs: “It is of South Global CEO Initiative on In his view, if a company’s paramount importance that Asia 5.13 16.65 225 Alzheimer’s Disease (CEOi), executives are themselves businesses become aware of Asia Pacific 3.64 7.81 115 believes it is influential the embodiment of wellness, the impact dementia can have (high-income partnerships like these that employees are inspired to act countries) can address the colossal on their own fitness levels. Europe 10.46 18.66 78 impact Alzheimer’s is poised to When manager and Middle East 4.03 15.76 291 and Africa have on multiple generations employers are in a unique subordinate are literally within the workforce. The position to be a good influence “sweating it out” side by side, CEOi’s core focus areas include on health and general “there’s no better way to break accelerating clinical trial wellbeing,” says Williams, down silos and brainstorm With 10 million new cases of of stopping or slowing the process, increasing investment, by shifting perceptions both outside the boardroom”, dementia diagnosed every year, underlying diseases. In recent and driving innovation in Big for those diagnosed with an believes Ayo. “In our experience, Professor Andrea Pfeifer, CEO years we have seen government Data, among others. Early NCD and those working South African executives of Swiss biopharmaceutical support for dementia research successes include leading the alongside these individuals. generally fare better than their company AC Immune believes increase, but funding for payer-regulator forum known The notion of modern-day counterparts in other parts of there isn’t enough being done research into the condition as the ‘Lausanne Dialogue’; work moving beyond the staid the world. We have an outdoor fast enough to turn the tide on still lags behind other serious establishing the US Big Data indoor office environment may culture in South Africa, and what is today “a trillion-dollar health conditions. That’s why Initiative to tap into a unique not change any time soon, yet sports such as mountain biking human crisis in the making”. Dr Alzheimer’s Research UK is data set to develop insights there are high-impact, value- are now overtaking golf as the Pfeifer, a trained toxicologist in asking the government to into disease prediction and driven ways in which major traditional corporate sport.” oncology and the former Head increase the annual budget progression; and the corporations can preserve or of Nestlé’s Global Research, for dementia research to a development of the Dementia maximise an employee’s ability Maintaining a productive role on their employees. For many avers: “I believe that the WHO minimum of £132m by 2022.” Discovery Fund, launched by to perform by counteracting the For those living with a non- people with early-onset and governments have to Public health policy, while the UK government as part of toll that modern-day work takes communicable disease, keeping dementia, difficulties carrying establish Alzheimer’s and other vital, cannot mitigate the swift the G7 effort. on an individual’s health status. a productive role in their daily out tasks at work may be the neurodegenerative diseases as rise of NCDs alone, believes Dr Besides corporate wellness (working) lives is crucial to trigger for seeking a diagnosis. a national priority. They have to Starting small programmes, more employers It’s important for employers to apply the lessons learnt from It is resoundingly clear that are opening dedicated health be aware of the challenges other life threatening diseases businesses can no longer centres to cater exclusively to dementia poses, and to like cancer, HIV and afford to sit back and expect their employees. Tech giant consider whether a role could cardiovascular diseases, using the government, the public Apple announced earlier this be adjusted to allow people global disease registries and health system and policymakers year the launch of its dedicated Corporate with the condition to continue biomarker-based clinical trials. to lead the front in the battle clinics to deliver the “world’s working longer.” He applauded And, furthermore, we need against NCDs. best healthcare experience” to wellness is the example of UK grocery more funding to initiate a While multi-stakeholder its employees. retailer Sainsbury’s helping one bigger and better clinical collaboration has important Corporate wellness is clearly clearly evolving of its employees to remain at trial infrastructure.” ripple effects on a macro evolving past mere aesthetic work for as long as possible Dr Norton agrees that level, individual efforts within significance. Leon Ayo, CEO past aesthetic following a diagnosis of investment in dementia research individual businesses can of Odgers Berndtson, Sub- early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. is crucial in order to turn the cumulatively play a major role Saharan Africa, asserts that significance Case studies like these, he says, tide. “Dementia is considered on the ground. “With working corporate wellness programmes show employers how they can the UK’s leading cause of death, individuals spending most of are integral as both a pre- lead not just with intention but with no treatments yet capable their waking hours on the job, emptive way to maintain health by action. ■

32 OBSERVE 2/18 odgersberndtson.com @odgersberndtson OBSERVE 2/18 33 Diversity

Change is coming The UK recognises the issue and is trying to do something about it. Last year Britain’s biggest companies were given four years to appoint one board director from an ethnic-minority background as part of a package of measures outlined in a government-backed review into the lack of diversity at the top of corporate Britain. In Australia, according to Odgers Berndtson’s Julie Steiner, Head of the Board and CEO Practices and Chair of the Global Education Practices based in Sydney, board diversity has primarily focused on gender diversity. Steiner cites a number of recent pieces of research that bear this out, such A questi on of as an article by Sally Freeman, Partner at KPMG, which explores the issue of board diversity. Says Steiner: “I agree completely with Sally Freeman when she declares that having a board consist of more than one ‘type’ of person will bring greater benefits to an organisation and a move away from typical ‘group think’.”

