Home
The Power of Public-Private Partnerships
How both sectors can collaborate to tackle global challenges.
Etiquette as a Luxury Brand-Building Tool
How the luxury and prestige industries create immersive experiences to attract and deeply connect with their clients.
The Four Mindsets of Retirement
How to smooth the transition and embrace the “third half” of life.
INSEAD Insights: March 2024 Research Picks
Recent findings on the gender gap in start-ups, conspiracy theories, stock price predictions, improving supply chain networks and more.
How Leaders Can Avoid the Hubris Trap
Overcoming the hubris syndrome requires a dose of reality, humility and humour.
Six Principles for Successful Multiparty Negotiations
What managers can learn from COP28, which resulted in nearly 200 nations endorsing a landmark climate accord.
How to Boost Health Product Supplies in Developing Regions
Are development banks and philanthropic foundations using the right incentives to encourage global life sciences companies to cater to underserved markets?
How to Spot the Next Technology Breakthrough
The three factors that can predict which B2C and B2B technologies are about to take off.
Paving the Way for NFTs
While specific use cases may warrant regulation, applying broad rules to NFTs would be akin to regulating fire or bricks.
Winning the Game of Boardroom Chess
How subtle, seemingly innocuous actions can shift the balance of power in your favour.
Your Dream Job May Not Exist, and That’s Okay
Anyone can grow passion and find fulfilment in a wide range of careers.
Will the Shifting Economic Power Balance Topple Democracy?
A view on where global democracy stands and where it’s headed in the new economic world order.
Leadership Should Be a Team Sport
Actions speak louder than titles and every voice holds the power to lead.
Key Players in the Indo-Pacific Region
Amid ongoing conflicts, shifting allegiances and incumbents jostling for influence, emerging powers such as India will play an increasingly important role in shaping Indo-Pacific relations.
Grow Your Networks With a Growth Mindset
What if changing your mindset could take the struggles out of networking?
INSEAD Insights: February 2024 Research Picks
Recent findings on time management, family business, herd behaviour, public-private collaborations and cyberloafing.
Business and Politics Should Never Mix – Or Should They?
When companies have a responsibility to speak out on politics.
Chinese Automakers’ Secret to Scaling Up Electric Vehicles
How China’s electric vehicle sector drove to the front of the pack.
Mastering Value Chain Placement for Deep Tech Venture Success
A guide to optimising your place in the chain and aligning to market power dynamics.
What Female Artists Can Do About Discrimination
Participation in residency programmes and access to elite education can enhance the opportunities available to women artists.
Bridging Prosperity and Need
A country's overall economic figures don't always speak to the difficulty of life for many people. Even Singapore needs a food bank.
When Firms Behave Irrationally
The actions of firms in low-income countries don’t always match our assumptions.
Business Case for Sustainability: The Stakeholder Perspective
If the environment were the new business stakeholder, could we still afford to ignore it?
To Use AI Tools Smartly, Think Like a Strategist
Consider how specific AI tools will impact your own skills and capabilities.
In Praise of Boredom
Monotony can ignite creativity, giving rise to new adventures and fresh beginnings.
Let’s Get Specific About Kindness in Business
Being kind in business has its limits – here’s why you shouldn’t go overboard.
Four Global Trends in Business and Society in 2024
Climate change, geopolitical crises, social instability and income and wealth inequality are threats to business – but they also pose opportunities for impact.
Boeing’s Tragedy: The Fall of an American Icon
The recent Alaska Airlines incident is just the latest in a string of sometimes tragic mishaps by the aircraft manufacturer – where did it all go wrong?
Why Some CEOs Are More Likely to Downsize
A firm’s decision on whether to downsize when facing performance shortfalls may depend on the CEO’s internal attribution tendency.
Leadership Challenges When Companies Merge
Lessons from an Indonesian telco merger success: When organisations merge, people must come together.
The World Economy in 2024: Are We Back on Track?
Professor Antonio Fatás explores the long and short-term trends shaping the global economic landscape.
Can You Bring Your Spirituality to Work?
Lessons from executives who integrated their spiritual beliefs into their leadership style.
How Leaders Can Effect Change by Changing Themselves
A four-step framework to help leaders look inwards to better lead organisational change.
The Risks and Rewards of Community-Driven Business Models
Understanding the hidden dangers of leveraging social capital in low-income communities.
INSEAD Insights: January 2024 Research Picks
Recent findings on enhancing experiences, gender wage transparency, long-term planning, networks and the dangers of flattery.
To Bundle or Not to Bundle
Bundling isn’t just a pricing tactic. It’s a strategic way of designing product offerings.
To Counter Misinformation, Strengthen Human Connection
How boosting social bonds can reduce belief in conspiracy theories and the spreading of dangerous lies.
Stop Asking Candidates for Their Last-Drawn Salary
A holistic approach does more to ensure the right fit and boost employee well-being and retention.
How To Align What You Say With What You Do
Bridging the divide between best intentions and actual behaviour.
When Information Won’t Reduce Stock Price Volatility Immediately
Where company disclosures are concerned, “the more the merrier” doesn’t always apply; complexity and timing matter too.
Three “Bad Boss” Habits to Avoid in 2024
Resist the urge to emotionally detach, control outcomes or blindly comply.
How Web3 and AI Will Transform Finance
Artificial intelligence and crypto are not only reinventing financial products and delivery, but also influencing who gets to participate.
What 2023 Taught Us: The Rules Are Always Changing
This year's top trending articles explore how we can keep pace with a world in flux.
X-Teams: Three Principles to Guide Today’s Leaders
In a VUCA world that’s gone on steroids, mere internal alignment won’t cut it.
INSEAD Insights: December 2023 Research Picks
Recent findings on consumer confidence, preventing financial runs, competitor information, regulation and gender bias in the workplace.
The Pitfalls of Giving Feedback Across Generations
Bridging generational divides may involve discomfort but can push a team towards excellence.
Effective Networking Is About Giving, Not Just Taking
Developing professional relationships starts with adding value to others’ lives.
2
comments
Why We Can Be Quicker to Judge Others Than We Think
People tend to violate the thresholds they set for evaluating others, which can have significant consequences for their reputation and relationships.
Thawing US-China Relations: Competition Meets Interdependence
What are the biggest wins from the Biden-Xi meeting on the sidelines of the APEC Forum?
Why Not Enough Women Are Senior Leaders
True parity in the workplace is still a distant goal. INSEAD faculty outline why women aren’t advancing and the role gender stereotypes play.
How Overconfidence Affects CEOs’ Investment Decisions
In uncertain climates, overconfident CEOs tend to invest less in assets that allow a firm to maintain strategic flexibility compared to non-overconfident CEOs.
Braggy Bosses Can Boost Their Teams
We love bosses who brag about their accomplishments – and loathe colleagues who do the same.
OpenAI's Crisis Is Yet Another Wake-Up Call
Effective governance can save AI doomers, accelerationists, altruists and techno-capitalists from themselves.
The Secret Ingredient For a Successful Career Change
Why some people seamlessly switch occupations while others struggle to reinvent their careers.
1
comment
AI Is Coming for All Our Jobs... Or Is It?
How leaders, employees and organisations can better prepare themselves for the impact of AI.
How Networks Actually Harm Organisations
Digital technologies create digital relationships that limit companies ability to innovate and change.
Ten Ways Boards Need to Transform
How governance must pivot in the face of accelerating change.
The Three Next-Generation Marketing Skills You Need
Companies must secure “killer marketing and sales skills” in a dynamic landscape where commercial competencies rapidly become obsolete.
INSEAD Insights: November 2023 Research Picks
Recent findings on human morality, publishing cycles, manufacturing in low-income markets, virtual assessments in acute care services and sarcasm.
Ten Ways AI Is Transforming Marketing
Firms will soon be able to decode the unsaid when interacting with consumers – in fact, some already do.
Escape the Grip of Greed and Envy
Six steps to overcome the twin terrors of greed and envy and embrace being “good enough”.
1
comment
The Pitfalls of Giving Feedback Across Genders
To best navigate gender divides, pay attention to perceived power imbalances.
1
comment
How Negative Reviews Affect Online Consumers
Negative reviews influence consumer decisions depending on the type of product, as well as the nature and placement of these reviews.
How to Handle Dominant Leaders
Is your boss acting like a guru? Take charge by asserting yourself and setting clear boundaries.
The World’s Most Talent Competitive Countries, 2023
The tenth anniversary edition of the Global Talent Competitiveness Index reveals changing attitudes and persistent trends.
Shareholder Activism at What Price?
Financially driven campaigns waged by institutional investors against companies can lead to more workplace illness and injury.
Why You’re Missing Out on the Best Ideas
Businesses and leaders influence the kinds of ideas they receive without even realising it.
Making Radical Change a Business Sustainability Imperative
Companies need to take risks if they want truly impactful results.
Why We Haven’t Fixed Gender Inequality at Work
Research by Claudia Goldin, the 2023 Nobel Prize winner in Economics, offers ground-breaking insights about a long-standing problem.
How Anti-Discriminatory Measures Can Worsen AI Bias
Removing gender-related data from machine-learning models may paradoxically harm women instead of protecting them.
INSEAD Insights: October 2023 Research Picks
Recent findings on bias in employee evaluations, shareholder activism, children’s mental health, the meaning of work and knowledge weighting.
How Does Self-Serving Attribution Affect Strategic Decisions?
How a firm evaluates its past alliance performance can influence its choice between future alliances and acquisitions.
China: Caught in the Middle-Income Trap?
What would it take for China to get back on its growth trajectory?
2
comments
How to Handle Foolish People
Exploring the roots of stupidity and strategies to combat the ignorance of others.
1
comment
Making Stress Work for Organisations
Moderate stress boosts performance. But can companies determine “optimal" stress levels for their employees?
1
comment
Giving Feedback Across Cultures
A direct approach that’s welcomed at home can be easily misinterpreted as aggressive elsewhere.
The Positive Effect of Multiple Narrating Voices
Using two or more narrators in ads can increase consumer attention and boost persuasion.
How Leadership Shapes Sustainability Governance
Amid regulatory and societal pressures to meet sustainability standards, strong personal leadership in the boardroom is needed to ensure competitive advantage and corporate longevity.
Are Multiple Job Interview Rounds Really Necessary?
How companies can simplify the process without compromising their evaluation of candidates.
A Simple Corporate Strategy for a Better Political Game
Even within the same government, different branches may have divergent goals. Here’s how firms can play this to their advantage.
Strategies for Building and Boosting Psychological Safety
INSEAD research highlights practical approaches to integrate psychological safety into team dynamics.
A Smarter Way to Design Business Strategies to Serve the Poor
With intelligent modelling, a little data can go a long way when it comes to predicting the performance of bottom-of-the-pyramid strategies.
How to Destigmatise Repulsive Products
Entrepreneurs can leverage “dirty creativity” to pitch unusual products that consumers may find objectionable.
ESG Is Not Impact
ESG efforts are essential for reducing harm, but it is not the same as striving for a net positive impact.
