The Management Tip of the Day

Break Out of Your Post-Holiday Funk.‌ Many of us begin a new year reflecting on the past and feeling bad about what we haven't accomplished. Instead of ruminating on the previous year, focus on the future. Treat what you want to accomplish as a new challenge. Set specific goals, and develop a realistic plan to get there. It's natural to compare yourself to others, so use that instinct to your advantage. For example, identify a close rival — someone whose performance is similar to your own but maybe slightly better in an area you want to improve — and figure out what you could do to get to their level. Or compare your current self to your past self and use the recognition of your own trajectory to spur you to reach new heights. No one wants to start the new year in a rut, but with some small changes in your perspective you can hit the ground running. Today’s Tip  Break Out of Your Post-Holiday Funk Many of us begin a new year reflecting on the past and feeling bad about what we haven't accomplished. Instead of ruminating on the previous year, focus on the future. Treat what you want to accomplish as a new challenge. Set specific goals, and develop a realistic plan to get there. It's natural to compare yourself to others, so use that instinct to your advantage. For example, identify a close rival — someone whose performance is similar to your own but maybe slightly better in an area you want to improve — and figure out what you could do to get to their level. Or compare your current self to your past self and use the recognition of your own trajectory to spur you to reach new heights. No one wants to start the new year in a rut, but with some small changes in your perspective you can hit the ground running. This tip is adapted from “The Post-Holiday Funk Is Real,” by Art Markman ADVERTISEMENT Be more connected in business. Access the world of business — and the world of HBR. Subscribe today. View our subscription options Newsletter Women at Work Stay informed on issues that women face in the workplace with HBR’s extensive coverage of gender and leadership research. Sign up now Ebook Agile: The Insights You Need from Harvard Business Review (Advance Edition) by Harvard Business Review, Darrell K. Rigby, Jeff Sutherland, Peter Cappelli, Phil Simon $22.95 Learn more Don’t forget you’re entitled to 20% off your first purchase* *Use promo code HBRORGREG4. View details here. View in browser Contact us Privacy policy Manage newsletter preferences Unsubscribe

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Hotlist: The Dark Side of Self-Control

Our most popular ideas and advice of the week. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

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January 20, 2020 The Dark Side of Self-Control By Michail D. Kokkoris, Olga Stavrova Resisting short-term temptations can lead to long-term regret.

Leadership Great Leaders Understand Why Small Gestures Matter By Bill Taylor They send big signals about who we are and what we care about. Hiring What Top Consulting Firms Get Wrong About Hiring By Atta Tarki, Tino Sanandaji Case interviews are a waste of time. Firms need a better approach. Firing 4 Signs Your Job Might Be in Jeopardy By Susan Peppercorn What to look for, and how to prepare for a transition. Leadership Unexpected Companies Produce Some of the Best CEOs By Elena Lytkina Botelho, Sanja Kos Who they are and how they do it. Health How to Manage an Employee with Depression By Kristen Bell DeTienne, Jill M. Hooley, Cristian Larrocha, Annsheri Reay First, learn about the disorder. Diversity 5 Strategies for Creating an Inclusive Workplace By Pooja Jain-Link, Julia Taylor Kennedy, Trudy Bourgeois Take action to build an organization where every employee can thrive. Professional transitions Navigating a New Job with a Very Different Culture By Dorie Clark Four strategies to help ease the transition. Motivating people The Upside of Being an Underdog By Samir Nurmohamed Research shows how to use low expectations to your advantage.

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The Management Tip of the Day

How to Ask for — and Get — an Email Introduction.‌ Requesting an email introduction from a current contact can be a big ask. Busy people may get multiple similar requests each week, so it's important to do what you can to reduce their burden. One option is to provide them with a forwardable email that they can pass on to the target contact. Make sure you include a relevant — and brief — summary of your experience. Show that you've thoroughly researched the third party by including a few specific lines about how you think the new contact can help you. Avoid using vague reasons like, "I want to expand my network." When the connection is made, make it easy for the person to connect with you. Offer several options for meeting times and send a calendar invite with the dial-in information. Most importantly, thank your current contact for the introduction and let them know how it went. They are more likely to make another one if they know you appreciated it and see that it led to new opportunities. Today’s Tip  How to Ask for — and Get — an Email Introduction Requesting an email introduction from a current contact can be a big ask. Busy people may get multiple similar requests each week, so it's important to do what you can to reduce their burden. One option is to provide them with a forwardable email that they can pass on to the target contact. Make sure you include a relevant — and brief — summary of your experience. Show that you've thoroughly researched the third party by including a few specific lines about how you think the new contact can help you. Avoid using vague reasons like, "I want to expand my network." When the connection is made, make it easy for the person to connect with you. Offer several options for meeting times and send a calendar invite with the dial-in information. Most importantly, thank your current contact for the introduction and let them know how it went. They are more likely to make another one if they know you appreciated it and see that it led to new opportunities. This tip is adapted from “How to Ask for an Email Introduction,” by Ruchika Tulshyan ADVERTISEMENT Be more connected in business. Access the world of business — and the world of HBR. Subscribe today. View our subscription options Newsletter Women at Work Stay informed on issues that women face in the workplace with HBR’s extensive coverage of gender and leadership research. Sign up now Ebook Agile: The Insights You Need from Harvard Business Review (Advance Edition) by Harvard Business Review, Darrell K. Rigby, Jeff Sutherland, Peter Cappelli, Phil Simon $22.95 Learn more Don’t forget you’re entitled to 20% off your first purchase* *Use promo code HBRORGREG4. View details here. View in browser Contact us Privacy policy Manage newsletter preferences Unsubscribe

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