Difficult conversations

What to do next time you get a request you’re not sure whether you and your team can pull off.

Advice from women who have been through the diagnosis.

When you're at an inflection point in your career, how do you assess and understand what you're looking for? How can you leverage your strengths? What's...

It can feel jarring and even hurtful. Here’s how to respond.

You can save yourself immeasurable pain down the road by asking these tough questions early.

Five steps to take if you’re in this uncomfortable situation.

HBR’s advice columnist on how to protect yourself and your career from a cutthroat colleague.

Ask yourself these three questions before escalating an issue.

You’re not doing anyone a favor by avoiding conflict.

...

When faced with tough feedback, take time to process the information you received before you decide to act on it.

Ready to give delivering feedback a try? Help team members improve by deciding which path to take to address Mark's performance.

Ready to give handling emotional responses a try? Navigate a tricky feedback conversation by putting yourself in Simon's position and deciding how best...

The key to fostering a trusting, receptive team environment? Constructive feedback.

How to be a more gracious leader.

Five strategies for managers and individual team members.

The three most common mistakes managers make when delivering feedback — and how to respond.

When managed effectively, complainers can help bosses mitigate risks, identify red flags, and uncover opportunities for growth.

Strategies to help people share fearlessly — and frequently.

Six strategies to help you deliver bad news compassionately.

Are you a good boss--or a great one? Get more of the management ideas you want, from the authors you trust, with "HBR's 10 Must Reads on Managing People...

How to be human at work. HBR's Emotional Intelligence Series features smart, essential reading on the human side of professional life from the pages of...

The manager of a rapidly expanding tax and accounting services franchise had been impressed by the performance his right-hand man, but also worried about...

Josie Sung and Greg McNamara founded Denver-based Lighthouse Systems in 2006 shortly after graduating from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in...

This case describes the tumultuous experience Eduardo Ruiz had as CEO of Retail Services & Technologies. Ruiz had acquired Arizona-based RST at the end...

Negotiating may seem scary or unpleasant: you may worry that you do not have the right skills to go head-to-head in a negotiation and get what you deserve,...

This case is divided into A, B, and C cases. See OB85 Dealing with a Toxic Boss for an expanded version of the full case. A Case: Ned was an upper middle...

An inspirational, practical, and research-based guide for standing up and speaking out skillfully at work. Have you ever wanted to disagree with your...

Huntington University was a distinguished not-for-profit academic institution in the United States whose endowment grew from $7 billion to nearly $20...

Mary Griffin, Vice President of Consumer Products, must provide feedback to one of her direct reports, Simon York. York is a strong performer, but he...

A senior manager of marketing and sales at a large medical devices firm has convened his team to help him choose a new manager that will be capable of...

Are you a good boss--or a great one? Good bosses can handle the day-to-day work of running a team. Great bosses go beyond that, finding ways to help employees...

Danielle Marcoux, Director of Web Design at AdNet2Win Technologies, must decide how best to confront Charles Davide, the Chief Technology Officer and...

Note: This case contains language that some people may find offensive. It is left exactly as it was spoken in the real situation portrayed precisely because...

Take the stress out of giving feedback. To help your employees meet their goals and fulfill their potential, you need to provide them with regular feedback....

Get your best work done, no matter where you do it. Video calls from your couch. Project reports in a coffee shop. Presentations at your kitchen table....

This case is centered on Stanford University's Palliative Care program and covers difficult conversations physicians must have with patients and their...

Ramesh Patel, a high potential employee, was excited to be named to the company's New Horizons Board, a select team responsible for producing recommendations...

Gender pronouns are not a trend - they are a best practice.

What to do when you notice a colleague - or yourself - saying something harmful.

Be simple and to-the-point.

From when someone takes credit for an idea to when you have to deliver bad news.

You need to be clear in five areas.

Don't suffer in silence.

Start by changing your mindset.

Think about it like a no-fault divorce.

It’s a tricky conversation, but it can be productive.

A helpful list of replies and comebacks.