Still a long way to go Similar stories can be told about the situation in the US: according to a 2016 Fortune study, there have been only 15 black chief executives in the history of the Fortune 500. A truly woeful statistic that must be changed – and changed soon. One of them, Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest leisure travel company, was named the top-ranked global executive in last year’s ‘EMpower 100 Ethnic Minority Leaders’ list. Donald received the award Has a greater emphasis on gender feels more like its people will build empathy – for his “strong leadership and commitment to ethnicity and always have a happier, more productive improve diversity and inclusion in the workplace overshadowed the still-woeful lack of workforce who will go the extra mile. Millennials and for serving as an inspiring role model”. multicultural boards? Observe investigates in particular look for positive indications of Donald is clear about the benefits of a empathy and a real belief in core values. So a multicultural board: “We are also very proud of diverse multicultural, multi-ethnic board is not the diversity of our workforce and believe that the n 2015, a McKinsey report on 366 public on financial performance than gender diversity, just best practice – it’s best for the business power of diversity of thinking drives innovation, companies found that those “in the top quartile perhaps because earlier efforts to increase women’s and best for employee engagement.” which is fuelled by leveraging the knowledge and for ethnic and racial diversity in management representation in the top levels of business have creativity of our rich backgrounds, experiences were 35 per cent more likely to have financial already yielded positive results”. The diversity imperative and perspectives to achieve common goals.” Ireturns above their industry mean”. HBR.org echoed those sentiments adding: Indra Nooyi, the Indian CEO and Chairman of The pioneering work being done by Donald and It’s a compelling statistic, and one that throws “In recent years a body of research has revealed PepsiCo, and one of the most high-profile female the 99 other individuals on the EMpower list is important light on the pressing issue of ensuring another, more nuanced benefit of workplace ethnic minority business leaders, has gone on heartening, and it will be interesting to see how that a true multicultural mix in management and diversity: non-homogenous teams are simply record as saying that increasing the diversity of it has evolved when the 2018 list is published. the boardroom yields significant benefits, not smarter. Working with people who are different from her team is a “business imperative”. Currently The last word on this greatly under-discussed just to the bottom line but to better and more you may challenge your brain to overcome its stale 27 per cent of senior executives at PepsiCo are topic should come from HBR.org, which rightly enlightened well working. ways of thinking and sharpen its performance.” women, and 36 per cent are people of colour. pointed out that “although … plenty of studies Stuart Morton, Partner and Head of Practice, Legal Fortune summed up the status with this demonstrate the effectiveness of diverse teams Embracing the difference & Professional Services at Odgers Berndtson London, damning indictment: “Racial diversity continues working together there’s still a long way to go The McKinsey report specifically found that who also heads up the company’s Diversity Council, to be at best a challenge – and at worst a flat-out before we can say that the majority of boards “racial and ethnic diversity has a stronger impact agrees: “A senior management team that looks and fiction – particularly in the executive ranks.” have a broad multicultural mix.” ■

34 OBSERVE 2/18 odgersberndtson.com @odgersberndtson OBSERVE 2/18 35 ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

From vision to execution: the importance of emotional capital

It’s no secret that leaders are supposed to have leaders should “ask, listen, and follow up”. Show vision. But too many business leaders focus the them that you’re doing so and that you value majority of their time and energy on creating their input. Observe emotions that aren’t clearly their grand idea, only to drop the ball when it articulated in words – those that are demonstrated counts. Interestingly, the primary cause for failure through actions, body language and facial isn’t lack of technical capability, poor project expressions. Mehta also stresses the importance management or any other procedural breakdown. of helping team members feel that they can be The reason most big ideas fail in execution is due open and vulnerable in front of colleagues. to simple human emotion. For most leaders, discussing emotions in the workplace is still considered a taboo topic. After all, this is business, where logic and reasoned arguments prevail. If an idea is strong and a strategy solid, there’s no reason feelings should stand in the way. The problem? Business is made up of humans, and humans are emotional creatures. Leaders can’t afford to ignore the emotional dynamics inherent in the execution of a grand vision. In fact, those INSEAD GEMBA Alumna Nadiya Lubnina, who are sensitive to these undercurrents and Head of Marketing at HoReCa.digital, adds: “I’m respond effectively to them can actually leverage always trying to watch out for the mood in the emotions to propel execution forward. According team. Even when just entering the office in the to Quy Huy, Associate Professor of Strategy at morning, I check in with my team how they are INSEAD, executives who do this increase the feeling, how the evening was and so on. This odds of successful strategy execution between builds an atmosphere of trust, and people need 20 to 30 per cent. to trust you in order to grow.” Tips on managing collective emotion For leaders who are attempting to navigate the Instead of perpetuating the business ‘norm’ collective emotions of employees, such ‘emotional of suppressing emotions, give people ample capital’ skills are essential. The stigma attached opportunity for constructive expression of their to feelings in the workplace must be overcome. feelings. In the words of Parin Mehta, Airbnb Otherwise, your organisation’s big ideas may Director for Asia-Pacific and INSEAD MBA alum, remain nothing more than just that – ideas. Independent working A state of Independent working adam gates, Principal of Odgers Connect, on the ways in which independent consultants can maintain independe nce effective well working practices

he world of work is As a full-time employee in benefits are removed: it’s up to are 150 million workers in North seeing the highest rise, driven significantly: away from rapidly changing, a mainstream consulting firm, you to earn enough to replicate America and Western Europe by clients demanding more delivering projects, and and nowhere more so you have guaranteed income, them for yourself. And that is who have left the corporate flexible and cost-effective into client and business Tthan at the professional end of probable upside in the form of not easy. It can often lead to world to set up on their own. solutions, challenging the development, which is not the so-called ‘gig economy’. an annual bonus, benefits that stress and a reduced feeling Furthermore, a recent report traditional pyramid structure of always attractive despite the Highly skilled and experienced usually include private medical of wellbeing. by think tank IPPR found that mainstream consulting firms. financial incentives of a partner. professionals are leaving the insurance, gym membership, almost a third of people working This professional gig economy Often intrinsic motivations confines of the corporate world pension, paid sick leave, paid The death of the pyramid? in the professions in the UK are is thriving, and the reasons are outweigh the extrinsic ones. In and going it alone. As liberating annual leave, life insurance, And yet, the supply and demand now self-employed. In broad. As consultants reach addition, to progress through to and entrepreneurial as this maternity/paternity leave… of independent professionals is professional services, senior levels in partner, the ladder is becoming may seem, it does throw up the list goes on. As an steadily increasing. Harvard management consulting firms, increasingly precarious. a number of challenges that independent all of these Business Review estimates there consulting is the role shifts So people are leaving, ➝ often go unnoticed.

No safety net Devoid of the usual trappings The independent dream of being part of, say, a large Inga Umblija has devised a multinational corporation, how strategy that helps to manage the uncertainty of independent do experienced independents work and keep well working: manage their wellbeing when the safety net is taken away? • Plan ahead: with careful planning, the independent Independent professionals dream is accessible. Plan your who are self-employed value the work time and free time and autonomy they have, unshackled think about what you would like to do with your life. If you would from corporate stresses. They like to take a sabbatical, you can, have the freedom to innovate, of course, as long as the rest of express their own views, have your life is planned around that outcome. influence beyond their own role • Take your holidays: it is and compete with other tempting to focus on just the companies and people. All of day rate and opt out of time off and holidays, citing the ‘cost’ of these factors lead to an increased not working. But rest, downtime sense of wellbeing and purpose. and connection with family However, this is not to say there resets the mind and maximises productivity. Independents can aren’t challenges with working burn out when they do not rest on the outside of corporate life. and recover from intense As an independent you are periods of work. • Hold yourself accountable: walking away from the security, you or your small consultancy guaranteed income and often firm are your brand. Your generous benefits packages that networks are the source of opportunities, and your own come with corporate full-time growth and development is employment. It can be daunting your responsibility. Maintain and at times stressful: the fear and nurture them.

