In a recent meeting, I listened to a Director of a company from Finland* describe challenges of working globally, describing requests for special payments to facilitate the movement of goods.   His story reminded me that there is an annual report titled  the Corruption Perception Index (CPI).  Created by Transparency International it offers an assessment of the perceived level of corruption in countries across the globe.   (https://www.transparency.org/en).

The 2020 edition of the CPI ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, drawing on expert assessments and surveys of business executives. It uses a scale of zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).

Denmark and New Zealand top the index as the least corrupt tied with 88 points.  Following them are Finland*, Switzerland, Sweden and Singapore all at 88.   At the bottom:  Syria, Somalia and South Sudan  with 14, 12 and 12 points, respectively.  Wondering about the United States?   The US appears at #25 with 67 points (down from 73 in 2012).     Thinking about entering a new market?  Don’t forget to check the CPI. 

To see the full report:  https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2020/index/nzl

Yes, there is still Happiness in the World

 

 It’s hard to think in terms of happiness when we look back at 2020.  However --- it can be found.   Thanks to the Sustainable Development Solutions Network we know that there is Happiest Country in the World.    They recently issued their annual report,  announcing that Finland was the Happiest Country in the World.  (https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2021)

 

They stated that:  “This year’s report focuses on the effects of COVID-19 on happiness and how countries have differed in their success in reducing the deaths and maintaining connected and healthy societies.”   Although the same five countries  rank as the happiest five whether looking at results covering 2018 – 2020 or only  2020, the rankings change slightly.  Either way Finland continues to rank #1 – Happiest country.

 

 2018-2020                   (2020 only)

 

1.     Finland                         (1)

2.     Denmark                      (3)

3.     Switzerland                  (4)

4.     Iceland                          (2)

5.     Netherlands                 (5)

 

 

You’ll find the details  of the 2021 report and those dating to 2013 by following this link:  https://worldhappiness.report/archive.

 

(By the way, of the 149 countries in included in the report for 2018-2020 – in the top 20 are  Austria at 10, Ireland 15, the US 19 and Belgium 20.  At  149 is Afghanistan.)

 

Forget the New Normal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As more people receive their vaccinations there seems to be a sense that  they are magic shots that will take us back to 2019 – a familiar time with well-known rhythms, ways of doing things. 

 

I submit to you that it’s time to change our vision – not to look backwards.  Let’s be realistic. We’re not going back.  Corvid’s here to stay (like the flu).  Look forward.  Let’s talk about PV (Post Vaccination) or NN (New Now) or New Time (NT) or whatever forward thinking label you wish to create.

 

Let’s take  advantage of all that we’ve learned (who knew what ‘You’re on mute” meant a year ago?) --- that remote work could be difficult/easy/productive/and not – that we could pivot, learn, adapt, suffer, care for each other, play bingo on Zoom, talk to long lost colleagues and more? 

 

Let’s figure out our new passports, what it means to be working in hybrid model, figure out how to support each other as we create new patterns, new ways to travel, new ways to keep each other safe.  Let’s look for the joy that surely will come if we pay attention and bring our energy to creating what comes next. 

I wish you a leader who laughs

Gary Burnison, Korn Ferry, (https://www.kornferry.com), writes occasionally about Leadership.  In a recent piece he focused on humor and shared stories of when humor diffused difficult, awkward situations.  Of all that he wrote the sentences below touched me, so I am sharing them with you.

Humor is a legitimate leadership tool, and it takes a lot of intelligence (emotional and intellectual) to use it well. It can become the release valve that lightens despair and disarms conflict.

For family and friends, colleagues and clients, adding a dose of levity and authenticity can alleviate even the heaviest of downpours. We become relatable. We become more human. We don’t build walls of words; we help people climb over to reach us. Indeed, where there’s humor, there’s humanity.

 No matter where we are in the world, no matter that what makes me laugh  may not make any sense to you - and the reverse -  I believe as Mr. Burnison does, that we all benefit when laughter is part of lives.  So I wish you leaders who laugh and laughter to brighten your days.

The Return of the Handwritten Note

 

Handwritten notes.  Mailed “snail mail”.  As old fashioned as the quill pen and ink?  Maybe not.

 

I’m hearing that they are becoming fashionable, valuable, useful again.  When everyone’s online mailbox is full to overflowing – your note, even one to say thank you for your business/friendship/assistance/referral may not be seen.

 

But a handwritten note, received in the mail?   That stands out.  Making something old (a handwritten note) new again.   Stand out from the crowd.

 

Take a quick read through the article from the Jobber Academy – complete with templates to inspire you.  Jobber Academy

 

Buy stamps from the US Post Office (US Post Office ), note cards from Paper Source or Target (target.com) and start writing.  Surprise people.   Let them know you think they are worth more than a quick e-mail.    

Going Somewhere Someday? Or Nowhere Now?

 

On September 16 the CEO of United Airlines, Scott Kirby, assured those attending a Politico live event that business travel will come back – eventually.  Maybe in a year, maybe two but it will be back. 

 However, some people just can’t wait to get on a plane and head somewhere. Anywhere.  Even nowhere.  For those people there are now flights they can take.   Described in Tariro Mzezewa’s article in the New York Time on September 19 (just days after the statement by the United CEO) airlines in Brunei, Taiwan, Japan and Australia are offering trips that begin and end at the same airport, without landing anywhere in between. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/19/travel/airlines-pandemic-flights-to-nowhere.html

 Creative thinking to give work to airline employees?  Please clients? Reduce their frustration with the restrictions due the pandemic?  Or foolishness that increases air pollution?   The answer depends.  But one thing it tells us – is that there’s still a demand for air travel – and our hope is that it will grow and make Mr. Kirby’s prediction a reality. 

 

New Look for Travel and Travelers

The look of travel, especially by air, continues to change --- and we’re especially aware of that today. 

The Look of Travel brings to mind clothing – what we wear.  Think back a few decades and remember that appropriate dress when flying meant coats, ties, dresses and high heels.  Fast forward to a more recent time (2019) and the definition became clothing that was “comfortable”:  jeans, yoga pants, flip flops.

Today, in this new decade any of those ‘comfortable” clothes may show up, however, now we have new accessories:  masks and gloves and we carry bottles of hand sanitizer or packages of wipes.

Yet it isn’t just the look of travelers that’s changing.  According to Wunderman-Thompson airports, airplanes, even shuttles are changing.    The changes won’t mimic the design of Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore (https://www.jewelchangiairport.com/).  A stunning new complex, opened barely a year ago.  Thought to set a new standard for airports.  Now, maybe not.   Described on Wikipedia as “a nature-themed entertainment and retail complex linked to three of its passenger terminals. Its centerpiece is the world's tallest indoor waterfall, the Rain Vortex, which is surrounded by a terraced forest setting.”  Makes one want to fly to Singapore just to see it. 

However, that’s not what’s coming to airport design in 2020.  The airport that is evolving now, as described in the Wunderman-Thompson Intelligence Brief of July 6, 2020, (https://intelligence.wundermanthompson.com) is an one  “that shields personal space and protects individual health”.  

Some things you may see: 

Sofas that encourage proper distancing,

Spaces designed to optimize sanitation and facilitate cleaning

A transparent hood that can be fixed onto existing seats.

From the spaces that accommodate travelers to the vehicles that bring them there, the backdrop of tourism is being reimagined in the wake of COVID-19.   Rather than dramatic vistas, forests and services, today’s travel environment is focused on health and safety.  The look and feel of travel, what we wear, where we sit, what surrounds us continues to change.  What’s next?   Let’s go and find out.