think-piece
The Case Against Consensus
Teams that seek consensus don't get better decisions. They get faster convergence and suppressed information. Disagreement isn't a bug. It's a feature.
think-piece
think-piece
Why Training Doesn't Work
Companies spend $380 billion annually on training. Only 10-30% transfers to the job. The issue isn't learning. It's that old environments trigger old habits.
think-piece
Stop Buying Ping Pong Tables
Companies spend billions on perks that don't move engagement, retention, or performance. The research points to three things employees actually want, and none of them are free snacks.
think-piece
The Dark Side of Psychological Safety
Psychological safety is the most cited concept in modern management. But without accountability, it produces comfortable teams that never improve. Safety needs a counterweight.
think-piece
Burnout Has Six Causes
Christina Maslach's research identified six drivers of burnout. Workload is only one. The other five (fairness, control, community, reward, values) predict it more strongly. Most organizations only address the wrong one.
think-piece
Open Offices Failed
We ran a twenty-year experiment on open offices. The data is in. Face-to-face interaction dropped. Email increased. Collaboration decreased. Time to admit it didn't work.
think-piece
Stop Building Culture
Most culture initiatives add programs, events, values statements. But the best cultures aren't built through addition. They emerge when you subtract the friction that prevents good behavior.
think-piece
The Unlimited PTO Trap
Unlimited PTO sounds generous but often reduces time off. Without a clear number, people guess wrong. And they almost always guess low.
think-piece
The Most Productive Thing You Can Do Is Stop Working
Top performers don't outwork everyone else. They out-rest them. Elite violinists, writers, and scientists share one pattern: deliberate rest that lets their brains consolidate learning and solve problems unconsciously.
think-piece
Your Annual Survey Is a Rearview Mirror
Annual engagement surveys tell you what people felt six months ago. By the time you act, the disengaged have already left and the engaged have started questioning. What if the timing is the problem?
think-piece
Annual Reviews Are Unfixable
We keep redesigning annual performance reviews hoping to find the right format. The problem isn't the format. It's the frequency.
think-piece
Give People Fewer Choices
More options feel generous. They actually reduce satisfaction and action. The best HR programs offer less, not more.