Work Smart Business

Handling conflict well is the most neglected but most transformative professional skill of all–here’s the blueprint for doing it better.

Leaders already know that the classic approach to strategy - analyze, plan, execute - is losing relevance. But they don't yet know what replaces it. As everyone and everything becomes more interconnected and digitized, how do you operate, compete, and win? Ming Zeng, the former chief of staff and strategy adviser to Alibaba Group's founder, Jack Ma, explains how the latest technological developments, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, the mobile internet, and cloud computing, are redefining how value is created.

Being a manager is no easy task. You must set and meet team goals that match business objectives while also ensuring growth and development opportunities for your people. You have to be the voice of authority and a key decision-maker while simultaneously giving your employees autonomy and flexibility. How do you navigate these tensions?

Boundaries, Priorities, and Finding Work-Life Balance is filled with practical advice from HBR experts who can help you answer questions like: How do I set clear boundaries around my work life and my personal life? How can I pursue my passions while making time for my job? What are the signs of burnout and how do I conserve my energy? What steps can I take to protect my mental health at work?

Authenticity, Identity, and Being Yourself at Work is filled with practical advice from HBR experts who can help you answer this and other questions like: What does authenticity really mean at work? How do I disclose personal information without oversharing? In what ways can I overcome feelings of imposter syndrome? What should I do when who I am conflicts with those around me?

Writing, speaking, and communicating with confidence can be intimidating. This book gives you the tools to stand out and deliver your message more successfully.

In a world still adjusting to the impact of the pandemic, remote and hybrid-working is new territory for most people. But many managers can be poorly equipped to deal with it: the more casual ways of managing in a physical office simply don’t work with remote teams, and most tasks will be more challenging when conducted at a distance. Aspects of this will be great news for some people: managing remote teams can often raise the bar for leaders and managers, as well as for the teams themselves.

As an award-winning financial journalist and Bloomberg Television anchor, Betty has sat down with billionaires, CEOs, politicians, and celebrities to get their views from the top. Now, in Work Smarts, Betty helps you get to the top by distilling the wisdom of some of the most prominent CEOs in the country. Warren Buffett, Jamie Dimon, Elon Musk, Sam Zell, John Chambers, Anne Mulcahy, and many more spill the beans on what it really takes to be successful, giving practical, "from the street" advice on how to get ahead in your career.

Many think the future of work is about better technology. In Work Smart: Use Your Brain and Behavior to Master the Future of Work, Dr. Jennie Byrne will convince you that the future of work is about being a better human. You will learn a little science about how human brains and behavior work, and you will learn a lot about how the workplace can be better.

Bosses, Coworkers, and Building Great Work Relationships is filled with practical advice from HBR experts who can help you answer questions like: What's the best way to have a tough conversation with my boss? How do I connect with people and make real friends at work? When should I opt into (or out of) office politics? How can I build a strong professional network?

Mid-career crises are on the rise. It’s no wonder: working lives are getting longer, 'jobs for life' are a thing of the past, and there’s more opportunity than ever before to change role, companies or careers. As a result, more people are questioning whether their work is truly serving them – in emotional, spiritual, and practical terms. Yet mid-career crises can also become the springboard to finding greater meaningfulness at work, resulting in huge psychological and performance benefits.

Work Smart Do More is the time management book for CEOs and leaders looking for proven, successful ways to increase productivity and create a winning culture.