Bookmarks: 5 Interesting Articles That May Help You This Week

Each week, I select a few articles that rise above the fray and hopefully help you on your journey in the CRE world. They pull from one of four "corners:" corporate real estate, technology, management science and anything positive. I welcome your comments on these articles.

1. Play Your Game

The United States Hockey team was slacking off. Coach Herb Brooks could see it; his team was not taking this seriously. Each man was born to be a hockey player and this series of games was the most important of their life. To say Brooks was frustrated was an understatement.

After that exhibition game against Norway, U.S. Coach Herb Brooks, played by actor Kurt Russell in the 2004 movie Miracle, had his assistant coach line the players up at one end of the rink. At each whistle the athletes were required to skate hard the entire length of the rink. This drill, which is known as a “bag skate,” is basically a wind sprint on ice. It ain’t easy even if you’re in tip top shape.

The bag skate went on for a couple of hours till one of the players, out of breath and desperate for a break simply blurted out his name. Then the coach looked at him and said, “Who do you play for?” The player responded: “The United States of America!” Brooks headed off the ice and dismissed the group, saying “Gentlemen, that is all.”

My wife Karen and I watched the movie recently for some positive mental nutrition. Coach Brooks is full of wonderful advice. Watch the locker room speech on You Tube if you get a chance…simply amazing.

2. When Crisis Strikes, Lead With Humanity

The writer George Saunders has a fitting analogy for the current Covid-19 moment: We’ve slipped on ice but haven’t hit the pavement yet. We’re caught in a suspended state between losing control and feeling the full impact.

The comparison points to a paradoxical tension that leaders must manage: providing direction, guidance, and reassurance while acknowledging that the path ahead isn’t clear. Doing one thing without the other doesn’t work. Both are needed to help people find the clarity and strength to move forward.

Balancing this tension requires leaders to lead with humanity and do a few important things.

3. 4 Actions to Be a Strong Leader During COVID-19 Disruption

Where executives focus during times of disruption and upheaval will define them as leaders.

COVID-19 is causing a humanitarian crisis of global proportions, with hundreds of thousands of lives disrupted. Sadly, we’re not nearing the end of the crisis.

In my day-to-day, I work with executive leaders and their teams on preparing for enterprise transformation. It’s no surprise that I’ve been musing for a while on what makes a great leader.

In recent days, I’ve observed how COVID-19 is a test case for good and bad leadership. In my opinion, the leader’s primary responsibility is to keep the team safe, cohesive and productive. But what should a leader be focused on in the midst of a global disruption?

Leaders at any level can take four specific actions. These actions aren’t the only ones, but some of them might be missed in the rush to create an effective response.

4. How Coronavirus Will Change Air Travel

Across the U.S., airports are ghostly quiet, hosting barely 5% of the number of travelers who passed through them at this time last year. When the coronavirus pandemic eases, it won’t be a quick return to normal. New health screening and safety measures promise to further complicate travel, and airlines will be shrunken versions of their former selves, with reduced route networks and a transformed in-flight experience.

It could take two to five years before passenger numbers return to the go-go levels of 2019, says Helane Becker, an analyst with the investment bank Cowen, and U.S. airlines are downsizing accordingly—she expects them to end the year 20% to 30% smaller than at the start. Safety worries will be compounded by a deep, sudden recession that is putting millions out of work and deeper into debt. “If you’re lucky enough to have a landlord who lets you defer rent, you have to pay that back and your credit card bills before you can think about going to Disney World,” she says.

Here’s how travel will change for those who are able to afford it.

5. Top working from home tips from around the world

arlier this month we shared expert insights for maintaining productivity while working from home during Covid-19. Many of you subsequently shared your own stories and tips, which included both practices that follow common advice and new and creative ideas.

Several recognised that the pandemic makes working from home far more challenging than usual; people are sharing workspaces with family and dealing with anxiety, stress and other mental health problems.

Sarah M, a service desk analyst from the UK, admits she’s finding the isolation rather “depressing” and urges others not to take day-to-day human interaction for granted. Haralds Gabrans, a digital marketing manager from Latvia, says he’s struggling to accept that this is “the new normal”, and that it will go on for more than a few weeks.

Despite the challenges, many have discovered working from home amid a pandemic can still be a productive and even rewarding experience with the right mindset and behaviours.

Your success blesses others. I wish you a great a hugely impactful week!

Ken Ashley