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. odgersberndtson.com 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 E RGONOMICS 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, F ITNESS 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 HAE 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”.