Be a Better Boss

Harvard Business School Professor Linda Hill studies organizations as inherently political entities. In this lesson, she argues that our success is determined by how well we manage the political dynamics associated with all organizational life.It’s not easy today, says Hill, “because the global economy is very unforgiving. I meet people all the time that have two and three bosses, for example. And the number of peers they are dependent on can be just phenomenal, particularly in these global co...

At this point it’s common knowledge, and a not-so-funny-anymore inside corporate joke that meetings are often a waste of time. This has been studied and verified, scientifically. Yet we persist in having meetings, and are sluggish about changing how we organize and run them. So how can we have better (and fewer) meetings, especially considering the growing challenge of virtual management in our increasingly mobile and globalized workforce? Linda Hill of Harvard Business School has some practica...

Should a manager avoid friendship altogether with people over whom she has direct authority? For Linda Hill, and so many others who work long hours with colleagues they like and admire, this is not only undesirable, it’s a virtual impossibility. Where troubles arise, says Hill, is when the lines between business and friendship get blurred.

What does a good boss do? These days it’s significantly more complex than either barking orders at people or subtly inspiring them to be their best selves. The marketplace is becoming more complex and competitive daily, and the role of the manager is following suit.

One of the least scientific aspects of running a business, and one that companies often get wrong as a result, is the hiring process. Studies have shown that the factors hiring managers tend to focus on––good schools, impressive past positions––are poor predictors of long-term success in a new position. So what else is there? Linda Hill, professor of business administration at HBS, offers a series of questions that can help you prioritize the right things in a potential hire––it’s a littl...