HBR's 10 Must Reads on Teams

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. SPECIAL OFFER EXCLUSIVE OFFER Most teams underperform. Yours can beat the odds. HBR’S 10 MUST READS ON TEAMS If you read nothing else on building better teams, read these 10 articles in HBR’s Must Reads on Teams. We’ve combed through hundreds of articles in the Harvard Business Review archive and selected the most important ones to help you assemble and steer teams that get results. This collection was previously published as “Harvard Business Review on Building Better Teams.“ We’ve moved it to HBR’s 10 Must Reads series because the ideas are critical to the success of every manager and aspiring leader, meeting our high standards for must-read status. Available as an Ebook or Paperback. Yours for only $24.95 * • 11365 HBR's Must Reads on Teams provides the insights and advice you need to: Boost team performance through mutual accountability Motivate large, diverse groups to tackle complex projects Increase your teams' emotional intelligence Prevent decision deadlock Extract results from a bunch of touchy superstars Fight constructively with top-management colleagues. Available as an Ebook or Paperback. Yours for only $24.95 * • 11365 Product #11365 Purchasers are responsible for all shipping charges, duties, taxes, brokerage fees and/or import fees imposed by the country of import. Please check with your custom office for details. HBR.ORG | TOPICS | THE MAGAZINE | BOOKS | CASES | STORE | SUBSCRIBE TO HBR HBR.ORG | BLOGS | THE MAGAZINE BOOKS | CASES | STORE | SUBSCRIBE TO HBR UNSUBSCRIBE | NEWSLETTERS | PRIVACY POLICY CONTACT Copyright © 2014 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate to Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing, 60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163 CUSTOMER SERVICE: 800 545 7685 (US/Canada) +1 617 783 7600 (outside the US and Canada)

The Daily Stat from Harvard Business Review

 

December 2, 2014 In the Tragedy of the Common Fitting Area, Congestion Begets Congestion A study of fitting-room congestion in a retail clothing chain shows that adding just 1 employee per store to fetch items for customers and clean out the changing rooms increased hourly sales by $400 during peak times, according to a team led by Saravanan Kesavan of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Congestion creates even greater congestion in fitting rooms as customers bring bigger and bigger piles of clothing to try on. That's why the impact of additional labor in the fitting rooms is much larger than that of added labor in any other part of a clothing store, the researchers say. SOURCE: Increasing Sales by Managing Congestion in Self-Service Environments: Evidence from a Field Experiment

BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials | HBR's 10 Must Reads Ebook Boxed Set | HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations Ebook + Video Case Study | HBR Guide to Better Business Writing | HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done

FEATURED PRODUCT Fail Better: Design Smart Mistakes and Succeed Sooner HBR Press Book Whether you’re rolling out a new product from a city-view office or rolling up your sleeves to deliver a social service in the field, learning why and how to embrace failure can help you do better, faster. Smart leaders, entrepreneurs, and change agents design their innovation projects with a key idea in mind: ensure that every failure is maximally useful. Anjali Sastry and Kara Penn show how to create the conditions, culture, and habits to systematically, ruthlessly, and quickly figure out what works, in three steps: (1) Launch every innovation project with the right groundwork, (2) Build and refine ideas and products through iterative action, and (3) Identify and embed the learning. “Fail Better” teaches you how to design your efforts to test the boundaries of your thinking, explore crucial interdependencies, and find the factors that can shift results from just acceptable to groundbreaking--or even world-changing. Buy Now

FEATURED PRODUCT Leading Digital: Turning Technology into Business Transformation HBS Press Book The authors, a trio of highly regarded thought leaders on corporate digital transformation, say changes in the digital realm so far have focused on high tech and media companies – but there’s still a whopping 94% of the business economy that needs to change. This book will show them how. Based on a study of more than 400 large, mainstream firms in every industry around the globe, the authors usefully break down how these organizations have used their own digital transformation to gain strategic, competitive advantage. Readers will learn how these digital leaders have transformed their businesses through smart and rigorous digital investments, and through smart and effective leadership of the change. "Leading Digital" offers practical, real-life tested frameworks that can be instantly applied. Case studies include Nike, Caesars, Burberry, Asian Paints, Pages Jaunes, Codelco, and more. Buy Now

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HBR.ORG | THE MAGAZINE | TOPICS | BOOKS | CASES | STORE | SUBSCRIBE TO HBR UNSUBSCRIBE | NEWSLETTERS PRIVACY POLICY | CONTACT Copyright © 2014 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing 60 Harvard Way Boston, MA 02163 CUSTOMER SERVICE: 800-545-7685 (US/Canada) 1-617-783-7600 (outside the U.S. and Canada)

