logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2024
15m 56s

How to Make Tough Decisions as a Manager

Harvard Business Review
About this episode
There are no simple answers for the tough decisions that managers face. Harvard Business School professor Joe Badaracco says that hard and fast rules only go so far in these sorts of situations. In this episode, he explains how to approach what he calls “gray-area decisions.” First, gather as much information as you can, taking different perspectives into ac ... Show More
Up next
Nov 19
How to Scale What’s Working at Your Company
Stanford professor Bob Sutton, coauthor of Scaling Up Excellence, explains how leaders can expand what’s working in their organizations without letting growth dilute their success. He also shares the patterns that separate those who scale successfully from those whose early wins ... Show More
15m 8s
Nov 12
The “Hidden Blockers” That Are Limiting Your Leadership Potential
Many of us have internal beliefs—I need it done now, I know I’m right, I need to be involved—that feel like truth but actually hold us back as leaders. Executive coach Muriel Wilkins calls these counterproductive beliefs “hidden blockers,” and she talks Women at Work hosts Amy Ga ... Show More
32m 37s
Nov 5
Why Purpose Is Foundational in Leadership
Nicholas Pearce, clinical associate professor at Kellogg School of Management, says too many companies—and individuals—lack a clear sense of purpose. He argues “the best companies are ones that not only have a purpose for themselves but also attract and hire people whose individu ... Show More
24m 29s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2020
Coaching Problem Employees
Do you have a difficult subordinate who needs coaching? Dan and Alison answer your questions with the help of Melvin Smith, a professor at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. They talk through what to do when your new employee is slacking off, ... Show More
35m 22s
Aug 2020
Management Material
Do you have what it takes to be a manager? Dan and Alison answer your questions with the help of Ellen Van Oosten, a professor at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. They talk through what to do when you’ve been tapped for a managerial role bu ... Show More
33m 22s
May 2024
A Better Framework for Solving Tough Problems
When it comes to solving complicated problems, the default for many organizational leaders is to take their time to work through the issues at hand. Unfortunately, that often leads to patchwork solutions or problems not truly getting resolved. But Anne Morriss offers a different ... Show More
30m 7s
Jun 2021
159: Experience Managerial Greatness with Steph Richter
<p>I’m in the process of writing my second book on what it means to be a modern manager. The process of writing this book included interviewing dozens of people about their great manager in search of themes, practices and habits from the best managers. Instead of talking to the m ... Show More
33m 53s
Oct 2021
How Do I Manage Other Managers?
He’s moving up a level to take on a new leadership role at his company. Now he’s managing other managers for the first time and realizing that it’s a big leap to go from managing individual contributors to managing other managers. Host Muriel Wilkins helps this leader understand ... Show More
38m 15s
Feb 2018
First-time Bosses
What should you do when you become the boss? Co-hosts Alison Beard and Dan McGinn answer your questions with the help of Harvard Business School professor Alison Wood Brooks, an expert on behavioral insights. They talk through what to do when your direct reports are older than yo ... Show More
36m 14s
Jun 2020
Tough Teams
Is a team you manage keeping you up at night? Dan and Alison answer your questions with the help of Melanie Parish, a leadership coach and author. They talk through what to do when you lead a rogue team that doesn’t follow company processes, your growing team of managers is clamo ... Show More
28m 59s
Mar 2020
Subversive Employees
Do you have an employee working against you? Dan and Alison answer your questions with the help of Adrian Gostick, an executive coach and author. They talk through what to do when your direct report is creating problems only to fix them, one team member is hoarding knowledge, or ... Show More
32m 38s
Apr 2020
Influencing Up
Do you feel fake when you try to manage up? Dan and Alison answer your questions with the help of Nashater Deu Solheim, a leadership consultant and author. They talk through what to do when you want choice assignments, you feel like higher-ups aren’t noticing your contributions, ... Show More
32m 56s
Nov 2021
164 Strauss Zelnick - America's Fittest CEO
<p class="p1">Leadership is tough. For that matter, just about every job today is tough; the hours, the effort, the competition, the people, the pandemic. Success today requires a certain level of mental and physical fitness. As a result, exercise is key. And while it's important ... Show More
19m 12s