If you’re one of the nearly 13 million people expected to travel by air this holiday weekend, be prepared for extra time on the tarmac. With 2022’s busiest travel weekend yet upon us, Delta CEO Ed Bastian has apologized for widespread flight delays, admitting that “things won’t change overnight.”

So, why not? Traveler demand is outpacing pilot supply. Supply chain backups are slowing down repairs; they’re also slowing down fireworks, although that might be a relief to fire departments in Western states.

We’d suggest you drive to your destination instead, if it weren’t for the rental car shortage. Maybe just throw some burgers on the grill and invite the neighbors? Happy Fourth! 🇺🇸

Cost of recruitment: Learn from the Nets’ and Lakers’ HR mistakes.

Camera on: Is it ever OK to go audio-only in a Zoom meeting?

Severance: Take these onboarding tips from the hit Apple TV+ thriller series.

(Source: Shutterstock)

With the NBA’s free agency period starting this month, let’s remember the failed promise of last year’s Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers.

Why? ’Cause business is like basketball: You can hire a superstar, or even a few of them, but if you fail to invest in the rest of your team – having spent the bulk of your personnel budget to get those big blockbuster trades – your franchise will fall apart.

A Team Can Work on Paper but Not on the Court

Last year’s Nets were one of the most stacked teams the NBA has ever seen. With Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Ben Simmons, and LaMarcus Aldridge, they had no shortage of talent and were the clear championship favorites heading into last season.

But the Nets got swept in the first round by the Boston Celtics, whose only superstar (a status debated among pundits) is Jayson Tatum. The Lakers, likewise, went all in on superstar Russell Westbrook, passing on much-needed shooting guards – like Buddy Hield – who would’ve been a more cost-effective and complementary fit alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

With both teams now looking to make big roster changes, their mutual disaster seasons can serve as a warning for business leaders. 

The Cost of Poor Hiring Decisions

Businesses, like basketball teams, have a limited number of roles to fill, and landing the wrong hire is one of the most expensive mistakes you can make. A bad hire can cost you 30% of the employee’s first-year salary, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. (Tony Hsieh estimated that bad hiring decisions resulted in losses over $100 million when he was the CEO of Zappos.)

The best fit isn’t always the most expensive one or the one with the most impressive qualifications, but if you lack time or preparation, it’s easy to fall into this trap. In a CareerBuilder survey, 43% of respondents admitted to making poor hiring decisions because they were pressed for time.

There’s no quick fix or easy answer for landing quality hires. It takes a holistic and comprehensive approach, from 360-degree reference checks and skill tests to brand-building strategies that attract quality hires. But the Nets’ and Lakers’ absence from the 2022 NBA Finals should be a cautionary tale: A lone superstar is different from a championship team.

(Source: Shutterstock)

A recent Vyopta survey revealed that 92% of executives feel that employees who leave their cameras off for video meetings “probably don’t have a long-term future at their company.” However, new psychological research from the University of Illinois suggests it’s unhealthy to look at our faces this much.

What’s the correct balance? Here to explain is Steven Rogelberg, Ph.D., Chancellor’s Professor at UNC Charlotte and former president of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

After two long years of countless Zoom meetings, the thought of staring out at our imperfections and blemishes in yet another can fill us with dread. Thus, leaders often ask me, “Should I still request that all meeting attendees keep their camera on?”

The answer is yes, with some exceptions. 

Why Zoom Is So Exhausting

When our image is on the screen, it’s mentally taxing like staring at oneself in the mirror for extended amounts of time. This appears to be amplified for women, younger individuals, and introverts.  

So why would a meeting leader want attendees to have the camera on? Because we need to create “presence.”

When to Keep Your Camera On (and When It’s Less Necessary)

People can’t disappear or multitask when they are fully present, which creates inclusion and engagement. But this is where two key exceptions come in:

• If a meeting leader fails to be an excellent steward of attendees’ time, asking them to keep the camera on could seem punitive.
• If the meeting is for disseminating information and contains a lot of attendees, a video should not be required.

The Best Solution: Turn Off Self-View

Most video meeting services and systems now allow us to turn off our self-view. Thus, the camera is on, but we don’t have to see ourselves. 

This is much more natural and akin to what happens in a face-to-face meeting. It’s a perfect way to mitigate the drain associated with “video on.”

(Source: Apple

The first scene of the Apple TV+ sci-fi thriller Severance introduces viewers to Helly (Britt Lower), a Lumon Industries employee who – minor spoiler – has undergone a procedure that separates all memories of her personal and work lives into two parts of her consciousness. Mark (Adam Scott) oversees her initial onboarding process.

Since 69% of real-world employees are more likely to stay with your company for over three years after a great onboarding experience, Mark is also a great example of how not to welcome new hires.

Mark’s not prepared: When Mark starts his onboarding survey with Helly, he fumbles through the first few steps because he hasn’t had enough time or training to review the manual. This adds a lot of unnecessary confusion for both of them.

Mark’s not transparent: When Helly wakes up on the office table, she’s unsettled. She has no idea who she is or what she’s doing there because of her severance procedure. Starting a job sometimes feels like this for employees, but you want them to feel confident in their new role; Mark’s lack of transparency in explaining Helly’s responsibilities and place in the company is exactly what you want to avoid.

Mark’s not patient: Rushing your new hire through the onboarding process can leave them frustrated and poorly trained, and it might leave you (like Mark) with low employee satisfaction, a higher churn rate, and a cut on your forehead.

As quittin’ time nears and you’re about to head out for another summer weekend, we’re highlighting Torch & Crown Tenement. Manhattan’s only production brewery offers its take on the Italian pilsner, a modernized style of lager with a fresh malt aroma bolstered by a fragrant dry hopping. At 4.9% ABV, it’s an ideal day-drinker for a long and lazy weekend session.

Written by Ali Saleh, Dr. Eden King, and Aaron Goldfarb. Comic by John McNamee.