Harvard Business Review

Improving the practice of management and its impact in a changing world.

Articles from Contributor

Create Advocates for Your Brand

Often the most important people selling your product are not your sales and marketing teams, but your customers. Here’s how to turn them into company advocates:

  • Let them interact. Connect your customers to their peers — other people like themselves who deal with similar issues. Bring them together through live events, in

Leaders, Stop These Behaviors Now

If you want to empower, engage, or motivate others, don’t just focus on increasing your positive behaviors. Pay attention to the things you need to stop doing at the same time. Here are three to avoid:

  • Judgmental body language. No one likes perceived condescension. Watch out for scowling, furrowed brows, and quizzical or sarcastic

Write Your Business Case as a Story

If you’ve been charged with developing the case for a new project at your company, imagine you’re telling a story. The narrative starts, as all good ones do, with a problem. This is the business need you’re trying to solve. Then, identify the characters: the stakeholders who have the authority to approve or reject your business …

Show Your Strength as a Leader

Competence can be established by virtue of the position you hold, your reputation, and your actual performance. But your presence matters too. If you want people to see you as a strong leader, do the following three things:

  • Feel in command. If you see yourself as an impostor, others will, too. Instead, believe in your abilities and

How Optimism Can Hurt Your Team

For managers, optimism may seem like a great trait to have: A boss with a can-do attitude motivates others and makes them feel good. But there’s a downside too. An excessively positive outlook on a tough project may give the impression that you think the work is easy and doesn’t require any struggle. And, when you aren’t concerned …

Impress Your Foreign Boss

If you think that it’s hard to impress your boss, try doing it in an unfamiliar culture – where the natural methods that work at home may fail you. In these circumstances you need to be more deliberate. Start by doing great work, showing loyalty to the organization, and helping your boss accomplish his or her professional goals. Of …

If You Want to Lead, Start Now

To become a leader, don’t wait for the fancy title or the corner office. Here are three things you can do now, even if someone else is calling the shots:

  • Demonstrate your potential. Raise your hand for new initiatives, especially ones that might be visible to those outside your unit. Look for opportunities outside of work, too. You

Encourage Gratitude on Your Team

When employees feel valued, they are more satisfied, willing to work longer, and motivated to do their best. As a manager, it’s your job to make them feel appreciated. In addition to saying “thank you,” you can foster gratitude by:

  • Developing them. People want to grow. If promotion opportunities are limited you can invest in

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