Harvard Business Review
At Harvard Business Review, we believe in management. If the world’s organizations and institutions were run more effectively, if our leaders made better decisions, if people worked more productively, we believe that all of us — employees, bosses, customers, our families, and the people our businesses affect — would be better off. We try to arm our readers with ideas that help them become smarter, more creative, and more courageous in their work. We encourage comments, critiques, and questions. We expect our community to be a safe space for respectful, constructive, and thought-provoking discussion. We reserve the right to remove or turn o...
A Two-Minute Burnout Screening
A Two-Minute Burnout Checkup
25 Jun 2024
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Work can be stressful sometimes, but how do we know when that stress is headed towards burnout? Try this two-minute exercise to check in with yourself. — Adapted from “A Two-Minute Burnout Checkup,” by Chris Bailey. #burnout #mentalhealth #workstress
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Fundamental Tensions Every Leader Must Equilibrate
7 Key Tensions Every Leader Must Balance
14 Jun 2024
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In decades past, executives were usually taught to practice command-and-control leadership. Today they’re often advised to be more nimble, more adaptive, and less controlling. The truth is that most executives need to be able to move back and forth between those two leadership styles. IMD leadership professor and social psychologist Jennifer Jordan offers tactics for navigating these tensions. More on this topic from HBR: https://hbr.org/2020/02/every-leader-needs-to-navigate-these-7-tensions https://hbr.org/2022/01/finding-the-right-balance-and-flexibility-in-your-leadership-style 00:00 The 7 traditional vs emerging leadership styles 03:30 Why do I need to ba...
We Need to Reimagine Econ 101: It May Constrain Your Business Perspective
We Need to Revamp Econ 101: It May Limit Your Business Thinking
4 Apr 2024
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Treating economics like a natural science can limit its scope and give corporations permission to look the other way on harms they may be causing. The New Yorker's Nick Romeo reports on the case for bringing the humanities–including ethics and philosophy–back into the curriculum. Romeo is the author of The Alternative: How to Build a Just Economy (https://www.amzn.com/1541701593). 00:00 An “acceptable” rate of joblessness? 01:00 Economics is not a natural science 01:39 Distorted business thinking 02:30 But isn’t economics...
How Do I Move Forward from a Big Mistake at Work? | S1E4 | New Here
How Do I Recover from a Big Mistake at Work? | S1E4 | New Here
15 Nov 2023
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How Do I Recover from a Big Mistake at Work? So, you messed up at work. How do you move forward? This week we’re talking about how to handle your first big mistake in a new job. We’ll learn how to own what happened, regain trust, and move forward. For radio journalist Priska Neely, making a mistake in a news report or broadcast can be a very public experience. She leads a team of reporters at N...
How to Execute a Virtual Work Party That Doesn't Stink | Christine vs. Work
How to Throw a Virtual Work Party That Doesn’t Stink | Christine vs. Work
15 Dec 2020
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𝙎𝙪𝙗𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝘼𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙮! ✨ https://www.youtube.com/c/HBRAscend ✨ Is there a way to make a virtual social event at work not stink? With so many offices working remotely this year, no doubt you’ve been invited to a virtual happy hour, birthday celebration, or event that in the end just felt like another meeting disguised as a social event. Innovation Editor Christine Liu was desperate to find out if there is a secret formula to throwing a virtual event that wouldn’t feel like the dreaded “mandatory fun.” Tasked with hosting...
Why People Resist Retirement
Why People Resist Retirement
6 Sep 2024
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Research suggests making the decision to retire means grappling with three psychological issues. 1) First, identity issues can loom large for any deeply engaged professional. Even a small step away from a career can make a person wonder who they are without it. 2) Second, many older professionals resist leaving meaningful work. 3) Finally, the third is the dread of losing the strong relationships that accumulate over the course of a long, successful career. HBS Professor Teresa M. Amabile offers advice for dealing with each of these. Read the full...
Barriers and Moats Won't Protect You. Innovation Will.
Walls and Moats Won't Save You. Innovation Will.
20 Oct 2025
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The walls of Constantinople stood for a thousand years—until gunpowder changed everything. This isn’t just about history; it’s a metaphor for every leader relying on legacy strengths in a time of disruption. Are you mistaking past resilience for future security? Scott D. Anthony, professor at Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business, shares what every CEO and strategist should ask before the innovative disruptor's cannonballs start hitting their legacy walls. For more, check out Anthony's book, "Epic Disruptions: 11 Innovations That Shaped Our Modern...
