The Art of the Curveball Question
HBR examines how leaders handle unexpected questions with credibility and composure.
Chinese Company Draws Fire for Laying Off 100 Grads a Month After Hiring Them
Chinese firm's mass layoff of new grads one month in triggers reputational firestorm worth studying.
AI Can Enhance Every Stage of Teamwork—Under Two Conditions
HBR identifies two specific conditions under which AI meaningfully improves team performance.
Almost all businesses are failing to “put people first”
New research finds nearly all businesses fall short of stated people-first commitments employees expect.
Like Jamie Dimon, AT&T CEO says if you attend a meeting, you need to show up prepared—he ‘craves’ people who don’t just sit back and observe
AT&T CEO models meeting culture where preparation is non-negotiable, echoing a growing C-suite standard.
How carrots became the answer to Gatorade’s RFK Jr problem
Gatorade's pivot to carrots shows how brands reframe ingredients to dodge spokesperson controversy.
5 ways leaders can harness brain chemistry for happier and more productive teams
Leaders can use neuroscience-backed behaviors to drive measurable team morale and productivity gains.
A New Employee Was Reprimanded for Drinking 1 Cup of Coffee a Day. An Expert Says the Drink Isn’t the Real Problem
Workplace overreaction to minor employee behavior signals how petty management norms erode trust and morale.
how can I encourage my staff to bring me complaints?
Ask a Manager offers concrete tactics for creating the psychological safety employees need to surface complaints.
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.
Former Labor Secretary Oversaw a ‘Toxic, Intimidating’ Workplace, Report Finds
A government workplace toxicity report illustrates how leadership behavior becomes a public reputation crisis.
A Compelling Story Can Disarm Even a Skeptical Negotiator
Research shows a compelling narrative can shift even resistant negotiators, a direct executive skill.
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.
The Conversation Your Team Is Avoiding Could Be Costing You Your Best People
Avoiding hard team conversations drives out top performers — a direct warning for executive communicators.
What Gets Your Best Employees to Stay
MIT Sloan research identifies what actually keeps top employees from leaving, with direct retention implications.
Employers pushed staff to use AI more. That has backfired
Pushing employees to adopt AI without support is backfiring, damaging morale and productivity.
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.
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.
telling two employees they didn’t get a promotion but their coworker did
Handling promotion denials well requires specific messaging discipline that most managers underestimate.
Is the AI productivity story at a turning point?
McKinsey examines whether AI productivity gains are finally materializing at organizational scale.