What You Should Know Before Hiring a Tax Attorney or a CPA This article was originally published on UpCounsel. I see or talk to my CPA about once a week. That may seem a little extreme, but it’s because he’s brilliant, he gives great advice, and because he’s also my dad. Many […]
What to Do If Your Business Is Selected for a Tax Audit This article was originally published on UpCounsel. By UpCounsel Business Attorney Leah Jacobs Don’t Panic This is my first bit of advice to anyone who has a business selected for a tax audit. Whether you are a small business CEO or a […]
What Does the New Tax Bill Mean for C-Corporations? This article was originally published on UpCounsel. By UpCounsel Business Attorney Ramsey Taylor Startup founders often have a lot of questions, but one of the most common is whether they should set up a C-Corporation for their new business. Alternatives usually considered are the […]
Tax Business Plan Template: Everything You Need to Know This article was originally published on UpCounsel. Its a strategy for all aspects of your business. It is a necessity for those looking to start a tax preparation or tax consulting business.3 min read A tax business plan template is a strategy for all […]
What is a Contract? Everything You Need to Know This article was originally published on UpCounsel. What is a contract? Contracts are a part of our everyday world. A contract might include a simple transaction at the local store.3 min read What is a contract? Contracts are a part of our everyday world. […]
Type of Corporations for Small Business This article was originally published on UpCounsel. There are five types of corporations for small business to select from. They include sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, C corporation, and S corporation.3 min read There are five types of corporations for small business to select from. They include sole […]
How to Hire a Great Business Lawyer? Written by Arleen Atienza This article was originally published on UpCounsel. A good foundation is crucial in starting any business and one of the pillars that keep a business stout and upright is a great business lawyer. As a business owner, you want to allot your […]
Source: HBR.org This article was originally published on HBR.org – https://hbr.org/ Executive Summary What if you could maximize your time by making progress on work challenges while spending time with your children and helping them learn important skills in the process? By doing things a bit differently, you benefit your task list, your children, and […]
Paul Daugherty and James Wilson, senior technology leaders at Accenture, argue that robots and smarter computers aren’t coming for our jobs. They talk about companies that are already giving employees access to artificial intelligence to strengthen their skills. They also give examples of new roles for people in an AI workplace. Daugherty and Wilson are […]
Executive Summary When a company needs a supervisor for a team, senior leaders often anoint the team’s most productive performer. Some of these stars succeed in their new role as manager; many others do not. The difference seems to hinge on whether the person has six abilities: being open to feedback and personal change, supporting others’ […]
Executive Summary Even companies that claim to have a long-term orientation worry about whether R&D is worth the investment. This is because they worry the resulting knowledge might walk out the door, as employees join other firms or start their own and because you can acquire firms that have the needed technology instead. If everyone followed […]
Executive Summary Recent developments in AI are about lowering the cost of prediction. Better predictions matter when you make decisions in the face of uncertainty, as every business does, constantly. But how do you think through what it would take to incorporate a prediction machine into your decision-making process? In teaching this subject to MBA graduates […]
As the new general manager of the Global Research & Innovative Technology Center (GRIT) at Hitachi Metals, Kenichi Inoue is tasked with creating an updated framework for research and development in advanced materials, helping his organization make the shift to a new approach to engineering and innovation in a disrupted world. With products that include […]
HBR Staff The entrepreneur who founded and grew the largest startup in the world to $10 billion in revenue and got fired is someone you have probably never heard of. The guy who replaced him invented the idea of the modern corporation. If you want to understand the future of Tesla, and Elon Musk’s role […]
Executive Summary Startup and technical business leaders often don’t tell their innovation stories well. They rely too much on industry jargon and complex detail. This is a huge opportunity loss. When you’re doing good work, you want people to know about it. So whether you’re drafting website copy, a marketing brochure, an online article, or […]
Executive Summary There are so many articles about the challenges and stresses of being a working parent. But there are also joys, especially as your kids get older. It’s delightful watching the kids you have adored, accompanied, and applauded for a couple of decades blossom into themselves — and leave you the freedom to do the […]