How to Collaborate Effectively If Your Team Works Remotely (The Explainer)
How to Collaborate Effectively If Your Team Is Remote (The Explainer)
6 Mar 2020
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Coronavirus could force your team to work remotely. Here's how to do it right. Why do remote teams demand new collaboration skills? What’s missing from our texts, emails, conference calls, and other digital communications? Body language. Even when we’re co-located, the tone of a text or the formality of an email is left wide open to interpretation, to the point that even our closest friends get confused. These misinterpretations create an anxiety that can become costly, affecting morale, enga...
China’s New Innovation Advantage
China’s New Innovation Advantage
13 Apr 2021
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China is achieving a new level of global competitiveness, thanks to its hyper-adaptive population, says Zak Dychtwald, author of "Young China" and founder of Young China Group. 0:00: The future of the Chinese economy is in innovation 0:32: What’s behind China’s new innovation advantage? 1:05: We shouldn’t be so focused on the innovators 1:37: Why do people in China adopt new technologies so readily? 2:05: China is an outlier in a very important way 3:38: What’s so powerful about having all these early adopters? 5:07: What can companies in other coun...
How I Helped Overhaul Bangladesh's Healthcare, One Patient at a Time
How I Helped Transform Bangladesh’s Healthcare, One Patient at a Time
13 Jun 2024
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Sylvana Quader Sinha, a Bangladeshi-American lawyer and entrepreneur, established Praava Health to address the critical need for quality healthcare in Bangladesh. Launched in 2018, Praava Health has become one of the fastest-growing healthcare providers in emerging markets, having already served more than half a million patients to date in Bangladesh. 00:00 What problem are you trying to solve? 01:05 What sets you apart from competitors? 02:15 How do you ease customer pain points? 02:55 What’s your biggest challenge? Books, tools, and more: store.hbr...
The Story You Tell Yourself Builds Courage
The Story You Tell Yourself Creates Courage
22 Oct 2025
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Courage starts with the story you tell yourself—about who you are and why you’re here. When you define that narrative, acting bravely becomes a choice, not a reaction. Listen to the full IdeaCast episode here: https://s.hbr.org/4n0RLkA
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The Five T's of Excellent Coaches - Part 7: Do Coaches Really Matter?
The Five T's of Great Coaches - Part 7: Do Coaches Even Matter?
21 Aug 2023
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Having the most talented team isn’t enough. 00:00 Of course coaches matter. But how? 02:25 Coaches need to to be plumbers and poets. Hosted by Ranjay Gulati, the Paul R. Lawrence MBA Class of 1942 Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and author of "Deep Purpose: The Heart and Soul of High-Performance Companies". Follow us: https://hbr.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvard-business-review/ https://www.facebook.com/HBR/ https://twitter.com/HarvardBiz https://www.instagram.com/harvard_business_re...
How to Release Someone with Compassion (Quick Study)
How to Fire with Compassion (Quick Study)
2 Mar 2020
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Firing needs to be handled well: the person you’re firing today could become a key contact or client tomorrow. Firing is never easy, and shouldn’t be. But it is something a manager should strive to handle well. Building great teams requires picking the best talent and also removing talent that isn’t working out. Letting someone go is a painful process, but if done well, it won’t come as a surprise to them and you’ll set them up for success when they...
Why Some Companies Thrived During the Pandemic | HBR IdeaCast | Podcast
Why Some Companies Thrived During the Pandemic | HBR IdeaCast | Podcast
19 Jan 2023
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Keith Ferrazzi, founder of the consulting firm Ferrazzi Greenlight, led a survey of more than 2,000 executives to study how they reengineered operations during the pandemic. The research identified a kind of extreme adaptability at the team and organizational levels that helped some companies come out on top. Ferrazzi argues that after months of ruthlessly adapting, leaders should continue on a path of resilience and agility to stay competitive in the post-Covid-19 world. And he offers concrete steps to take. Ferrazzi is...
