Organizations have long seen middle management as ripe for cutting whenever times get tight, and the current moment is no exception. The authors believe that this is a costly mistake. Human capital, they say, is at least as important as financial capital, and middle managers, who recruit and develop an organization’s employees, are the most important asset of all—essential to navigating rapid, complex change. They can make work more meaningful, interesting, and productive, and they’re crucial for true organizational transformation. But if managers are to fulfill this promise, leaders must reimagine their roles, push to more fully understand their value, and train, coach, and inspire them to realize their potential as organizational linchpins.

Price pressures cooled, but inflation remains strong enough to keep the Fed on course to continue raising interest rates.

There's a mistaken belief in today's working world that leaders need to be serious all the time to be taken seriously. The research tells a different story. Based on the course they teach at Stanford's Graduate School of Business, behavioral scientist Jennifer Aaker and corporate strategist Naomi Bagdonas delve into the surprising power of humor: why it's a secret weapon to build bonds, power, creativity and resilience -- and how we can all have more of it.

There are lots of reasons women should feel hopeful about having a career and children.

The singer’s rise to superstardom offers lessons in business management that go beyond the music industry.

When former US President Barack Obama was asked to share his most important career advice for young people, he replied... "Just learn how to get stuff done."… | 332 comments on LinkedIn

“Follow your passions”? Not so fast.

Employee frustrations impact productivity and worker retention, Gallup says

Today’s guest is Scott Hamilton, an Olympic gold medalist and founder of the Scott Hamilton Cares Foundation, an organization that is working to eliminate cancer. Now, Scott obviously doesn’t need much of an introduction. You already know about his gold medal and figure skating. You probably have seen his incredible backflips on the ice. And you have likely watched him as a commentator on the Olympics over the years. And while you may know him for his successes, you may not know about the challenges that he’s had to overcome to win. His childhood illness, cancer, multiple brain tumors, the times he’s fallen on the ice in critical situations. Scott says any goal will always have obstacles, difficulties and setbacks. You will be defined not by those setbacks, but by how you respond to them. There’s so much that we can learn from Scott about how to get up after we all fall and let me tell you something, we all do. I’m so excited to have you listen in. Here’s my conversation with my new friend – and soon to be…

Getting past our confusion about labelsAkimbo is a weekly podcast created by Seth Godin. He’s the bestselling author of 20 books and a long-time entrepreneur, freelancer and teacher.You can find out more about Seth by reading his daily blog at seths.blog and about the podcast at akimbo.link.To submit a question and to see the show notes, please visit akimbo.link and press the appropriate button. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Exclusive networking among those who have the immense privilege of leisure time is only going to hold women and businesses back, writes Kara Alaimo.

Young professionals say they admire people who carve out personal time, then fail to do the same for themselves.

Many anxious achievers push themselves to the point of overwork in an effort to achieve impossible standards. We often act this way out of habit. Somewhere along the way — through messages we received in our childhoods, our adolescence, or even in our educations and early careers — we internalized the message that if we make mistakes, we are not worthy. Now, our internal voices threaten, shame, and harshly critique us in life and at work. Anxiety has become the driver that powers us through. The problem is that anxiety is not a sustainable motivator and perfectionism often causes procrastination. So, how do we overcome the anxious critic in our head? First, notice when it strikes. The next time you hear a critique in your head, consider: Who is speaking? Does the voice sound like you, or does it sound like someone from your past? Sometimes our inner critics are driven by formative experiences or by people we encountered years before. Next, address the your inner critic with compassion. Be deliberately kind to yourself instead of fighting your anxiety or relying on it to motivate you. In practice, this looks like addressing your inner critic with understanding and generosity. Engage in a moment of kindness. Sit and place your hands on your chest. Feel your breath, in and out. Now, think of something you did well recently. Hold your chest, think through that moment, and tell yourself, “I did a good job.” Try to really feel it.

Hiring for the office set is slowing down and employers are getting picky again

Giving workers alone time could yield more innovation than getting everyone in a room, research shows.

Many companies have settled into a hybrid work strategy that shows little sign of fading, putting pressure on cities that are suffering from declining real-estate values.

They’re essential. The house begins to stink if we don’t take out the garbage.

Employees expect bigger increases than last year while employers pull back from earlier projections.

ChatGPT is actually good news for the office.

The outcry over Bud Light’s partnership with a transgender advocate could cause brands to rethink whether and how they address contentious social issues.

I spent seven years at Snapchat. I thought things would be different.

And start raising kind ones.

More executives believe these initiatives are a crucial way to retain and attract the best employees in a tight labor market.

Success is not about winning a competition. It’s about making a contribution.

For better or worse, in today’s world everyone is a brand. Whether you’re applying for a job, asking for a promotion, or writing a dating profile, your success will depend on getting others to recognize your value. So you need to get comfortable marketing yourself. In this article a branding thought leader and a professional dating coach present a guide to creating your personal brand. It’s an intentional, strategic practice in which you craft and express your own value proposition, and it involves seven steps: (1) Define your purpose by exploring your mission, passion, and strengths, and thinking about whom you want to make a difference to and how. (2) Audit your personal brand equity by cataloging your credentials, doing a self-assessment, and researching how other people view you. (3) Construct your personal narrative by identifying memorable, resonant stories that will best convey your brand. (4) Embody your brand by paying attention to the message you’re sending in every social interaction. (5) Communicate your brand through speeches, social media, the press, and other channels. (6) Socialize your brand by getting influential people to share your stories. (7) Reevaluate and adjust your brand by doing an annual audit to find deficits to fix and strengths to build on. This process will not only allow you to better control your image and the impact you have on the world but also help you uncover and share the unique abilities you have to offer it.

Negotiating can increase your base pay — and your job satisfaction.

Wanting to command rooms with her voice, a team leader turned to her coach for exercises. She learned the secrets of “RVP.” Listen now.