ILLUSTRATIONS: IKON IMAGES IKON ILLUSTRATIONS: of the unknown.

38 OBSERVE 2/18 odgersberndtson.com @odgersberndtson OBSERVE 2/18 39 Independent working Independent working disillusioned with corporate life. network whom I regularly enjoy maintain contact with peers, you have to organise your can be incredibly liberating. to look at it over a year and They want to improve their interacting with”. share learnings on best practice own health insurance; you It often has a good outcome plan downtime.” work-life balance and take In the UK, Tracey Barr, an and combat “industrial isolation”. don’t have the support of a for your mental wellbeing.” The longer she has worked control of their career. A survey independent consultant to the Without a corporate office, it is corporate health programme; Henderson is pragmatic, this way, the better she has by IPSE, the Association of National Health Service (the essential to find places to work and it’s much harder to gain understanding that there are become at managing her time, Independent Professionals and world’s largest public healthcare to avoid feeling rootless, be access to regular medicals downsides of working for and the happier she has been. the Self-Employed, mirrored this system and one of the biggest that clients’ offices, shared and health checks. oneself, including financial Last year she took a month in their research last year, employers globally) and workspaces or a well-set-up “I’m also acutely aware that unpredictability, but his off, devoting much of it to reporting the top three reasons formerly with L.E.K., the global home office. my success depends on what I motivations are more intrinsic. yoga. “That would be hard to go independent were better strategy consultancy firm, has “Working as an independent do myself (there’s no corporate He became an independent for a full-time employee to work-life balance, control of experienced this “potential consultant means you have to machine working on my behalf) when his first child was born, do,” she adds. Emer Wynne, a work and maximising earnings. isolation of working alone”. To take full responsibility for your so I can see clearly the link as he was travelling extensively former EY Senior Manager and help, Barr joined a network for own health and wellbeing, and between my energy levels and across Australia. Being now independent consultant, Supporting the self female entrepreneurs: “It’s a this is a very positive thing,” the results I achieve. Maintaining independent now means he agrees, and suggests “investing Finding positive wellbeing in community of like-minded says Andrew Simmonds, an those energy levels is vitally has taken back control. in any short spaces between your independent working life women, and we each draw on independent consultant, important to me, and that projects, using that time to − encompassing everything each other for business advice executive coach and former means good nutrition and lots Planning ahead reflect, re-energise, capture from health and happiness, and support. We have monthly Managing Partner at Accenture. of fresh air and exercise.” Inga Umblija has been an learnings and recommit to stress-free working conditions, business breakfasts, lunches He adds: “You generally have This sentiment is echoed by independent consultant purposeful work”. freedom of expression, a and workshops where we more control over your own time Wayne Henderson, a former since 2007, and is currently Life in the professional gig strategy of self-discipline, meet. It creates a sense of and more freedom to organise Booz & Company Principal, delivering a major programme economy can be fraught with planning and positivity − is belonging, an alternative your lifestyle in the way that’s now an independent consultant across the Nordic region. anxieties, but it can also be essential. Without these structure to a corporate.” best for you. Because I control who lives in Australia and the “Planning for pay gaps is key,” liberating: it is ultimately a elements, life as an independent my own diary, I spend less time UK. Henderson feels it is she says. Umblija has learnt to choice. Independents must can rapidly become isolating Networking works in stuffy meeting rooms and am ultimately about control. “You save money as a buffer to carry pursue a different kind of and stressful, with potential Alumni networks are an less exposed to the stresses make the decisions; you have her through quieter periods, success to that of their full-time negative mental and physical increasingly important way for within corporate environments. the freedom and flexibility to otherwise she says she would counterparts, a success based health implications. independent professionals to Yes, there are some downsides: decide what you do, and this never take a day off. “You have on individual wellbeing Baruch Harris is a US based maintained through a balance of independent consultant to the intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. life sciences sector, and former Our work and our legacy are McKinsey consultant. He reports core to our sense of purpose, that being based in Boston, at and the opportunity to have the heart of the biotechnology freedom of choice can hub, has increased both his job enhance our mental and satisfaction and his wellbeing. physical wellbeing. “I tend to travel less because of As businesses increase proximity to my clients. More their use of independent importantly, I am hired for my consultants, this will in time specific expertise and tend to provide additional benefit be much more focused on of financial security to the value-added activities. The freedom they already enjoy. distractions and pressures of However, as humans we need internal politics, while not attachments and a plan, we completely absent, are less need routines, we need impactful and much easier to interaction and we need manage or extricate myself purpose. Having self-discipline from if the dynamics are and courage to embrace the dysfunctional and the overall independent life can lead to cost/benefit of working with a heightened wellbeing, and company is not there.” Harris happiness, but it is a journey adds that stress from financial that is not without its instability has lowered as a challenges. The independent’s result of having built a portfolio life has to be managed skilfully, of clients “alongside my own with that in mind. ■

40 OBSERVE 2/18 odgersberndtson.com @odgersberndtson OBSERVE 2/18 41 Architecture

rogressive organisations from How you design Silicon Valley to Sydney are radically a building can rethinking the design of the buildings radically affect in which their employees operate. Working with architects to create the wellbeing of physical structures that better your workforce. encourage well working and wellbeing, these visionary designs are creating hattie hartman healthier environments and dynamic, looks at some of stimulating spaces. PAccording to Rick Fedrizzi, Chairman the best examples and CEO of the International WELL around the world Building Institute in New York, an organisation leading the global movement to transform our buildings and communities in ways that help people thrive, this shift builds on the concern with building performance that characterised the first wave of sustainability to what he calls “the second wave of sustainability”, which centres on human performance.

