The Insightful Leader
A Weekly Newsletter
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Will "stack ranking" destroy your office culture?
Sent to subscribers on July 5, 2023
About a decade ago, Microsoft famously ditched its controversial (and allegedly culture-killing) “stack ranking” employee review system.
Yet stack rankings, and other relative-ranking systems in which employees are rated against one another (often with the poorest performers seeing a pink slip),... more
Are you delegating enough?
Sent to subscribers on June 28, 2023
It’s common for leaders to worry about whether they’re making the right decisions for their organizations. But many don’t worry enough about whether they should be the ones making those decisions in the first place.
Knowing when to own a choice and when to delegate it is one of the most important... more
Invite a newcomer to your next meeting
Sent to subscribers on June 21, 2023
As a child, I was notorious for insisting on what I called “the regular.” When it came to food, clothes, books, music, and just about everything else, I wanted the same things I’d had before. Keep your novelty and give me continuity, please and thank you.There are good reasons for leaders to seek... more
Grow as a leader without burning out
Sent to subscribers on June 14, 2023
Becoming a better leader takes time, and time isn’t always easy to find.
Rather than burn yourself out trying to squeeze professional development onto your already-overflowing plate, you should think strategically about how to prepare yourself for new leadership opportunities, says Kellogg... more
Do you overprepare?
Sent to subscribers on June 7, 2023
School teaches us to believe that preparation is the key to achieving just about anything. Because in fact, the strategy is pretty tried-and-true: a ton of preparation really is the key to success on tests, group projects, presentations, and more.
But when all this preparation carries over into... more
The power of persistence
Sent to subscribers on May 31, 2023
If all this talk about AI threatening human creativity has you feeling a little exhausted (read: our last newsletter), I have a palate cleanser for you. Today, we’ll discuss a research-backed tip for keeping your own creative juices flowing.
The method is simpler than you think—all you need is a... more
If the U.S. defaults, everyone loses
Sent to subscribers on May 24, 2023
We’ve talked a lot about AI and the economy in previous newsletters, but what about AI and creativity?
With AI capable of churning out original illustrations, texts, songs, and videos in a fraction of a second, it’s worth considering what will happen to the next generation of artists. Is a... more
Pressing “reset” on flagging team dynamics
Sent to subscribers on May 17, 2023
This year, for the first time ever, I’ll be entering my garden into our neighborhood’s deceptively competitive garden walk. Perhaps this is why—as I frantically plot out my next dozen trips to Home Depot—transformation is on my mind.Maybe transformation is on your mind, too. This week, we’ll hear... more
Breaking into board membership
Sent to subscribers on May 10, 2023
Joining a board
Traditionally, board members have been chosen from the executive ranks—but to some degree, this is changing, according to Harry Kraemer, a clinical professor of leadership at Kellogg, former chairman and CEO of Baxter International, and current board member for multiple private,... more
AI and the economy—what leaders need to know
Sent to subscribers on May 3, 2023
Just about everyone I know is curious about how generative AI like ChatGPT will shape the economy—and, in particular, how typical workers stand to fare.
Alas, there are no crystal balls. Like everything in economics, the answer is likely to be “it depends.”
But I want to draw your attention to... more
Make your schedule work for you
Sent to subscribers on April 26, 2023
If you’re a busy person, you likely have to keep a schedule—for me, it’s a color-coded dry-erase board (very satisfying).
But we can always learn new ways to work smarter rather than harder. Today, Kellogg faculty share some research-backed tips on how to do just that. Plus, we hear how nurturing... more
Professional jealousy can stifle good ideas
Sent to subscribers on April 19, 2023
Have you ever suspected that leaders are more inclined to act on ideas that come from people outside an organization rather than within?
If you have, you may be onto something, according to research from Kellogg professor of management and organizations Leigh Thompson. And it could come down to... more
The case for being a vulnerable leader
Sent to subscribers on April 12, 2023
All too often, leaders feel compelled to hide their personal foibles for the sake of projecting competence to their teams. After all, who would trust a leader who admits to sometimes procrastinating? *Coughs*
Turns out, plenty of people. In fact, there’s even an advantage to letting your guard... more
The science of teams
Sent to subscribers on April 5, 2023
Building and maintaining strong teams is one of the most important jobs that leaders have. It can also be one of the toughest, because it’s not always clear which people will work well together and whose skills will best complement each other.
Today, we’ll get some research-backed advice on... more
How to deliver negative feedback
Sent to subscribers on March 29, 2023
No one likes having to deliver negative feedback to an employee, colleague, or boss. (Or, if you do, you need to do some deep thinking on that.) Yet unpleasant as it may be, it is incumbent upon good leaders to be able to give this sort of feedback constructively.
One way to feel more comfortable... more
Music, empowerment, and teamwork
Sent to subscribers on March 22, 2023
Do you have any rituals that you use to prep for a big presentation or important interview? Maybe you’ve got a lucky shirt to wear or a calming mantra to repeat. Or perhaps you’ve got a favorite song that you always listen to to pump yourself up.
If music is part of your ritual, you’re not just... more
Pros and cons of productivity monitoring
Sent to subscribers on March 15, 2023
When you think about companies monitoring their employees’ productivity, does it conjure up a creepy Big Brother-esque scenario? Many of us instinctively feel like productivity monitoring is invasive. But there’s also a strong case to be made for why it’s useful—and how it can be implemented well,... more
Tips for encouraging ethical behavior at work
Sent to subscribers on March 8, 2023
How do you create an ethical workplace?That was the gist of a question we got from a newsletter reader who wanted some advice on how managers can help employees act ethically, particularly when cutting corners could lead to the sorts of short-term gains against which employees are measured. For... more
Creating a less stressful workplace
Sent to subscribers on March 1, 2023
As you start your day, are you experiencing a calm state of zen? Or are you already getting anxious about all that has to get done?If you’re feeling stressed, you are in good company. According to Gallup, stress among the world’s workers is at an all-time high. As individuals, we can use some tools... more
Are you productive? Or just busy?
Sent to subscribers on February 22, 2023
When someone asks you how you’re doing, how often do you answer not that you’re “good” or “fine,” but that you’re “busy”?For Adam Waytz, a professor of management and organizations, this typical response is a symptom of society’s overemphasis on being busy, and our tendency to falsely equate... more