How We Connect Digital Divides to Unlock the Power of Emerging Markets
How We Bridge Digital Divides to Unlock the Power of Emerging Markets
6 Jun 2024
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Pedro Arnt is CEO of dLocal, a publicly traded payments processor founded in Uruguay in 2017. Today, with an annual run rate of over $20 billion, dLocal connects global enterprise merchants with billions of consumers across 40 markets in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. 00:00 Balancing profit and purpose 01:00 Most transactions in emerging markets are cash-based 01:43 Managing a global business 02:51 Motivations as a leader Books, tools, and more: store.hbr.org Follow us: https://hbr.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvard-business-review/ ...
AI-Generated "Workslop" Is Harming Productivity
AI-Generated “Workslop” Is Destroying Productivity
22 Oct 2025
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AI is everywhere, but the ROI isn’t. To avoid “workslop,” leaders need to set quality standards—not just mandates. Read the full article here: https://s.hbr.org/3L0trlS
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How and When to Interrupt Your Career, and Yourself (Quick Study)
How and When to Disrupt Your Career, and Yourself (Quick Study)
10 Feb 2020
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If you’re comfortable but bored at your current position, you’re in the danger zone. Here are some ways to keep growing without leaving your company. Whitney Johnson, an executive coach and author of "Disrupt Yourself", says we give a lot of airtime to building disruptive products and services, to buying and/or investing in disruptive companies, and we should. Both are vital engines of economic growth. But, the most overlooked engine of growth is the individual. If you are...
How I Converted Unwanted Foods Into Tasty—and Lucrative—Snacks
How I Upcycled Unwanted Foods Into Tasty—and Profitable—Snacks
30 May 2024
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Betty Lu, a Singapore native, is founder and CEO of Confetti Snacks, which offers consumers tasty, healthy potato-chip alternatives made from up-cycled vegetables and fruits that would otherwise go to waste. The company’s year-over-year growth has averaged over 300% since its founding in 2018. 00:00 What problem are you trying to solve? 01:32 Balancing profit and purpose 02:03 Starting the business 02:35 Competing against “the big boys” Books, tools, and more: store.hbr.org Follow us: https://hbr.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvard-business-review/ https://www.facebo...
Bozoma Saint John on the Modern Reality of Leadership
Bozoma Saint John on the New Reality of Leadership
23 Oct 2025
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Employees and customers expect leaders to take a stand—and own the consequences. Bozoma Saint John says people want to know what their leaders truly believe: “If you believe in something, say it. That’s the job.” Listen to the full IdeaCast episode here: https://s.hbr.org/3L2fgN6
How I Crafted a Successful Brand That Resonates With People
How I Created a Successful Brand That Makes People Feel Something
23 May 2024
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Thirty-three days after signing his first NBA contract in 2009, Lanny Smith suffered a career-ending knee injury. After his injury, he transitioned to entrepreneurship, and in 2020 launched athleisure brand Actively Black with the intention of driving a meaningful impact in the Black community. In addition to impressive growth since its founding, Actively Black donates hundreds of thousands of dollars to organizations and programs that support Black communities. 00:00 From career-ending injury to entrepreneur 00:21 Getting started 01:55 A brand that makes you feel something 03:03...
The Shifting Role of the CFO
The Evolving Role of the CFO
24 Oct 2025
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Today’s CFO has to do more than manage the bottom line. They must champion innovation—and prevent costly tech distractions. In our latest Executive Agenda, Levi Strauss & Co.’s CFO Harmit Singh and HBS professor Mihir Desai reveal how the role is changing. Subscribe to HBR Executive to learn more: https://s.hbr.org/4kbybkB
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Managers, Decrease Team Stress by Making One Simple Change
Leaders, Reduce Team Stress by Making One Simple Change
20 Aug 2025
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Leaders: Do your teams know when you expect a reply? Here’s why it matters—and how to set the norm. 🎧 Listen to the full IdeaCast episode here: https://s.hbr.org/4oOv8Cq
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The Importance of Healthy Conflict at Work
The Value of Healthy Conflict at Work
24 Jul 2025
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Creating space for healthy debate isn’t about avoiding conflict—it’s about fostering psychological safety, candor, and a culture where people can challenge ideas and spark innovation. 🎧 Listen to the full IdeaCast episode here: https://s.hbr.org/450yJUL
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Should You Sell Your Startup, or Install a New CEO? (Case Study)
Should You Sell Your Startup, or Find a New CEO? (Case Study)
29 Jan 2020
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Should a small company founder facing stalling growth sell to a competitor or hire a new CEO? In this HBR fictionalized case study, 2 Proud Pups is Elena's all-natural dog care product business. She launched it to create products that weren't full of chemicals that irritated her dogs. She invested her own savings, and grew her staff and product line — and now her products are carried by more than 1,000 independent pet retailers nationwide. But revenue growth has stalled flat, and sh...