Executive Summary Too many leaders avoid making tough calls. The delay often does far more damage than whatever fallout they were trying to avoid. In fact, hard decisions often get more complicated when they’re deferred. In a ten-year longitudinal study of more than 2,700 leaders, 57% percent of newly appointed executives said that decisions were more complicated and […]
Executive Summary Developing your corporate values early in your company’s history can have a lasting and positive effect on your organization and its culture, and it’s easier to do when your team is small. Whether you’re running a startup or a small business, it’s important to follow a process that allows everyone to contribute. Start […]
Executive Summary Stephen Curry has built his NBA career taking shots that others don’t: three point shots from a crazy distance. Defenders didn’t traditionally worry much about these, since there’s such a low likelihood they’ll actually make it into the basket. But Curry practiced and practiced until they weren’t unlikely for him. His game is an […]
Executive Summary Companies often have to downsize their sales force as markets weaken, channels shift, or customer behavior evolves. Many companies make mistakes when doing this. They fail to recognize the impact the move will have on revenue; they conduct several waves of cuts, instead of just one; they downsize without a strategy for how […]
Executive Summary One of the biggest risks to a company’s reputation is a tone-deaf advertising campaign. PR practitioners need to be keenly attuned to what their brands’ strategies are and how their campaigns can be perceived by stakeholders and a broader audience — but they’ll be hard-pressed to do so if they don’t become more […]
Executive Summary While talking to someone from another culture, you get a sinking feeling that you’ve made a mistake. Maybe it was a joke that misfired, an unintentional violation of personal space, or a misreading of the context that resulted in someone losing face. In your own culture, you could quickly recover, because you’d have a […]
Source: HBR.org This article was originally published on HBR.org – https://hbr.org/ Executive Summary It’s hard to know if we’re really making efficient use of our time. It seems like we’re working hard — and we’re certainly stressed out. But are we spending our time on the right things? To figure this out, try a time-tracking […]
Source: HBR.org This article was originally published on HBR.org – https://hbr.org/ Executive Summary Scented environments have been shown to reduce typos in office workers; improve the perception of product quality; increase purchase intent, average unit sales, and duration of a retail visit or stay among consumers; and boost the willingness of consumers to pay […]
Executive Summary Imagine you are putting together a team for an important project. You have two candidates for the last slot. First, there’s Tess. She has not only a lot of relevant experience but also a wide network in the industry. She seems to know all about the emerging trends; her colleagues marvel at her […]
Executive Summary One toxic team member is all it takes to destroy a high-performing team. But what can you do if the toxic person is your peer? First, have an honest, candid conversation with the person. If you don’t attempt to do this, you are 100% ensuring that the relationship will, at best, continue in […]
Source: HBR.org This article was originally published on HBR.org – https://hbr.org/ Research has shown that firms benefit when their CEOs have strong networks. A new study explored that idea by looking at whether the diversity of a CEO’s network affects their firm. Researchers used BoardEx data to examined a sample of 1,212 CEOs who led […]
Executive Summary In a recent publication in the Journal of Product Innovation, researchers undertook a systematic review of 40 years of innovation research. Using a natural language processing approach, they analyzed and organized 1,078 articles published on the topics of disruptive, architectural, breakthrough, competence-destroying, discontinuous, and radical innovation. Two topics stood out: disruptive innovation and radical innovation. Disruptive innovation […]
Executive Summary It may not be a regular occurrence but when you’re put on the spot in a meeting, it can be an unnerving moment. Instead of keeping your eyes down and hoping you don’t get called on, prepare for these opportunities – and make the most of them. Look through the agenda ahead of […]
Executive Summary The average professional spends 4.1 hours per day responding to work messages. But psychologically, it carries a disproportionate weight: regardless of how much time we actually spend, it feels like we are always answering email, and always stressed about the unanswered messages waiting in our inboxes. Keeping track of every email you receive over a two-week period might reveal […]
Source: HBR.org This article was originally published on HBR.org – https://hbr.org/ Executive Summary You’ve seen the practice. A group of managers get together at a resort for two days to hammer out a “strategic plan.” Done and dusted, they all head home. But have they produced a plan with a strategy? Often, the answer is […]
Executive Summary Many leaders quickly lose their confidence and competence when making business presentations. For a subset of them — those who need to present in English when it isn’t their native language — the stakes and the stress can feel even higher. Meanwhile, the need for leaders to be able to present in English […]