Engaging environments Clients are increasingly looking for SOAR THIS SPREAD: TIMOTHY physical workplaces that support new (ITS) at Barangaroo, designed by Left and ways of working and stand out in the London-based RSHP for Lendlease Group, above: the mixed-use marketplace to help them recruit and was the first project globally to achieve White Collar retain the best talent. Younger employees the WELL certification’s top ‘platinum’ Factory particularly value flexibility and human rating. Architecturally this was expressed project in interaction and want – demand – to in large, flexible floor plans – approximately London

r work in environments that, among other 2,600 square metres, with generous ceiling things, incorporate quiet places for heights of almost three metres. critical thinking, active workstations Lift shafts, conventionally located near that encourage physical activity the centre of the floor plan, are offset so play throughout the day, and breakout that office layouts can be designed more c spaces conducive to collaboration. flexibly, either as a single workspace or With almost 800 projects in the subdivided into zones, each with its own pipeline across the globe, the WELL ‘sense of place’. To encourage employees Building Standard, launched in 2014, to exercise more, inter-floor connections sets out seven core concepts that by stair for multi-floor tenants are enhance health and wellness. These increasingly in demand so that tenants range from measurable features such can use stairs rather than lifts to move as air quality, daylight levels and thermal between floors. All of these design comfort to intangibles such as beauty elements require architects, designers and and sense of community, as well as clients to think intelligently at the initial ready access to healthy food and design stage and consider carefully where opportunities for exercise. stairs may be needed, ensuring that holes In March, International Towers Sydney can be made at these locations in future. ➝ Con and ete 42 OBSERVE 2/18 odgersberndtson.com @odgersberndtson OBSERVE 2/18 43 Architecture

Collar Factory, observes that ‘architectural delight’ is critical to wellbeing in a work environment. This means a pleasant route through a generous entrance, lifts and stairs that are easy to see, good daylight without excessive solar load, natural light

hotography and comfortable acoustics throughout P circulation and workspaces. Historic buildings can also be adapted ardman o to create exceptional contemporary B workplaces that stimulate well working rett B and, in turn, a more content workforce. Left: natural ventilation during the UK’s The 55 Amsterdam building in Paris, built Bloomberg’s temperate shoulder seasons. Bronze fins in 1929 in the city’s 8th Arrondissement, striking sculptured on the façade open and close as part of reopened last year with three additional central ramp the ventilation strategy. floors, an internal garden courtyard and a basement restaurant and conference Above: the ‘platinum’- Architectural delight room daylit by exterior courtyards. rated At Old Street, known as London’s ‘silicon Healthy workplaces create long-term Social spaces International roundabout’ because of its constant churn value. says Lendlease’s Chief Executive In Toronto, a one-acre raised park spanning Towers of tech startups and creatives, White Collar for property in Australia, Kylie Rampa: “If Sydney a rail line is a prominent feature of CIBC Factory, a mixed-use project by Derwent business can cut time lost to absenteeism Square, another WELL-certified project Below: plc for the speculative office market, is and presenteeism by providing work currently under construction. An animated the raised executed with a stripped-down aesthetic environments that enhance employees’ one-acre public realm with restaurants and retail at park at CIBC of exposed concrete that exudes cool. health, it has broad economic benefits.” the base of the building, also integral to Square in The use of concrete is not only about The buildings described here truly benefit Four groundbreaking Bloomberg Toronto Barangaroo in Sydney, is easily accessed projects Location London, looks; it is a material with high thermal well working. Will yours be next? ■ by employees. The fourth floor, which United Kingdom mass, which means that it absorbs links directly to the park, incorporates International Towers Client Bloomberg LP changes of temperature slowly and Location Barangaroo South, Architect Foster + Partners Hattie Hartman is an editor at co-working spaces, as well as a choice of Sydney, Australia Completion 2017 contributes to thermal comfort by The Architects’ Journal, London. eateries with outdoor terraces, encouraging Client Lendlease Public arcade, museum and reducing temperature swings. Unusual employee socialising. Less visible design Architect Rogers Stirk fountain at street level, public in a 16-storey building on a busy urban

NIGEL YOUNG/FOSTER + PARTNERS NIGEL YOUNG/FOSTER Harbour + Partners and employee reception at features that respond to the wellness Completion 2016 sixth-floor ‘Pantry’ level with roundabout, windows can be opened agenda include acoustically enhanced Three complementary towers dramatic city views and café. above desk height. glass and LED lighting that mimics positioned to maximise Sculptural central ramp to Simon Allford, director at London sunlight and views on a site encourage walking between circadian rhythms. that links the city centre to the floors, bespoke lighting that practice AHMM, which designed the White Two exemplary one-off office buildings waterfront with a new public incorporates heating and DBOX recently completed in London have raised realm. Cores have been shifted cooling, four-person desk to the side of the building, pods with adjustable-height the bar in workplace design that stimulates resulting in daylit lift lobbies desks. better wellbeing and well working. Foster + and highly flexible floor plates. Partners’ eight-storey Bloomberg building, White Collar Factory CIBC Square Location London, which accommodates 4,000 employees, is Location Toronto, Canada United Kingdom designed around a generous helical bronze Client Ivanhoé Cambridge Client Derwent London plc ramp – a place for social interaction and and Hines Architect AHMM Architect Wilkinson Eyre 2020 Completion 2017 physical activity – that links all the office Completion First phase 2020; Generous public realm and floors. Both employees and visitors take second phase 2023 lobby with café, self-finishing a lift from street level to the sixth-floor Twin 250m-high (49-storey) materials to provide stable towers face each other across thermal comfort, visible and ‘Pantry’, a social hub that houses a café a rail corridor, linked at high attractive stairways to and seating areas with spectacular views level by a one-acre sky garden encourage use, operable overlooking St. Paul’s Cathedral. Unusual adjacent to Toronto’s Union windows at 16th floor for Station. The park is intended natural ventilation despite for a deep-plan office building – one in as an extension of the busy urban site. which the horizontal distance from the workplace, with some offices external wall is many times greater than and meeting rooms benefiting from views into the park. the floor-to-floor height – the Bloomberg headquarters is designed to operate with

44 OBSERVE 2/18 odgersberndtson.com Neuroscience Neuroscience

I n s i d e t h e m i n d

A little learning is a dangerous thing The evidence base is very solid for the John Jakenfelds explains how cutting-edge Though we now have a better value of consolidating information during understanding of what is actually deep sleep and its impact on well working. neuroscience research is helping us happening inside our brains, our picture The parallel is with rest days between gym of how it affects our behaviour is still sessions; that’s when you actually build the understand decision-making, behaviour, incomplete. Indeed, the academic muscle broken down during a session. community has been concerned in Walsh points out that we sleep for 37 per recent years about the degree to cent of our lives, yet we don’t value its leadership and more which areas such as imaging and importance for effective brain functioning biochemistry findings have been taken as much as we should. out of context. The inferences of what He highlights that there are also biological he art of managing ourselves more methods such as MRI scanners, enabling these findings mean for how we behave means through which we can have good wisely lies in how well we really know a better understanding of what actually have at times led to misleading ideas. These are essentially through getting Twho we are. One critical way to do happens in the brain when we experience conclusions being drawn. ourselves relaxed – but not too relaxed. that is to have an understanding of the situations. Almost 100 different Professor Vince Walsh, Professor This allows “long range interactions” to workings of the brain. By doing so we neurochemicals are produced by a variety of Human Brain Research at University occur between networks of brain regions. can really help change our behaviours of parts of the brain and even in other parts College London – Europe’s top In effect, we are getting out of the way of and improve our well working lives. of the body such as the gut. Understanding university for the study of neuroscience the brain. So what do we know about the brain what they all do is an enormously complex – notes there are a few fundamentals Think of how creative your thinking can the burgeoning field of neuroscience and task, made more challenging because many that do have a solid biological be when you are walking the dog or mowing how its work is changing perceptions? parts of the brain work together as a underpinning. These include such the lawn, for example. Such everyday Since the turn of the millennium, research network. We are still at the early stage vital areas as sleep, creativity and endeavours create just the right ‘brain’

