Another reason to dislike open offices, the mother of all talents, and more top insights

What’s happening in the world of work: The Saturday edition of the Daily Rundown highlights the business trends, perspectives, and hot topics you need to know to work smarter. Read on and join the conversation. 

In case you needed another reason to dislike open offices: Research from the Auckland University of Technology suggests open plan office space is especially challenging to women, who say they feel exposed and under observation at work. Some women who were surveyed said that being watched actually improved their productivity. Others said the exposure left them feeling judged and evaluated for their appearance, a source of distraction on the job. One remedy? Build some options for privacy at the office, and add some flexibility to your remote work policies. ? Here’s what people are saying. 

The grand poobah of all talents? Self-control: Recruiters and hiring managers often prize qualities like curiosity and drive when they talk about the kind of workers they desire. But the ability companies should desire most — the trait that makes all the other coveted qualities that much more powerful — is self-control, writes Fast Company’s Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic. Such restraint increases our focus, our ability to learn new things and our resilience. And it’s also a good indicator that an employee will have enough discipline to steer clear of ethical lapses in high-stress situations. ? Here’s what people are saying.

You Asked: “If you’re passed over for a promotion for someone who seems to be in over their head and making a lot of decisions that ultimately cost the whole department some setbacks, how do you keep engaged without trying to fix this? Is it better to basically just disengage and focus on your work only?” — Mary P., Columbia, Mo-based office specialist ? Join the conversation. 

• “It can be frustrating being passed over for a promotion, especially to a colleague who negatively impacts the department. Rather than disengaging – stay in the driver’s seat. First, separate the part that is about you from the part that is about your colleague. Feel your feelings and take time to process emotions. Seek to understand why you were passed over by having a 1-1 with your manager and then make a plan. With your colleague, keep it constructive. Proceed with caution if you decide to bring the issue to your boss. Remember, it’s critical to bring self-compassion during this time!” — Amy Jen Su, executive coach and author of “The Leader You Want to Be: Five Essential Principles for Bringing Your Best Self Everyday” (Read Amy Jen Su’s full response.)

Looking for career advice from the pros? Submit your questions in the comments with #YouAsked and we’ll take care of the rest.

What to do when you’re overwhelmed: As our jobs and lives grow increasingly complicated, it’s inevitable that we’re more prone to feel overwhelmed, argues executive coach Rebecca Zucker. Thankfully, there’s plenty we can do to combat these feelings. One ideal first step? Ask yourself what one or two items on your to-do list are responsible for the vast majority of your stress. Identifying the source of your worries can signal where you may need help from others, and it can help put what’s on your plate in perspective. ? Here’s what people are saying. 

The kind of thinking we all need to avoid: Many of us are prone to giving previous results way too much importance when we’re thinking about our next moves. This kind of thinking is called “outcome bias” and it’s been responsible for all sorts of disasters, from shuttle crashes to corporate scandals, writes author David Robson. Such thinking is especially treacherous in cases of “near misses,” when we avert crisis by the skin of our teeth. In those instances, we’re liable to confuse luck for skill. We can avoid future catastrophes by thinking about the context of our previous actions, and by examining how things could have gone wrong. ? Here’s what people are saying.  

One last idea:  When we think of superpowers we desire, our minds gravitate to skills and abilities that are out of reach. But Wired magazine co-founder Kevin Kelly reminds us of one exceptional power that, for many of us, is readily within our grasp. ? Here’s what people are saying. 

“Reading is a superpower that also gives you a type of teleportation; it moves you a million miles instantly. When you have this superpower you can see the world from the viewpoint of someone else. This helps protect you from the mistakes and untruths of others as well as your own ignorance.”

What's your take? Join the conversations on today's stories in the comments.

— Scott Olster