Executive Summary Research shows that women of color are more likely to be assigned or asked to take on office housework tasks, such as ordering lunch or running mentoring programs. When faced with these requests, what should they do? Saying yes could mean hurting their career and reinforcing their position as less powerful. Saying no […]
Do you want to shake up your career? In this episode of HBR’s advice podcast, Dear HBR:, Dan and Alison answer your questions with the help of Whitney Johnson, the author of Disrupt Yourself: Putting the Power of Disruptive Innovation to Work. They talk through what to do when you’ve trained for one career and […]
Jurgen Ziewe/Getty Images Over the past few decades, Silicon Valley has been such a powerful engine for entrepreneurship in technology that, all too often, it is considered to be some kind of panacea. Corporate executives seek to inject “Silicon Valley DNA” into their cultures, and policy makers point to venture-funded entrepreneurship as a solution for […]
Executive Summary Employees take leaves of absence for all sorts of reasons, from dealing with a cancer diagnosis to caring for a sick child. When the employee returns to the office, of course, there is often a sense of relief, and leaders can forget that there are many steps that must occur before employees can return to full […]
Imagno/Getty Images Show me a person who sees uncertainty as opportunity, and I’ll show you a person who has mastered the new world of work. A person like Juliet (not her real name), for example, who described a stressful stretch of her career as “disgustingly exciting.” Juliet had left full-time employment in the public sector […]
Executive Summary There is a paradox when it comes to what we expect in leaders. On the one hand, we believe that effective leaders display humility — they bring out the best in others, are open to admitting their shortcomings and mistakes, and give appreciation and credit to their followers. A recent study set out to […]
HBR Staff In an era where nearly every consumer good and service — from books and groceries to babysitting and shared rides — can be purchased through an electronic transaction on a mobile device, it seems reasonable to think that more and more of our health care can also be managed using apps on mobile devices. Proponents of […]
Executive Summary While chronic disease management (CDM) apps have had some initial success, they have not yet lived up to their potential. This shortcoming is not due to the capability of the technologies, which are quite impressive; the problem is the incentives and institutions of the delivery system into which the technologies are being introduced. To succeed under […]
Executive Summary Many of us have had a bad interaction with a boss — for example, being yelled at or sworn at in front of others, not receiving credit for work, or being humiliated for a mistake. But what happens after this mistreatment? Researchers find that some leaders feel bad and try to make amends. Building […]
Executive Summary Researchers conducted a study to see what factors lead to greater burnout among entrepreneurs. Specifically, they looked at whether job passion, job fit, and destiny beliefs (the belief that a successful entrepreneurial career is “meant to be”) make entrepreneurs more likely or less likely to experience burnout. These factors have been shown to […]
Dan Cable, a professor of organizational behavior at London Business School, explains why people often lose their enthusiasm for their work and how leaders can help them get it back. He says we shouldn’t forget that as humans we all need to explore and have purpose — and without that, we languish. Cable offers ideas […]
Executive Summary Interviews with 65 entrepreneurs reveal the most common fears that startup founders share and also, somewhat surprisingly, that these fears can be helpful. While fear often does inhibit action, some fears can motivate us to work harder. The study found that worries concerning opportunity costs, financial security, or their ability to obtain funding were […]
Executive Summary If you can’t remember the last time you had a glass of organic wine, you are hardly alone. Worldwide, less than 5% of vineyards are organic, and in the U.S., the world’s largest consumer of wine, organic wine accounts for less than 1% of sales by volume. But plenty of other organic products, including […]
Executive Summary Rising health care costs, a shortage of physicians, and a rapidly aging population are making the traditional model of care increasingly unsustainable. But new uses of virtual health and digital technologies may help the industry manage these challenges. A number of new technologies are helping to move elements of patient care from medical […]
How many times have you heard an executive assign familiar aphorisms to business challenges–and you just know it’s a means to justify bad behavior? They might say “business isn’t personal” as an excuse for sub-par treatment of others. Executives demand that employees “do more with less,” but then don’t allow people to focus on less. […]
Executive Summary If you’re struggling to let go of some of your perfectionistic tendencies, or managing someone who is, it can be helpful to remember the ways perfectionists can self-sabotage in the workplace. Among these are struggling to make decisions (because none of them seem optimal), worrying over sunk costs, avoiding challenges (to avoid failure), […]
