The tottering attempts to reopen economies after coronavirus lockdown call for nerves of steel – and confidence not required since the 2008 financial crisis. That economies have to reopen is without question. What to expect when they do is largely unknown. South Korea, a model for its handling of the crisis, is seeing cases spike…
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People are scared of China. China is powerful and determined to make its way. In a very short time it has come from being a backward country to being the most powerful in the world. I have sought views about its intentions, objectives and what sort of response the world should make, if any, to…
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Downing Street, London. No 10. Home and office of Britain’s Prime Minister. Workplace of a good many other people, too, including Boris Johnson’s Special Adviser, Dominic Cummings. Mr Cummings is widely credited with getting Mr Johnson into Downing Street. He may well be on the way to getting him out equally effectively too. Mr Cumming’s…
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You don’t need me to tell you that China is a powerful influence in the world. You may have read Kishore Mahbubani’s book ‘Has China won?’ In any case, you read the newspapers, one way or another. Another big influence is President Trump. I seldom refer to him as President because it hurts my keyboard…
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It is clear that Covid-19 is not going to go away for a very long time. It will be another year before we begin to know the extent of seasonal resurgence; eighteen months before we have a usable medication to defeat the virus; three years before that medication is moderately widely available. There may well…
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The greatest soft skill is to care about and be interested in other people. The age of saying that this “is too touchy-feely for us” is well and truly over. If you doubt that, look at the scores for online meetings, chats and discussions. Without any question the winners are those whose personalities come across…
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The irony of the personal virus situation mimicking the international virus situation seems to be lost on many people. Individually we are exhorted to keep our distance while cooperating enough to bring the economy back to a sustainable level. Views are so divided on this that we may well see physical violence trying to resolve…
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“…in a recent survey of people affected by the pandemic, 90% of participants felt such leaders improved their work-life balance and job satisfaction. And 70% of those who worked for compassionate leaders were more productive than those who didn’t.” Financial Times 12May20. Compassion is not a soft option. It takes more effort than brutality. To…
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Dear Bob A response to Bob Gattie’s article on the United States Like many other people, I agreed with what you said about politics and standards in the United States in your Daily Paradox article “The United States and Us” 08May20. Beautifully expressed it touched a chord with most people, at least of those living…
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Today’s Daily Paradox is kindly contributed by Bob Gattie, a Terrific Mentor. It expresses his personal views. Like many of my generation I grew up admiring the United States for its “can-do” mentality, it’s sense of egalitarianism, it’s wealth, generosity, and everlasting optimism. I felt blessed when offered a Mellon Scholarship at The Graduate School…
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