Editorial

Middle East. People are taking to the streets in order to free buildings from the occupancy of powerful dictators, who, for decades, have been keeping the development of freedom under pressure.

These are the revolution of social networks, of those who are used to confrontation and are tired of politics’ lies. It’s the backstage of a media narration that, for decades, has been describing the condition of people infatuated with extremist religions and unable to react to the dictate of the Koran (and other assorted formulas) and are also grateful to the leaders who became international personalities thanks to the money made from petrol.

The gloomy picture I’ve just described it’s the result of a fourhanded painting. On one side local exploiters, on the other, the international community that needed (and needs) that petrol. European populations, American populations and those from Asian countries think that work in the Middle East and in the Maghreb region is limited to camels pasture, resorts sand raking and to little more than that. Instead reality is different.

We have a lot to learn from these countries, even in terms of work styles, as we will tell you on this issue and in future ones! This number describes work in North Africa, with an article by Thrasy Petropoulos that conducted a research for us; and in two other articles: the first, a combined piece, in which we asked 6 columnists to tell us what we could give up, since the key to our future is giving up some privileges to make room to those who are not as well.

The Tryptique is closed by an article on suffocated religions, that have no chance of revitalization, as three American mathematicians from Northwestern University (Illinois) will tell us.

The Work Style magazine #6 comes out in conjunction with the launch of Work Style talking, a thinking model on the identity of work, in Milan (Italy), from April 12 to April 16.

Follow us, in the next issue we will explore the concept of “trust” with interviews collected during the Annual Great Place to Work conference in Denver (March 2011).

Mirko Nesurini

Chairman

mirko@theworkstylemagazine.com

Summary

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Sacrifice in Economy

Too much information kills information

The over-information that can damper our life.

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Self-control for well-being

How multiple selves affect our public policy.

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Sacrifice in Ecology

Do you “need” to eat that steak tonight?

What we could give up for the environment or our own health.

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Sacrifice in Entertainment

Mirror, mirror on the wall

What our intellect could give up and still be healthy.

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Sacrifice in Emotions

Saying ‘no’ to keep happy and healthy at work

The six golden rules for a happier and healthier worklife.

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Your thoughts are your perception

The prescription for rational thinking that makes you feel better.

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Lessons from tribes

How western societies can take example from tribal societies.

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Retaining talents

Fostering employee engagement

The strategies to cultivate employees and retain them in crisis period.

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Military schools

Leadership ability, in military-style

The tools and strategies developed in military schools, create the corporate leader of the future.

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Corporate Social Responsibility

Altruism or self-interest

The new way of creative capitalism.

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Identity goal

Identity in the workplace

The importance of people in an economic enterprise.

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Whistleblowing

Whistleblower protection

The importance of shielding employees.

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Respect the planet

Everybody is going green

The sustainability issues are becoming an integrated part of business, what companies are doing to be more enviromentaly friendly.

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Unusual Jobs

Get hurt, feel good

Longing for scratches, burns and injuries: it is not a joke, but a serious yet exciting profession.

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Nature rebellion

Taking the luck out of safety

A scientific knowledge of environmental behaviour and conditions is the easiest and most urgent way to ensure a safe work environment.

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Stop the stress

Laugh to decrease your stress

How the benefit of a laugh can be helpful in the workplace.

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Scooting through the city

Commuters on scooters

Scooters are the future means of transport; they help people shift in an ecologic way.

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Sustainability

The architecture of productivity

The reconfiguration of the workspace architecture is a wellspring of a new business
creativity.

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Math it’s no opinion

Math versus faith

Scientific calculation to prove religious disaffection.

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Africa, working hard

Lions on the move

A portrait of African countries to understand how people work in this continent.

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Brand communication reinvented

Images of reality and new images

Scardillo’s revision of advertising techniques allow brands to trade with society. And find new social balances.

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When out of office matters

Employees “out of office”

The weight of employee’s life outside work.

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To be cool

Design Ideas

Young Design Awards & Brit Insurance Design of the Year.

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Fashion in the world

The business side of style Portraits of Peter Conrad, Jennifer Prosek, Philippe Remond.

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Our Choices

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Germany

The Eagle is back

An economic portrait of German Country, with a focus on talent mobility as an important resource to increase companies growth.

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Beyond the line

Düsseldorf City Guide

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Milan

The event on work identity 2011

5 workshops oriented to discover the identity of work, they will take place in Milan during the design week.

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Imagining the city of the future

Cities we’re looking for

New urban design to turn cities into ‘heuristic spaces’.

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News from Africa

North Africa burns

A trip through the North Africa to investigate the actually hard situations of Mediterranean countries.

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Ekaterinburg

The new face of Russia

The Work Cities Guide now travels to the Russian city of Ekaterinburg.

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Book selection

Exciting new releases and

interviews with the authors.