The Real Discussion Takes Place Before the Meeting
The Real Meeting Happens Before the Meeting
1 Apr 2025
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For aspiring leaders, meetings aren’t where decisions are made—they’re where decisions get confirmed. The real influence happens earlier. Career adviser and author of "The Unspoken Rules", Gorick Ng, unpacks the “meeting before the meeting” and how experienced leaders quietly shape agendas, build alignment, and move initiatives forward. Read more in Ng's "The Unspoken Rules: Secrets to Starting Your Career Off Right": https://www.gorick.com/unspokenrules Books, tools, and more: store.hbr.org Follow us: https://hbr.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/compan...
How to Resolve Remote Conflict
How to Deal with Remote Conflict
20 Oct 2020
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Disagreements between work colleagues can get even more uncomfortable and tricky to navigate when you can’t work them out in person. Amy Gallo, author of the “HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict”, explains why conflicts are more likely to escalate through text-based communication, and says that even in the Zoom-era a phone call may be the best solution. She also points out that there can be upsides to having to resolve differences remotely. --------------------------------------------------------------------- At Harvard Business Review, we believe in management. If the world’...
Leading Is Emotionally Depleting. Here's How to Restore Yourself.
Leading Is Emotionally Draining. Here’s How to Recover.
27 Oct 2025
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Recovery is no longer a luxury—it’s a leadership imperative, critical for protecting your well-being and sustaining your capacity to lead over the long haul. Read the full article here: https://s.hbr.org/4olwwvi
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When Your Work Isn't Your Dream Role
When Your Job Isn't Your Dream Job
3 Sep 2024
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“Dream jobs” are often idealized, but in reality, finding a job that aligns with your purpose, values, and goals is incredibly difficult. This is especially true during times of uncertainty or crisis — when our priorities inevitably shift. Even so, many of us can be hard on ourselves or get demotivated searching for the perfect role. In these moments, it’s important to remember that we first need to meet our basic needs before we can gain the energy and drive we need to reach our high...
Tech at Work: The Tomorrow of Spatial Computing
Tech at Work: The Future of Spatial Computing
14 Jun 2024
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Companies are getting creative with spatial computing, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR), using these technologies to give consumers “virtual” access to their products. To stay competitive, organizational leaders need to get comfortable exploring these new technologies. To learn more, listen to the latest episode of our new IdeaCast series “Tech at Work” wherever you get your podcasts. #tech #augmentedreality #virtualreality
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What if helping the environment isn't advantageous for my business?
What if helping the environment isn’t profitable for my business?
24 Jan 2020
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Andrew Winston answers tough business questions about the climate crisis. See all eight questions on our playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzAU8TPKsJuYj9HwKPXjbgBPWqUFRtDIZ Big shifts need to happen in business so the world can avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change. But it can be difficult to know what your role is in this process–and you may even wonder whether you can make a difference at all. Does what you do as an entry-level empl...
What We Misinterpret About Psychological Safety
What We Get Wrong About Psychological Safty
21 May 2025
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Many mistake psychological safety for comfort and niceness. But real safety means creating space for respectful candor—even when the truth is uncomfortable. Read the full article by Amy C. Edmondson and Michaela J. Kerrissey here: https://s.hbr.org/3ZfLBnM
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How Leadership Skills Can Help You Become a Better Parent
Here’s How Leadership Skills Can Help You Parent Better
2 Apr 2021
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People know that good leadership includes clarifying your values, talking to stakeholders, and sharing a vision. All of that also makes a great parent, and there's no reason to leave it in the workplace, say Stewart Friedman and Alyssa Westring, co-authors of "Parents Who Lead". 00:00 Nobody wants to see themselves as the parent that’s just nit-picking 00:30 Why are we good leaders at work, but forget it all at home? 01:05 We know what good leadership looks like: you ask, you listen. 01:26 Step...
How Does Netflix Address Corporate Diversity?
How Does Netflix Approach Corporate Diversity?