Disaster Response: Finding Order in Turmoil
When disaster strikes, governments are faced with difficult, urgent decisions – but preparedness can make a difference.
The Making of Start-Up Ecosystems
Strategies to nurture thriving hubs for new ventures.
Too Many Meetings, Too Little Time (to Work)
What if there was a better way to schedule meetings for team coordination?
Solving the Problem of Remote Work
A framework to help leaders approach the topic more holistically and effectively.
Is the Globalisation Recession Here to Stay?
Potential pathways to a new chapter for globalisation in an increasingly disconnected world.
A First Step Towards Resilient Organisations
Cultivating resilience in the face of organisational crises hinges on the foundation of a clear strategy, heightened awareness and robust reserves.
How Sporting Events Can Score Big on Sustainability
The Rugby World Cup and other global tournaments can set the stage for both sporting excellence and sustainability.
INSEAD Insights: September 2023 Research Picks
Recent findings on online marketplace dynamics, new market creation, trust in AI, diversity in corporate boards and consumer choices.
It's the Journey, Not the Destination
Including information about your career journey can help convey warmth in written professional introductions.
Pay Attention to the Details
Focusing on the right information can pay dividends for any investor.
The Power of Distinct Owners as Value Catalysts
Uncovering the unique elements owners need to achieve business success and resilience.
A Nondisruptive Approach to the Environment
Companies can help the transition to a greener economy without sacrificing their financial interests.
Deflation Woes: Can China Avoid Japanification?
What the world’s second-largest economy could do to stop its spiral into economic stagnation.
1
comment
How Tech Transforms Luxury Brands’ Value Proposition
Luxury brands are increasingly leveraging technology to reduce uncertainty and enrich experience throughout the customer journey.
Covid-19 Furloughs Helped Firms Thrive
Even keeping low-wage workers on the payroll yielded benefits after Covid-19 restrictions ended.
How Luxury Consumers Can Seem More Authentic
Consumers can mitigate the negative social consequences of wearing luxury items by publicly revealing their passion for the products or brands.
1
comment
Mastering the Game: The Advantage of AI Training
In the same way chess computers gave players a competitive edge, AI has the power to elevate skills and enhance performance.
Managing Systemic Risks in Tech: Lessons from Finance
The financial sector's track record in risk management offers invaluable lessons for the tech industry.
Frameworks and Focus Are Essential for Change
The crucial role business schools must play in building a better world.
How Founding Conditions Impact Start-Up Success
Diverse founding teams formed in unpredictable environments tend to perform better in similar subsequent conditions.
Inside the Black Box Crucial to Megaproject Success
Despite their importance to the global economy, most megaprojects fail to be delivered on budget or schedule. Here’s how managers could improve on that dismal record.
Unravelling the Link Between Socioeconomic Status and Obesity
A longitudinal study conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic suggests that stress plays a key role in explaining why obesity is more common among the poor than the rich.
1
comment
Pursuing Purpose After Early Retirement
Individuals who achieve financial independence seek greater purpose and meaningful work to enrich their lives.
Why Has the Humanitarian Sector Been Slow to Localise?
Despite a collective strategic intent to localise, progress has been slower than expected.
Is Transshipment More Cost-Effective Than Hubs?
Drones, self-driving vehicles and other technologies have made shipping stock between locations a viable alternative to obtaining them from a centralised facility.
Letting Go of the Urge to Rescue
Exploring the motivations behind our need to help others and embracing a balanced approach to offering assistance.
How LLMs Can Change the Way We Strategise
LLMs have notable limitations when it comes to strategy formulation, but deliberately imperfect prompts can challenge conventional thinking.
What Businesses Can Learn From Humanitarian Operations
Navigating uncertain and dynamic environments and overcoming resource and information scarcity are nothing new to humanitarian organisations.
Democracy, Defence and Conflict in the Age of AI
How can we ensure that AI fosters, rather than undermines, democratic values?
Must AI Accuracy Come at the Cost of Comprehensibility?
Companies looking to integrate AI in their operations should think twice before turning their backs on simpler, more explainable AI algorithms in favour of complex ones.
1
comment
Stop Going It Alone
Negotiating radical organisational change needs to be a collective effort.
1
comment
Better Geographic Investing Begins With an Inclusive Index
A novel stock return index can help portfolio managers make more informed investment decisions and better manage risks.
Customer Engagement in a Circular Economy
Embracing circular business models unlocks opportunities for companies to engage with customers, optimise resource utilisation and ensure a sustainable future.
The Importance of Strategic Minds
Directors and CEOs need to develop specific traits to effectively navigate strategic issues and help shape the future of companies.
1
comment
Navigating Trust and Safety in the World of Generative AI
The new generation of artificial intelligence can help defend against online harms – if we can effectively manage the risks.
How AI Can Improve Human Performance
AI training enhances strategic skills, especially in lower-skilled individuals. But it isn’t a perfect substitute for human training partners.
Why Demographics Matters More Than Ever for Businesses
How understanding expanding and shrinking population subsets could help business and investors identify opportunities to pursue and pitfalls to avoid.
The Psychological Strategies of Influencers
Understanding the psychology behind why influencer marketing works.
1
comment
ChatGPT and AI Disruption: Is Consulting Next in Line?
Consultants need to up their game to match algorithms’ ability to provide affordable strategic due diligence.
US-China Ties: Damage Controlled But Obstacles Ahead
Even before the top US diplomat headed to China this week, talk of a new Cold War was unhelpful. Still, Washington and Beijing have their work cut out steering their relationship back on course.
Beliefs and Emotions Shape Our Sustainability Journey
How exploring our beliefs, emotions and identities can guide us and others towards a more sustainable future.
A Holistic Approach to Navigating the New Workplace
How to foster a thriving and sustainable workplace culture to contend with the realities of the new office.
The Road Ahead for XR Technology in Business Education
How business schools can navigate the challenges and maximise the impact of immersive learning using VR.
Business Not as Usual: Companies Stepping Up in Crisis
In times of humanitarian disasters, the private sector must step up. Businesses can hardly be functional when society comes to a halt.
1
comment
Leveraging Generative AI for Digital Transformation
Opportunities and risks for companies incorporating generative AI as part of their digital transformation strategies.
Governance in the Age of Technological Innovation
With new technologies redefining the global business ecosystem, how can boards navigate these changes and reinvent their business models?
From Super-Sized to Superior Gratification
Why we need to focus on eating as pleasure if we want to start eating healthier.
Thoughtful Consumption for Well-Being and Sustainability
Understanding consumer behaviour is key to making fashion more sustainable.
Five Key Insights for Positive-Sum Innovation
With the right tools, businesses can innovate and achieve growth without negatively impacting society.
Reinventing Yourself After a Setback
How to survive a significant career defeat and rebuild your professional and personal life.
4
comments
Super Apps in Asia, “Everything App” in the US?
All-in-one apps that dominate China and other Asian markets may soon materialise in the United States, albeit with significant variations.
Scaling Innovation in Genetics and Precision Medicine
How biotech start-ups can identify and solidify their customer base, scale their operations and unlock the full potential of precision medicine.
What All Tech Start-Ups Need to Succeed
Governance exists to help tech entrepreneurs prevent value destruction from day one.
When Shareholders Share, the Business Benefits
Offering company ownership to every employee can help reduce inequality.
A Flexi-Work World Needs New Performance Appraisals
Adopting the right metrics could help align objectives and encourage more companies to embrace flexible work arrangements.
Recognising Possibility in Uncertainty
If we frame uncertainty in a different way, we might embrace the possibility it brings instead of fearing it.
Retirement and Beyond: The Last Days of Executives
How to plan for the end of the professional life and a smooth transition to retirement.
The Future of Energy Transition and Climate Finance
What more can companies and investors do to facilitate the transition to cleaner energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
Planning Matters: Coordination in Humanitarian Relief
In disaster response, humanitarian operations take place under high levels of stress and time pressure. There is no room for bureaucracy and ambiguity.
How Women Leaders Benefit From Using Humour
New research suggests that being funny helps leaders gain influence, and that women benefit more than men from using humour in public speaking.
1
comment
Breaking the Cycle of Self-Sabotage
A roadmap for identifying and overcoming the self-defeating habits that hold you back.
1
comment
An Alternative Path to Innovation and Growth
How leaders can innovate and achieve growth without displacing industries, companies or jobs.
Intellectual Honesty Is Critical for Innovation
Here’s how to balance psychological safety and intellectual honesty for better team performance.
Without Shared Values and Goals, Tech Regulations Won't Work
The world needs to harmonise goals and values in order to rein in the potential harm technology can cause.
Can Companies Thrive in Permanent Beta?
When digital service providers come under pressure to put new and innovative services in the market fast, how does it affect the way companies measure service performance?
ChatGPT vs. Hybrids: The Future Depends on Our Choices
Imposing the equivalent of a worldwide moratorium on generative artificial intelligence is absurd. But developers might want to pause and reflect on what they hope to achieve before releasing AI applications to the public.
Why Career Conversations Matter
Meaningful discussions between managers and employees build stronger individuals and organisations.
How Will ChatGPT Shape Business, Society and Employment?
Will next-generation AI systems such as ChatGPT deliver the productivity boost modern economies need – and are we ready for it?
The Power of Governance for Tech Start-Up Success
Lessons from a serial entrepreneur on why good governance is crucial for tech start-ups to succeed.
How Corporate Thought Leadership Drives Business Success
What makes an organisation an opinion leader and how it affects business revenue.
1
comment
How to Effectively Engage Stakeholders
Strategies for identifying key players, managing stakeholder networks and creating joint value.
Joint Strategic Decisions: Do We All Need to Agree?
How organisations’ decision-making rules affect the way individual managers vote.
What Comes After the Fall of Silicon Valley Bank?
The bank’s collapse could have significant implications for monetary policy and banking regulations.
The Social Costs of Not Sharing Fake News
Not engaging with fake news online has its social costs; individuals are therefore forced to choose between spreading misinformation and social exclusion.
The Costs of Fuelling Economic Growth
A study of ten large global economies shows that exergy – not human labour – is the primary driver of GDP growth. Existing production models cannot explain growth.
Humanitarian Versus For-Profit Operations: When Lines Blur
What are the repercussions when humanitarian organisations adopt a commercial structure?
Why the World Needs Ambidextrous Leaders
What the launch of ChatGPT can teach executives about leading in disruptive times.
How Large Mergers Can Benefit Smaller Players
Joint ventures between dominant incumbents can create opportunities for smaller firms to enter the market and capture market share.
Why Did Silicon Valley Bank Collapse?
Risky investments and a lack of regulatory oversight contributed to the failure of Silicon Valley Bank.
1
comment
We Need to Talk About the Carbon Budget
With the release of the IPCC’s latest report confirming that the world is alarmingly far from achieving global climate goals, governments must set mandatory emissions targets for the private sector, establish a robust global carbon market, and distribute the global carbon budget and emissions rights fairly.
Bringing DEI into the Core of Our Institutions
Implementing DEI concepts effectively in business-school classrooms requires support from both institutions and the wider community.
For MNCs, Big Decisions About China Are on Ice
Western multinationals have put important moves on hold amid political and economic uncertainty.
