Soon after ChatGPT debuted in late 2022, business leaders began taking their first steps into generative artificial intelligence, approaching this powerful technology with a mix of awe and trepidation.
It’s no surprise that one of the most-read articles in HBS Working Knowledge in 2023—“Is AI Coming for Your Job?”—reflected those concerns.
Meanwhile, this year readers were also clearly trying to figure out their place in the world, gravitating to stories about finding the right work-life balance, seeking a recharge with a sabbatical, diversifying their social circle to live happier, and finding ways to make better use of their limited time.
As another year comes to a close, we hope you’ll take the time to read our 10 most popular stories of the year, along with a few additional articles we think you’ll find interesting.
You’re More Than Your Job: 3 Tips for a Healthier Work-Life Balance
Younger workers are rejecting the idea of sticking with one employer for the long haul and are instead finding happiness by job-hopping and creating dramatically different boundaries with work. In a new book, Christina M. Wallace maps out a step-by-step guide to building a flexible and fulfilling life that includes rest, relationships, and a rewarding career.
Is AI Coming for Your Job?
In a post-AI world, where an algorithm can draft marketing copy—or even pop songs and movie scripts—anything seems possible. Harvard Business School faculty members discuss how artificial intelligence could reshape how work gets done.
The Harvard Business School Faculty Summer Reader 2023
Need a book recommendation for your summer vacation? HBS faculty members share their reading lists, which include titles that explore spirituality, design, suspense, and more.
Four Steps to Building the Psychological Safety That High-Performing Teams Need
Struggling to spark strategic risk-taking and creative thinking? In the post-pandemic workplace, teams need psychological safety more than ever, and a new analysis by Amy Edmondson highlights the best ways to nurture it.
When a Vacation Isn’t Enough, a Sabbatical Can Recharge Your Life—and Your Career
Burning out and ready to quit? Consider an extended break instead. Drawing from research inspired by his own 900-mile journey, DJ DiDonna offers practical advice to help people chart a new path through a sabbatical.
Face Value: Do Certain Physical Features Help People Get Ahead?
Society seems to reward people with particular facial features. Research by Shunyuan Zhang and colleagues uses machine learning to analyze traits that people associate with charisma. The findings highlight opportunities to enhance one's image—and challenge bias.
How to Live Happier in 2023: Diversify Your Social Circle
People need all kinds of relationships to thrive: partners, acquaintances, colleagues, and family. Research by Michael Norton and Alison Wood Brooks offers new reasons to pick up the phone and reconnect with that old friend from home.
The Clock Is Ticking: 3 Ways to Manage Your Time Better
Life is short. Are you using your time wisely? Leslie Perlow, Arthur Brooks, and DJ DiDonna offer time management advice to help you work smarter and live happier.
When Glasses Land the Gig: Employers Still Choose Workers Who 'Look the Part'
Is an eyeglass-wearer more likely to be a strong web developer? Employers that use online talent platforms tend to consider profile photos in final hiring decisions, says research by Isamar Troncoso. What's the role of recruiting platforms in preventing bias?
Yes, You Can Radically Change Your Organization in One Week
Skip the committees and the multi-year roadmap. With the right conditions, leaders can confront even complex organizational problems in one week. Frances Frei and Anne Morriss explain how in their book Move Fast and Fix Things.
And don't forget about:
Looking to Leave a Mark? Memorable Leaders Don't Just Spout Statistics, They Tell Stories
That killer fever chart in your slide deck might not be as impressive as you think. In fact, your audience might soon forget that critical data point. If you want them to remember your message, research by Thomas Graeber suggests that nothing sticks to the mind like a good story.
How KKR Got More by Giving Ownership to the Factory Floor: ‘My Kids Are Going to College!’
KKR turned around a struggling door company and sold it for 10 times its investment—giving factory workers a life-changing cut of the returns. A case study by Ethan Rouen and Dennis Campbell offers lessons for companies trying to instill an owner's mindset in employees.
Failing Well: How Your ‘Intelligent Failure’ Unlocks Your Full Potential
We tend to avoid failure at all costs. But our smarter missteps are worthwhile because they can force us to take a different path that points us toward personal and professional success, says Amy Edmondson.