Your Dream Job May Not Exist, and That’s Okay
Winnie JiangMarch 11, 2024
Anyone can grow passion and find fulfilment in a wide range of careers. For decades, the mantra “follow your passion” has been one of the most popular pieces of career advice. Ever since Steve Jobs famously told Stanford graduates back in 2005 to “find what you love”, university students have been nudged to pursue careers […]
Winning the Game of Boardroom Chess
Andy J. Yap, Michael JarrettMarch 11, 2024
How subtle, seemingly innocuous actions can shift the balance of power in your favour. It is broadly understood that bold, expansive postures and gestures convey power and credibility. But how often have executives entered a meeting confident in achieving their goal, only to leave blindsided – unsure of how the power dynamics shifted in favour […]
Why Some CEOs Are More Likely to Engage in Corporate Downsizing
Guoli ChenMarch 5, 2024
A firm’s decision on whether to downsize when facing performance shortfalls may depend on the CEO’s internal attribution tendency. When a firm’s performance falls short of aspirations, organisational changes can help stop the bleeding and get things back on track. Broadly speaking, firms have two strategic avenues to consider. The first is growth-related strategies to […]
Leadership Challenges When Companies Merge
Andy J. YapMarch 5, 2024
Lessons from an Indonesian telco merger success: When organisations merge, people must come together. Mergers have become the norm in the telco sector recently. Far EasTone and Asia Pacific Telecom in Taiwan in 2022, True and DTAC in Thailand, as well as Celcom and Digi in Malaysia both in 2023. These represent a global shift […]
Let’s Get Specific About Kindness in Business
Nadav KleinFebruary 28, 2024
Being kind in business has its limits – here’s why you shouldn’t go overboard. Being kind to others is great when it comes to personal relationships. But is it great in business? Regular readers of business publications would have noticed an uptick in discussions around the value of kindness in the workplace and how it […]
Four Global Trends in Business and Society in 2024
Francisco Veloso, Katell Le Goulven, Mark StabileFebruary 21, 2024
Climate change, geopolitical crises, social instability and income and wealth inequality are threats to business – but they also pose opportunities for impact. Business continues to play a critical role in society, according to the 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer. The survey, which polled more than 32,000 citizens across 28 countries, finds that business is the most […]
In Praise of Boredom
Manfred F. R. Kets de VriesFebruary 21, 2024
Monotony can ignite creativity, giving rise to new adventures and fresh beginnings. People who possess everything – the ultra-wealthy “kings” among us – are often the most prone to boredom. In an attempt to break free from their ennui, they indulge in luxurious homes, yachts, planes, extensive art collections and sprawling vineyards. But the allure of each of these distractions […]
To Use AI Tools Smartly, Think Like a Strategist
Phanish PuranamFebruary 14, 2024
Consider how specific AI tools will impact your own skills and capabilities. Much talk and concern today revolve around the question of whether AI will render humans redundant or, conversely, if it will propel us towards superhuman abilities. Instead of watching these trends passively to see how it all turns out, I believe each of […]
Business Case for Sustainability: The Stakeholder Perspective
Atalay AtasuFebruary 14, 2024
If the environment were the new business stakeholder, could we still afford to ignore it? Business and the environment are becoming increasingly intertwined. Globally, environmental regulations in the European Union, United States, Japan, China and other parts of the world are pressing companies to play a greater role in sustainability. Laws aside, companies are paying […]
Stop Asking Candidates for Their Last-Drawn Salary
Mark MortensenJanuary 29, 2024
A holistic approach does more to ensure the right fit and boost employee well-being and retention. The practice of asking candidates to disclose their last-drawn salary to prospective employers has long been one of the more contentious aspects of the hiring process. While this remains a common request across many countries, certain states in the […]