SHUTTERSTOCK has accelerated globally through scientific of this particular voyage of discovery. group psychology. environment with little conscious effort. ➝

46 OBSERVE 2/18 odgersberndtson.com @odgersberndtson OBSERVE 2/18 47 Neuroscience Neuroscience

Eating frogs for focus for no more than The three musketeers, updated? creative people and less creative breakfast dr brynn 90 minutes followed by a Walsh comments that the best kind people.” In his article, Waytz notes Mark Twain famously winegard 15-minute break. Even 15 of diversity in a team is psychological that being a successful leader requires said that if the first minutes of light walking thing you do in the offers eight will help the brain do all diversity. It can take stress out of prioritisation and outsourcing of 1morning is to eat a live frog, it is intended to. Physical decision-making at work. He notes that tasks; this in turn requires a realistic you can go through the rest ways to help activity helps with sleep, there is good evidence of three kinds acceptance of the number of tasks of the day knowing the focus, concentration, flow, worst is behind you. So do make your dopamine production, of decision-makers: ‘gunslingers’ (fast, our brains are capable of handling, the toughest thing first in memory, learning, indiscriminate), ‘poker players’ (who which is less than we think. your day when energy, brain more motivation and more. play the odds, but real life doesn’t give willpower and motivation are at their highest levels. productive Do it with you all of the facts) and ‘chickens’ Nothing new under the sun The rest of your day will dopamine (those who wait for the moment to Insight on the behavioural changes seem easier in comparison. Dopamine is not cross the road to a decision). Few of possible comes from Professor Patricia the ‘feel-good’ Forget hormone we once us are good at more than one of these Bossons, formerly Director of the multitasking 6thought it was. Instead, styles and there is no such thing as a Coaching Centre at Henley Business Multitasking doesn’t dopamine is the ‘action’ universally good decision-maker. School, now at Massey University in actually exist. If hormone. Whatever we anything it should want to do, we have to use What’s the optimal number in a team? New Zealand, and co-author of The 2be called ‘code switching’ dopamine, so find ways to The evidence suggests that four might Neuroscience of Leadership Coaching. and includes a refractory get that surge by eating be the largest manageable number. She notes that insights from neuroscience period in which you get cheese, soybeans, beef, nothing done (while the lamb, pork, fish, chicken, The brain cannot process conversations give us different ways to understand why brain resets and refocuses). nuts, seeds, eggs, dairy, with more than three other people; we react and behave in the way we do. Your brain is a serial beans and whole grains. indeed it can’t track more than that Her work shows that there is a fairly processor, not a parallel one. So focus on one C heck lists number of things spatially. Imagine small set of typical challenges which thing at a time and your Every time you trying to catch three balls versus five. make up the majority of those that productivity, recall and check something Adam Waytz, Associate Professor leaders face at work. For each of these, efficacy will improve. off your list you get a surge of at Northwestern University’s Kellogg it is increasingly possible to hypothesise 7dopamine, so make a list, School of Management, is the co-author what might be happening inside the and check things off. of a 2013 Harvard Business Review brain. It enables us to explore strategies P ower of play article titled ‘Your Brain at Work’ for dealing with those challenges. Like ‘flow’, the which highlighted four proven By consciously replacing a habitual brain prefers to brain control networks, including behaviour that occurs in response finish one of the smaller be in a state of tasks. Dopamine functions play. Do things setting aside unfocused free to a particular trigger with a 8you enjoy. The ‘distraction as a neurotransmitter – a time for creativity. He adds: new behaviour, and by chemical released by effect’ is important in that “There has been much repeating it time after neurons (nerve cells) to tasks properly ‘gamified’ distract us into liking them more progress in the time, we can change send signals to other nerve cells. The brain more and thus getting field and much bad habits for good. includes several distinct more done – without even more acceptance Neuroscience dopamine pathways, one noticing it! Focus and [of the value of advances are of which plays a major flow role in the motivational neuroscience] starting to provide Flow is the component of reward- even since we a rationale for brain’s preferred motivated behaviour. state of operation. wrote our article. ways in which 3It happens when you are The research is behaviours can be doing something you The ultradian getting better and changed for the know and like, but find rhythm: slightly challenging. honouring better at identifying better. And surely Finding flow is hard, but energy cycles patterns of neural that is something you will know it when time, In chronobiology, distractions and space 5an ultradian rhythm is a activation that to be applauded. ■ disappear. Facilitating recurrent period or cycle About Dr Brynn can differentiate flow is critical for getting repeated throughout a Winegard people on maximum amounts done. 24-hour day. In contrast, Winegard completed John Jakenfelds circadian rhythms her formal education different skills. is the Chair of C hewable complete one cycle daily, in Neuroscience, the Life Sciences For example, chunks while infradian rhythms Psychology, Marketing, Practice, based there are neural Break big tasks such as the human and Strategy and now in Odgers differences up into smaller menstrual cycle have helps others through Berndtson’s tasks. Tackling periods longer than a day. speaking to businesses ALAMY between highly London office. 4smaller tasks requires less Like your circadian rhythm, around the world about willpower and will feel which circulates daily, your ‘Building Better much easier. Not only ultradian rhythm circulates Business Brains’. that, you will get a jolt of every 90 minutes. To be drbrynn.com dopamine every time you maximally productive,

