Net migration: how an unreachable target came to shape Britain

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Net migration: how an unreachable target came to shape Britain   New data shows that the UK has hit a record high net migration number of 606,000. Through it has been central to 13 years of policy and rhetoric, net migration is, in fact, a pretty odd metric that tells us very little about how the UK’s immigration system is functioning. Net migration is the difference between the number of people entering the country (and expected to stay long term) and the number leaving. So net migration of +1 could be achieved by two people leaving the country and three people moving here, or by ten million people leaving the country and ten million and one moving here. The practical difference between these two scenarios is, of course, huge. Continued here

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The Essential Components of Digital Transformation   It’s problematic when companies decide to embark on a digital transformation agenda without having a clear definition, let alone vision, for what it means. The fundamental meaning of transformation is not about replacing old technologies with new ones, or capturing high volumes of data, or hiring an army of data scientists, or trying to copy some of the things Google or Amazon do. In fact, the essence of digital transformation is to become a data-driven organization, ensuring that key decisions, actions, and processes are strongly influenced by data-driven insights, rather than by human intuition. In other words, you will only transform when you have managed to change how people behave, and how things are done in your organization. Continued here

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What to Do If Your Boss Doesn't Like You   Research shows that your relationship with your boss is one of the most important factors in your experience of work. But what happens if you suspect that your boss doesn’t like you? First, consider the possibility that the disconnect might stem from them not having confidence in you. If your boss doesn’t have confidence in you, you’re likely to miss out on plum opportunities or to suffer through micro-management. You can attempt to rectify your boss’s unfair assessment by clarifying their expectations, increasing their confidence in your ability, and boosting their comfort that you will deliver. If your boss is confident in you but just doesn’t seem to like you, stop talking and starting listening. Engage your boss to learn about the world through their eyes and you’ll slowly start to see them open up to you. If your relationship with your boss isn’t where you’d like it, don’t lose hope. Change your approach and see if you can spark a connection. Continued here

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4 Things That Set Successful CEOs Apart   In conducting an analysis of in-depth assessments of 17,000 executives, the authors uncovered a large disconnect between what directors think makes for an ideal CEO and what actually leads to high performance. The findings of their 10-year research project challenge many widely held assumptions. Charisma, confidence, and pedigree all have little bearing on CEO success, it turns out. Instead, top performers demonstrate four specific business behaviors: (1) They’re decisive, realizing they can’t wait for perfect information and that a wrong decision is often better than no decision. (2) They engage for impact, working to understand the priorities of stakeholders and then aligning them around a goal of value creation. (3) They adapt proactively, keeping an eye on the long term and treating mistakes as learning opportunities. (4) They deliver results in a reliable fashion, steadily following through on commitments. Continued here

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How the practice of Nichiren Buddhism sustained Tina Turner for 50 years   When Tina Turner, often dubbed the “Queen of Rock ‘N’ Roll,” died at her home in Küsnacht, Switzerland, on May 24, 2023, at the age of 83, media headlines praised both her dynamism as a performer and her many career achievements. What many did not know is that for the past 50 years Turner had practiced Soka Gakkai International Nichiren Buddhism. Soka Gakkai is a lay Nichiren Buddhist organization that was founded in Japan in 1930. Today, the international organization is known as Soka Gakkai International, or SGI. This form of Buddhism was popularized in the United States through the organization known today as SGI-USA. Turner was introduced to the organization by Valerie Bishop, a woman whom her first husband, musician Ike Turner hired to work in his recording studio. Continued here

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What makes peace talks successful? The 4 factors that matter   Peace talks that seek to end armed conflicts are underway in several African countries. Because very few conflicts are resolved on the battlefield, negotiations are fundamental. But they often fail. And even when an agreement is concluded, it doesn’t always last. To start, negotiating peace is complex. If it wasn’t, conflicts would be resolved more quickly and peace would last longer. Recognising this complexity is essential. Continued here

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South Africa's pact with Russia - and its actions - cast doubt on its claims of non-alignment   University of the Witwatersrand provides support as a hosting partner of The Conversation AFRICA.Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 South Africa has proclaimed a policy of non-alignment in that conflict. This position was placed in doubt when US Ambassador Ruben Brigety claimed recently that he had evidence that South African arms and ammunition were loaded on a Russian ship in December 2022. Continued here

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Why is it possible to feel a presence without sensory cues? | Aeon Essays   is an associate professor and member of the developmental science research group at Durham University, UK. He is also a fellow of the Institute for Medical Humanities and the Wolfson Institute for Health and Wellbeing. His most recent book is Presence: The Strange Science and True Stories of the Unseen Other (2023).Sarah was in her late teens when it first happened. A normal Thursday, it was early morning and pitch-black outside. The wind rattled the trees, branches rapping the windowpanes like a nervous visitor at the door. She could feel it was nearly time for her to get up, and heard her parents moving around downstairs. Continued here