Executive Summary Poor data quality is enemy number one to the widespread, profitable use of machine learning. The quality demands of machine learning are steep, and bad data can rear its ugly head twice both in the historical data used to train the predictive model and in the new data used by that model to […]
Executive Summary Investments in the U.S. health care system woefully underperform relative to those made in health care in other countries. One reason is because we invest so much in services that are clearly low-value – i.e., offer little or no clinical benefit relative to the cost – and likely many more where the returns […]
Source: HBR.org This article was originally published on HBR.org – https://hbr.org/ Executive Summary An analysis of 150 senior teams showed that the ones who solve problems the fastest tend to be cognitively diverse. But this isn’t always true — sometimes, those teams still struggle. So what separates the best teams from the rest? It turns […]
Executive Summary Your boss sits you down for some tough feedback: You are not conscientious enough. She points out that you have missed several deadlines, and shown a pattern of failing to remember important details. If you have ever gotten feedback like this, and wanted to do something about it, you are not alone. But can you change something […]
Trina Dalziel/Getty Images The relentless rise of online retailers has led to deep soul searching among brick-and-mortar retailers to find ways to compete. The traditional methods of competing through convenience, assortment, and pricing are largely ineffective against online retailers who outperform brick-and-mortar retailers in these dimensions. The last arrow in the quiver is to use service […]
Executive Summary One common theory about overconfident beginners is that they start that way. They start a new task or job as “unconscious incompetents,” not knowing what they don’t know. Their inevitable early mistakes and miscues prompt them to be consciouss of their shortcomings. New research, however, suggests the opposite. Absolute beginners can be perfectly conscious and cautious about […]
Executive Summary Nearly 800 digital health startups were funded in 2017, an all-time high. Each of the new companies offers the hope of transforming the performance of the U.S. health care system. The audience for such innovation wants to be receptive: A recent American Hospital Association (AHA) survey found that 75% of senior hospital executives endorsed the importance […]
Executive Summary Something important is going on in the world of commercial vehicles. Recently, UPS made an important announcement about its plans to roll out 50 new midsize electric delivery trucks in Atlanta, Dallas, and Los Angeles. The headline is that, for the first time, the electric trucks are expected to cost the company no […]
Executive Summary Far too little time and focus is devoted to how to change existing habits and behaviors, which are often the greatest barriers to personal growth. Behavioral science sheds some light on how we can change our habits. The first step is considering your ideal future state and the obstacles you expect to face on […]
Executive Summary Over the past year, the healthcare industry found itself under constant attack. Cybercriminals targeted vulnerable clinical networks and poor controls to gain privileged access to medical devices and databases on an almost daily basis. And the threats are only getting more serious. Hospital security decision makers typically understand these details and constantly worry that […]
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To combat cybersecurity threats, companies are spending millions of dollars in malware protection, firewall solutions, and security consulting. Yet even with these expensive measures, most are unaware of their greatest vulnerabilities. That’s because cyber criminals are opportunists who seek the path of least resistance. Rather than wasting efforts attacking hardened firewalls, they instead snoop out […]
VANDAL Photography/Getty Images We often blame tech for our worst habits, like distraction or bad spelling. But our phones, computers, and gadgets can just as easily help us build good habits — if we understand how habits work and the right technology to use. Devices can even help us break bad habits, if we use them to create […]
Executive Summary Recent advances in artificial intelligence have led to speculation that AI might one day replace human radiologists. Researchers have developed deep learning neural networks that can identify pathologies in radiological images such as bone fractures and potentially cancerous lesions, in some cases more reliably than an average radiologist. But the great majority of […]
Executive Summary The to-do list can be an indispensable tool when used to mindfully manage your time. But used indiscriminately, you become its servant. To get control of your priorities, you actually need three lists and a calendar. List #1 is for important but non-time-sensitive projects. List #2 is for items that need to be completed today. The […]
Executive Summary Artificial Intelligence, which has already had a major impact on industries such as transportation, retail, energy, and banking, is only just beginning to be applied in medicine. Its profound capabilities hold promise for enabling early detection of disease and metabolic abnormalities and hope for empowering doctors and patients. The great advantage of AI is […]