 

The Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review

 

December 2, 2014 4 Ways to Improve Your Storytelling Skills People are wired for good stories. If you can weave a compelling story into your presentation or meeting, your message will be more memorable. Hone your storytelling skills: Parachute in. Avoid “Let me tell you a story about a time I learned…” Drop your audience immediately into the action and draw the lesson out later. Follow the “Goldilocks” rule for details. Give too much detail and your audience is lost or bored; too little, and they lack enough context. Test your story with friends to find the right level of detail. Focus on one person with one thought. Focus on one person at a time, for four to seven seconds, and try to connect with as many people as possible. Use silence for impact. Silence draws emphasis to what was just said or what is about to come, and it allows others to contribute their own interpretations. Adapted from “A Refresher on Storytelling 101” by JD Schramm.

BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials | HBR's 10 Must Reads Ebook Boxed Set | HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations Ebook + Video Case Study | HBR Guide to Better Business Writing | HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done

FEATURED PRODUCT Playing to Win Strategy Toolkit HBR Press Toolkit Be confident in your strategy success. The best-selling book by A.G. Lafley, CEO of Procter & Gamble, and Roger Martin of the Rotman School of Management revealed a tested approach to strategy based on making smart choices to stay ahead of the competition that has been embraced by business leaders worldwide. Now, the Playing to Win Strategy Toolkit delivers this industry-proven framework with step-by-step support to develop and implement successful strategy in any organization. With expert advice from Roger Martin, customizable support, and guidance throughout the entire process, this comprehensive tool will help you lead your team through a successful strategy initiative. The toolkit consists of five components: 1) A comprehensive facilitator's guide provides advice about how to prepare, who to involve, and what common challenges to avoid 2) Four detailed case studies show how real-world companies are using the "Playing to Win" approach. 3) Three fully customizable meeting decks to help you save time and meeting management headaches. 4) A set of short video clips from Roger Martin offers advice on getting started and solving common strategy obstacles. 5)The bestselling e-book "Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works." Buy Now

FEATURED PRODUCT HBR Guide to Building Your Business Case Ebook + Tools HBR Press Book This enhanced eBook version of the HBR Guide to Building Your Business Case includes downloadable tools and templates to help you get started on your own case right away. You've got a great idea that will increase profitability or productivity – but how do you get approval for the budget and resources to make it happen? By building a business case that clearly shows your idea's value. Available exclusively through HBR.org. Buy Now

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HBR.ORG | THE MAGAZINE | TOPICS | BOOKS | CASES | STORE | SUBSCRIBE TO HBR UNSUBSCRIBE | NEWSLETTERS PRIVACY POLICY | CONTACT Copyright © 2014 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing 60 Harvard Way Boston, MA 02163 CUSTOMER SERVICE: 800-545-7685 (US/Canada) 1-617-783-7600 (outside the U.S. and Canada)

 

The Daily Stat from Harvard Business Review

 

December 1, 2014 Salespeople: Resist the Temptation to Ask Customers for Glowing Reviews Research participants who imagined a scenario in which salespeople asked them for positive evaluations reported lower satisfaction with the service encounter than those who imagined not being asked (6.82 versus 7.23 on a 9-point satisfaction scale), say Michael A. Jones and Valerie A. Taylor of the University of Tennessee and Kristy E. Reynolds of the University of Alabama. In retail stores where customers are asked to fill out questionnaires, frontline employees should be discouraged from asking for positive evaluations or trying to coach customers on how to fill out the forms, the researchers say. SOURCE: The Effect of Requests for Positive Evaluations on Customer Satisfaction Ratings

BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials | HBR's 10 Must Reads Ebook Boxed Set | HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations Ebook + Video Case Study | HBR Guide to Better Business Writing | HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done

FEATURED PRODUCT Fail Better: Design Smart Mistakes and Succeed Sooner HBR Press Book Whether you’re rolling out a new product from a city-view office or rolling up your sleeves to deliver a social service in the field, learning why and how to embrace failure can help you do better, faster. Smart leaders, entrepreneurs, and change agents design their innovation projects with a key idea in mind: ensure that every failure is maximally useful. Anjali Sastry and Kara Penn show how to create the conditions, culture, and habits to systematically, ruthlessly, and quickly figure out what works, in three steps: (1) Launch every innovation project with the right groundwork, (2) Build and refine ideas and products through iterative action, and (3) Identify and embed the learning. “Fail Better” teaches you how to design your efforts to test the boundaries of your thinking, explore crucial interdependencies, and find the factors that can shift results from just acceptable to groundbreaking--or even world-changing. Buy Now