How to Rapidly Test New Organisation Designs
Instead of blindly adopting industry best practice, companies can use gamified randomised control trials to pilot new organisation designs.
Circularity in Practice: Case of a Zero-Waste Island
Implementing sustainable solutions has everything to do with influencing behaviour, as shown in the Just Go Zero project on the Greek island of Tilos.
How Conspiracy Talk Helps People Make Sense of the World
Sharing Covid-19 conspiracy theories on online social networks helped individuals cope with fear and uncertainty during the pandemic.
Transcending the Victim Mentality
How to overcome feeling like a victim and create a positive, hopeful attitude to life.
Will ESG Investing Solve Our Pressing Problems?
ESG or sustainable investing suffers from a principal-agent problem. Far more impact will be achieved when business leaders incorporate sustainability into business decisions.
It Doesn't Have to Be Lonely at the Top
Tips for leaders to gain valuable, actionable and informed feedback from their peers.
What Machine Learning Tells Us About Gender Stereotypes
Machine-learning models offer insights into how putting women in leadership positions affects gender stereotypes in the workplace.
Five Ways to Optimise Your Subscription Model
With more global distributors launching subscription models, retailers and consumer-packaged goods manufacturers must level up their offerings to stand out from the crowd.
Transformative Change Starts With Responsible Research
Responsible research can help businesses and leaders gain a competitive and sustainable edge in today’s volatile markets.
The World Economy in 2023: A Recession Year?
How current market and economic conditions will shape the year ahead.
Local Innovation as a Driver of Global Development
To achieve critical development goals, we need to champion local, innovative solutions to social problems.
Nonstop Flights Can Foster Global Firm Innovation
Nonstop flights can be a vital facilitator of innovation between international companies and their subsidiaries.
How Organisation Design Can Rescue the SDGs
We're not on track to meet any SDGs by 2030. Organisation designers can help.
4
comments
Demystifying China’s Internet Giants
A behind-the-scenes look at what makes or breaks China’s Big Tech flagbearers and their foreign exploits.
What’s Behind the Tech Layoffs?
INSEAD faculty on the state of the labour market and what’s to come for firms and employees.
How (Not) to Respond to a Humanitarian Crisis
Recognising post-disaster realities can enable individuals, media and organisations to help the Turkey-Syria earthquake victims more effectively.
Why Managers are Kinder to Women in Workplace Reviews
Employers are nicer to women because of the stereotype that women are “warmer”. Here’s why that’s a problem.
Cutting Through the Metaverse Hype
The barriers to mainstream metaverse adoption and the key opportunities and challenges it presents.
China is Back: What Its Reopening Means for the World
What the world economy, businesses and investors could expect from China’s return to the fray.
1
comment
How Slow-Motion Video Ads Make Products More Luxurious
Slowing down the speed of video ads can boost consumers' desires for the featured product or brand.
The Impact of Investor Gender on Female Founders
Female-led start-ups backed only by female venture capitalists have a harder time raising follow-on capital.
China’s Internet Giants: The Nuts and Bolts of Going Global
The lowdown on how ByteDance, Shein and Xiaomi succeeded outside of China while WeChat failed.
Can the Grammys’ Best New Artist Curse Be Undone?
Groups can stay creative and successful over time – if they don’t chase further acclaim.
ChatGPT and the Future of Business Education
How ChatGPT can help – and hinder – research and learning at business schools.
How Storytelling Makes You a Better Leader
Purposeful storytelling isn’t show business, it’s good business.
1
comment
Five Global Trends in Business and Society in 2023
INSEAD faculty weigh in on the greatest threats and opportunities for the year ahead.
Solving Grand Societal Challenges Through Creative Organisation Design
Combining for-profit entrepreneurship with a non-profit social mission through novel organisation design can achieve scale and impact.
Why Hierarchies in Organisations Aren’t All Bad
Hierarchical structures can be useful even for teams that need to be agile.
2
comments
Leading Change in Turbulence: Case of Discovery Inc.
In this video, Marinella Soldi shares ways to navigate the turbulent waters of digital transformation and why it is important to tackle both the strategic and cultural facets of change.
Only Fools Rush In: Pitfalls of Hasty Problem-Solving
Research into mindless maths reveals why it’s crucial to take your time when approaching a problem.
1
comment
How to Work Out What Your Employees Really Want
A holistic approach to understanding employees’ needs.
Three Key Global Strategy Challenges Companies Face
Multinationals are adapting and redesigning their global strategies in response to mounting pressures.
When Feeling Good Feels Morally Wrong
After witnessing human suffering, people believe it is more appropriate to prolong negative emotions than repair their mood.
When Two Isn’t Always Better Than One
Receiving outsized credit can encourage individuals to work together even when it results in lower-quality output.
Putting a Price on Private Data
People value their private data higher in cash than in digital goods or services.
2
comments
Healthy Eating Interventions That Work
Mutually beneficial solutions for the food industry, health and the environment.
A Career in the Family Business: Duty or Choice?
Would-be joiners of family businesses can have their cake and eat it – if they get the ingredients right.
In Times of Chaos, Know Yourself
Self-aware leaders see the beauty in chaos and look within to find meaningful solutions.
Twitter's Remarkable Mission in a Divided World
Good governance is key to ensure that exceptional people, organisations and countries realise their full potential.
Our Best of 2022: Making Sense of an Uncertain World
This year’s trending articles offer insights ranging from how to work and manage better to what the economy might hold in 2023.
Confronting Climate Change in Africa
Experts discuss how the climate emergency is impacting Africa – and how leaders across the continent are taking action to mitigate it.
2
comments
How to Break Free From Herd Mentality
Nurturing independent thought can help us overcome dangerous sheeple behaviour and groupthink.
1
comment
In the US, Owning a Home May Not Lead to a Better Life
Policies meant to help lower-income Americans purchase homes may be perpetuating the Black-white wealth gap.
After the Guns Fall Silent, What Then?
Would an end of Russia's invasion of Ukraine result in lasting peace for the region?
1
comment
Managing in an Unimaginable World
Business leaders can leverage serendipity to help their companies deal with far-reaching market shocks.
The Problem With Being Too Easy-going
Failure to express your preferences in everyday situations can make you seem less likeable and even slightly less human.
How Biotech Firms Can Improve Cross-Functional Collaboration
Optimising the R&D-to-commercialisation handover process is crucial for the survival of young biotech companies.
After the Fall, What’s Next for Crypto?
Amid the collapse of crypto exchange FTX, Lily Fang, Antonio Fatás, Peter Zemsky and Jason P. Davis unpack why it happened and where crypto could go from here.
3
comments
Collaborations That Are Bad for Business but Benefit Employees
Sharing a partner with competing companies hinders the success of firms but helps employees’ careers.
Stakeholder Perspectives on Right-to-Repair Laws
Laws to protect consumers and the environment could be a game-changer for businesses and prompt change in business models.
Creating Your Blue Ocean Through Noncustomer Analysis
Adopting a blue ocean perspective can allow you to reach beyond your existing industry’s customers.
Can AI Help You Strategise Better?
Machine learning algorithms can uncover intricate patterns in big data and enable managers to strategise with more confidence.
Do Unconventional Offices Promote Creativity?
It is widely assumed that unconventionally-designed offices stimulate creativity. But that isn’t always the case – sometimes they may even impede innovation.
1
comment
The Future of Food: New Tech to Save the World
Could innovative, tech-driven solutions be key to fixing our broken food systems?
Live Abroad to Excel in the Language of Leadership
Leaders with broad multicultural experiences are better communicators and lead more effectively, particularly in multinational teams.
How Much Control Do You Really Have Over Your Career?
Chance events may have a greater impact on career trajectories than we think.
Crypto 3.0 Will Be More Human
At a recent INSEAD event, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin revealed technologies to manage online identities, preserve privacy and ensure the responsible use of AI.
1
comment
Should Companies Allow Returns of Customised Goods?
Allowing customers to return customised products can be a win-win for both consumers and business.
2
comments
How to Change Someone’s Mind
Powerful storytelling can awaken curiosity and challenge people to shift their outlook.
1
comment
Why It Pays to Be Sceptical About Behaviour Tests
Using such techniques to assess individual personality traits such as rationality might overstate their potential.
The Really Simple Steps to Creating an Innovation Engine
All companies need to do is give employees permission to generate ideas and nudge them in the right direction – then get out of the way, said Ben Bensaou in a Thinkers50 webinar.
GHG Emissions Reduction: Scientific Rigour and Stakeholder Engagement
How a step-by-step approach to sustainability helped INSEAD ensure meaningful results.
1
comment
The World’s Most Talent Competitive Countries, 2022
Mounting talent inequalities could become a significant roadblock to reaching key targets of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Navigating the New World of Work
Firms need to focus on building an inclusive environment and a culture of trust to overcome the challenges of remote or hybrid work.
The Importance of Soft Skills in Driving Productivity
The economy of the future requires a workforce with strong soft skills. Investing in these crucial skills can result in increased productivity.
The Road Ahead for Venture Capital
In this Thinkers50 webinar, Claudia Zeisberger provides insights into the state of the venture world in today’s climate of unprecedented uncertainty.
China’s Economy: Dragon in Turbulence
Anaemic growth and a crippling economic war with the United States weigh on Xi Jinping even as he cements his position as China’s most powerful leader since Mao.
How to Get More Value from Less Food
Marketing focused on the multisensory properties of food can encourage people to eat less and experience more pleasure.
The Power of Networking in the New Economy
In today’s gig economy, fleeting ties can be valuable to the career of the gig worker.
Can Fintech Be a Force for Good?
In this Thinkers50 webinar, Lily Fang discusses how the meeting of finance and technology could unleash a transformative force towards more inclusive financial services.
A World at War With Putin’s Regime
To defend democracy, the civilised world needs to stand with Ukraine in securing victory and continue to engage and pressure Russia to reform itself.
Americans Underestimate the Impact of Voter Suppression
Voting suppression is on the rise, but many Americans fail to anticipate the harm of seemingly minor voting restrictions.
4
comments
A Perfect (Macroeconomic) Storm
The outlook for the world economy next year doesn’t inspire optimism.
Responsible AI Has Become Critical for Business
Investors need to prioritise the ethical deployment of AI – too much is at stake if they don’t.
Rising to the ESG Challenge: Towards Effective Governance
Boards can drive the ESG agenda effectively by identifying what is material to their organisation and being willing to adapt along the way.
How to Design for Disruption
Why a structured approach can turn a volatile world into a growth opportunity.
Speed Kills: Why Some MNCs Fail to Pay Attention to Quality
When managers are too fixated on quick financial results, ethics and service tend to take a backseat.
Embracing Diversity With a Growth Mindset
Getting along with others is about more than just having things in common.
Why Communication Breaks Down
As workplaces become more diverse and work becomes more distributed, it is more important than ever to converge on a common code for effective communication.
The Hidden Power of Workers From Humble Backgrounds
Businesses need to do more to level the playing field for socioeconomically disadvantaged workers.
