HBR On Leadership

Moving Beyond Either-Or Decision-Making

Jennifer Riel, an adjunct professor at the Rotman School of Management, presents a model way to solve problems: integrative thinking. It enables leaders to move beyond either-or decisions to make stronger choices. She gives examples from the film industry to show how CEOs have put the process to work. Riel is the co-author, along with Roger Martin, of the book Creating Great Choices: A Leader’s Guide to Integrative Thinking. Listen to the original HBR IdeaCast episode: Transcending Either-Or Decision Making Find more episodes of HBR IdeaCast Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at hbr.org

The Types of Questions Every Leader Should Ask

Leslie K. John and Alison Wood Brooks, professors at Harvard Business School, say people in business can be more successful by asking more and better questions. They talk through what makes for a great question, whether you’re looking to get information or get someone to like you. They’re the coauthors of the article, “The Surprising Power of Questions,” in the May–June 2018 issue of Harvard Business Review. Key episode topics include: business communication, persuasion, behavioral science, decision making and problem solving • Listen to the original HBR IdeaCast episode: Ask Better Questions ● Find more episodes of HBR IdeaCast ● Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org

What It Takes to Join Your First Board

Being on a board is a chance to grow—your mind, your skills, your network, your impact. It’s also another time commitment to fit in, and, for some women, another environment where they have to fight to be heard. So, is the payoff worth the effort? Yes, according to the eight women who volunteered to speak about their experience serving on boards of companies, nonprofits, and schools. They share how they landed a seat, gained confidence in the role, and found unexpected personal and professional benefits in the work. We hope that their perspectives and advice will inspire you to consider trying it yourself some day. Ellen Zane, who runs a Harvard workshop for women interested in board work, provides further insight based on her years of experience as a director for nonprofits and private and public companies. Key episode topics include: Listen to the original Women at Work episode: Ever Consider Joining a Board? Find more episodes of Women at Work Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at org

Change How Your Colleagues See You

Do you need a career makeover? In this episode of HBR’s advice podcast, Dear HBR:, cohosts Alison Beard and Dan McGinn answer your questions with the help of Dorie Clark, the author of Reinventing You: Define Your Brand, Imagine Your Future. They talk through how to change your coworkers’ perception of you, transition to a role outside your area of expertise, or be seen as a leader. Key episode topics include: career planning, managing yourself, professional networks Listen to the original Dear HBR: episode: Personal Rebranding Find more episodes of Dear HBR: Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at hbr.org

The Risks of Putting People on Too Many Project Teams

Mark Mortensen, a professor of organizational behavior at INSEAD, discusses the research on “multiteaming”—when employees work not only across multiple projects, but multiple teams. It has significant benefits at the individual, team, and organizational levels. Among them: multiteaming saves money. The cost—stretched employees—is hard to see. And that is where the tension, and the risk, lies. Mortensen is the co-author, with Heidi K. Gardner, of “The Overcommitted Organization” in the September–October 2017 issue of Harvard Business Review. Key episode topics include: collaboration and teams, leading teams, business management, organizational restructuring Listen to the original HBR IdeaCast episode: How to Fix “Team Creep” Find more episodes of HBR IdeaCast Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at hbr.org