Havard Management Tip of the Day

Unspecific feedback like “be more strategic” or “push for innovation” can leave you guessing about what you actually need to change. The higher you rise, the more common this becomes—but you don’t have to settle for ambiguity. Here’s how to make unclear input actionable. Ask great questions. Generic prompts like “Do you have feedback?” often […]

Disappointment at work is inevitable, but how you respond can shape your growth and future opportunities. To avoid falling into unproductive mindsets (think “I deserved this,” “I’ll never succeed,” or “How could they choose someone else?”), take control of your next move with these six steps. Manage your emotions. Acknowledge your feelings without letting them […]

Psychological safety is essential for learning, innovation, and performance—but it’s often misunderstood. Here are the common misconceptions that can stall progress and erode trust—and what to focus on instead. It means being nice. Politeness shouldn’t come at the cost of honesty. When teams avoid hard truths to stay comfortable, they miss opportunities to learn and […]

Telling your boss you disagree with them can feel risky—but when done right, it can foster trust, not tension. The key is to push back thoughtfully, with clarity and care. Here’s how to have a productive conversation, not an awkward standoff. Reframe pushback as a contribution. Silence may feel safe, but it can lead to […]

You don’t need a pricey career coach to navigate your next move. Generative AI tools can now offer fast, personalized guidance across every step of your professional journey—if you know how to use them. Here’s how to make AI your on-demand coach. Clarify your direction. Use AI to reflect on your strengths, values, and goals. […]

Not all feedback is direct. Repeated questions, increased oversight, or sudden disengagement can signal someone’s hidden concerns. When you notice these cues, it’s time to get curious. Ask yourself what might be left unsaid—and why—and use these three techniques to tactfully prod for more information. Make it safe for others to tell you the truth. […]

If you and your team are too busy, it’s essential to take time to figure out how to work differently. Here are three key strategies you can use to reassess and reconfigure the work you do to free up your limited time and capacity. Redefine “good enough.” Not every task requires an A+ effort. Set […]

Strategy fatigue, where employees struggle to understand the company’s purpose and objectives, sets in when you chase too many initiatives at once or constantly shift direction without a clear reason. To keep your focus sharp and your people energized, put guardrails in place to evaluate ideas before pursuing them as strategic priorities. Here’s how. Set […]

Civility can increase employees’ job satisfaction, mental health, and organizational commitment while reducing their emotional exhaustion and intention to quit. But in today’s tense environment, even casual remarks, lighthearted jokes, or well-meaning feedback can trigger frustration or conflict. Staying calm under pressure takes practice. Use these three habits to keep your responses constructive when emotions […]

Listening isn’t just about hearing the words someone’s saying to you—it’s about proving you value their voice. Listening well builds trust, strengthens relationships, and drives better results on your team. But even strong, well-intentioned leaders fall into these five common listening traps. Here’s how to avoid them. Haste. Good listening is a demanding task that […]

When remote work starts to feel repetitive or limiting, don’t wait for positive feedback or a promotion to regain momentum. Take ownership of your motivation with these strategies. Create your own mini performance review. Revisit past reviews to identify strengths, goals you’ve set but haven’t pursued, and feedback you can act on now. Use those […]

Adversarial behavior between senior leaders can escalate into corporate gaslighting—a subtle but damaging effort to create a false narrative around you and erode your credibility. If left unchecked, being undermined in this way can derail your confidence, reputation, and career. Here’s how to recognize it and react accordingly. Focus on the right problem. Ask yourself: […]

Hiring a star employee may feel like an easy win—but it often backfires. In most cases, newly hired stars underperform, disrupt team dynamics, and struggle to adjust to new systems and routines. But there are exceptions, and understanding when to make the move is key. Hire stars into teams that already have stars. Star hires […]

Leading through tension is part of being a manager, but you don’t have to go into emotionally charged meetings unprepared. Here’s how to stay grounded and guide high-stakes conversations with clarity and composure. Visualize the meeting in advance. Picture the setting, the people involved, and how you want to feel walking out. Mentally rehearse how […]

Many mergers and acquisitions ultimately fall short of expectations—not because of strategy, but because leaders neglect the employee experience. To protect deal value, you must support your employees both existing and new. Here’s how. Assess both cultures. Use surveys, interviews, and focus groups to evaluate cultural values, especially around decision-making and risk. Don’t just study […]

Job security is increasingly unpredictable—but your resilience doesn’t have to be. Rather than clinging to a single role, focus on building a career that can evolve as external factors change. Here’s how. Clarify your non-negotiables. Identify what you’re unwilling to compromise on, whether it’s remote flexibility, ethical alignment, or meaningful work. These priorities act as […]

Many companies no longer require candidates to submit cover letters—but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t write one. A well-written, well-structured cover letter could set you apart from the competition. Here’s how to nail it. Open with enthusiasm. Start with a clear, specific statement about why this role excites you. Generic praise won’t stand out, so […]

Your voice doesn’t just deliver the message you’re trying to convey—it shapes how it’s received. If you regularly speak in high-stakes settings, developing vocal presence is essential. Use these five exercises to improve the steadiness and sound of your voice. Start by connecting breath to body. Make a soft hissing sound and notice any tension. […]

Confidence is key at work—but overconfidence can backfire. If you’ve overstated your skills, talked yourself into a role you weren’t quite ready for, or self-promoted too aggressively, keeping up the charade will only make things worse in the long run, undermining trust, causing stress, damaging relationships, and costing you opportunities for growth. Here’s how to […]

Whether you’re interacting with colleagues, clients, friends, family members, or strangers, conversations are the building blocks of relationships. To become a great conversationalist in both work and non-work settings, use the TALK framework: Topic, Asking, Levity, and Kindness. Here’s how. Start by preparing topics. Think ahead about two or three things your conversation partner might […]