48 OBSERVE 2/18 odgersberndtson.com @odgersberndtson OBSERVE 2/18 49 APAC

ingapore has a number of Zee Yoong Kang desirable attributes that appeal to multinational companies (MNCs) Slooking for a headquarters in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region: great infrastructure, a stable political regime, a superb commerce, finance and transport hub, good weather and education, and much more. Just two years ago, Cushman & Wakefield, the US-based global commercial real estate services company, published a report that identified Singapore as the number-one APAC headquarters choice for MNCs, with A healthy lifestyle is at the 4,200 firms located in the country. heart of HPB’s plan for the future of Singapore Therefore, anything adverse that happens in Singapore could have repercussions on how MNCs may operate in APAC. Roadshows form an integral part of the strategy Diabetes dilemma Although rising affluence brings many attributes, it also brings the spread of so-called ‘lifestyle diseases’ such as diabetes. Indeed, no fewer than 16 per cent of patients in Singaporean hospitals are expected to be suffering from the disease by the year 2040. It’s a crisis that is being tackled by the Singaporean government through, among other initiatives, preventative healthcare. Encouraging people to Indeed, many other nations unwilling or monitor their unable to recognise their own impending own health diabetes problems should look closely at is vital kenny chen talks to how Singapore is dealing with this issue. Zee Yoong Kang, In 2016, Singapore’s Health Minister is at the forefront of fighting the onset An ounce of prevention declared: “A Saw Swee Hock School of of chronic diseases. Using mainly ‘soft’ Zee says that Singapore’s healthcare CEO of Singapore’s Public Health study estimated the total approaches, as well as collaborating with system needs to evolve in two specific Health Promotion economic burden of diabetes for working companies and food manufacturers, it has ways: the first is a shift to a greater focus age adults at more than a billion dollars a been highly successful at encouraging on prevention with early detection and Board (HPB) about year.” However, Singapore is not standing people to live healthier lifestyles. Zee promoting a healthy lifestyle, while the its preventative idle while this crisis burgeons. Yoong Kang, CEO of HPB, says that his second is creating care teams to manage Established in 2001, the Singapore Health agency’s mandate is “to encourage people’s health within their communities. healthcare Promotion Board (HPB) is committed to Singaporeans to live more healthily When it comes to encouraging programmes promoting healthy living in Singapore and through diet and physical activities”. businesses to help their employees live “Like most countries over the last 30 healthier lives and manage chronic years,” adds Zee, “Singapore has followed diseases more effectively, Zee is the model of building a healthcare system unequivocal: “Healthy living is not of specialists to treat acute diseases. something you can foster by holding talks. However, with greater affluence and an We realised that people change their aging population, chronic disease behaviour when you change the culture management will be the healthcare and environment around them. This can Singapore’s challenge of the future. Singapore is range from providing a more healthy diet facing it earlier because of our greying to leaders being role models for healthy population, but I believe all countries will living and managing their staff’s workload face the same issue over the next 10 to to prevent burnout. health crusade 20 years.” “We emphasise to employers that this is ➝ 50 OBSERVE 2/18 odgersberndtson.com @odgersberndtson OBSERVE 2/18 51 APAC

that the focus among employers is typically on accidents and deaths. But there’s a bigger hidden problem of early retirement. People are forced to stop working as they are physically unable to work due to chronic diseases such as high blood pressure or diabetes. The statistics don’t capture that but the truth is we are losing people to early retirement. So we are working with employers to tackle the problem at its root and to encourage their employees to lead healthier lifestyles for greater work longevity.” So profound is the fear of the effect of a diabetes epidemic in Singapore that the government has declared a important for their bottom line. As Zee Yoong Kang ‘War on Diabetes’. Says Zee: “We society ages, it will be more difficult to (left) with Kenny have been taking a more upstream Chen of Odgers hire staff, so companies need to retain Berndtson’s approach. Over the last few years, we current staff by encouraging healthy Singapore office have already been aggressively working living and lessen the impact of early with companies to offer low sugar retirement due to chronic diseases.” drinks under the ‘Healthier Choice Zee says that he is impressed by NATIONAL STEPS Symbol’ programme. As a result, the the way in which some companies CHALLENGE™ average sugar content in packaged in the APAC region have been Launched in 2015, drinks in Singapore fell from 9.5 per the National Steps implementing a creative way of Challenge™ is a cent to six per cent. We are taking encouraging healthy living. highly successful similar approaches with other food He adds: “We have partnered with programme that manufacturers and restaurants to has been many companies in pushing healthy oversubscribed introduce wholegrain products. lifestyles. For example, Seagate every year. It has We have been encouraging schools Technology International [the US data a reward system and government premises not to sell where vouchers are storage company] distributed steps awarded for every unhealthy foods so as to set an example trackers to its staff for the first season ‘steps’ milestone to Singaporeans. of our National Steps Challenge™’s reached. “We can genuinely say Singapore The Challenge Corporate Challenge [see box out] has seen one million is the most aggressive country in the and its managers led the initiative to sign-ups and each world in terms of actively promoting actively encourage their staff to run day participants healthier foods with programmes such upload their steps and walk. As a result, employees took data to HPB’s as the National Steps Challenge™.” an average of 21,000 steps, which is Healthy 365 mobile Zee recognises the difficulty in the equivalent of walking 15-16km per app through their alerting the population to the health smart phones. This day. So it requires on-the-ground is an extraordinary risks just by using above-the-line leadership by senior management feat considering advertising, which is why the HPB also to mobilise the entire workforce to that there are only organises roadshows and free exercise three million adult change the way they live.” Singaporeans. sessions in public spaces. “The goal,” Unsurprisingly, says Zee, “is to create a ‘street Hidden impact it is the largest presence’ and instil a vibe among the programme of its The likely effect of this healthcare kind in the world. public that living a healthy lifestyle is crisis on the workplace and lost Since the the norm rather than the exception. productivity is plain, as Zee confirms: introduction of the We are highly successful with this. programme, seven “There’s a huge hidden impact on the per cent more Across these programmes, we have workplace. Managers tend to focus on Singaporeans are seen about 200,000 in attendance.” ■ the wrong things. I personally sit on now meeting the recommended the Workplace Safety and Health physical activity Kenny Chen is a consultant in Odgers Council of Singapore, and we realised levels. Berndtson’s Singapore office