2
comments
Banning Payment for Order Flow May Benefit No One
Increased regulations could result in reduced market liquidity and a negative impact on retail traders.
Why The World is Attracted to Neo-Authoritarian Leaders
Leaders like Donald Trump do not rise in a vacuum. But what draws people to authoritarian rulers?
1
comment
The Pandemic Has Dealt a Blow to Gender Balance
Here’s what business leaders can do about it.
Affordable Homes for the Poor Can Boost Collective Well-Being
For all their much-studied drawbacks, affordable housing policies can be a net positive for the aggregate welfare of city dwellers.
Thinkers50: The Upside of Uncertainty
In this Thinkers50 webinar, Nathan Furr and Susannah Harmon Furr share practical tools for navigating life’s ambiguities.
Will China’s Internet Giants Conquer the World?
Dissecting the success and strategies of Chinese internet firms as more of them venture overseas.
Countering Climate Change With “Greener” Economics
Truly understanding the fundamental role of energy in the economy is key to a more sustainable future.
2
comments
The Coming of Age of Humanitarian Logistics
We are closer than ever to a holistic supply chain management approach now that the humanitarian sector has recognised the importance of logistics.
NFTs as a Force for Good: The Savvy Salamanders
How a group of MBA students built a community of crypto pioneers and a unique approach to fundraising.
How to Show Compassion Without Compromising on Performance
Many leaders think they have to choose between delivering results and supporting employees’ needs. They don’t – but doing both sustainably requires careful navigation.
Casting a Wider Net in OTC Trading: For Better or Worse?
Simultaneous multilateral search for quotes may not always lead to the best deal in over-the-counter trading for dealers and the market.
A China Blockade of Taiwan Will Hurt Us All
The global economy will bear the consequences of an all-out economic war between the United States and China should the latter try to shut off Taiwan.
Biden’s Misguided Tax on Share Buybacks
The Biden administration’s ideological distaste for companies purchasing their own stock may do more harm than good.
2
comments
Could Living Near the Office Make You a Better CEO?
Besides enjoying a shorter commute, living close to the office may allow CEOs to boost ties with employees and the firm’s bottom line.
Ten Steps Towards a More Fulfilling Life
The journey towards a more fulfilling existence starts within you.
Four Elements of Successful Stakeholder Communication
Firms can enhance cooperation and reduce conflict by understanding the different dimensions of stakeholder dialogue.
What Religion Teaches Us About Great Leadership
What can guiding figures and best practices in Judaism, Islam and Catholicism tell us about leadership?
1
comment
The Special Bond Behind Every Brilliant Idea
The way we view ourselves shapes the way we develop and connect with our own ideas.
Online Feedback Requests Are Effective, Even if Ignored
Requesting feedback from online users can influence their behaviour, even when the requests go unanswered.
In Age of Deglobalisation, MNCs Need Closer Ties to Thrive
Cultivating relationships with local communities and other stakeholders will help multinationals counterbalance increasingly powerful governments.
Better Human-AI Collaboration May Depend on Workflow Design
Improving how humans work with algorithms could simply be a matter of redesigning workflow.
Corporate VC Is Booming, but Is It What Your Start-Up Needs?
A guide to choosing the right corporate investment for entrepreneurs.
Bob Ayres at 90: Key Insights on Energy in the Economy
Groundbreaking observations on the fundamental role energy and materials play in the economy.
6
comments
Paradox Mindset: The Source of Remarkable Creativity in Teams
Teams are more successful if they embrace internal differences and explore conflicting ideas instead of glossing over them.
A “Human” Understanding of the World Through AI
Information search could be made less biased and more holistic through the lens of empathy.
Making Sense of Attribution in Online Advertising
While online advertising has grown rapidly, methods to justify marketing spend on digital platforms have yet to catch up.
1
comment
How to Shoot for the Holy Grail of Social Media Marketing
Quality, consistent and simple messaging is what will bring in sales. The rest is just noise.
2
comments
Can We Get Better at Navigating Uncertainty?
What innovators have learnt that empowers them to face the uncertainty of new pursuits.
The X Factor in Crafting New CXO Roles Successfully
CXO roles have proliferated in recent decades, making it difficult for some title holders to find their footing in an ever-changing C-suite landscape.
Healthy in the Wrong Way: When Food Marketers Don’t Listen
The meaning of “healthy” is constantly evolving, and food marketers are not always meeting consumers’ expectations.
The Importance of Gatekeepers in Impacting Real Change
How a social movement and an influential magazine successfully challenged the morally problematic use of fur in fashion.
Why Leaders Won’t Stop Waging Wars
War brings out the worst in people and destroys the very foundations of humanity.
How to Find Fulfilment by Taking a Step Down
Three stories of professionals who bucked the trend and found greater meaning in their work life.
1
comment
Empowering Public Health Leaders in Africa
A unique programme to foster leadership and supply chain skills through public-private capacity-building efforts.
Consumer Streaks Are Motivating – The Key Is Keeping Them Alive
People often go out of their way to repeat a behaviour if it is logged and highlighted to them.
1
comment
Finding Meaning in Life
Create a compelling self-narrative based on the five pillars that influence the way we experience meaning.
1
comment
Too Many ESG Funds Mislead Investors
Regulatory reckoning with ESG funds does not go far enough.
Building Momentum in the Energy Transition: Key Insights from Davos and Beyond
If the nascent energy transformation is to take off, business and government must work together to promote circular systems.
Organising in the Metaverse: Five FAQs for Managers
An explainer on how social interaction in all its forms might take place in the virtual universe.
1
comment
Making Humanitarian Operations More Sustainable
Do good intentions always lead to good outcomes? Experience shows that the lack of coordinated response can lead to future humanitarian and sustainability challenges.
Why the Customer Isn’t Always Right
Consumer behaviour on food-logging tools reveals initial expectations don’t match actual experience.
What Good Could Come After Financial Success?
All of society would benefit if successful entrepreneurs used their skills to promote positive social change.
1
comment
Mind the Inventory Risk: Price Paradox Under Competition
In competitive environments, operational innovation could well be the answer to inventory risk.
What the World Can Learn From Nordic Boards
Proactive, engaged and democratic, corporate boards in Nordic countries are well-placed to deal with today’s increasingly complex operating environments.
Are Our Supply Chains Ready for the Next Global Health Crisis?
We need resilient healthcare supply chains to prepare for the next global health emergency. Here’s how to do it.
Has Hybridity Killed Teamwork?
The time has come to check whether the benefits of teamwork still outweigh the costs.
Unlock the Full Value of Your Business Relationships
A fruitful relationship starts with asking the right – and sometimes difficult – questions.
The Rising Importance of Value Innovation for Creating New Growth
With limited resources at hand, companies need to stay smart and efficient when it comes to investing in innovation.
Overcoming Competitive Pressures: “Making” vs. “Milking”
A fresh take on the classic theme of generic business strategies.
1
comment
Not All Heroes Wear Capes. They May Just Have More Willpower
We instinctively see people with stronger self-control as more virtuous and more capable of realising good intentions.
Burnout Won’t Prevent Itself
While people make sure to charge their phones, they don’t always take the time to recharge themselves.
What It Means to Lead in a Multipolar World
By overcoming our fears and creating a brave space for dialogue, we can relate and lead better in the new multipolar world.
2
comments
Don’t Kill Share Buybacks
New proposed restrictions on companies buying back their own stock would likely backfire.
1
comment
The Pitfalls of Flaunting Your Social Status
Ditch the luxury logos if you want to be seen as a cooperative team player.
1
comment
Psychological Safety Unlocks the Potential of Diverse Teams
The dissimilar backgrounds of diverse team members often result in clashes unless care is taken to create a psychologically safe environment.
2
comments
How Can Managers Use AI to Find the Right People?
Eight recommendations to help firms win the war for talent.
3
comments
Stop Labelling Negotiations as Win-Win or Win-Lose
Too many people have an either naïve or fatalist view of these terms, which have become so misunderstood that we should perhaps even discard them.
Unfinished Business: Co-Creating Solutions With Beneficiaries
Under severe budget constraints, how can NPOs manage the trade-offs between offering variety versus serving more beneficiaries?
The Problem When Bankers Marry Social Workers
When you and your romantic partner disagree about the meaning of work, it reduces your odds of quickly landing a job should you find yourself unemployed.
Preserving the Multiplicity of Voices in French Fine Wines
An INSEAD conference for family-owned French wine estates reveals important lessons for the continuity of excellence in other sectors.
1
comment
Taming Your Inner Critic
Eight concrete ways to lead a more contented life.
Climate Change Gets Up Close and Personal for Board Members
Shell’s directors are the first to face legal action for mismanaging climate risk. Two new INSEAD reports offer advice to board members seeking to avoid the same fate.
How Family-Work Conflict Keeps Us Glued to Our Mobile Phones
Torn between family obligations and work, many people can’t resist working on their phones after hours, creating a downward spiral for their well-being and home life.
Biodiversity: Why Should Business Care?
Unlike the climate crisis, biodiversity loss is just starting to get the attention it deserves.
Creating People-Centric International Organisations With AI
The United Nations is both a fascinating playground for artificial intelligence applications and a showcase of AI implementation problems and solutions.
ENGIE: Powering the Energy Transition With Data
What does it take for a utility company to develop a data- and AI-driven software business?
1
comment
Designing a Circular Business Strategy That Works
To avoid costly mistakes due to overly optimistic assumptions, a good understanding of the market and the product is needed.
Sales Numbers Are Up? It May Only Be Inflation
Managers need proper information systems to decipher the real causes of any bump in sales revenue and decide whether investments are required.
When Two Leaders Collide, the Result Can Be Less Fraud
When the head of a family firm ranks lower in the family hierarchy than another leader at that firm, the misalignment can help prevent fraud in the emerging market context.
Putting Covid-19 Testing to the Test
The pandemic has underscored the chronically poor testing capacity and calls for diagnostics strategies at the national level.
Rethinking the Role of Leaders in the Creative Process
A strong vision and a more disciplined approach can actually equal more creative results.
1
comment
Want to Help Ukrainian Refugees? Don't Send Random Stuff
An open letter urging well-intentioned donors to think twice before inadvertently doing more harm than good.
5
comments
Venture Capital Crucial to Push for ‘Ethical’ AI and Tech Standards
Venture capitalists’ role as funding source and mentor of tech start-ups makes them uniquely placed to press for more responsible use of technology.
Escaping the Survival Trap
Why expanding your network is crucial for long-term creative success.
The Start-Up Blind Spot That Trips New Ventures
Having a great business plan is not enough. Start-ups also need good organisation design.
Business Schools Can Help ‘Break the Bias’ for Women
Institutions like INSEAD are uniquely equipped to address systemic biases.
How Conversations About Work Affect Closeness
'The 36 Questions That Lead to Love’ can teach us something about fostering connectedness and trust in the organisation.
Russia’s War on Ukraine: First Lessons and Outlook
Russia loses big, China gains, and win-lose becomes a new normal.
18
comments
‘Tech for Good’ Needs a ‘Good Tech’ Approach
Responsible practices using tested processes must be the focus when creating new technology.