Executive Summary It’s become commonly accepted that female workers lack the self-confidence of their male peers and this hurts their chances at success. If they were less hesitant and sold themselves better, this logic goes, success would be theirs. Yet, perhaps challenging common wisdom, recent research shows no evidence of a female modesty effect. Women rate themselves […]
Executive Summary An announcement on January 24 didn’t get the large amount of attention it deserved: Apple and 13 prominent health systems, including prestigious centers like Johns Hopkins and the University of Pennsylvania, disclosed an agreement that would allow Apple to download onto its various devices the electronic health data of those systems’ patients — with patients’ […]
Executive Summary Many of us may recall a time we’ve cried at work, but for some people it’s not a rare occurrence. If you manage someone who tears up easily, you may find yourself leaving important topics or issues unaddressed to avoid upsetting them. You can’t know what’s going on inside your employee’s head, but you […]
In Today’s Digital Economy, Agile Practices Can’t Be Limited to Just the IT and Development Realms By Surya Panditi, SVP and GM, Agile Management, CA Technologies Agile practices have a vital part to play in the rapid delivery and continuous maintenance of software-driven products and services. When software is ubiquitous, agile needs to be likewise. […]
Executive Summary Health care teams depend on electronic health records (EHRs) to compile important medical data from innumerable lab tests and medical devices, observations, treatments, and diagnostic codes. But in fast-paced critical care units, where even small errors can have big consequences, EHRs can overload physicians with information. The sheer volume of data in EHRs creates a […]
Share to email Share to facebook Share to twitter Share to linkedin Share to google Forbes Legal Council Successful chief legal execs & law firm partners share legal insights Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Post written by Matthew Rossetti Matt Rossetti is an entrepreneur, licensed attorney and the founder of Sentient Law, Ltd., […]
Matt Rossetti is an entrepreneur, licensed attorney and the founder of Sentient Law, Ltd., and blogs at entreprelawyer.com. StockSnap.io These days, most startup attorneys I meet have at least heard of the slicing pie model for equity distribution, but many have yet to use it. There are a few common misconceptions that cause them to steer […]
Executive Summary When confronting an abusive supervisor, employees often assume they have two choices: confrontation or avoidance. But new research suggests a third option: Targets of abuse can flip the script, shifting the balance of power in their favor when bosses make life miserable. As subordinates gain leverage over time, they can strategically influence supervisors to stop […]
Executive Summary We all know that in the modern economy, we can’t just stop learning. But how to keep educating ourselves is a complicated question. Is it a worthwhile investment to get a formal degree, like an MBA or PhD? Should you take a more targeted approach, with a short-term executive education program? Or perhaps DIY […]
Executive Summary Modern medicine’s true healing potential depends on a resource that is being systematically depleted: the time and capacity to truly listen to patients, hear their stories, and learn not only what’s the matter with them but also what matters to them. Some health professionals claim that workload and other factors have compressed medical encounters to […]
Executive Summary The variables that make for a successful innovation program are independent of whether the company is seeking disruptive or incremental innovations. It doesn’t matter whether they’re asking for process or product innovation, what industry the company is in, or even, for the most part, whether the company is large or small. That’s according to […]
Executive Summary It’s time that retailers re-think their approach to the holiday shopping season. It no longer makes sense to rely on disproportionate revenue from the holiday season to make up for softness in sales during the rest of the year. Customers don’t want retailers to dictate their shopping schedule; wealthy customers are getting used […]
Executive Summary U.S. hospitals and healthcare groups have experimented over the past decade with new management structures and alternative payment models to provide quality healthcare at lower cost. But physicians have been slow to embrace these for a host of reasons. Chief among them, Bain and Company research shows, is that they feel excluded from […]
Executive Summary The pressure of tight deadlines and the pace of technology mean that fewer Americans are finding friendship in the workplace. But connecting with others at work shouldn’t be a nice to have. Research shows that having high-quality connections can help us be more creative, resilient, and even live longer. To connect, you need […]
Executive Summary To be successful, young workers need to be seen as credible before they have had the opportunity to build expertise from the ground up. It’s an incredibly difficult obstacle for younger workers in their first job to overcome. But there are five activities that young professionals can do to jumpstart their career trajectories: leverage your research […]
