Havard Management Tip of the Day

More professionals than ever are leaving traditional jobs to work independently—and finding greater happiness, flexibility, and control. But knowing when to make the leap is tricky. Before quitting your day job, ask yourself these five questions.  Is your side hustle’s income sustainable—and growing? Your side hustle doesn’t need to match your salary today, but it […]

Strong leadership isn’t just about your presence; it’s about how you speak. To convey power, use these five techniques to elevate your communication, establish your authority, and command respect. Focus on action. When explaining decisions, choose language that drives forward momentum. Instead of listing options, state your choice and outline next steps. Clear direction signals […]

When a senior leader leaves suddenly, companies often scramble to replace them—despite having a “succession plan.” Why? Because most planning is reactive, unclear, and overly broad. To ensure real readiness for leadership transitions, shift your approach with these four key pivots.  Move from replacement planning to future proofing. Don’t just identify backups for existing roles—define […]

If you’re constantly fielding employees’ problems—and feeling buried by to-dos as a result—you’re not alone. When leaders take on too much in the name of being supportive, it can create team dependence and lead to burnout. The solution isn’t being less caring; it’s being more like a coach. Ask your team members these five questions […]

Losing trust with your manager—whether through a careless comment, misstep, or emotional outburst—can damage your reputation and working relationship. But it doesn’t have to define your career. What matters most is how you respond and rebuild. Here’s how to take responsibility and move forward. Start with reflection, not reaction. Don’t rush to apologize. Pause and […]

Leadership is emotionally taxing. Whether you’re delivering tough news, navigating team changes, or absorbing others’ stress, the emotional labor quietly adds up. Over time, ignoring your own emotions can erode your health, performance, and relationships. To stay resilient, adopt these three recovery practices.  Reflect to build emotional awareness. After a hard moment, pause and ask […]

Giving feedback to your team members early in a new leadership role can feel risky. After all, you haven’t had time to establish credibility. But when done right, it can build trust and momentum. Here’s how to deliver feedback thoughtfully.  Assess the landscape. Before acting, learn the technical, interpersonal, cultural, and political dynamics of your […]

If your team can’t seem to slow down—even during vacations or quiet periods—you may be dealing with more than ambition. You’re likely facing an “entrainment cycle,” where employees become physically and emotionally synced to an unsustainable pace. This isn’t just a personal issue; it’s an organizational one. And if you want long-term performance, you need […]

Team dynamics are rarely stable. A new hire, a departure, a strategy shift—each change reshapes how your team functions. Yet most leaders push forward without resetting, which can lead to misalignment and burnout. If your team’s energy is off, it may be time for a full relaunch. Here’s how. Start with diagnosis. Don’t leap into […]

If you’re a senior leader, your calendar is likely packed with one-on-one meetings. But instead of fostering alignment, an overload of one-on-ones often creates fragmentation, siloed thinking, and trust issues. It’s time to shift how you use your meeting time.   Use one-on-ones for development, not operations. Make these meetings quarterly and dedicate them to career […]

When business challenges mount, your team doesn’t need spin—they need clarity. Here’s how to be transparent, steady, and constructive, even when you don’t have all the answers.  Acknowledge what’s working. As you address uncertainty, point to areas of progress. Use a “yes, and” approach: Yes, things are messy—and we’re doing good work. Be honest about […]

Having prestigious connections can open doors for people—but they can also distort how their merit is judged. Star-linked hires are often held to inflated expectations, shielded from criticism when they fall short, and overlooked when they succeed. This bias can quietly shape how talent decisions are made long after someone joins your team. Here’s how […]

Before big conversations—think performance reviews, negotiations, or strategic debates—most leaders prep facts and arguments. But what’s often missing is mental readiness. Enter the Curiosity Check: a fast, three-step process to help you shift from certainty to openness.  Locate your mindset. Before the interaction, ask yourself: Am I genuinely open to learning something new, or am […]

Building stronger relationships with coworkers beyond the office can boost trust and improve performance—but only when done carefully. The key isn’t whether to connect outside of work, but where. Choose settings with these four traits to build genuine connection while lowering the risk of too much boundary-blurring.  Make it flexible. Opt for spaces that accommodate […]

AI can help leaders work faster, but it can also distort decision-making and lead to overconfidence. If you’re integrating AI tools into forecasting or strategy work, use these safeguards to stay grounded.   Watch for built-in biases. AI presents forecasts with impressive detail and confidence and tends to extrapolate from recent trends, which can make you […]

Even as formal DEI programs face rollbacks, you can still build a more inclusive workforce by focusing on high-performance management practices. The following five strategies, designed to boost productivity, also drive diversity when applied across the employee lifecycle. Use referrals to tap into broader networks. Referral programs aren’t just about filling roles—they’re powerful diversity engines. […]

Generative AI is changing the balance of work, reducing the need for task coordination and increasing autonomy across teams. For middle managers, this shift opens the door to new ways of working. But making the most of it requires a clear view of what to automate and who stands to gain. Here’s how to start.   […]

Organizations often rely on committees to make high-stakes decisions. But simply getting the right people in the room isn’t enough. If you want your committee to surface real insights and make stronger decisions, you need to design the process to promote candor, curiosity, and dissent. Here’s how.  Focus on process, not just outcomes. Don’t just […]

In today’s polarized environment, workplace conflict is inevitable—but it doesn’t have to be destructive. Leaders with high conflict intelligence know how to engage it constructively. Here’s how to apply seven proven principles. Lay the groundwork. Build trust and communication before conflict erupts. Strengthen your team’s culture and establish clear norms for how disagreement is handled. […]

Cybersecurity programs often fail because they overlook the biggest risk: human behavior. But the same factor that makes organizations vulnerable can also be your greatest asset—if you know how to take a human-centered approach to security. Here’s how. Start by building connection. People follow leaders they trust. Establish rapport by showing genuine interest, encouraging a […]