Say Again? Uncommon Advice for Common Business Problems

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Much has been accomplished by business leaders who turned left when told to turn right, who reached for the door instead of for the stars, who hired A when the search committee unanimously recommended B. The following research celebrates such unconventional wisdom. Sometimes, as Miles Davis showed, adopting radical simplicity can be the best approach to team creativity. Perhaps the best way to bolster innovation in employees is to draw a curtain around them, literally. It could well be that the best career decision you ever make is to take a pay cut in favor of a boss upgrade. Time to think a little outside the box.

Is it Worth a Pay Cut to Work for a Great Manager?

Few of us want to take less money to move to another organization, but research shows that hooking up with the right manager—whether in sports or business—can quickly increase your value even if the pay is less.

Excellence Comes From Saying No

Why it's better to be excellent at one thing than good at everything.

Introverts: The Best Leaders for Proactive Employees

Think effective leadership requires gregariousness and charisma? Think again. Introverts can actually be better leaders than extraverts, especially when their employees are naturally proactive.

When a Competitor Abandons the Market, Should You Advance or Retreat?

Companies pay close attention when a competitor drops out of the market. Too often, though, they come to the wrong conclusion.

Hiding From Managers Can Increase Your Productivity

Forget management by walking around. Decreasing workplace transparency can increase worker productivity.

Dealing with the ‘Irrational’ Negotiator

What to do when the other party's behavior does not make sense.

Why Most Leaders (Even Thomas Jefferson) Are Replaceable

Leaders rarely make a lasting impact on their organizations—even the really, really good ones. Then out of the blue comes a Churchill.

Should Industry Competitors Cooperate More to Solve World Problems?

If industry competitors collaborated more, big world problems could start to be addressed. Is that even possible in a market economy?

The Miles Davis Theorem: Radical Simplicity Allows Creative Minds to Shine

How business can benefit by relying on radical simplicity to free and empower employees.

When Not to Trust Your Gut

Most of us trust our intuition more than we should, especially when the pressure is on in negotiations.

Research Papers

Unconventional Insights for Managing Stakeholder Trust

Stakeholders differ in regard to the kinds and degrees of vulnerability they face; what they need to believe before they will trust also differs.

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