Share to email Share to facebook Share to twitter Share to linkedin Share to google Forbes Legal Council Successful chief legal execs & law firm partners share legal insights Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Post written by Doug Bend Doug is the founder of Bend Law Group, PC, a law firm focused […]
Executive Summary Despite more evidence about the benefits of the increasing the number women on boards, 2016 saw a decline in the percent of women on U.S. corporate boards. Considering how much influence CEOs have over board appointments, they can do a better job of advocating for getting more women on the board. Interviews with […]
Dorie Clark, a marketing strategy consultant, answers a burning question: how do people make money off of what they know? She outlines the options for experts who want to monetize their knowledge. Clark explains, using herself and other successful solopreneurs as examples, how to earn revenue from public speaking, podcasting, e-books, and online courses. She […]
Executive Summary The best way to truly win the hearts and minds of people, and generate huge returns for your organization and its stakeholders, is by leading with civility. This means spending a considerable amount of effort acknowledging people’s contributions, listening better, respecting others’ time, and making people feel valued. Research has shown that prioritizing civility can […]
What is a “smart” society? While flights of imagination from science-fiction writers, filmmakers, and techno-futurists involve things like flying cars and teleportation, in practice smart technology is making inroads in a piecemeal fashion, often in rather banal circumstances. In Chicago, for example, predictive analytics is improving health inspections schedules in restaurants, while in Boston city […]
Executive Summary Rarely do people ask, “How many people can actually run a large, publicly traded company?” The answer to this question is critical in determining whether CEO pay is excessive, because an important part of the value equation for any CEO position is how many well-qualified executives make up the labor pool of viable […]
Executive Summary Across industries and across countries, a small number of “superstar” firms are pulling away from the competition. But why are these companies doing so well? One answer shows up in study after study: superstar firms are succeeding in large part due to information technology. However, superstars aren’t succeeding because of IT per se, but because […]
Executive Summary It’s a strange world we live in when large companies such as Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion are able to store huge quantities of our personal data and profit from it in a way that doesn’t benefit us. And when those same companies lose our personal data and make us susceptible to identity theft, […]
Executive Summary The employment shift from occupations in the middle of the skill distribution toward those at the high and low ends is one of the most important trends in the U.S. labor market over the past 30 years. Previous research has suggested that a primary driver of this job polarization is something called routine-biased technological […]
Executive Summary Why do we procrastinate, even though we know it’s against our best interests? And how can we overcome it? A careful look at the science behind procrastination reveals five tips. First, figure out which of seven triggers are set off by the task you want to avoid. Is it boring, frustrating, or difficult? […]
Executive Summary AI is a prediction technology. Its improvement is akin to turning up the volume knob on a speaker dial. But rather than volume, you’re turning up the AI’s prediction accuracy. What happens to Amazon’s strategy as their data scientists, engineers, and machine learning experts work tirelessly to dial up the accuracy on the prediction […]
Executive Summary Scientific studies have long suggested that investing in the right people will maximize organizations’ returns. In a world of unlimited resources, organizations would surely invest in everyone.In the real world, however, limited budgets force organizations to be much more selective, which explains the growing interest in high potential (HiPo) identification. If we are […]
At a time of profound volatility in the U.S. health system, change management is an essential skill for public and private leaders alike. For these leaders — and young people aspiring to careers as health care managers — one very practical question emerges. What are the critical skills for leading major change in our health system? As […]
By Glen Robinson, Emerging Technology Advisor, Leading Edge Forum, DXC Technology We have moved from the Internet era in the early 2000s to the cloud era today; however, we will soon transition into the Matrix era – the Matrix being the term the Leading Edge Forum (LEF) uses to describe the intersection of multiple game-changing […]
As digital technologies permeate all aspects of their operations, companies around the world anticipate the need for massive change over the next five years, according to a new global survey by Harvard Business Review Analytic Services. But can these organizations adapt fast enough? Almost all of the 376 business leaders in the survey said they […]