FEATURED PRODUCT Leading Digital: Turning Technology into Business Transformation HBS Press Book The authors, a trio of highly regarded thought leaders on corporate digital transformation, say changes in the digital realm so far have focused on high tech and media companies – but there’s still a whopping 94% of the business economy that needs to change. This book will show them how. Based on a study of more than 400 large, mainstream firms in every industry around the globe, the authors usefully break down how these organizations have used their own digital transformation to gain strategic, competitive advantage. Readers will learn how these digital leaders have transformed their businesses through smart and rigorous digital investments, and through smart and effective leadership of the change. "Leading Digital" offers practical, real-life tested frameworks that can be instantly applied. Case studies include Nike, Caesars, Burberry, Asian Paints, Pages Jaunes, Codelco, and more. Buy Now

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HBR.ORG | THE MAGAZINE | TOPICS | BOOKS | CASES | STORE | SUBSCRIBE TO HBR UNSUBSCRIBE | NEWSLETTERS PRIVACY POLICY | CONTACT Copyright © 2014 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing 60 Harvard Way Boston, MA 02163 CUSTOMER SERVICE: 800-545-7685 (US/Canada) 1-617-783-7600 (outside the U.S. and Canada)

 

The Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review

 

December 1, 2014 Rebuild a Work Relationship That’s Gone Sour If you haven't been getting along with someone at work, there are ways you can repair the relationship. First, ask yourself what's happening so you know what needs work. Are you having trouble communicating? Are you failing to see eye-to-eye on things? Give up being right, and resist your tendency to analyze every detail of what's happened in your relationship. That's not productive. Instead, look forward and reflect on what you want from the relationship. Try to see the other person's perspective. When you're ready to approach him, make it on neutral ground. Go out for lunch or coffee, rather than asking to meet at one of your desks. Don't debate what went wrong or who is at fault. Focus on the bigger picture or a common goal you share. But don't expect the relationship to change overnight; it takes time to reestablish trust and reciprocity. Adapted from "Fixing a Work Relationship Gone Sour" by Amy Gallo.

BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials | HBR's 10 Must Reads Ebook Boxed Set | HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations Ebook + Video Case Study | HBR Guide to Better Business Writing | HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done

FEATURED PRODUCT Fail Better: Design Smart Mistakes and Succeed Sooner HBS Press Book Whether you’re rolling out a new product from a city-view office or rolling up your sleeves to deliver a social service in the field, learning why and how to embrace failure can help you do better, faster. Smart leaders, entrepreneurs, and change agents design their innovation projects with a key idea in mind: ensure that every failure is maximally useful. Anjali Sastry and Kara Penn show how to create the conditions, culture, and habits to systematically, ruthlessly, and quickly figure out what works, in three steps: (1) Launch every innovation project with the right groundwork, (2) Build and refine ideas and products through iterative action, and (3) Identify and embed the learning. “Fail Better” teaches you how to design your efforts to test the boundaries of your thinking, explore crucial interdependencies, and find the factors that can shift results from just acceptable to groundbreaking--or even world-changing. Buy Now

FEATURED PRODUCT Leading Digital: Turning Technology into Business Transformation HBS Press Book The authors, a trio of highly regarded thought leaders on corporate digital transformation, say changes in the digital realm so far have focused on high tech and media companies – but there’s still a whopping 94% of the business economy that needs to change. This book will show them how. Based on a study of more than 400 large, mainstream firms in every industry around the globe, the authors usefully break down how these organizations have used their own digital transformation to gain strategic, competitive advantage. Readers will learn how these digital leaders have transformed their businesses through smart and rigorous digital investments, and through smart and effective leadership of the change. "Leading Digital" offers practical, real-life tested frameworks that can be instantly applied. Case studies include Nike, Caesars, Burberry, Asian Paints, Pages Jaunes, Codelco, and more. Buy Now

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HBR.ORG | THE MAGAZINE | TOPICS | BOOKS | CASES | STORE | SUBSCRIBE TO HBR UNSUBSCRIBE | NEWSLETTERS PRIVACY POLICY | CONTACT Copyright © 2014 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing 60 Harvard Way Boston, MA 02163 CUSTOMER SERVICE: 800-545-7685 (US/Canada) 1-617-783-7600 (outside the U.S. and Canada)