Many people began 2021 with optimism, hopeful that a COVID-19 vaccine would be widely available within months. Surely the pandemic would end soon, right?
It was, perhaps, a naïve thought in a pandemic-weary world. Nevertheless, companies around the globe took steps toward normalcy, returning to offices and forging new paths in hybrid and remote work models. Many workers decided they didn’t want to suffer through long commutes or return to jobs they hated and joined the “Great Resignation.” And ultimately, virus variants and infection surges thwarted many thoughtful workplace plans.
Not surprisingly, the 10 most-read articles on Harvard Business School Working Knowledge reflected the mood swings of another challenging, complex year for managers and employees everywhere.
The 10 most popular articles
1. COVID Killed the Traditional Workplace. What Should Companies Do Now?
To mark the one-year anniversary of the pandemic, 13 HBS faculty members offered advice on everything from time management to employee mental health for companies trying to prepare for the “next normal.”
2. For Entrepreneurs, the Benefits of Slowing Down
Even as the pandemic loomed large over the global economy, venture capital investment continued at a steady clip. After several heady months for startups, Jeffrey Bussgang offered radical advice for founders: just chill.
3. The Harvard Business School Faculty Summer Reader 2021
At the start of a summer brimming with vaccine-fueled promise, many people looked forward to taking delayed vacations. HBS faculty members shared books they planned to read during their downtime, pulling from the worlds of technology, history, and science fiction.
4. How to Learn from the Big Mistake You Almost Make
A brush with disaster can lead to important innovations, but only if employees have the psychological safety to reflect on these close calls, says research by Amy C. Edmondson, Olivia Jung, and colleagues.
5. How a Company Made Employees So Miserable, They Killed Themselves
Aggressive downsizing at France Télécom culminated in 19 employee suicides. Case studies by Cynthia Montgomery and Ashley Whillans show how mistreating workers can have deadly consequences.
6. Dying to Lead: How Reaching the Top Can Kill You Sooner
A study of General Electric employees by Tom Nicholas shows how the stress of chasing professional success can shorten an executive's life.
7. Commuting Hurts Productivity and Your Best Talent Suffers Most
Companies that prize innovation should keep employees out of soul-crushing transit, even after the COVID-19 pandemic ends, suggests research by Andy Wu.
8. The Hard Truth About Being a CEO
CEOs rarely get the full story from advisers and don't seem to know when to step down, says David Fubini. His book Hidden Truths offers candid wisdom for leaders.
9. Want Hybrid Work to Succeed? Trust, Don’t Track, Employees
Many companies want employees back at desks, but workers want more flexibility than ever. Tsedal Neeley offers three rules for senior managers trying to forge a new hybrid path.
10. When Your Nerves Get the Best of You, Change the Narrative
Anxiety can hobble even the most confident leaders. Francesca Gino offers three strategies that she uses to turn nerve-wracking situations into meaningful experiences.
Browse the most popular articles of 2020 >
[Image: Unsplash/Joshua Fuller]