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How to Design an Agenda for an Effective Meeting   To prevent holding a meeting in which participants are unprepared, veer off track, or waste the team’s time, you should create an effective meeting agenda that sets clear expectations for what needs to occur before and during the meeting. Seek input from your team members to ensure the agenda reflects their needs and keeps them engaged. If your entire team is meeting, then the issues discussed should affect everyone present and require the whole team’s effort to solve. Addressing topics that don’t impact everyone at the meeting wastes individuals’ valuable time. Another tactic for creating a better meeting agenda is listing topics as questions to be answered. Instead of writing “office space reallocation,” try “Under what conditions should we reallocate office space?” Let your team know if the purpose of the discussion is to share information, seek input on a decision, or make a decision. And indicate on the agenda who is leading each discussion so that they can prepare. These tips, and five others, will help your team stay focused in meetings. Continued here

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When and How to Respond to Microaggressions   Microaggressions are defined as verbal, behavioral, and environmental indignities that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults to the target person or group. For Black people, they are ubiquitous across daily work and life. You can respond in one of three ways: let it go, call it out immediately, or bring it up at a later date. Here’s a framework for deciding which path is right for the situation and how to handle the conversation if you choose to have one. First, discern what matters to you. Second, disarm the person who committed the microaggression; explain that you want to have an uncomfortable conversation. Third, challenge them to clarify their statement or action, then focus them on the negative impact it had. Finally, decide how you want to let the incident affect you. Continued here

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Temu Is Losing Millions of Dollars to Send You Cheap Socks   Eight makeup brushes for less than a dollar, with free international shipping, is surely too good to be true. But in the lightning deals section of Temu, the prices are all unbelievable—50 hair bands for $1.17, 10 pairs of socks for $3.87, six lip balms for $0.97.Temu, owned by the Chinese tech giant PDD, has exploded onto the top of US app stores since it launched last September, targeting cash-strapped Americans with cheap unbranded products shipped directly from Guangzhou, China. In just seven months, Temu’s app has been downloaded 50 million times. Continued here

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Inside Tencent's weirdly secretive customer service center   It’s been a while. I just got back from several weeks in China. It was my first visit since the pandemic, and I noticed some changes: half the cars running on the streets of Shanghai are now powered by electricity; I had to scan my face to ride the high-speed trains; and I did not use a single coin or credit card for my entire trip—digital wallets are accepted literally everywhere.One of my stops in China was Shenzhen, the southern city that’s home to many Chinese tech companies, like Tencent, Huawei, and DJI. I had several reasons to go to Shenzhen, but there was one that made me nervous: I wanted to go to Tencent’s mysterious customer service center to get my 15-year-old social media account back. Continued here

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3 Core Principles of Digital Customer Experience   Successful businesses focus on three core principles of their customer experience: They put the digital experience in the business context. They recognize that customers are not created equal. And they make zero-based decisions. Continuous improvement is fine, but it’s important to be willing to think from first principles, and to re-examine and justify what you are doing and what you could do differently. This helps ensure that the digital roadmap is prioritized and focused on the highest impact actions. Continued here

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4 Types of Innovators Every Organization Needs   Every company strives to be innovative, but most are missing key ingredients. How can you identify which ingredients your organization needs — and which employee styles can fill in the gaps? The authors’ research distills four key innovation styles that can lead to success — generators, conceptualizers, optimizers, and implementors — and explains how common they are across sectors. Then, they outline a four-part framework for ensuring your team or organization has all four styles represented. Continued here

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Lessons on Customer Engagement from Fan Controlled Football   Through blockchain technology that enables direct participation, the Fan Controlled Football league joins the physical sports and digital worlds to create a new, exciting fan experience. In doing so, the decentralized nature of the blockchain ensures that the FCF platform enables tamper-proof tracking of fan tokens used to participate in decision-making and other league-related activities. NFT holders, for example, can transact with each other and design and sell items in the team store. They have a blockchain-powered say in decisions about FCF such as league rules, game mechanics and expansion plans, and get early access to team share sales to purchase real ownership shares. This article explores how other companies can better engage consumers through Web3 technology. Continued here

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How to Focus on What's Important, Not Just What's Urgent   Research shows that people typically prioritize tasks with the shortest deadlines — even if those tasks aren’t the most important or valuable. In this piece, the author suggests several strategies to help you be more intentional about what you spend your time on: First, schedule important tasks, and give yourself way more time than you’ll probably need to complete them. Next, isolate the most important elements of important tasks and find ways to make incremental progress. Third, anticipate the feelings of anxiety that likely surround working on more important tasks, and prepare yourself to manage them. Fourth, spend less time on unimportant tasks, and prioritize actions that will reduce the number of these less-important tasks you’ll have in the future. Finally, pay attention to the things that help you see the big picture, whether it’s travel, catching up with friends, or time-tracking exercises. Struggling to prioritize your most important work is extremely common — but with these simple tips, you’ll be set up for success. Continued here

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19 Years Ago, Mark Zuckerberg Created a Massive Advantage. Why Don't More Businesses Copy It?   Harvard first. Then, Columbia, Stanford, and Yale. Continued here

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Ford's Surprise Partnership With Tesla Looks Like a Deal With the Devil. It's Actually A Stroke of Genius   The deal means Ford drivers will be able to use Tesla's Supercharger network. Continued here

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6 Powerful Ways Leaders Can Reduce Turnover and Increase Team Productivity   When people at work don't feel they matter, bad things happen. Continued here