The Paris Olympics are in full swing, with athletes from more than 200 nations competing for coveted medals. Each event is unique, but the decathlon is perhaps the most versatile, with winners declared on the basis of the results of ten events. In this respect, the decathlon is like running a company," says the Dean of the Management Academy of the Vienna University of Economics and Business. Barbara Stöttinger uses the numbers of the decathlon to show what skills a successful manager should have.

Productivity has soared in sectors affected by artificial intelligence (AI), with more jobs using AI and offering wage premiums of up to 25%, according to PwC's Global AI Jobs Barometer, which analysed more than half a billion job ads in 15 countries.

We need to be prepared for hybrid working in the longer term: more than a third of Hungarian intellectual workers spend at least one or two days working from home, according to Hungary's first national representative productivity survey. A quarter of those surveyed expect that when they go to the corporate IT helpdesk, they will not understand each other because they speak a different language. The majority do not use a common knowledge repository or collaboration tool for their work, and most use Excel to record and delegate tasks instead of dedicated applications. The Productivity Index, based on the research, provides a quantitative measure of how efficiently Hungarian white-collar workers work.

Money is not the only thing that matters - companies are constantly working to improve employee satisfaction and the attraction of prospective employees through a variety of non-wage incentives. RSM Hungary has compiled a list of the 10 non-wage motivational tools that are perceived to be most important for white-collar workers.

Despite their increased workloads, female senior managers are also optimistic about corporate growth, social change, gender equality and their own careers. The majority have adapted to the current polycrisis and are seeking to explore its potential, according to KPMG's Global Female Leaders Outlook research. Adaptability, foresight, flexibility - these are the qualities they need to shape the future of themselves and their companies.

There is still a significant gap between men and women in the start-up sector. In Central and Eastern Europe, 94% of investment flows into businesses founded exclusively by men, and the problem is also present in Hungary. To reduce structural inequality, programmes specifically tailored to women are needed, say partner organisations involved in the Healthy Investment Central Eastern Europe (HICEE) project, including the Hungarian Business Angel Association (HunBAN).

While the proportion of women in senior management positions worldwide has risen from 19.4% to 33.5% in two decades, progress has been disappointingly slow - up just 1.1% compared to last year. However, there are also sub-sectors where progress is faster: 46% of medium-sized companies have a female HR director, 39% have a female finance director and 26% have a female sales director.

By encouraging team-building, rewarding results, supporting communication and promoting work-life balance, we can build a thriving company culture even while working hybrid hours.

HR professionals need to be involved in business strategising, which requires developing business thinking, learning to communicate effectively and proactively build a network of relationships. The key to successful business thinking is the conscious use of KPIs, metrics, business plans and close collaboration between HR and other areas. How can all this be achieved? We asked organisational development and HR experts.

Almost everyone has been sent to the lab by their specialist doctor, where a blood test can give doctors a number of clues as to which organ might be the problem. Perhaps this analogy is closest to turnover, a metric that HR and management alike are watching with a wary eye.

A large body of research shows that providing continuous development opportunities increases employee engagement. At the same time, companies are looking for alternatives that are innovative, deliver long-term results and can train up to hundreds of employees on a tight schedule, all in a cost-effective way. Tamás Pintér, owner of the AGORA Institute and organisational development consultant, will present innovative solutions to meet the needs of employers and employees at the Training Roundtable Conference on 3 October.

Nearly six out of ten employees say they have no real attachment to the organisation where they work.

By the end of winter, we are more often in a mood and this can affect our performance at work. Fortunately, there are many opportunities to get away from the daily grind with colleagues. Whether we choose to be more active or take a break together, shared experiences can reinvigorate a community. Here are some good ways to bring your company team together.