Monthly Archives: April 2011

In this month’s Harvard Business Review, we feature Being More Productive, a conversation with productivity experts David Allen and Tony Schwartz. We asked each of them to comment on the other’s system. Earlier this week, we featured Tony Schwartz on … Continue reading →

Imagine that you’re conducting a performance appraisal with one of your people. You’re discussing a major project that didn’t turn out as hoped and you’ve just asked him why. “Why did it fail?” he says. “Lots of reasons, but mostly … Continue reading →

A lot of us remember when the role of the CMO was much simpler. Information flowed in one direction: from companies to consumers. When we drew up our plans and budgets, the key metric was consumer impressions: how many people … Continue reading →

Last year I had the pleasure of presenting a seminar at Yahoo Research. One of the things that interested me about that part of Yahoo was the fact that it had, in my field of economics, made some very significant … Continue reading →

Companies often launch separate teams focused on growth, especially when they don’t have exploratory capabilities woven into the fabric of their cultures. Protected from short term demands, these teams can focus on opportunities beyond the core. So when one of … Continue reading →

This post is part of a three-week series exploring the re-invention of the social infrastructure of cities, published in partnership with the Advanced Leadership Initiative at Harvard University. Since my youth I’ve been an early adopter of new technology. I … Continue reading →

Chris Rock recently spoke about his Broadway debut. Arguably one of the funniest men in America, Rock is venturing outside his comfort zone of stand-up comedy to perform eight live shows a week as an ensemble cast member. As Rock … Continue reading →

Justin Menkes, author of Better Under Pressure, explains why today’s leaders need realistic optimism, subservience to purpose, and the ability to find order in chaos.

If you are watching TV these days, you’ve probably seen two ads from AT&T. One shows a guy working late at his desk. His wife calls to ask where they’re meeting for their anniversary dinner. Oops. The other shows a … Continue reading →

Here’s a silly thought for you. Imagine that the Washington Capitals were looking for an edge in the upcoming ice hockey playoffs (that’s not the silly part, hold on a second). They get a call from someone, saying “I’d like … Continue reading →