Delegating

A TV producer struggles to balance the demands of three hit shows—and dreams of a new one.

The burdens of subordinates always seem to end up on the manager’s back. Here’s how to get rid of them.

Manage the onslaught.

Five Questions with Jeffrey Pfeffer

Over the past few years, I've asked hundreds of managers the following two questions: Does the complexity of your organization make it more difficult...

A conversation with Warren Bennis Professor, author, leader

And four strategies to help you reform.

Delegating responsibility is hard. Not delegating it can be disastrous.

I’ve always been the kind of person who says yes to new work-related challenges, frequently out of pure enthusiasm for the opportunities. Sometimes it makes sense to say no, of course, but in a tough economic climate yes is often the necessary response to organizational shifts that happen in the wake of layoffs and restructuring. […]

Being in charge is about shaping decisions, not always making them.

Leadership is often presented as an abstract undertaking, a matter of vision and values rather than practical details. But in the author's world, the...

In chaotic times like these, an executive's instinct may be to strive for greater efficiency by tightening control. At least two companies, CSC Germany...

A four-step process to relinquishing control - and reclaiming your sanity.

Put people at the center of your company’s purpose and declare your “interdependence”.

New CEOs are typically focused on creating and implementing a strategy, building a top team, and driving culture change. Optimizing administrative workflow...

Make Your Case relies on your insights to help readers solve pressing business problems. You can help by leaving a comment below or by rating the comments of others — after a week, a guest expert will respond to your feedback and give advice of his or her own. For this week’s case, we tapped […]

A study of lawyers showed a 20% premium.

The problem with temporary handoffs.

Squib

Four things to do before you leave.

Are you a good boss--or a great one? Good bosses can handle the day-to-day work of running a team. Great bosses go beyond that, finding ways to help employees...

Describes some critical challenges involved in creating employee empowerment. In the context of General Electric's efforts to debureaucratise the company,...

Are you the boss you need to be? You never dreamed being the boss would be so hard. You're caught in a web of conflicting expectations from your subordinates,...

In November 2006, Symon Bridle, the newly appointed chief operating officer of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, was thinking about a number of organizational...

Describes the situation facing the head of a rapidly growing industry-focused group within a consulting company. Highlights the dilemmas of being a "producing...

DPC Dash Ltd. (DPC Dash) (达势股份有限公司) (SEHK: 1405) was the exclusive master franchisee for Domino's Pizza in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. In 2010,...

Whether you're starting out in your career or just want a refresher on the fundamentals, the "HBR Essential 20-Minute Manager Collection" gives you a...

Supplements the (A) case.

As a student at the Harvard Business School, Sadiq Gillani decided to focus his career on the airline industry. This case study explores Gillani's strategic...

AES develops and operates electric power plants all over the world, and by late 1996, has approximately 20,000 employees. But, the corporation has no...

Overworked? Overwhelmed? Protect yourself from burnout. The amount of work placed on women is often insurmountable. Along with doing what's required for...

The "HBR Women at Work" series, based on the popular HBR podcast of the same name, spotlights the real challenges and opportunities women experience throughout...

This 16-volume, specially priced boxed set makes a perfect gift for aspiring leaders who are short on time but need advice fast, on topics from creating...

Private equity firm XAF Partners, created out of the 2003 merger of Shanghai-based Xuan Partners and AF Group, a spin out of the Shanghai-based, emerging...

Describes a young man's first job with a large corporation, where he is given a great deal of responsibility but little authority or supervision. The...

At a time of great changes in the corporate environment, Larry Yoshino, a design lab manager at Parsons Controls Corp., faces a delay in a costly defense...

Master the art of workplace productivity. Overwhelmed by the sheer volume of work you need to accomplish? Being pulled in different directions by competing...

Master the art of effective delegation. You know you need to delegate some of your work so that you have time to focus on the things that require your...

Describes the issues that entrepreneurs and their firms must deal with in attempting to make the transition from entrepreneurial to professional management....

In 2001, the Unilever Superannuation Fund sued Merrill Lynch for damages of 130 million British pounds. Over the period 1977 to 1998, the Unilever Fund...

Are you a good boss--or a great one? Good bosses can handle the day-to-day work of running a team. Great bosses go beyond that, finding ways to help employees...

A TV producer struggles to balance the demands of three hit shows—and dreams of a new one.

The burdens of subordinates always seem to end up on the manager’s back. Here’s how to get rid of them.

Manage the onslaught.

Describes some critical challenges involved in creating employee empowerment. In the context of General Electric's efforts to debureaucratise the company,...

Five Questions with Jeffrey Pfeffer

Are you the boss you need to be? You never dreamed being the boss would be so hard. You're caught in a web of conflicting expectations from your subordinates,...

Over the past few years, I've asked hundreds of managers the following two questions: Does the complexity of your organization make it more difficult...

A conversation with Warren Bennis Professor, author, leader

And four strategies to help you reform.