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The Working Supervisor's Support Kit is a collection of information and tools to help working supervisors do a better job. It's based on what Wally's learned in over twenty years of supervisory skills training.

For weekly tips and resources pointers, check Wally's Three Star Leadership Letter

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Some of the most interesting business articles seem to come across my screen during the weekend and the weekend before New Year's is no exception. Here are a five thought provoking articles to start off your workweek. I'm pointing you to articles about the debt crisis, weirdness from the world of business, thinking about the future, looking at the recent past, and wellness in the workplace.

Last week's newsletter was "Dinner Parties and Project Management." As usual there were pointers to Web and Reading Resources, too.

From the New York Times: The Debt Crisis, Where it’s Least Expected
"Against the backdrop of all the gigantic numbers defining the subprime debacle, the Wish Fund’s losses look like small potatoes. The crisis has generated almost $100 billion in losses or write-offs at the world’s largest financial institutions, cost a couple of Fortune 100 chief executives their jobs, wiped out billions of dollars in stock market value and hammered the reputations of the nation’s top credit rating agencies. Reports of the devastation that foreclosures are wreaking on borrowers also bring home the effects of this remarkable financial mess. Still, the Wish Fund’s experience is instructive because so little has emerged about the losses that investors have incurred in these securities, perhaps because few holders have wanted to disclose them. Some investors may still not know how much they have been hurt by the crisis. As this debacle unfolds, accounts of investor losses in mortgage securities will come to light. And Wall Street’s role as the great enabler — providing capital to aggressive lenders and then selling the questionable securities to investors — will be front and center."

From Fortune: Bipolar bosses, office sleep-overs and more
"It's a jungle out there -- and Stanley Bing has the shocking reader questions to prove it. In some of this year's 'Ask Bing' highlights, he helps folks contend with thorny issues like porn-surfing bosses and unwanted workplace advances. "

From the Economist: Think small, think short—and listen
"SO THERE you are on the moon, reading The World in 2008 on disposable digital paper and waiting for the videophone to ring. But no rush, because you’re going to live for ever—and if you don’t, there’s a backed-up copy of your brain for downloading to your clone. Yes? No? Well, that’s how the 21st century looked to some futurologists 40 or 50 years ago, and they’re having a hard time living it down now. You can still get away (as we do) with predicting trends in the world next year, but push the timeline out much further, and you might as well wear a T-shirt saying “crackpot”. Besides, since the West began obsessing a generation ago about accelerating social and technological change, people in government and industry can spend weeks each year in retreats brainstorming and scenario-building about the future of their company or their industry or their world. The only thing special about a futurologist is that he or she has no other job to do."

From Fast Company: Fast Company's Best of 2007: Innovators, Books, and Trends
"From the pages of Fast Company and FastCompany.com, we examine the creativity and innovation of great minds elevating business, such as Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, Timothy Ferris, author of the 4-Hour Work Week, and even Arnold Schwarzenegger."

From Industry Week: The Win-Win of Wellness in the Workplace
"Health care, as an employee benefit, is one of the fastest rising and most seemingly uncontrollable costs facing employers today. In 2005, health care spending rose nearly 7%, twice the rate of inflation in this country. Employers must look for creative ways to address this problem before it spirals out of control, impacting other areas of business spending. "

Wally's Working Supervisor's Support Kit is a collection of information and tools to help working supervisors do a better job. It's based on what Wally's learned in over twenty years of supervisory skills training. Click here to check it out.

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Wally Bock has helped people learn to be great bosses for more than a quarter century. His latest book, Performance Talk: The One-on-One Part of Leadership, makes learning key leadership principles almost effortless by teaching through a story and providing lists of resources for further growth.

Click here to find out more about Wally's coaching services.

For weekly tips and resources pointers, check our Wally Bock's Three Star Leadership Letter.

Click here to find out more about having Wally speak to your company or convention.