A Foot in the Door: Strategies to Connect With Investors
Even modestly connected entrepreneurs are six times more likely to succeed in accessing early-stage investors – if they push the right buttons.
Into the Mind of White-Collar Criminals
What society and business schools can do to stop corporate crimes.
Gratitude Is More Powerful Than You Think
Regular appreciation and thanks from service users can make a huge difference in the lives of burnt out essential workers.
Senior Leaders As Chief Reframing Officers
The important role of leaders in giving their employees the space and permission to get creative.
1
comment
ESG in the Air
How the airline industry is riding a transformation to sustainability.
Where a Firm’s Value Truly Lies
A new approach to uncovering the sum of all the parts of a modern firm.
INSEAD Insights: March 2024 Research Picks
Recent findings on the gender gap in start-ups, conspiracy theories, stock price predictions, improving supply chain networks and more.
How Leaders Can Avoid the Hubris Trap
Overcoming the hubris syndrome requires a dose of reality, humility and humour.
Winning the Game of Boardroom Chess
How subtle, seemingly innocuous actions can shift the balance of power in your favour.
Leadership Should Be a Team Sport
Actions speak louder than titles and every voice holds the power to lead.
INSEAD Insights: February 2024 Research Picks
Recent findings on time management, family business, herd behaviour, public-private collaborations and cyberloafing.
Business and Politics Should Never Mix – Or Should They?
When companies have a responsibility to speak out on politics.
In Praise of Boredom
Monotony can ignite creativity, giving rise to new adventures and fresh beginnings.
Let’s Get Specific About Kindness in Business
Being kind in business has its limits – here’s why you shouldn’t go overboard.
Why Some CEOs Are More Likely to Downsize
A firm’s decision on whether to downsize when facing performance shortfalls may depend on the CEO’s internal attribution tendency.
Leadership Challenges When Companies Merge
Lessons from an Indonesian telco merger success: When organisations merge, people must come together.
Can You Bring Your Spirituality to Work?
Lessons from executives who integrated their spiritual beliefs into their leadership style.
How Leaders Can Effect Change by Changing Themselves
A four-step framework to help leaders look inwards to better lead organisational change.
INSEAD Insights: January 2024 Research Picks
Recent findings on enhancing experiences, gender wage transparency, long-term planning, networks and the dangers of flattery.
Stop Asking Candidates for Their Last-Drawn Salary
A holistic approach does more to ensure the right fit and boost employee well-being and retention.
How To Align What You Say With What You Do
Bridging the divide between best intentions and actual behaviour.
Three “Bad Boss” Habits to Avoid in 2024
Resist the urge to emotionally detach, control outcomes or blindly comply.
What 2023 Taught Us: The Rules Are Always Changing
This year's top trending articles explore how we can keep pace with a world in flux.
X-Teams: Three Principles to Guide Today’s Leaders
In a VUCA world that’s gone on steroids, mere internal alignment won’t cut it.
INSEAD Insights: December 2023 Research Picks
Recent findings on consumer confidence, preventing financial runs, competitor information, regulation and gender bias in the workplace.
Why We Can Be Quicker to Judge Others Than We Think
People tend to violate the thresholds they set for evaluating others, which can have significant consequences for their reputation and relationships.
Why Not Enough Women Are Senior Leaders
True parity in the workplace is still a distant goal. INSEAD faculty outline why women aren’t advancing and the role gender stereotypes play.
How Overconfidence Affects CEOs’ Investment Decisions
In uncertain climates, overconfident CEOs tend to invest less in assets that allow a firm to maintain strategic flexibility compared to non-overconfident CEOs.
Braggy Bosses Can Boost Their Teams
We love bosses who brag about their accomplishments – and loathe colleagues who do the same.
OpenAI's Crisis Is Yet Another Wake-Up Call
Effective governance can save AI doomers, accelerationists, altruists and techno-capitalists from themselves.
AI Is Coming for All Our Jobs... Or Is It?
How leaders, employees and organisations can better prepare themselves for the impact of AI.
How Networks Actually Harm Organisations
Digital technologies create digital relationships that limit companies ability to innovate and change.
Ten Ways Boards Need to Transform
How governance must pivot in the face of accelerating change.
INSEAD Insights: November 2023 Research Picks
Recent findings on human morality, publishing cycles, manufacturing in low-income markets, virtual assessments in acute care services and sarcasm.
Escape the Grip of Greed and Envy
Six steps to overcome the twin terrors of greed and envy and embrace being “good enough”.
1
comment
The Pitfalls of Giving Feedback Across Genders
To best navigate gender divides, pay attention to perceived power imbalances.
1
comment
How to Handle Dominant Leaders
Is your boss acting like a guru? Take charge by asserting yourself and setting clear boundaries.
Why You’re Missing Out on the Best Ideas
Businesses and leaders influence the kinds of ideas they receive without even realising it.
How Does Self-Serving Attribution Affect Strategic Decisions?
How a firm evaluates its past alliance performance can influence its choice between future alliances and acquisitions.
How to Handle Foolish People
Exploring the roots of stupidity and strategies to combat the ignorance of others.
1
comment
Making Stress Work for Organisations
Moderate stress boosts performance. But can companies determine “optimal" stress levels for their employees?
1
comment
Giving Feedback Across Cultures
A direct approach that’s welcomed at home can be easily misinterpreted as aggressive elsewhere.
How Leadership Shapes Sustainability Governance
Amid regulatory and societal pressures to meet sustainability standards, strong personal leadership in the boardroom is needed to ensure competitive advantage and corporate longevity.
Are Multiple Job Interview Rounds Really Necessary?
How companies can simplify the process without compromising their evaluation of candidates.
A Simple Corporate Strategy for a Better Political Game
Even within the same government, different branches may have divergent goals. Here’s how firms can play this to their advantage.
Strategies for Building and Boosting Psychological Safety
INSEAD research highlights practical approaches to integrate psychological safety into team dynamics.
Solving the Problem of Remote Work
A framework to help leaders approach the topic more holistically and effectively.
A First Step Towards Resilient Organisations
Cultivating resilience in the face of organisational crises hinges on the foundation of a clear strategy, heightened awareness and robust reserves.
INSEAD Insights: September 2023 Research Picks
Recent findings on online marketplace dynamics, new market creation, trust in AI, diversity in corporate boards and consumer choices.
The Power of Distinct Owners as Value Catalysts
Uncovering the unique elements owners need to achieve business success and resilience.
Inside the Black Box Crucial to Megaproject Success
Despite their importance to the global economy, most megaprojects fail to be delivered on budget or schedule. Here’s how managers could improve on that dismal record.
Letting Go of the Urge to Rescue
Exploring the motivations behind our need to help others and embracing a balanced approach to offering assistance.
Stop Going It Alone
Negotiating radical organisational change needs to be a collective effort.
1
comment
A Holistic Approach to Navigating the New Workplace
How to foster a thriving and sustainable workplace culture to contend with the realities of the new office.
Governance in the Age of Technological Innovation
With new technologies redefining the global business ecosystem, how can boards navigate these changes and reinvent their business models?
What All Tech Start-Ups Need to Succeed
Governance exists to help tech entrepreneurs prevent value destruction from day one.
Retirement and Beyond: The Last Days of Executives
How to plan for the end of the professional life and a smooth transition to retirement.
How Women Leaders Benefit From Using Humour
New research suggests that being funny helps leaders gain influence, and that women benefit more than men from using humour in public speaking.
1
comment
Breaking the Cycle of Self-Sabotage
A roadmap for identifying and overcoming the self-defeating habits that hold you back.
1
comment
Intellectual Honesty Is Critical for Innovation
Here’s how to balance psychological safety and intellectual honesty for better team performance.
How Corporate Thought Leadership Drives Business Success
What makes an organisation an opinion leader and how it affects business revenue.
1
comment
Joint Strategic Decisions: Do We All Need to Agree?
How organisations’ decision-making rules affect the way individual managers vote.
Why the World Needs Ambidextrous Leaders
What the launch of ChatGPT can teach executives about leading in disruptive times.
How to Rapidly Test New Organisation Designs
Instead of blindly adopting industry best practice, companies can use gamified randomised control trials to pilot new organisation designs.
It Doesn't Have to Be Lonely at the Top
Tips for leaders to gain valuable, actionable and informed feedback from their peers.
Demystifying China’s Internet Giants
A behind-the-scenes look at what makes or breaks China’s Big Tech flagbearers and their foreign exploits.
China’s Internet Giants: The Nuts and Bolts of Going Global
The lowdown on how ByteDance, Shein and Xiaomi succeeded outside of China while WeChat failed.
ChatGPT and the Future of Business Education
How ChatGPT can help – and hinder – research and learning at business schools.
How Storytelling Makes You a Better Leader
Purposeful storytelling isn’t show business, it’s good business.
1
comment
Solving Grand Societal Challenges Through Creative Organisation Design
Combining for-profit entrepreneurship with a non-profit social mission through novel organisation design can achieve scale and impact.
Why Hierarchies in Organisations Aren’t All Bad
Hierarchical structures can be useful even for teams that need to be agile.
2
comments
Leading Change in Turbulence: Case of Discovery Inc.
In this video, Marinella Soldi shares ways to navigate the turbulent waters of digital transformation and why it is important to tackle both the strategic and cultural facets of change.
When Two Isn’t Always Better Than One
Receiving outsized credit can encourage individuals to work together even when it results in lower-quality output.
In Times of Chaos, Know Yourself
Self-aware leaders see the beauty in chaos and look within to find meaningful solutions.
Twitter's Remarkable Mission in a Divided World
Good governance is key to ensure that exceptional people, organisations and countries realise their full potential.
Our Best of 2022: Making Sense of an Uncertain World
This year’s trending articles offer insights ranging from how to work and manage better to what the economy might hold in 2023.
How to Break Free From Herd Mentality
Nurturing independent thought can help us overcome dangerous sheeple behaviour and groupthink.
1
comment
Managing in an Unimaginable World
Business leaders can leverage serendipity to help their companies deal with far-reaching market shocks.
Collaborations That Are Bad for Business but Benefit Employees
Sharing a partner with competing companies hinders the success of firms but helps employees’ careers.
Live Abroad to Excel in the Language of Leadership
Leaders with broad multicultural experiences are better communicators and lead more effectively, particularly in multinational teams.
How to Change Someone’s Mind
Powerful storytelling can awaken curiosity and challenge people to shift their outlook.
1
comment
The Really Simple Steps to Creating an Innovation Engine
All companies need to do is give employees permission to generate ideas and nudge them in the right direction – then get out of the way, said Ben Bensaou in a Thinkers50 webinar.
GHG Emissions Reduction: Scientific Rigour and Stakeholder Engagement
How a step-by-step approach to sustainability helped INSEAD ensure meaningful results.
1
comment
Navigating the New World of Work
Firms need to focus on building an inclusive environment and a culture of trust to overcome the challenges of remote or hybrid work.
The Power of Networking in the New Economy
In today’s gig economy, fleeting ties can be valuable to the career of the gig worker.
