Leadership

  Empower Your Team to Solve Their Own Problems If you’re constantly fielding employees’ problems—and feeling buried by to-dos as a result—you’re not alone. When leaders take on too much in the name of being supportive, it can create team dependence and lead to burnout. The solution isn’t being less caring; it’s being more like a coach. Ask your team members these five questions to empower them to think and act for themselves.   What have you tried?  This question sets the tone: You’re available, but you expect effort before escalation. It trains your team to pause, reflect, and bring forward partial solutions instead of just dumping problems on your desk.    What—or who—is getting in the way?  Dig into blockers instead of taking on the whole issue. Removing a bottleneck is often faster than solving the entire problem yourself—and you’ll spot patterns that help you lead more strategically.    What support do you need?  Don’t just ask “How can...

  HANNAH BATES: Welcome to   HBR On Strategy , case studies and conversations with the world’s top business and management experts—hand-selected to help you unlock new ways of doing business. For a long time in the restaurant industry, there were two dining categories: fast food or table service. But Ron Shaich, founder and former chairman and CEO of Panera Bread, managed to create an entirely new category in between the two—a category that would set the table for companies like Starbucks, Chipotle, Sweetgreen, and beyond In this episode, Shaich breaks down his strategies for successful innovation in the restaurant industry: figure out what your customers truly want, create a differentiated offering, execute with excellence, and find the right opportunities to grow. And he argues that they can be used to scale any type of organization. This episode originally aired on  HBR IdeaCast  in November 2023. Here it is. ALISON BEARD: Welcome to the  HBR IdeaCast  f...

Crisis management refers to the process of preparing for, responding to, and recovering from a crisis situation. A crisis can be defined as any event or situation that poses a significant threat to an organization's reputation, financial stability, or ability to operate. Examples of crises include natural disasters, cyber attacks, product recalls, and public relations crises. Effective crisis management involves a number of key steps, including: Preparing for potential crises by developing a crisis management plan, identifying potential risks and threats, and establishing communication protocols and procedures. Responding quickly and effectively to the crisis by activating the crisis management plan, communicating with stakeholders, and taking appropriate actions to mitigate the impact of the crisis. Managing the aftermath of the crisis by evaluating the response, addressing any remaining issues, and taking steps to prevent similar crises from occurring in the future. Throughout th...

Leadership in crisis refers to the ability of a leader to guide their team or organization through a difficult or challenging situation. During a crisis, such as a natural disaster, a financial downturn, or a public health emergency, leaders are called upon to make quick decisions, adapt to changing circumstances, and provide direction and support to their followers. Effective leadership in crisis requires a range of skills, including the ability to communicate clearly and calmly, to remain focused and decisive under pressure, and to inspire confidence and trust in others. It also involves being able to anticipate and respond to the needs of those affected by the crisis, while staying true to the core values and mission of the organization. Some of the key qualities of successful crisis leaders include resilience, empathy, humility, and the ability to collaborate with others. They must also be willing to learn from their mistakes, adapt their strategies as needed, and take responsibili...