9 Dec 2020
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We speak with Netflix VP of Inclusion Strategy Vernā Myers, whose company is on a mission to entertain the world. Myers explains how to create and sustain a diverse and innovative work force, and talks about the challenges she has faced trying to push for equity at Netflix. --------------------------------------------------------------------- At Harvard Business Review, we believe in management. If the world’s organizations and institutions were run more effectively, if our leaders made better decisions, if people worked more productively, we believe that all of us — emplo...
How Do I Deliver a Good First Impression in a Job Interview? | New Here | S1E9
How Do I Make a Good First Impression in a Job Interview? | New Here | S1E9
20 Dec 2023
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So, you’re ready to find your next job. What’s your interview strategy? This week on New Here, we learn why making a good first impression in a job interview is so important to your success – and how to do it. Career coach and TikTok creator Sho Dewan helps host Elainy Mata understand how many recruiters think – so you can make the most of your time with them. Plus, actor Jack Aschenbach shares his tips for...
How to Negotiate Your Beginning Salary
How to Negotiate Your Starting Salary
25 Jan 2024
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Your starting salary calibrates all your future raises and bonuses. So don't just accept the first offer. Produced by Andy Robinson, Kelsey Alpaio Video by Andy Robinson and Elainy Mata Editing by Andy Robinson Animation and Design by Alex Belser and Karen Player 00:00 Let's learn about salary negotiation 01:25 The labor market today 02:14 How much have I lost? 02:55 Don't let nerves hold you back 03:51 Do your research (and talk about salary!) 04:15 Consider the whole compensation package 04:52 How does your location factor into your salary? 05:53 Know your...
How to Navigate a Mid-Career Crisis | HBR IdeaCast | Podcast
How to Cope With a Mid-Career Crisis | HBR IdeaCast | Podcast
3 Jan 2023
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Kieran Setiya, a philosophy professor at MIT, says many people experience a mid-career crisis. Some have regrets about paths not taken or serious professional missteps; others feel a sense of boredom or futility in their ongoing streams of work. The answer isn’t always to find a new job or lobby for a promotion. Motivated by his own crisis, Setiya started looking for ways to cope and discovered several strategies that can help all of us shift our perspective on our ca...
Why U.S. Working Moms Are So Strained (Quick Study)
Why U.S. Working Moms Are So Stressed (Quick Study)
18 Dec 2019
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Government intervention is needed, but managers can take these steps right now. Caitlyn Collins, a sociologist at Washington University in St. Louis, conducted interviews with mothers in four countries — the United States, Italy, Germany, and Sweden — who have jobs outside the home to better understand the pressures they felt. She found that American moms were by far the most stressed, primarily because of the lack of parental benefits offered by their employers and the government. In Europe, women told Collins they had...
How to Network on Instagram (It's More Than Just Sliding Into DMs!)
How to Network on Instagram (It's More Than Just the DMs!)
9 Feb 2024
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LinkedIn isn't the only way to make professional connections. Have you ever written a "professional" DM? It's basically a message you send to someone in hopes that they'll be willing to connect and help you with some aspect of your career. That could be landing a job, collaborating on a project, or even just giving you sound advice. Most people use LinkedIn to make these kinds of connections, but here's a tip: try using Instagram instead. The platform is less...
Jim Fielding, Ex-Head of Disney Stores, on the Hurdles of Progressing as a Queer Executive
Jim Fielding, Ex-Head of Disney Stores, on the Struggles of Making It as a Queer Executive
18 Aug 2023
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What does it feel like to live inauthentically at work? For his first professional job in the 1980s, in the fashion industry, Jim Fielding led what he calls a “double life.” With close friends and confidants, he was open about his relationship with another man. But at work, when discussing his partner he’d switch his pronouns and change stories to conform to expectations at the time. The inauthenticity created emotional, physical, and mental problems. “I was ha...
The Case for Disconnecting From Your Phone
The Case for Putting Down Your Phone
17 Sep 2025
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Put down your phone and let your mind wander. Here’s how, and why, you should embrace boredom. For more insights, explore Arthur's (@drarthurbrooks ) new book, "The Happiness Files": https://s.hbr.org/45yh8ne You can also sign up to receive Arthur’s new six-week newsletter, “The Leader’s Happiness Reset" here: https://hbr.org/email-newsletters