Embracing Diversity With a Growth Mindset
Getting along with others is about more than just having things in common.
Why Communication Breaks Down
As workplaces become more diverse and work becomes more distributed, it is more important than ever to converge on a common code for effective communication.
Why The World is Attracted to Neo-Authoritarian Leaders
Leaders like Donald Trump do not rise in a vacuum. But what draws people to authoritarian rulers?
1
comment
How to Show Compassion Without Compromising on Performance
Many leaders think they have to choose between delivering results and supporting employees’ needs. They don’t – but doing both sustainably requires careful navigation.
Could Living Near the Office Make You a Better CEO?
Besides enjoying a shorter commute, living close to the office may allow CEOs to boost ties with employees and the firm’s bottom line.
What Religion Teaches Us About Great Leadership
What can guiding figures and best practices in Judaism, Islam and Catholicism tell us about leadership?
1
comment
The Special Bond Behind Every Brilliant Idea
The way we view ourselves shapes the way we develop and connect with our own ideas.
Paradox Mindset: The Source of Remarkable Creativity in Teams
Teams are more successful if they embrace internal differences and explore conflicting ideas instead of glossing over them.
The X Factor in Crafting New CXO Roles Successfully
CXO roles have proliferated in recent decades, making it difficult for some title holders to find their footing in an ever-changing C-suite landscape.
Why Leaders Won’t Stop Waging Wars
War brings out the worst in people and destroys the very foundations of humanity.
Finding Meaning in Life
Create a compelling self-narrative based on the five pillars that influence the way we experience meaning.
1
comment
Organising in the Metaverse: Five FAQs for Managers
An explainer on how social interaction in all its forms might take place in the virtual universe.
1
comment
What the World Can Learn From Nordic Boards
Proactive, engaged and democratic, corporate boards in Nordic countries are well-placed to deal with today’s increasingly complex operating environments.
Has Hybridity Killed Teamwork?
The time has come to check whether the benefits of teamwork still outweigh the costs.
What It Means to Lead in a Multipolar World
By overcoming our fears and creating a brave space for dialogue, we can relate and lead better in the new multipolar world.
2
comments
Psychological Safety Unlocks the Potential of Diverse Teams
The dissimilar backgrounds of diverse team members often result in clashes unless care is taken to create a psychologically safe environment.
2
comments
Taming Your Inner Critic
Eight concrete ways to lead a more contented life.
How Family-Work Conflict Keeps Us Glued to Our Mobile Phones
Torn between family obligations and work, many people can’t resist working on their phones after hours, creating a downward spiral for their well-being and home life.
Creating People-Centric International Organisations With AI
The United Nations is both a fascinating playground for artificial intelligence applications and a showcase of AI implementation problems and solutions.
ENGIE: Powering the Energy Transition With Data
What does it take for a utility company to develop a data- and AI-driven software business?
1
comment
When Two Leaders Collide, the Result Can Be Less Fraud
When the head of a family firm ranks lower in the family hierarchy than another leader at that firm, the misalignment can help prevent fraud in the emerging market context.
Rethinking the Role of Leaders in the Creative Process
A strong vision and a more disciplined approach can actually equal more creative results.
1
comment
The Start-Up Blind Spot That Trips New Ventures
Having a great business plan is not enough. Start-ups also need good organisation design.
How Conversations About Work Affect Closeness
'The 36 Questions That Lead to Love’ can teach us something about fostering connectedness and trust in the organisation.
Into the Mind of White-Collar Criminals
What society and business schools can do to stop corporate crimes.
Gratitude Is More Powerful Than You Think
Regular appreciation and thanks from service users can make a huge difference in the lives of burnt out essential workers.
Senior Leaders As Chief Reframing Officers
The important role of leaders in giving their employees the space and permission to get creative.
1
comment
Making Sure That Everyone Knows Their Place
Why formal structures and greater diversity create status disagreements and how to fix the issue.
Lessons in Sustainable Change Management: #deCOALonize Kenya
The campaign to prevent the construction of a coal power plant on an idyllic island in the Indian Ocean.
Should Employees Be Allowed to Choose What They Want to Do?
The degree of specialisation is the deciding factor.
Six Global Trends in Business and Society
A stark look at the risks business education must address in 2022.
1
comment
Meditating Away a Guilty Conscience
Mindfulness meditation can make one feel less bad about moral violations as well as lessen the desire to make amends.
1
comment
Carpe Diem: Don’t Postpone Your Dreams
Far from a hedonistic cry, carpe diem instructs us to live a life of meaning.
1
comment
AI: A World of New Opportunity and Risk
A new toolkit for C-suite execs on how to responsibly adopt artificial intelligence.
1
comment
Middle Managers: The Forgotten Heroes of Innovation
The importance of building a support network to implement promising ideas.
3
comments
How Nasdaq’s Board Diversity Rule Creates Potential for Real Change
The new rules requiring qualitative and quantitative disclosure about board diversity will better inform investors and (hopefully) spur further progress.
3
comments
Seven Ways to Put Procrastination Behind You
Don’t chalk it up to a lack of motivation.
The Pursuit of Purpose May Be Harming Your Organisation
People who see their work as a calling tend to be regarded as better employees, with unintended consequences for co-workers as well as their organisation.
1
comment
Post-Pandemic, Firms Need Chief Social Connectivity Officers
In this new hybrid working environment, people shouldn’t go to the office to stare at their computer, but to connect.
Innovation Is Everyone’s Business
Offering employees the tools and motivation to create ideas is the key to an innovative organisation.
Aligning Individual and Organisational Values
How employees’ personal values fit within their organisation.
1
comment
Covid Has Accentuated Our Every Vice
Of all seven deadly sins, leaders need to guard against pride.
The Politics of Influence in Top Management Team Meetings
Interactions between the chief executive and other members of the top management team appear to follow distinct scripts. Managers who take note can boost their standing or stay out of harm’s way.
Is Stargazing Your Preferred Management Style?
For too many leaders, astrology acts as a crutch that gives them a false sense of control in an uncertain world.
6
comments
Three Steps to Optimising Your Firm’s Hybrid Work Strategy
You need a strong process to reconcile the needs and wants of your various stakeholders.
When Authenticity Means Conflict: Towards a Truly Inclusive Organisation
Rightfully celebrated, authenticity in the workplace may have some limitations.
What Distinguishes the Super Rich From the Rest of Us
Peeking into the inner theatre of the seriously wealthy.
Cancelled by Association: How Stigma Spreads in Different Cultures
The tendency to stigmatise others for misdeeds committed by family members appears to extend to even acquaintances and is stronger in close-knit cultures.
The Essence of Agility and Resilience After Covid
Navigating unprecedented levels of uncertainty takes a careful combination of technology and talent.
How “Mind-Body Dissonance” Leads to Creative Thinking
Hacking human evolution to unlock innovative potential in our brains.
How the Afterglow of Victory Boosts Future Performance
When we perform well together, we feel less tense with each other, and when we feel less tense with each other, we perform better.
Six Steps to Overcome Shame
As old as time and very much universal, feelings of shame can lead to self-destructive behaviour in even the best of leaders.
1
comment
Three Dimensions of Leadership Agility
There is one certainty in a VUCA world: The solution that works today may not work tomorrow.
2
comments
Marked for Disruption, Deep in Denial: Law Firms at a Crossroads
The greatest threat to the survival of law firms isn’t technological, but psychological.
3
comments
Mixing Business and Pleasure for Competitive Advantage
A recent study shows how entrepreneurial team formation can be improved by combining two established strategies.
The Complex Psychology of Covid-19 Compliance
Three main psychological factors helped determine whether people responded to first-wave Covid restrictions with deference or defiance.
Two CEOs, No Drama: Ground Rules for Co-Leadership
The co-CEO model can actually work. Here’s how.
The Relationships That Create Successful Acquisitions
A study of start-up acquisitions shows important patterns on both sides lead to a successful integration.
Your Leadership Toolbox: A Coaching Approach
How you can use tips from coaches to adapt to a world in flux.
Without Psychological Safety, Hybrid Work Won’t Work
People managers have their work cut out for them.
1
comment
Our Addiction to Charismatic Leaders Needs to Stop
The antidote to narcissistic leaders who coast on their charisma is a paradigm shift in education.
9
comments
Make the Internet Moderate Again
Extremist opinion looms larger when the moderate majority stays silent online. But there’s a simple and cost-free way to balance out the discourse.
Four Steps to Securing Your Leadership Mandate
Stop hiding your leadership light under a bushel. Achieving the legitimacy you deserve in your organisation entails a sequential process.
7
comments
The Competencies and Constraints That Determine Leadership Success
A novel management theory looks past individual leaders to constraints that might limit their effectiveness.
Four Ways Today’s Teams Are Making Us Lonely
They say it’s lonely at the top. But in the workplace, even team members are feeling lonely.
A Seven-Step Choreography for Thriving Teams
Changes at team level will never take hold unless individuals’ objectives and behaviours are synchronised with those of the group.
1
comment
Keeping Meaning Alive as Your Workload Surges
These days, we’re all expected to do more. But that doesn’t mean the psychological fulfilment we get from our work has to suffer.
Why Some Employees Improve Their Creativity and Others Don’t
How our beliefs about creativity explain our ability to improve and sustain it over time.
Can Managers Who Wear Many Hats Be Trusted?
The more diverse your goals are, the greater the temptation to muddy the waters on performance.
1
comment
Bluebeard Revisited: Knowledge Is Power
Long seen as a cautionary tale about women’s curiosity, it should be reinterpreted as the story of a woman’s emancipation.
From Fear to Enlightenment: Building Resilience During Covid Year One
The four tools and strategies top leaders used most to convert stress and anxiety into positive energy.
1
comment
Putting People at the Centre of Operations
The field of operations management has deep roots in developing effective processes for people. How can we encourage further growth in this area?
The Darker Side of Organisational Life
Cultural change is not for the faint-hearted or the politically correct.
3
comments
How to Tame a Belligerent Colleague
Antagonistic behaviour is usually rooted in low self-esteem.
Strategy and Leadership Lessons From the ‘Notorious RBG’
As the business world increasingly strives to be a catalyst for social justice and societal progress, Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s work provides many valuable lessons for leaders.
The Next Decade Will Be a Leadership Game Changer
Success begins with a clear-eyed understanding of the trends that will define the years to come.
1
comment
The Group Dynamics That Define Well-Functioning Boards
There is an intangible aspect to successful boards that cannot be captured by curating the right CVs.
Social Media Helps Global “Dream Teams” Come Together
Academic international collaboration is now evolving beyond conferences or formal networks as constantly improving social media connects more researchers.
Prospects and Pitfalls for the Post-Pandemic Organisation
Big changes are coming for organisations and organisation designs. Whether they will be for good or ill depends on how leaders confront three key possibilities uncovered by the pandemic.
1
comment
What It Means to Embark on a Journey of Change
Many executives have a nagging sense that something is amiss in their lives. But not all of them find the courage – or the tools – to tackle what needs fixing.
3
comments
What’s Style Got to Do With Strategy?
Careful calibration of aesthetics and style can elevate companies and individuals above the competition.
