Good Morning
intelligence briefing
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Workplace news you didn’t know you needed.
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McKinsey 23h ago

Author Talks: Read the room before you lead it

McKinsey author argues leaders must read a room's dynamics before they can effectively lead it.

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Harvard Business Review 6h ago

Will Your Organization Stand By Its Values—Even When It’s Hard?

Organizations face a credibility test when stated values conflict with difficult decisions under external pressure.

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Harvard Business Review 6h ago

When There’s More Work Than Your Team Can Handle

HBR offers managers concrete strategies for when workload consistently exceeds what teams can realistically absorb.

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Ask a Manager 2h ago

how do I talk to an employee about her clothing?

Managers routinely avoid clothing conversations, but handling them well is a core difficult-conversation skill.

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Ask a Manager 3h ago

the “family-friendly” companies I’ve worked for were only friendly to employees with kids

Family-friendly policies that exclude childless employees quietly damage belonging and retention across the workforce.

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Fortune 9h ago

CEOs are still betting on the leadership trait AI can’t replace

CEOs identify a distinctly human leadership trait they believe AI cannot replicate or replace.

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Inc. 9h ago

Gartner Says Companies May Rehire 30 Percent of Workers Replaced by AI. Here’s the Leadership Lesson

Gartner projects AI-displaced workers may return, reshaping how leaders frame workforce AI decisions.

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Fortune 11h ago

‘People just do not want the world to change so much’: The war over the future of work being fought by Gen Z

Gen Z resistance to rapid workplace change signals a trust and change-management challenge for leaders.

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Inc. 5d ago

Workers Are 17 Times More Likely to Ask a Chatbot Than Their Boss. That’s a Trust Problem

Employees 17x more likely to ask chatbots than bosses signals a serious leadership trust deficit.

WSJ
The Wall Street Journal 16d ago

Ernst & Young Is Giving $100 Million in Bonuses to Staff for ‘Human’ Skills

EY commits $100 million in bonuses explicitly rewarding human skills as AI reshapes the workplace.

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Fast Company 14d ago

A comedian’s viral joke about Lovesac’s 24-box couch assembly wasn’t the problem. The company’s response was

Lovesac's response to a viral joke became the real crisis, illustrating how brands amplify minor moments.

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Fast Company 14d ago

Why leaders struggle with negative feedback

Most leaders avoid giving negative feedback for predictable psychological reasons that research now maps.

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MIT Sloan Mgmt Review 29d ago

What Gets Your Best Employees to Stay

MIT Sloan research identifies what actually keeps top employees from leaving, with direct retention implications.

FT
Financial Times 65d ago

Employers pushed staff to use AI more. That has backfired

Pushing employees to adopt AI without support is backfiring, damaging morale and productivity.

WSJ
The Wall Street Journal 13d ago

Corporate America Is Axing the ‘Micro-Team’ Boss

Companies are eliminating small-team middle managers, reshaping how leadership layers actually function.

SR
MIT Sloan Mgmt Review 16d ago

A Compelling Story Can Disarm Even a Skeptical Negotiator

MIT Sloan research finds a well-constructed story can shift even resistant negotiators, a tool every executive communicator needs.

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McKinsey 19d ago

The new management playbook for AI: How to move faster and create more value

McKinsey's new AI management playbook outlines how executives can accelerate value without losing control.

HR
theHRDIRECTOR 26d ago

5 Ways to Make Office Days More Meaningful for Employees

Research-backed strategies help executives make in-office days genuinely worthwhile rather than obligatory and resented.

PR
PRWeek 29d ago

How QVC kept its cool after a live TV mishap

QVC's live TV mishap response offers a replicable model for calm, credible crisis communications in real time.

FT
Financial Times 20d ago

Junior consultants called back to office as AI increases need for human skills

Consulting firms return junior staff to offices as AI raises demand for human skills leaders must cultivate.