About Us Careers Privacy Policy Copyright Information Trademark Policy Harvard Business Publishing: Higher Education Corporate Learning Harvard Business Review Copyright © 2017 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School. Source: HBR Whiteboard Session: How to Think Like an Entrepreneur
Executive Summary Researchers have long studied how to make brainstorming sessions more effective — for example, by setting quantity goals, instead of quality ones. A recent study indicates that people can also be primed for more creative idea generation when they kick-off such sessions by sharing embarrassing stories, which lowers their inhibitions and, thus, improves […]
Jack is well-known in his company for delivering growth through high-performing, cross-functional teams. Where others get stuck in silos, he fosters innovation through collaboration. But these days, when you exit the elevator on his floor, you sense fear wafting through the halls. He’s nine months into a new role as Business Unit Leader, and a […]
Executive Summary For decades, we have heard that emerging markets are poised for huge growth that will yield even greater prosperity. But a long list of obstacles always seems to be getting in the way of realizing this potential. Startup accelerator programs have been touted as one path to faster progress. But is the boost that accelerators give in […]
Corporate leaders are increasingly concerned about energy, seeing it not just as a cost to be managed but as a key to the future sustainability of their companies. Climate change also is a major concern. How are leading organizations dealing with this challenge? In this edition of the Quick Take, insights from the latest Harvard […]
Executive Summary Despite the billions of dollars companies spend on employee training, research shows that workers are unconsciously incompetent in 20% to 40% of areas critical to their performance. How can you teach people skills and knowledge they don’t know they lack? By redesigning corporate learning programs so they are adaptive and force users to […]
Executive Summary In late August, Lee Jae-yong, the heir apparent of Samsung, was sentenced to five years in prison. It was once unthinkable that the head of South Korea’s largest conglomerate could be sent to prison; Lee’s father, Lee Kun-hee, was twice pardoned by the government. But public sentiment, which used to hold that what […]
Executive Summary Want to be surrounded by some of the most competitive people on the planet? Work in sales, where paychecks, bonuses, promotions, and stature are usually tied directly to organizational quotas and individual results. A little competition can be a good thing. But often it goes too far — and ironically, performance can suffer […]
Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s third CEO, opens up about his effort to refresh the culture of the company and renew its focus on the future. He reflects on important life lessons he learned growing up in India, immigrating to the U.S., and working for Microsoft for 25 years. Nadella thinks of the past, he says, for […]
Executive Summary When you’re working from home, you can easily be distracted by household chores, personal priorities, and even friends and family. To focus more effectively, you need to set boundaries. Here are some tips for how you can make remote work more productive and satisfying, whether it’s an everyday occurrence or an occasional day […]
Executive Summary It’s difficult enough to stay resilient in the face of high demands and changing circumstances. Imagine adding extreme physical conditions, threats to personal safety, natural disasters, armed conflict, large numbers of traumatized people, minimal infrastructure, and complex, multi-stakeholder relations to your list of challenges. While most of us do not face situations this […]
Consider the following situations: A surgeon creates an online profile of her qualifications and experience for potential patients, but she does not include her patient mortality rates. After one of her patients dies on the operating table, a lawyer for the patient’s family discovers that the surgeon deliberately withheld the mortality data. You are eating […]
Executive Summary While mindfulness doesn’t necessarily work the way the hype proclaims, there are some things that a good mindfulness practice can really help with: focus, stress response, working memory, and corporate citizenship. By better understanding when mindfulness is the right approach — and how it works — HR and training programs can better enhance both leader performance and employee well-being. […]
Business leaders have significant concerns about energy. A Harvard Business Review Analytic Services report, sponsored by Siemens in conjunction with a national series of seminars focused on energy innovation, found that approximately 90 percent of executives feel significant pressure to reduce their energy spend, and more than 80 percent said fluctuating energy prices are a […]
You’re working on a cross-functional initiative that’s critical to your company. Given your position, you’ve assumed you’re in charge, but it seems your counterpart from another team has made the same assumption. And now you’re in the middle of a turf war. How do you determine who has authority? How do you navigate the situation with […]
There is a special kind of boss. The one who fills up every room with their big ego and even bigger heart. Who voices the hard truths without making you lose hope, and makes you work harder and feel lighter for it. We often call such bosses “rock stars,” to underscore their popular appeal. Some […]