What Ails Corporate Executive Committees?
Fragmentation among top leadership teams is widespread. CEOs should pay heed – and sharpen their most important strategy execution tool.
How the Discomfort of Paradox Can Unlock Creativity
The transformative power of holding the tension of opposites and learning to live with contradiction.
Teams in Evolution – and Revolution – After the Pandemic
How sensemaking can help you cope with unplanned, constant changes in your team.
What Servant Leadership Is Not
There’s no magic formula for servant leadership, but there are a few common misconceptions about what it means to put your team’s needs first.
5
comments
Our Best of 2020: Leadership Between Two Worlds
This year's top articles take stock of the Covid-19 crisis, its future impact and the way forward.
How Technology Threatens Mental Health – Especially if You’re Inauthentic
When the personality you show the world doesn’t match your true self, it can sap the energy you would otherwise need to deal with technostress.
Workplace Mental Health Is a Business Asset. Treat It That Way
The most successful initiatives deliver employee well-being programmes as a strategic “product”, with four fundamental planning considerations.
Goals Just Before Halftime Mean More – in Football and Business
Examining why 45th-minute goals have outsized importance reveals how timing can affect the outcome of virtually all sorts of competitions.
“Too Elevated”: Raf Simons’s Troubled Stint at Calvin Klein
A short-lived partnership between the sprawling American brand and the celebrated Belgian designer highlights the importance of fit in all its forms.
Calmer Waters: President Biden’s Prospective Foreign Policy
The new president’s foreign policy will differ from Trump’s in style, language and tone more than in substance.
5
comments
Organisational Data: The Silver Lining in the Covid-19 Cloud
The shift to virtual working has produced a data boom that could revolutionise organisations – if they know what to do with it.
2
comments
How Ready Are You for the Work-from-Anywhere Era?
Advice from academics and practitioners who are well-versed in the remote working paradigm.
1
comment
The Great Covid-Driven Teamwork Divide
For most teams, the pandemic either brought colleagues closer or drove them increasingly apart. There are three key reasons why.
2
comments
How to Build a C-Suite in Less Than Two Years
Indonesian state-owned giant Pertamina had a problem: Its top leaders were all retiring at once. The solution? A new kind of leadership accelerator.
Leadership in Wicked Times
We face extraordinary problems calling for new leadership approaches.
3
comments
The Music Industry’s Best-Kept Secret? A Gender Creativity Gap
Female solo artists are more likely to put out more creative songs than their male counterparts. The key question is why. Gender inequality and representation in the industry may hold the answer.
1
comment
Recognising the Red Flags of Workplace Mental Health
Organisations have a responsibility towards their staff.
1
comment
How Netflix Finds Innovation on the Edge of Chaos
How did a DVD-by-mail company transform itself into a leading global entertainment brand? By rejecting mediocrity, embracing negative feedback and turning hierarchy on its head.
4
comments
A Checklist for Boards in the New Normal
Covid-19 has spurred corporate boards to improvise new practices while keeping those that have served them well. Here’s a run-down.
Better Networking Begins With Your Beliefs
It doesn’t take very much to bridge the “knowing-doing” gap in networking – even during a pandemic.
What to Do When Stress Puts You in “Survival Mode”
Do you believe that constant stress is unavoidable? Good for performance? Actually, neither is true.
How to Listen and Ask Questions for Effective Teamwork
Good ideas and solutions often arise when we ask open-ended questions.
2
comments
Deconstructing Learning, Reconstructing Education
Covid-19 will change higher education for good – and, ultimately, for the better.
5
comments
Pandemic or No, It’s Business as Usual for Boards
For now, corporate boards prefer to keep the status quo – and the long view – in the face of Covid-19 upheaval.
How I Taught the ‘Team from Hell’ to Trust Each Other
Virtual team coaching can help turn around dysfunctional teams.
Power, Politics and Crisis Response on the Board
It’s not the individual directors – it’s the competing coalitions they form that determine what boards will do.
1
comment
Why the World Needs Self-Reflective Leaders
The coronavirus crisis facilitates the rise of autocratic and narcissistic leaders just when we least need them.
3
comments
How Boards Are Coping With Covid-19
A new survey provides a snapshot of corporate boards’ resilience to challenges and risks posed by the pandemic.
Three CEO Strategies to Guide Companies Through Crises
We distil top executives’ experience for the ideas that work.
The Advantages of Being (Seen as) Authentic
Feeling authentic, acting authentically and coming across as authentic are very different things, but are equally important.
1
comment
When Several Queues Are Better Than One
One reliable method of queueing is less effective in knowledge industries. Here’s why.
Networking in the New Reality
Curiosity and reciprocity, plus some ingenuity, will help you build relationships in the age of Zoom.
The Two Faces of Leadership
It’s not only what leaders do in the spotlight that counts. Great leaders also know how to manage the organisational machinery behind the scenes.
1
comment
How Resilient Leaders Think
Can you encounter adverse circumstances and emerge stronger from them?
Battling ‘Covid-19 Brain’
Here’s the science on how stressful events like Covid-19 take a toll on the best of us.
1
comment
In the Current Crisis, Less Hierarchical Companies Show Special Resilience
How can more traditional organisations leverage the cultural and behavioural aspects of self-management imposed by the Covid-19 crisis?
How Leaders Can Cultivate Patience in an Impatient World
Nine ways to develop this important “muscle” and reap its mental health benefits.
1
comment
Creating, Fast and Slow
Instead of bickering about the superiority of specialists or generalists, why not recognise that creative strategies involve trade-offs?
Covid-Era CEOs Are ‘Keen, Tough or Edgy’
Not all CEOs are created equal, but everyone can come out of this crisis stronger.
The Nuts and Bolts of Working for an All-Remote Company
Conventional companies new to remote working can learn from the successful start-up GitLab, which has never had an office since its inception in 2014.
1
comment
The Six Biggest Post-Lockdown Challenges for Organisations
Businesses and other institutions will be judged on how well they adapt to the post-Covid reality.
1
comment
Seven Ways Leaders Can Prepare for Post-Pandemic Times
Avoid knee-jerk reactions when creating a plan for the future.
You May Be More Original Than You Think
The assumption that others are similar to us could undermine idea generation.
10
comments
Three Teamwork Trends That May Not Survive This Crisis
Before COVID-19, workplace teams as we know them were changing. Will their evolution continue, or will we go backwards?
How to Spot When an Employee Is Secretly Struggling
An “emotional triaging” technique can help managers identify early warning signs of COVID-19 burn-out and take appropriate actions.
3
comments
Why the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’ Looks Much Like the First
The tyranny of automation is less scary than the automation of tyranny.
2
comments
What COVID-19 Data Can – and Can’t – Tell Us About Leadership
Some governments, especially those led by women, have dealt with the pandemic better than others.
2
comments
The Psychic Burden of Working During Lockdown
Left literally to their own devices, home-bound employees reduce their community participation and experience higher emotional costs.
Social Norms for the Era of Social Distancing
What we do determines the trajectory of the pandemic.
Is Your Crisis Response Defensive or Proactive?
Encouraging dynamic capabilities in your organisation or team can help your business find its feet, even in perilous times.
1
comment
Overwhelmed? Adopt a Paradox Mindset
When resources are scarce, what is the best way to thrive?
2
comments
Jacinda Ardern and Andrew Cuomo Are Crisis Comms Champions
Leaders should test their crisis messaging against three checklists.
2
comments
What Lies Ahead for the Class of 2020?
The COVID-19 pandemic is a unique opportunity for us to redefine what we mean by a successful leader, a fulfilling career and a meaningful life.
What Will Life Be Like After the Pandemic?
Having exposed society’s dysfunction, the COVID-19 crisis invites us to rethink our future.
7
comments
How Discomfort Makes Us More Creative
Minor disruptions to the status quo, against a background of psychological safety, may be the best formula for creative cultures.
1
comment
Seven Questions for Corporate Boards Navigating COVID-19
A guide to steering companies effectively through the crisis and beyond.
2
comments
The Role of the Board in Times of Distress
If companies are to survive the coronavirus, corporate boards need to exercise collaborative, proactive leadership.
What Newly Remote Teams Need, Right Now
Our survey reveals that in the transition to remote working, the technology is fine but the organisation needs help.
1
comment
Coping With Life in Lockdown
What if we used the COVID-19 crisis to reconnect with others and ourselves?
4
comments
The Three Main Challenges of Remote Working
Even for long-established teams, moving from physical to virtual is a game-changer.
1
comment
TMT: The Unit for Success
How the right mix of experience and innovation generates a great start-up top management team.
1
comment
Why Leaders Should Embrace Their Dark Side
Not acknowledging your shadow is a barrier to being an authentic leader.
1
comment
Coronavirus Has Taken Remote Work Mainstream. Now What?
How organisations survive the COVID-19 stress test will reveal how ready they are for the future of work.
2
comments
Your History With Money Affects How You Negotiate
The mindset fostered by financial scarcity hinders the pursuit of win-win outcomes.
1
comment
When in Doubt, Leaders Should Ask Questions
Inquisitive leaders receive something even better than a good answer: a bump in credibility.
1
comment
The Powerful Leadership of African Women
Six women leading the way and inspiring others to realise their potential.
3
comments
Putting More Women at the Helm of Corporate Boards
Women make great board chairs. If only there were more of them.
Pulling the Curtain Back on the Workplace Bully
Bullies are not as powerful as they make themselves out to be.
4
comments
Challenging Assumptions About Flexible Work
How a CEO built better work-life balance in the gruelling property industry.
Fighting the Loneliness Epidemic
How individuals and firms can take action when loneliness becomes a preoccupying concern.
1
comment
Are Offices Obsolete?
The COVID-19 epidemic has highlighted the vulnerabilities of the traditional physically co-located office, forcing many Asian companies to work remotely. However, a small but growing number of tech companies are intendedly going “all-remote”. They may well be harbingers of the future of work.
4
comments
What Elite Museums Can Teach Us About Running a Creative Business
Balancing between the creative imperative and the bottom line is an art perfected by top museums like MoMA.
Is Your Innovation Process a Corporate Illusion?
The six common blind spots that severely constrain the performance of innovation labs.
2
comments
Start-ups: The Founding Team Is a Real Magic Bullet
Studies show that the entrepreneurial team may impact a start-up’s long-term success more than its product.
Is Paranoia Widespread in Your Firm? You’re Not Alone
Trust remains a rare commodity in the workplace. Here’s what management can do about it.
You May Be a Workplace Hero Without Realising It
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, but they have one thing in common: They don’t see themselves as heroes.
How Leadership Can Emerge From the Trauma of History
Victims of intergenerational adversity can channel the darkness of the past into five uniquely positive values.
1
comment
Five Qualities for Leading Business in the 21st Centur)y
In an age of uncertainty, people need inspiration.
3
comments
The Kinds of Collaboration That Lead to Successful Innovation
Learning to innovate requires diligence, patience and (most of all) direct access to skilful role models.
Our Best of 2019: A Closer Look at Leadership
This year's top articles foreshadow the coming decade's leadership challenges.
