Best-Practices Leadership

6 workplace traditions that are hanging on for dear life

March 28, 2015
In 1715, the top workplace traditions were putting low performers in iron shackles, plotting castle sieges around the water cooler, and slapping “and Sons” onto every startup. Things change faster these days, and it shouldn’t take 300 years to snuff out some other tired norms that, as a company that aspires to walk the cutting edge, it might be better to slowly distance yourself from so as not to look hopelessly outdated by the next time America hosts the World Cup.

A road warrior’s gold travel tips

March 11, 2015
The travel editor for CBS News logs about 400,000 air miles a year, and he has this advice: Most travel rules and policies are misguided. Here’s a sampling.

Leadership Tips, Vol. 215

February 27, 2015
Fail big … Look hard at the United States’ true business climate … Go down a quick checklist before you lay down to sleep.

Workplace utopia fosters SAS innovation

February 18, 2015
During the 2008-09 recession, Jim Goodnight of SAS didn’t just promise job security to his workforce. He also challenged them to use the slowdown to innovate. Housed on 300 acres in Cary, N.C., the tech giant’s campus offers its 14,000 em­ployees a chance to concentrate on ­creativity with a minimum of distractions.

The reality of collaboration

February 16, 2015

Many leaders view “collaboration” as a way to get buy-in. That’s not collaboration. It’s about asking people their input up front, when what is done and how it’s done matter. It’s about using a team to distill the best ideas, not necessarily your ideas.

Unilever commits to sustainability first

February 2, 2015

Unilever, a global giant with dozens of brands including Dove, Lipton and Ben & Jerry’s, competes with consumer goods behemoths such as Nestlé and Procter & Gamble. But you’d never know it by talking with its CEO.

Leadership Tips, Vol. 115

January 29, 2015
Beware travel burnout … Check your Who’s Who of boomers … Alert your team to project traps.

Flying high starts with high risk

January 5, 2015
As Richard Branson found, frustrating experiences can provide the basis for innovation. Once you identify a problem, muster the courage to implement a bold solution.

Microsoft CEO’s hard-earned wisdom

December 30, 2014
During Steve Ballmer’s 13 years as Micro­­soft’s CEO, the company’s revenues tripled and its profits doubled. But the man who replaced Bill Gates also took some criticism.

Groups call the shots at W.L. Gore

December 30, 2014
To foster teamwork, give employees a voice. Let them work together to make decisions and they’ll collaborate more freely.