How much information is too much? Do we need to know how many calories are in the giant vat of popcorn that we bought on our way into the movie theater? Do we want to know if we are genetically predisposed to a certain disease? These are the types of questions New York Times bestselling…
The pandemic has presented companies across the world with distinct workforce challenges. Businesses already operating online have had to quickly staff up to meet increased demand, while those in retail, hospitality and service industries have had to lay off or furlough customer-facing employees due to a lack of demand. And then there are the low-paid “essential workers” who are…
Forging successful business and personal relationships in a world increasingly ruled by AI, machines and robots requires each of us to strike a delicate balance between leveraging technology and holding onto our humanity. In her spellbinding new book, “Work Mate Marry Love: How Machines Shape Our Human Destiny” (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, August 2020), New…
How well are your employees performing and what are they thinking? According to Wharton Professor Peter Cappelli – a leading authority on workplace performance, human resource management and the future of work – the best way to find out is to ditch the outdated annual survey and try more effective alternatives that give employers deeper insights. In…
Summer can be busy, and this one will certainly have its challenges. But when we finally do find ourselves in that lazy, hazy mode, it’s always nice to head off to a quiet space with a good book. Here are some recommended new releases that will have you refilling your lemonade glass while learning about…
As conversations around social justice and racial inequality deepen, and more people stand in solidarity with the movement, prominent thought leaders we represent are sharing their own calls to action. Here, six highly respected and influential academics, executives and advisors offer up honest thoughts, frank criticisms and ways we can make amends to finally create…
We’re tapping into the expertise of virtual work expert and INSEAD Professor Mark Mortensen to bring you a series on how best to work remotely, now and into the future. In today’s piece, we share TIPS FOR SUCCESSFULLY LEADING A REMOTE WORKFORCE. Three months ago, as the COVID-19 crisis was rapidly escalating, business leaders across the world – some of whom…
The pandemic has given work-from-home a whole new meaning, especially for parents whose home and work lives are now physically intertwined. Many are feeling rushed, distracted, confused, inadequate, isolated, overwhelmed and stressed out as they navigate their new roles trying to manage family and work under one roof. With schools closed and the threat of…
What makes a company culture “innovative?” We tend to think about the upsides of an innovative culture – the free spiritedness, tolerance for risk and failure – without considering where these qualities need to be checked and balanced. In his acclaimed Harvard Business Review article, “The Hard Truth About Innovative Cultures” (January-February 2019 cover), renowned innovation and…
Some organizational leaders, particularly CFOs and COOs, may be surprised to learn that focusing on sustainability can drive long-term growth and yield high returns. But this comes as no surprise to Harvard Business School (HBS) Professor Rebecca Henderson whose new book, “Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire” (Public Affairs, April 2020) is continuing to receive high praise around…
The current crisis has people searching for credible leaders who can provide fact-based analyses, realistic forecasts and practical strategies for getting us to the other side of this tragic time. Two distinguished thought leaders currently tackling COVID-19 from their respective fields of expertise are advising organizations through this crisis: With decades of experience, each of…
Businesses and governments are scrambling to solve two major problems right now: how to keep people safe and how to get the economy moving again. Weeks ago, Nobel Laureate Economist and New York University Professor Paul Romer was the first to voice what he saw as an urgent and viable solution to the global COVID-19 crisis: mass testing…
As COVID-19 continues to ramp up our use of virtual communications, it is making us even more aware of how much gets lost in technological translation. The inherent absence of body language, vocal intonations, facial expressions and context when communicating through digital devices creates blind spots both for businesses trying to understand customers and people…
Making a virtual event feel like a live event is not as hard as it may seem. Digital platforms are more powerful and continue to offer more tools. We’ll follow up about that later. In the meanwhile, here are some handy tips for creating seamless, inspiring and impactful webinars for your organization. KNOW YOUR TECHNOLOGY…
Do your employees complain about being pulled in too many different directions? Is their productivity suffering due to stressors outside of work? It doesn’t have to be that way, says Stew Friedman, Wharton professor and global authority on leadership and work/life integration. In Friedman’s just-published book, “Parents Who Lead: The Leadership Approach You Need to Parent…
The upheaval brought on by the pandemic is requiring many businesses and industries to pivot in response to rapidly changing market behaviors and consumer demands. Successfully changing direction in this kind of environment demands an entrepreneurial mindset, and Harvard Business School Professor Rory McDonald’s recent Harvard Business Review (HBR) article drives that point home. A leading disruptive innovation expert, McDonald advises business…
Can large companies successfully innovate? The popular narrative is the bigger firms become, the less nimble and dynamic they are. Small startups are the disruptors, while big companies are doomed to being static and inflexible. But according to Gary Pisano of Harvard Business School, this is a myth: large businesses can be just as innovative as startups….
Neither poverty nor prosperity are permanent conditions for societies; poor countries have risen from hardship to wealth within decades. But, by and large, we lack an understanding of how that transformation takes place. In a recent, critically acclaimed book, “The Prosperity Paradox: How Innovation Can Lift Nations Out of Poverty” (HarperBusiness, January 2019), authors Clayton Christensen, Efosa…