How Managers Self-Sabotage When Giving Negative Feedback
Communication gaps between managers and their employees widen when delivering criticism.
Want More Creative Breakthroughs? Slow Down
Constant busyness is what stands between you and more eureka moments.
A Corporate Governance Paradigm Shift
Directors need to prepare for board renewal and transformation on many levels.
1
comment
How a Few Minutes of Meditation Makes You a Nicer Co-Worker
Become more helpful and generous after just eight minutes of mindfulness practice.
When an 80-Hour Workweek Helps
High potentials need to work a lot and in a way that is visible to the firm.
2
comments
Enlightened by Randomness
To train AI properly, organisations may have to take a drastic step: start making decisions with no rhyme or reason.
1
comment
How to Cultivate Cross-Silo Leadership
How HR managers can look for, develop and reinforce certain behaviours to break down barriers within their organisations.
1
comment
If You’re Feeling Drained, Here’s Why
Pay attention to your personal “energy barometer” as it reflects your inner happiness.
4
comments
Enabling Productive Thinking to Develop Gender Balance
Subtle mental shifts can increase people’s responsiveness to the gender gap, and their commitment to doing something about it.
A New Framework for Corporate Activism
Knowing when – and how – to appropriately speak out on political issues is becoming a core skill for business leaders.
Embracing the Paradoxes of Leadership
Why we need to move from an “either/or” to a “both/and” view of priorities.
1
comment
Three Keys to Creating Prosperity in Africa
While each country must find its own path, every leader working on the continent must commit to improving its brand equity.
Is Greed Destroying Your Soul?
Greed is less about accumulating wealth than filling an inner void.
2
comments
When Is Cool Office Design More Than Window Dressing?
New trends in workplace design may turn out to be as game-changing as the ongoing technological revolution.
6
comments
Whatever It Is, I’m Against It
For real societal change, we should build bridges, not burn them.
1
comment
The Powerful Drivers and Blockers of Leadership
Exploring the hidden forces that motivate and hinder you can make you a better leader.
Creative Concepts Have Networks, Too
Data from 12 years of high-end fashion reveal clues about the building blocks of successful styles.
1
comment
Coming Out at Work
Practitioner research sheds light on how LGBTQ equality in the workplace benefits everyone, and how best to promote it.
When Reorganisation Misses the Social Connection
The way we work together is about more than our org chart.
The Icarus Syndrome: Execs Who Fly Too Close to the Sun
Leaders always need to keep hubris in check.
1
comment
AI = Artificial Imagination?
The “deepfakes” trend proves machine learning and AI have mastered the art of illusion. Are they ready to help your business innovate?
2
comments
Women Chairs: The Time Is Now
With more women as board chairs, business can better serve society.
2
comments
Will You End Up as Digital Roadkill?
Most of us are so digitally connected that we have become utterly disconnected.
Team Development in the Era of Slack
Teamwork is happening virtually more and more. Team building should be virtual as well.
1
comment
Three Objectives for Moving Forward With AI
Taking ownership of AI is about more than technological competencies – it’s an overarching organisational challenge.
2
comments
Building Gender Balance Against the Odds
To enable women’s advancement where it’s needed most, individual, interpersonal and institutional changes are required.
Why AI’s Video Game Supremacy Matters for Managers
Today Starcraft II and Dota 2; tomorrow, the business world?
1
comment
How Firms Can Avoid the Mediocrity Trap
Due to envy or insecurity, B-players may fail to hire the best people.
2
comments
What Makes for Inclusive Working Cultures?
Interventions designed to increase women’s cultural fit can also create a better working environment for everyone.
The Pivotal Management Challenge of the AI Era
Managers and leaders have nothing to fear from AI – except missing out.
How Shifts in Geopolitical Power Will Affect Corporate Governance
Corporations will have to re-evaluate their values and norms to maintain their longevity and success in the new world order.
How Firms Can Nurture Internal Thought Leaders
Far from a luxury, thought leadership is about capturing the future.
2
comments
The Cure for the Loneliness of Command
CEOs are quickly derailed without a sense of community.
2
comments
Freeing Women – and Men – From Gender Stereotypes
Research from INSEAD’s 2nd annual Women at Work conference offers practical solutions for establishing gender-balanced workplace norms.
How PE and VC Are Closing the Gender Gap in Emerging Markets
If including women in senior private equity and venture capital leadership teams improves returns, why is the gender gap still so pervasive?
When Talking the Talk Is Enough to Change Culture
Careful cultural interventions can impart beliefs about collaboration that become self-fulfilling prophecies.
1
comment
Promoting Gender Balance Is Everyone's Business
Progressive companies are moving from awareness to action, and systemic challenges must be overcome.
1
comment
How Authenticity Shapes Your Playlist
In the digital era, the way we assess authenticity in music has changed.
How to Turn Stress Into Success Once You Reach the Top
What dozens of experienced CEOs wish someone had told them before they assumed the hot seat.
3
comments
Leadership Lessons From an Olympic Judo Medallist
Bronze-winning Flávio Canto has created a network of dojos that is transforming lives in some of Brazil’s roughest neighbourhoods.
Lousy Jobs, Lovely Jobs – and the Sagging Middle
Job-market polarisation is impeding class mobility. What does this mean for the future of management?
How Regret Can Be Your Friend
When managed properly, regret is a great decision-making tool.
For the Truth About How Bosses Behave, Ask Their Assistants
The eyes and ears of corporate culture, executive assistants have a front-row seat to the integrity dilemmas faced by top management.
1
comment
The Multinational Fuelled by Thousands of Entrepreneurs
Haier’s business model has created a worldwide entrepreneurship movement.
1
comment
The World’s Most Talent Competitive Countries, 2019
Entrepreneurial talent is a critical component of both competitiveness and innovation.
Have We Reached the Limit of Individualism?
From fake self-esteem to narcissistic leadership, we all bear the high costs of living in an “I” world.
1
comment
How Organisations Can Cultivate Innovation Catalysts
The most innovative leaders possess special skills that cannot be entirely taught. But they can be learnt.
How Leaders Can Maximise Their Impact
Effective leaders need to know whether their ‘people hat’ or ‘P&L hat’ fits most comfortably.
The Countries Getting the Highest Return on Education
The key to fostering a more educated populace is not financial – it’s cultural.
8
comments
Our Best of 2018: New Approaches to Diversity
Our top content from the past year illustrates how global uncertainty is affecting business.
Algorithms to Decode an Organisation’s Culture (At Last)
Text analysis based on machine learning is beginning to reveal previously inaccessible truths about organisational culture.
2
comments
Trust: The Corporate Wellness Initiative of the Future
What if wellness was built directly into corporate DNA instead of being sold to us?
1
comment
Finding Good News for Business and Human Rights After Khashoggi
Companies must respond to Jamal Khashoggi’s murder by standing up for human rights.
3
comments
The Five Key Capabilities of Effective Leadership
Don’t try to find them all in one single hero.
1
comment
(Re)-Designing Organisations in the Age of Algorithms
Strategy execution still requires organisation design and development skills. But here’s what it may look like in a world of big data and AI.
3
comments
Is Your Organisation a Cult?
Beware of the cultish techniques that have crossed into the workplace.
1
comment
Building Gender Balance Through Behavioural Design
What can organisations do when changing mindsets isn’t enough?
1
comment
Crafting Your Own Leadership Signature
How well can you adapt in an exponentially changing world?
2
comments
How the Board Can Make the Most of Blockchain
The boardroom will never be the same after the rise of blockchain, nor should it.
Why Agile May Be Fragile
The hype around Agile organisations needs some debunking, so that Agile’s actual value can be salvaged.
4
comments
The Human Factor in Digital Transformation Projects
How the people working in government manage tech-driven innovation.
The Fine Line Between Stubbornness and Stupidity
One pathway to greatness is the ability to change one’s mind when proven wrong.
1
comment
Three Conditions for a Successful Life
“The only success that is valid is the success that comes at the end.” – Jean-Claude Biver
3
comments
Is It Time to Retire the Org Chart?
The boxes-and-arrows approach to organisation design may have outlived its use.
1
comment
The Three Principles of Wise Power
If you know how to harness the power of your mind, heart and soul, you will be wiser in the face of surprises and disruption.
3
comments
Lessons in Women’s Empowerment from India’s Female Village Leaders
The relationships and factors that influence the performance of elected representatives.
How These Leading CEOs Are Tackling Gender Inequality
Persistently setting new norms helps organisations battle stubborn gender imbalances.
1
comment
Why Successful Companies Usually Fail
The dynamics of corporate collapse are caused by three phenomena.
5
comments
Agile Boards of Directors: A Fad or the Future?
Some Agile principles can be counterproductive in the boardroom, while others can help.
4
comments
How to Coach a CEO
Successful coaching involves working with – not against – an individual’s resistance.
3
comments
Aim for Transformation, Not Change
Transformation creates attractive futures, while change mends the past.
10
comments
Using Play to Address Uncertainties at Work
Pop-up holding environments can help people and teams become more resilient, adaptable and cooperative.
Mindfulness Meditation Reduces Motivation
Acceptance of the present moment can impact the will to work hard and get things done.
14
comments
The Cultural Attributes of the Most Innovative Companies
The case of China’s Longfor Properties proves that “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” is not a recipe for innovation.
How Your Network Can Help and Hurt You
Your performance is dependent on the type of network you have.
The Pursuit of Money: A Cautionary Tale
Distorted beliefs about money often have their roots in childhood.
1
comment
Why Power Seekers Give Advice
How giving advice makes some feel powerful and why it can be dangerous.
2
comments
The Key to Cultivating Agility in Decision Making
Decision-making excellence requires self-awareness and the ability to choose how to think in different situations.
Visibly Upset at Work? Blame It on Your Passion
Attributing your emotional outbursts to passion will make you seem more competent than if you just apologise or say nothing.
Balancing Profit and Social Welfare: Ten Ways to Do It
On the continuum between profit and social welfare, where should your firm sit?
How Brazil Is Cleaning Up
Leadership lessons from the centre of Operation Car Wash.
Once You Have It All, What’s Next?
Where to look for answers to the existential questions many of us grapple with.
3
comments
Why Firms Should Conduct Randomized Controlled Trials
Field experiments help companies to make better decisions, while findings aid academic work.
3
comments
The Best CEOs Are Ready for Crises
Leading CEOs know that a crisis could strike at any time. They’re prepared and cool in the face of adversity.
Are You on a Collision Course with a Workplace Rival?
Data from Formula 1 crashes explain how high-stakes collisions with rivals happen.
What Can Be Done About Bullies at Work?
Stamping out bullying is an uphill battle for everyone involved.
4
comments
Social Support Sets Women Up for Success at Work
Organisations are investing heavily to level the playing field for professional women, but they often lack a systematic approach.
CEOs Should Be Chief Enablement Officers
Leadership is about energising people rather than issuing orders.
Cultural Brokers Boost the Creative Performance of Diverse Teams
Multicultural individuals often play a key role in bridging cultural worlds.
2
comments
Are You Addicted to Power?
The design of firms fosters power intoxication in their leaders.