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Coaching

Leaders who are self- aware and recognise how others see them can be transformative for any company and create better well working conditions, says di rix Me, magine asking your development, he adds, Spotted by Beaudan customers, suppliers, is one of the biggest shifts through his potential leadership peer managers and work the corporate world has assessment programme three Icolleagues to rate you and seen over the past five years ago is the new CEO of your leadership style. How to 10 years. Siemens Canada, Faisal Kazi. myself, would you feel? Happy? “Companies recognise “The programme really helped i Apprehensive? Keen to see that you can have all the me reflect on myself and my the results? Well, 360-degree technology in the world and management style, and how feedback now forms the the best strategy possible, but people perceived me. When backbone of all good without the right talent you Eric highlighted the fact that leadership coaching and are not going to get results.” some of my leadership leadership potential Studies back up his convictions. strength scores were among programmes and, critically, A recent McKinsey survey the highest he had ever seen, it can be transformative for the found that 82 per cent of it gave me real confidence to wellbeing of an organisation. Fortune 500 companies don’t leverage myself. believe they recruit highly “Siemens has an extremely Personal perception talented people. And of those strong set of values, and I In the ever-complex, chaotic, that do, only seven per cent realised that Eric was proposing digitised, challenging world think they can retain them. very similar ones, like the leaders find themselves in, importance of being candid, it is no longer good enough Awareness and reflection more open, bolder, more visible to be an expert in your field. Colorado-based Renee and approachable, and that Talented leaders, according to Moorefield, CEO of Be Well excited me.” Eric Beaudan, Odgers Lead Well and chair of the Self-awareness, says Berndtson’s Toronto-based Global Wellness Institute’s Beaudan, is crucial to wellbeing. Global Head of Leadership Wellness at Work Initiative, “If you can’t manage yourself, Practice and author of Creative agrees with Beaudan. “What and be composed and resilient Execution, must have the we do is to get leaders to as a leader, it’s hard to lead a ability to see themselves as understand that who they team or manage and lead an they are perceived by others, are shapes how they operate. organisation. It is right at the to discover and understand It’s about looking at what are centre of what being an the areas where they need my worldviews, my values, effective leader is.” to grow and develop as a my vision, and asking if they person in order to become are working. Maximising talent more effective. “If my vision is to create a Following his coaching, Kazi Beaudan believes the more effective organisation, has introduced the concept of talent agenda is now on a am I up to it? Am I willing to ‘Why?’, encouraging staff to par with company strategy, transform myself and be the question why they are doing organisational efficiency, kind of leader that will enable things beyond the financial cost management and my team and others around reward and also to get involved

ALAMY technology. Leadership me to thrive?” in Siemens’ ‘Business to ➝

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I was always pushing my team to perform better and we always

Society’ programme, which did well, but we “I was always pushing my measures the impact the team to perform better, and company is having in Canada. only discussed we always did well, but we only Kazi says his team now takes ever discussed work; I knew more responsibility, freeing work; I knew nothing about them as people. him to spend less time on the So we set up a formal breakfast operational side of the business nothing about every month to talk about and more on strategy and everything but work, and championing Siemens’ them as people organised trips with colleagues charitable giving. and their families.” Moorefield suggests: “The Justification for the leader’s role is no longer one of changes came a year after control and management, but implementing the leadership one that’s facilitative, more programme. Having boosted about coaching and maximising 16-to-18-hour days leading their performance targets, the skills, capabilities and talents a team of 70 engineers and Doubiani’s team won Coca- of others so they can shine. We scientists, we learned for the Cola’s prestigious ‘Best help leaders shift from a reactive first time that it wasn’t shameful Improvement’ award for orientation to a more generative to sit and talk about ourselves implementing the company’s one. That doesn’t mean being and ask ‘what is in this for me?’. 2020 strategies. innovative and brainstorming, We realised we had been really Despite some success it means being a leader who is missing something. stories, globally workplace inspired by a deeper sense of “For the first time, we gave wellness programmes – now a vision and purpose, serving as much time to thinking about $40bn industry – have a long something greater than yourself how we could change things way to go. As Moorefield says, and being able to enrol people for our own wellbeing as we many companies provide into that vision and create a were giving to thinking about stress-management shared energy so they are the company’s health.” For programmes but then send internally motivated.” Doubiani, it was important to workers back into a toxic choose a few areas where he office environment. That Talk among yourselves wanted to embed change for creates even lower morale. Leadership coaching came late life: more time with family, “Programmes have to include a in the day for Najib Doubiani, eating better, regular exercise cultural shift or they will never the recently retired Technical and, last but not least, be more than a programme. Director of the Middle East inspiring his team. When human beings are seen and North Africa Coca-Cola “We wanted to get rid of not as resources but as human Business Unit. Based in the joke that someone who becomings, as an amazing bit Morocco, the company brought left at 7pm was taking a half of potential talent to nurture, in Be Well Lead Well four years day’s holiday.” He set about that will change everything. ago as part of its 2020 Vision. creating office relaxation and And that’s all down to the job

IKON IMAGES/ALAMY IKON “After 35 years working exercise areas. of a leader.” ■

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The lush green ‘living wall’ at Nixon Peabody’s o-called ‘biophilic open, human-centred approach. headquarters in Washington, DC design’ – that is, Living walls, potted plants, bringing the outdoors sustainable materials, natural Sindoors – is gaining significant light and scents can all be momentum among companies utilised to the greater workplace eager to improve employee good. Indeed, some of the most health, output and retention. dynamic businesses across the The word biophilic stems from globe have grasped the biophilic biophilia, meaning a ‘love of nettle (as it were) as part of a nature’. Coined by German-born holistic approach to the design American psychoanalyst Erich and layout of their offices, and Fromm and subsequently the resulting wellbeing effect on popularised by American their employees. biologist Edward O. Wilson Plants can be seen as a quick in the 1980s, it is radically win when it comes to enhancing changing the way companies, an indoor working environment, architects and designers think and are the obvious first choice about well working and the for the biophilic designer. But it workplace environment. is how plants and foliage are deployed in a building that can The urban jungle have the most dramatic effect, With the rapid rise of as the images shown here testify. urbanisation, Wilson noted that Incorporating direct or indirect big cities were becoming more elements of nature into the and more disconnected from workplace can reduce stress, nature. It’s his belief that we all blood pressure levels and heart have a deep-rooted genetic rates while increasing connection to the natural world, productivity and creativity. and that upsetting or ignoring

ill this critical factor can radically Friendly foliage +W affect our general wellbeing. Employees accustomed to the ins k In its purest sense, biophilic sad sight of a single wilting er

/P design moves away from the specimen on a windowsill or traditional office design system a selection of potted plastic aignel

