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Personal Development and CareerRemove Personal Development and Career →

New research on personal development and careers from Harvard Business School faculty on issues including self improvement, work-life balance, and life-long learning.
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For Entrepreneurs, the Benefits of Slowing Down

by Jeffrey Bussgang

After several heady months for startups, Jeffrey Bussgang offers radical advice for founders this summer: just chill. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Readers Ask: Which Companies Are Transforming Work?

by Kristen Senz

Joseph Fuller answers readers' questions about automation, virtual internships, and the future of work on Working Knowledge’s “Office Hours” series. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

The Harvard Business School Faculty Summer Reader 2021

by Kathryn Haviland

Looking for your next beach read? HBS faculty members share their summer reading lists, pulling from the worlds of technology, history, and science fiction. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

When Your Nerves Get the Best of You, Change the Narrative

by Francesca Gino

Anxiety can hobble even the most confident leaders. Francesca Gino offers three strategies that she uses to turn nerve-wracking situations into meaningful experiences. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Launching a Career in the COVID Economy? Here Are 5 Tips.

by Carolyn DiPaolo

The pandemic roiled education and the economy, but it doesn't have to derail a new graduate's career. In The Unspoken Rules, Gorick Ng offers advice to help job seekers find the right path. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Commuting Hurts Productivity and Your Best Talent Suffers Most

by Lane Lambert

Companies that prize innovation should keep employees out of soul-crushing transit, even after the COVID-19 pandemic, suggests new research by Andy Wu. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

How to Make the World Better, Not Perfect

by Michael Blanding

If we want to do more good for the world, we must first change how we think about our behavior, says Max Bazerman in his book Better, Not Perfect. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Learning with People Like Me: The Role of Age-Similar Peers on Online Business Course Engagement

by Laura R. Huber, Jacqueline N. Lane, and Karim R. Lakhani

Online learning usually has lower course engagement and higher dropout rates than in-person instruction. However, when classmates are of similar ages it helps boost retention and engagement. Similar-aged classmates have more in common, making interactions mutually rewarding.

Can Being the ‘Token’ Give Women and Minorities a Competitive Edge?

by Danielle Kost

Underrepresented professionals are more likely to choose predominantly male or white workgroups if it helps their ideas stand out, according to research by Edward H. Chang and colleagues. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Steps to Help You Get Out of Your Own Way

by Sean Silverthorne

These research-based tips will help you slow down, fight the fog, and improve both your home life and work life. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Optimal Illiquidity

by John Beshears, James J. Choi, Christopher Clayton, Christopher Harris, David Laibson, and Brigitte C. Madrian

This paper evaluates the optimality of retirement savings systems, finding that the best mix is a three-account system with a perfectly liquid savings account, a partially illiquid savings account (with an early-withdrawal penalty of approximately 10%), and a completely illiquid savings account.

Want to Be Happier? Make More Free Time

by Dina Gerdeman

Enjoying life requires time, but too often we willingly give it away in pursuit of money and career. Ashley Whillans shows how to restore the proper balance. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

You're Right! You Are Working Longer and Attending More Meetings

by Danielle Kost

A study of 3 million people confirms what many work-from-home employees already know: We're swamped. Research by Raffaella Sadun, Jeffrey Polzer, and colleagues. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

COVID's Surprising Toll on Careers of Women Scientists

by Rachel Layne

Women scientists and those with young children are paying a steep career price in the pandemic, according to new research by Karim Lakhani, Kyle Myers, and colleagues. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Who Will Give You the Best Professional Guidance?

by Julia B. Austin

Even the most powerful leaders need support and guidance occasionally. Julia Austin offers advice own how and where to find the right type of mentor. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Reflection: The Pause That Brings Peace and Productivity

by Dina Gerdeman

Joseph Badaracco studied classic works and interviewed 100 managers in 15 countries to learn how busy men and women find time for reflection. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

The Pursuit of Passion Propagates Privilege

by Josephine Tan and Jon M. Jachimowicz

While graduating students are often exhorted to do work they love to do, those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are less likely to feel that they are a fit for and have the skills to thrive in a job that calls for passion.

The Harvard Business School Faculty Summer Reader 2020

by Staff

Harvard Business School faculty are both voracious book readers and frequent book authors. Here is what they are reading this summer, and what they have written over the last year. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

From Sweetheart to Scapegoat: Brand Selfie-Taking Shapes Consumer Behavior

by Reto Hofstetter, Gabriela Kunath, and Leslie K. John

Using a dataset of more than 280,000 user reviews on Yelp, this paper describes a series of eight studies exploring how brand selfie-taking affects consumers’ behavior and sense of connection toward a brand.

Hard Work Isn't Enough: How to Find Your Edge

by Dina Gerdeman

Life isn't fair, especially in the workplace. In Edge: Turning Adversity into Advantage, Laura Huang offers a new strategy for uncovering and showcasing your unique value in the face of obstacles. Open for comment; 0 Comments.