Could slashing busywork boost morale and productivity? And the question to ask yourself to keep your career moving
A record share of Australians are either working or looking for a job as the labour market holds up in the face of a rapidly cooling economy, writes economics correspondent Michael Read .
That's both keeping pressure on the Reserve Bank to maintain high interest rates (although traders reckon a cut is still on the cards before Christmas), and has bosses putting pressure on managers to find ways to do more with less.
But lifting productivity at a moment when surveys repeatedly show workers are disengaged, unmotivated, on the verge of burn out and feeling trapped in their jobs – all while being told to moderate their wage expectations – is a hard ask.
This week, work and careers reporter Euan Black digs into some of the strategies companies are employing to try and squeeze every last drop of productivity out of the stone, including taking the torch to "busywork" and organisational restructuring to retain top (highly productive) talent.
Read that story here.
You're missing out! Get even more insights a day early when you sign up to our FREE Work & Careers newsletter: direct to your inbox, every Thursday.
What MH17 taught this leader about managing through crisis
It was July 17, 2014, and Sharon Lewin was two days out from a major event she was organising: the largest ever health conference held in Australia, drawing 15,000 delegates from all over the world.
It was also the day Malaysia Airlines plane MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine, claiming 298 lives, including many friends, colleagues and conference delegates.
What Lewin learned that week about how to manage through personal and shared grief and unimaginable crisis in this week's episode of 15 Minutes with the Boss.
Listen to her story now on our website, Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
The one question this boss uses to progress her career
Julie Batch , chief executive of NRMA Insurance , comes from a long line of insurers. “I joke that my dad used to read me policy wordings to send me to sleep,” she tells BOSS editor Sally Patten .
But the drive that took her from a first job packing motor windscreen repair kits for the equivalent of about $1 an hour, to to running one of Australia’s oldest brands, Batch has made her own luck.
Read her story here.
Why this CEO abandoned his rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle
The first thing Vas Katos did as CEO of Anthem was put in a managing director so he wouldn’t have to do the day-to-day. That's "a young man's sport," he tells BOSS deputy editor Patrick Durkin .
What it's like to run the company behind the country's biggest shows and events here.
Sustainable Investing
Why the rich are decarbonising their portfolios Wind and solar may have disappointed, writes Joanna Mather , but wealth managers see opportunity in areas such as waste management and disability housing.
Green super: Why investors hesitate to walk the talk Lower investment returns and concerns about greenwashing are proving strong headwinds for green super, writes Michelle Bowes .
Is rent-to-own a better option than build-to-rent? Build-to-rent can provide housing at scale, but some like Sydney architect James Alexander-Hatziplis believe there should also be a pathway to homeownership, writes Larry Schlesinger .
This week the Financial Review published a special report examining a growing movement of investors looking to balance returns with greening their portfolios. Read the full collection here.
Thanks for joining us. If you haven't already, subscribe to The Australian Financial Review today for complete access to all our news and analysis.