L – serried rows of isolated (and dust-traps shouldn’t ric

E isolating) cubicles – to a more underestimate the power of well-chosen, properly At Medibank Place in maintained, air-purifying foliage. Can the presence of Melbourne, greenery Research conducted by the can be seen from Harvard T.H. Chan School of every workstation plants and nature in the Public Health, SUNY Upstate workplace really improve Medical School and Syracuse Living, University showed that cleaner, employee well working fresher air can as much as and performance? double the cognitive performance of office-based louise hoffman reports workers. And this comes in breathing addition to the many other benefits indoor plants are shown to have, including relieving stress, improving the visual aesthetics of an office and absorbing sound in noisy,

workplaces TER BENNETTS

PE open-plan rooms. ➝

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WELL

WORKINGA special issue on wellbeing at work

Visit: www.odgersberndtson.com/subscribe Nature

even become an item of ridicule.” Ed Reeves and Rachel Clacher are founders of UK-based telephone answering service provider Moneypenny, which also has a US division and a fourth- place ranking in The Sunday Times ‘Best Places to Work’ list in 2017. The company has just built its own £15m office complex, and Reeves and Clacher were pioneering in their approach In Moneypenny’s new £15m to creating a brand-new office plants enhance both environment for their workforce. work and social spaces

MONEYPENNY “When we made the decision to build a new headquarters we One of several companies healthier; 66 per cent were asked ourselves, ‘how we can to have introduced nature to more productive; and the make sure staff will be happy its working environments is company saw a five per cent there?’ The answer was simple – Australian private health insurer reduction in absenteeism. ask them!” says Reeves. The Medibank, which puts the design of their building is therefore psychological and physical Outside in based almost entirely on feedback health of the business at the International law firm Nixon from the 500 employees, with heart of the design for its Peabody worked with American every aspect tailored to staff Medibank Place office complex architecture and design firm wellbeing and happiness. Floor-to- in Melbourne. Perkins+Will to bring biophilia to ceiling windows maximise natural The interior spaces now its Washington, DC office. The light, plants enhance both work house a total of 2,300 plants, building’s three-storey staircase and social spaces, and every while modular planter boxes now rises up from a rock bed workstation has natural ventilation. and green walls decorate the with a lush green living wall as “There are tangible benefits to building’s façade. The site also its backdrop, and the interior a company’s bottom line from boasts an edible garden, spaces are flooded with natural enriching the workspace with promoting healthy eating to light, affording the vast majority natural elements,” Reeves employees, not-for-profit of employees line-of-sight views continues. “We found that organisations and the to the outside world. when people put plants or wider community. Employee buy-in is, as always, any other form of enrichment “When the building crucial in fostering a healthy work into a workspace, they felt was designed we took environment – especially when better and performed better.” an active role in improvements to the look and Unsurprisingly tech giants such ensuring that our people feel of the office are intended to as Google, Apple and Amazon could see greenery from every be of specific benefit to the invest heavily in biophilic designs, workstation,” says Medibank workforce. “The opportunity to but the challenge going forward Group Executive People and create a feeling of ownership by will be for companies around the Culture, Kylie Bishop. “Medibank a group is a fun and positive world to recognise that bringing Place is a living, breathing experience in itself and shouldn’t nature into the workplace isn’t building that helps us deliver be missed,” says Tim Polisano, some kind of fluffy ‘add-on’, but a healthy workplace.” Senior Designer at office interior an absolutely vital element for And help it certainly has. In a design firm Morgan Lovell. fostering employee well working. ■ survey carried out four months “Like anything, if you impose after the team moved into the it on people, leave it to the new building, 79 per cent of last minute or install it as employees said they were an afterthought it’s working more collaboratively; much less likely to be 70 per cent said they feel successful. It could

@odgersberndtson Plants Offices worldwide Turning over a new leaf Observe selects seven plants that have the power to improve air quality, remove toxins and aid well working

P eace lily An elegant feature in a boardroom, reception area or executive office, the peace lily is tolerant of low light and is among the most powerful of natural air purifiers. North Li at n E urope Russia Afric a & Asia America America Austria Moscow Middle East Pacific Canada Brazil Vienna Spain South Africa Australia Barcelona Toronto São Paulo Belgium Cape Town Sydney Montréal Mexico Brussels Madrid Johannesburg Brisbane Calgary Mexico City Sweden United Arab Melbourne Vancouver Czech Republic Monterrey Prague Stockholm Emirates China Ottawa Golden pothos Dubai Hong Kong Denmark Switzerland In NASA tests, this plant removed United States Shanghai Copenhagen Zürich up to 73 per cent of air-polluting New York volatile organic compounds (VOCs) Turkey India Austin Finland New Delhi from a sealed room. It can also Helsinki Istanbul flourish in low light. Boston Chicago Ukraine Japan France Tokyo Dallas Lyon Kyiv Houston Paris United Singapore Los Angeles Kingdom Singapore Germany Minneapolis London Frankfurt Philadelphia Aberdeen Munich San Francisco Birmingham Washington DC Ireland Cardiff Rosemary Dublin More than just an old wives’ Edinburgh tale, researchers at English ivy Netherlands Glasgow Northumbria University in This plant can withstand Amsterdam Leeds the UK have proved that relatively low light levels, Manchester this fragrant herb really can requires minimal care, and Poland can remove lots of toxins Warsaw Boston fern improve memory and The Boston fern is said to alertness. from the air in poorly Portugal ventilated rooms. act as a humidifier, Lisbon restoring moisture to dry office air. It does require specific care, however.

A loe vera Observe is edited, designed and produced by Archant Dialogue Editor Jonathan Arnold For advertising sales Aloe vera is not only on behalf of OB International Search Limited (OBIS) trading as [email protected] enquiries, please contact: an attractive, almost Jade plant Odgers Berndtson. Production Editor Matt Colley Head of Advertising sculptural addition to For minimal maintenance, Archant Dialogue is part of Art Editor Claire Leibrick Isobel Robson Tel + 44 (0)1603 772325 an office; it also the jade plant (also known Archant Community Media Designer Matt Copland isobel.robson@ improves air quality as the money plant or Opinions expressed in Observe are not necessarily those of OBIS/ Account Director Mel Wilcockson archantdialogue.co.uk and contains cooling friendship tree) is an Odgers Berndtson or Archant Dialogue. Material contained in this Account Manager Laura Stringer publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without prior Advertising Sales Executive gel that can be aesthetically pleasing Art Director Richard Berry Rogan Twort applied to minor cuts, winner. It’s also considered permission of the publishers. ©Archant Dialogue 2018 Content & Brand Director Ryan Battles Tel + 44 (0)1603 772447 burns and skin by some to be a symbol of Archant Dialogue, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE, UK rogan.twort@ Agency Director Zoë Francis-Cox

blemishes. good luck. DAY CHARLOTTE ILLUSTRATIONS: archantdialogue.co.uk archantdialogue.co.uk

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