Executive Summary The consumer products landscape is in the midst of a significant digital shake up. Success of these new ideas and approaches depends on the abilities, skills, and mindset of the company’s workforce. Work with leading consumer products companies around the world shows that there are clear practices and investments that drive a greater […]
Executive Summary The modern worker has very little time for learning, and yet continuous learning is vital for anyone who wants to maintain their edge. There’s a significant pressure on us all to learn the right stuff, but how do we identify what that is? A time-utility analysis can help you decide what to prioritize. By examining […]
Executive Summary When we attempt to motivate people, we try to elicit an anticipation of pleasure by promising rewards (a bonus, a promotion, positive feedback, public recognition), or we try to warn of the pain of punishment (a demotion, negative feedback, public humiliation). But what’s not always clear is: Which should we be using — the […]
Executive Summary Becoming location-independent and traveling the world is more possible than ever. With the internet and a laptop, scores of professions that were once desk-bound — consulting, writing, researching, designing, and more — are now free to conduct business from around the globe. But is the lifestyle right for you? Before making the decision, […]
Executive Summary Companies need proactive employees. They are essential for suggesting, developing, and sustaining innovative new projects and for helping companies stay competitive. But organizations must make sure that proactive employees know the types of risks to take and those to avoid. On the one hand, top managers need to provide autonomy so that middle […]
Executive Summary Conventional wisdom suggests that the most charismatic leaders are also the best leaders. But research shows that, while at least a moderate level of charisma is important, too much may hinder a leader’s effectiveness. Three studies — involving 800 business leaders globally and around 7,500 of their superiors, peers, and subordinates — suggests that […]
Executive Summary Executives spend too much time on information processing, reaction, and execution, and not enough on slow, deliberative, reflective thinking. But some CEOs have managed to resist these tendencies. Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg read extensively, safeguard time for personal development projects, and constantly seek new stimulus and perspectives. Leaders such as […]
Executive Summary It has been 10 years since the global financial crisis, and the fall-out continues in the industry that was at its epicentre: banking. There has been a truly dramatic retrenchment from foreign markets, making banking a rare case of an industry becoming less, rather than more, global. But as European banks retreat, China […]
Executive Summary Let’s face it. Most of us go through the motions, phoning it in, but engage in our work less than we are capable of. The consequence is not just lower productivity; it is lower quality of life. Half-hearted effort isn’t fun. The first responsibility of leaders — whether front line supervisors, middle managers, […]
Executive Summary The Equifax breach is different from previous breaches. It isn’t the largest or the most embarrassing, but it involves personal data that people didn’t directly give to Equifax, which makes the nature of the breach unique. The company is facing a number of lawsuits, and Congress is demanding answers. But U.S. citizens may find […]
Executive Summary Work invariably ebbs and flows, cycling between steady states, where we feel more in control of the pace and workload, and peak periods, where the work crunch hits us hard. Maintaining focus and managing energy levels become critical as tasks pile onto an already full load. When you’re in your next work crunch, […]
Executive Summary The food and grocery industry feels threatened by Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods, but it faces a bigger but quieter threat: the long-term decline of people’s interest in cooking. Instead of ignoring this behavioral shift, food companies should become more proactive by exiting categories that have no future, focusing on super-premium products, and using […]
Executive Summary How do you evaluate the myriad of business opportunities you face every day? Should you speak at that event? Author a book? Attend a strategy summit? As you face an opportunity, or as you seek the opportunities you’d like to pursue, try ranking them according to five critical factors. 1.) Will this opportunity […]
Jennifer Riel, an adjunct professor at the Rotman School of Management, presents a model way to solve problems: integrative thinking. It’s taking the best from two inadequate options to come up with a successful solution. She gives examples from the film industry to show how CEOs have put the process to work. Riel is the […]
If you’ve ever cringed in a meeting when your direct report was talking, you know how tough it can be to watch a team member undermine themselves. Maybe the person is interrupting colleagues too often. Or being condescending, or even combative. No matter the specific behavior, your employee is clearly rubbing people the wrong way. […]
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