Small businesses boost business travel

Despite the doomsday predictions early in the pandemic, business travel isn’t dead. One interesting divide that has emerged is that smaller businesses have proved much more willing than larger corporations to put workers back on planes. At American Airlines Group Inc., travel demand in the fourth quarter from small and medium-sized businesses returned to 80pc of its pre-pandemic level, compared with only 40pc for large companies. Will business travel come all the way back? No one truly knows. But as the world tries to edge back to some semblance of normalcy, there are a lot of reasons to think that the future will include a healthy amount of travel for corporations big and small. Despite the Omicron setback for airlines, the longer-term prospects are looking bright — it appears that business travel has a pulse, and it is growing stronger.

(Adapted from “Business Travel Has A Pulse, And It’s Growing Stronger,” by Brooke Sutherland, published on January 21, 2022, by Bloomberg Opinion)

The challenge of talent retention

Of all the many concerns top executives see as their biggest risks for 2022 — a disrupted global supply chain, new Covid-19 variants, rising inflation or government regulatory changes — none ranks higher than their talent acquisition and retention challenges, according to a survey by accounting and consulting giant PwC. Yet despite worries about talent shortages, and 77pc of executives saying that hiring and retaining talent is “very important” to their growth, less than a third said they had implemented and were planning to keep increasing compensation for employees through sign-on bonuses and raises outside of the usual review cycle. Another 31pc said they had put in place such increases but planned to revisit them, while 22pc said they were under consideration, but a final decision hadn’t been made.

(Adapted from “Executives Say They’re Worried About Keeping Talent. Less Than A Third Say They’re Committed To Keeping Increased Pay,” by Jena McGregor, published on January 27, 2022, by Forbes)

Paper replacing plastic

Mountains of recycled cardboard will be turned into paperboard suitable for greener forms of packaging as part of a $600m project launching month. The first new paperboard production line built in the US in decades represents an enormous bet by owner Graphic on a future without foam cups, plastic clamshell containers or six-pack rings. Graphic wants to be able to offer more environmentally friendly packaging so that the consumer-goods companies that buy its products can tout a cleaner supply chain to their own investors and consumers. Once Graphic shuts down four smaller and less-efficient machines, including one at its Kalamazoo, Mich., complex that is 100 years old, it will use a lot less water and electricity, it says, and emit 20pc less greenhouse gases. One of Graphic’s most promising new products is the KeelClip. The paperboard yoke folds over the top of cans and has finger holes. It is fast replacing plastic wrap and six-pack rings in Europe’s beverage aisles.

(Adapted from “Can Paper Replace Plastic? A Packaging Giant Is Betting That It Can,” by Ryan Dezember, published on January 2, 2022, by The Wall Street Journal)

Feel like an imposter?

Do you feel like a fraud? Many of us do. Around one-third of young people suffer from imposter syndrome, and 70pc of everyone else is likely to experience it at some point in their lives. That said, imposter syndrome is a battle that you can, and with practice, will win. Here are a few research-backed tips that can help: 1) Keep a positive mindset. When we push ourselves to remain in the present, as opposed to posit about the future or worry about the past, we can focus more clearly on the reality of our situations. 2) One strategy is to acknowledge your achievements by completing a “monthly wins tracker” to chronicle your progress. 3) Celebrate! We often forget to honour ourselves. But celebrating your wins is a simple, and fun, way to combat imposter syndrome. 4) Use social media, mindfully. 5) Make a plan. Break down your goals into smaller, more manageable chunks and plan to tackle them one at a time.

(Adapted from “You’re Not an Imposter. You’re Actually Pretty Amazing,” by Kess Eruteya, published by HBR Ascend)