Havard Management Tip of the Day

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Quick, practical management tips and ideas from HBR.org
Updated: 2 hours 48 min ago

Ask Smarter Strategic Questions

13 hours 13 min ago

With organizations facing increased urgency and unpredictability, being able to ask smart questions has become a key leadership skill—especially when setting strategy. Here are five types of questions to ask that can boost strategic decision-making. Investigative: What’s Known? When facing a problem or opportunity, the best decision-makers start by clarifying their purpose, asking themselves what […]

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Feeling Unmotivated? Here’s How to Plug Back In.

Thu, 04/25/2024 - 06:01

It’s common to go through periods at work where you’re just not feeling it. No matter what’s sapping your motivation, these strategies can help you interrupt the cycle of numbness and paralysis—and restore your sense of agency. Detach. Being unhappy at work can cloud your decision-making and make you reactive. Take a step back from […]

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When Your Team Blames You

Wed, 04/24/2024 - 06:01

When your team blames you for a failure or a decision they don’t like, it’s natural to feel a range of uncomfortable emotions. How can you work through your response and rebuild trust? Be brutally honest with yourself. Start by identifying and naming your feelings, then take an honest look at your contributions to the […]

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Become a Better Networker

Tue, 04/23/2024 - 06:01

Networking is not an innate talent. It’s a series of skills that anyone can develop, no matter your age, gender, career stage, or level of extroversion. To help you get out there and build professional connections, you can focus on developing: Cognitive flexibility. Researchers found that the ability to adapt your thinking in response to […]

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Update Your Colleagues’ Perception of You

Mon, 04/22/2024 - 06:01

If you’re a long-term employee, it’s not only frustrating when your colleagues have an outdated perception of you—it can stymie your professional growth. How can you align your reputation with your self-perception? Start by identifying the discrepancy between how you see yourself and how others see you. Feedback from trusted colleagues or your manager can […]

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3 More Leadership Styles—and When to Use Them

Fri, 04/19/2024 - 06:01

Yesterday we listed three of the most common leadership styles and when to use them. Here are three more styles to add to your toolbox. Affiliative leadership, which centers on building emotional bonds. This style builds connections and creates a positive company culture, but it shouldn’t be used in isolation. It may not provide sufficient […]

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3 Common Leadership Styles—and When to Use Them

Thu, 04/18/2024 - 06:01

Being a great leader means recognizing that different circumstances call for different leadership styles. Here are three common ones and when to deploy them. Coercive leadership, which entails demanding immediate compliance. This is the least-effective style in most situations. But in certain crises where decisive action and a clear chain of command are needed, this […]

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Listen with Empathy

Wed, 04/17/2024 - 06:01

The best managers are good listeners, and the best listeners exude empathy. And despite what you may think, empathy is a skill that you can practice and develop. Here are some ways to build the muscle. First, try “looping”: When you ask your employee a question, listen carefully to their answer, then paraphrase it back […]

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Announce Layoffs with Grace and Compassion

Tue, 04/16/2024 - 06:01

There’s no easy way to announce layoffs. But you can avoid critical mistakes that could make the bad news even worse for your team. Here’s how. Use the right tone. While it’s important to be direct, you must also deliver the news with empathy and compassion. As you acknowledge the difficulty of the situation, don’t be […]

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Is Your Instinct to Help Actually Hurting Your Team?

Mon, 04/15/2024 - 06:01

If you’re a manager with a strong desire to be helpful, could you actually be undermining your team’s performance? Beware these common ways your best intentions could backfire. Seeking constant agreement. Finding common ground and consensus is an important leadership skill. But quashing all disagreement is ultimately unproductive and will stymie the flow of ideas on […]

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Make Your Transition Back to the Office a Smooth One

Fri, 04/12/2024 - 06:01

It can feel intimidating to return to an in-office routine after working remotely for an extended period of time. But there are steps you can take to make the transition back to the office a smooth one. Redesign your routine. This means rethinking every component of your schedule. If this feels overwhelming, don’t fret. Start by […]

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Avoid Overwhelming a New Hire During Onboarding

Thu, 04/11/2024 - 06:01

A great onboarding experience can keep new hires engaged and committed, and increase their preparedness for the job. But there’s such a thing as too much onboarding—overloading a new hire with so much information that they’re left feeling overwhelmed and dissatisfied. Here’s how to keep things manageable. Dose information slowly. Learning is a gradual process that […]

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Build a Thriving Employee Alumni Program

Wed, 04/10/2024 - 06:01

Great employees will leave your organization from time to time—but they don’t have to become total strangers. Employee alumni programs can help you foster continuing relationships with former colleagues, which can be a competitive advantage in today’s dynamic labor market environment. When setting up your program, keep these strategies in mind. Build a digital community. Most […]

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Create a Healthy Multigenerational Workplace

Tue, 04/09/2024 - 06:01

For the first time in history, workplaces are beginning to span six generations: from the octogenarians of the Silent Generation to the teenagers of Generation Alpha pursuing their first jobs and internships. As a manager, how can you lead across this multigenerational workforce? Build your strategy around all six generations. This means both becoming an […]

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Mind the Gap on Your Resume

Mon, 04/08/2024 - 06:01

Your job hunt is taking longer than you expected and the gap on your resume is growing wider by the day. How can you ensure your extended absence from the workforce doesn’t sink your morale—or career prospects? Invest in your development. Enroll in courses, earn certifications, intern in your target industry, and take on contract work. […]

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Are You Micromanaging Your Team?

Fri, 04/05/2024 - 06:01

Are you a micromanager? Especially if you’re a new manager building your confidence and leadership style, check in with yourself and ask these three questions to ensure you’re not leading with a grip. Am I always giving my team advice? There’s nothing wrong with giving your team members advice in situations that truly require it (high-stakes […]

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Sharpen Your Writing Skills

Thu, 04/04/2024 - 06:01

Regardless of your job, rank, or industry, written communication is a skill that can set you apart from your peers. Here’s a three-step framework to help you level up as a writer—whether you’re writing an email, a formal document, a social post, or something else. First, determine the purpose of what you’re writing. What result […]

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Become a Better Conversationalist

Wed, 04/03/2024 - 06:01

Being a great communicator isn’t just about knowing how to speak eloquently—it’s about knowing how to prepare for, and engage deeply in, important conversations. These simple strategies can help. Before a key conversation, take 30 seconds to jot down a few topics you know you want to cover. Going into the discussion with a rough […]

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Seek Out These Three Qualities When Hiring

Tue, 04/02/2024 - 06:01

Regardless of what industry you’re in, there are some common essential traits to look for in a new hire. If you’re looking to grow your team or replace a key contributor who’s moved on, keep the following qualities in mind as you interview prospective employees. An entrepreneurial mindset. Ask the candidate about a time when they […]

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Making Bad Meetings Better

Mon, 04/01/2024 - 15:22

We all have those recurring meetings that feel inefficient, unproductive, or aimless. How can you make them better when you’re not the one running them? Here’s how to get involved before, during, and after to nudge things in the right direction. The best time to intervene is often before the meeting even takes place. Reach […]

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