Start with clear goals, prune failures and build on what has worked in the past

Andrew Hill picks his favourites among the 230 notable titles longlisted since 2005 — Join the discussion

In this FT series people share their stories of this extraordinary time

Experienced and adaptable bosses are more effective than rigid commanders

With a £15,000 award, the competition aims to find the best proposal for a business book

Andrew Hill will be answering questions on Monday at 12pm and 5pm

With lockdowns fuelling anxiety among staff, should companies be investing in meditation training?

James Timpson has been planning how to operate his stores post-pandemic

A previously simple decision of whether to reopen an office is now freighted with mortal peril

It is time to rethink whether such assessment really prepares us for life and work

The Evolution Garden takes visitors on a chronological walk through plant life, with some surprising associations

A book on the economics of gardening puts today’s spending into perspective

Early magnolias, stress-tested dahlias and a supreme moment in Munich’s botanical garden

Here are choices to help you think outside the box (bush), avoid blight and encourage sustainability

Our gardening columnist offers guidance for making a practical, ethical and beautiful choice

Our gardens expert suggests some outstanding performers for summer blooms

Cotoneasters, a plant gardeners gravely underrate, have performed beautifully this mild ‘non-winter’

The surrealist art of Salvador Dalí is thought to embody all that is unnatural — but, in fact, the natural world is the wellspring of his work

Compost plugs let you bypass seed sowing and are cheaper than bedding plants

Pergolas to pythons: prisoners joined volunteers to create this wildlife haven

The Edo-era artist Hōitsu painted different floral panels for every month

Easy tomatoes, beans and lettuce to sow or plug in the garden or on a patio

How plants, whether real or in the imagination, help calm fears and enhance our lives

These self-isolating desert fathers were connoisseurs of plants — and human nature

Robin Lane Fox on the best choices to sow now

Investors will be watching Christine Lagarde’s performance amid rising pressure on Italian bonds

Foiled €15m scam for face masks shows how organised crime is ‘quick to adapt’, says Ylva Johansson

EU-funded projects are returning migrants to a dangerous conflict zone, critics say

EU hosts online pledging event but €7.5bn target for vaccines, testing and treatment will only be first step

German constitutional court blows open questions about ECB independence and the supremacy of EU law

Bloc faces worst recession in its history as report calls for pan-European recovery plan

Ministers expected to say use of coverings could stop virus spread in some circumstances

Facilities were launched with a fanfare but medics complain they lack equipment for complex Covid-19 cases 

Frail residents in overwhelmed sector emerge as the hidden victims of the Covid-19 crisis

Warning of potential harm from tendency to use invasive equipment too quickly

Hospital changes and deployment of medical staff to provide specialist care pays off

Studies focus on Bame groups who are over-represented in Covid-19 cases

HC-One says rising costs and lower occupancy rates are putting strain on finances 

Finance minister says QIA aims to identify opportunities as asset prices plunge

Kingdom battles to protect economy in face of oil rout and fallout from pandemic

Tala al-Jabri is among a rising number of female professionals in the kingdom

International financial support at risk as leading figures fight over economic crisis

Successful leadership depends on context, collaboration and character

Asset management leadership also changed in reshuffle at Swiss lender

PageGroup and Robert Walters cite Brexit, Sino-US trade war and Hong Kong protests

Wearable tech will measure workers’ true productivity, supercharging capitalism

Employers focus on better ways to hire wider range of people

Tight labour market gives job candidates more power in recruitment process

Stefan Bomhard joins tobacco group from car dealer Inchcape

The office is evolving, but are we more productive? We look at what motivates employees and how leaders get things done. Plus: canteens get a refresh, hiring by algorithm, future-proofed corporate culture, and gig work shakes up white-collar jobs