Podcast
HBR IdeaCast
Hosted by Harvard Business Review · EN
A weekly podcast featuring the leading thinkers in business and management.
92episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Reinventing an Organization to Do More with Less
2d ago00:27:37Summary readyWhat does it take to manage a complex global institution when change is constant and resources are scarce? For Kelly T. Clements, Deputy High Commissioner at the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), it’s about building resilient teams, partnering across sectors, and balancing operational efficiency with humanity. In her more than a decade with the agency, Clements has helped steer key reforms in challenging circumstances, and she shares lessons for both public and private sector leaders about how to modernize systems, decentralize decision-making, and embrace innovation.
SummaryWhat Leads Companies to Betray Their Own Principles
1w ago00:28:55Summary readyWhy do so many organizations lose their way as they grow? Eric Ries, entrepreneur and author, says that corruption inside companies rarely begins with bad people or dramatic scandals. More often, it emerges slowly, through broken incentives, unchecked bureaucracy, and systems that reward the wrong behaviors. He explains why even successful organizations drift from their values, and what companies can do to stay adaptable, trustworthy, and mission-driven as they scale. Ries wrote the book Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad... and How Great Companies Stay Great.
SummaryHow to Break Free of Negative Thought Spirals
2w ago00:29:38Summary readyWhy do we replay cryptic emails, small workplace slights, and past business decisions over and over in our heads? Science journalist Donna Jackson Nakazawa has looked deep into the research and discovered the hidden brain mechanisms that get us into these loops. She explains why a need for achievement, as well as modern work culture, make the problem worse. And she shares practical techniques for recognizing when reflection has crossed into rumination, interrupting destructive thought patterns, and helping teams create more psychological clarity and safety. Nakazawa is author of “Mind Drama: The Science of Rumination and How to Outwit Your Inner Defeatist”.
SummaryThe Leadership Skills That Make Transformation Stick
3w ago00:31:20Summary readyWhy do so many organizational change efforts stall or flat out fail? Julia Dhar, managing director and partner at Boston Consulting Group, says the problem often isn’t strategy, it’s behavior. Leaders spend enormous time designing change, but far less understanding whether employees are willing, motivated, and equipped to adopt it. She shares research around how leaders can create genuine alignment, and what it takes to sustain momentum once the novelty fades. Dhar is coauthor, along with Kristy Ellmer and Philip Jameson, of the book "How Change Really Works: Seven Science-Based Principles for Transforming Your Organization".
SummaryNew Skills to Navigate Continuous Change
May 500:30:53Summary readyWhat if the biggest barrier to change isn’t resistance—but the way we’ve been taught to lead? Nilofer Merchant, an author and leadership expert, says a number of habits are holding organizations of all sizes back. She walks through behaviors to adapt and not just survive but thrive in a world of continuous change, including normalizing discomfort, not overlooking your best ideas, and separating confidence from competence. Merchant wrote the book Our Best Work: Break Free from the 24 Invisible Norms That Limit Us.
SummaryWhy Your Team Won’t Speak Up (And How to Fix It)
Apr 2800:31:30Summary readyMany senior leaders say they want an organization filled with psychological safety and candor, but they often act in ways that are counterproductive to that goal. Charles Duhigg, an author and researcher, has looked deeply into the secrets of good communication, and says there are specific things leaders can do to improve their relationships at work, and thus the culture of the organization. He shares practical, research-backed strategies for building teams where people feel safe to challenge ideas, raise concerns, and contribute openly, from “ostentatious listening” to structuring meetings so every voice is heard. Duhigg wrote the book Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection.
SummaryWhat Sets Superteams Apart from the Rest
Apr 2100:25:24Summary readyA small percentage of teams perform exceptionally well and have fun while doing it. And the secret to their success isn't innate talent. It's the way they work together. Ron Friedman, psychologist and the founder of Superteams, Inc., has studied the data on these high-performing groups across industries and identified the key leadership behaviors that drive sustained outperformance--from asking questions people often avoid to creating continuous feedback loops. Friedman is the author of the HBR article "How to Build a Superteam That Keeps Getting Better," and the book Superteams: The Science and Secrets of High-Performing Teams.
SummaryTo Gain Customer—and Employee—Loyalty, Go Beyond Good Enough
Apr 1400:29:41Summary readyCompanies that spend their energy on incremental improvements to products, services, and even employee experience might just be spinning their wheels. Author Marcus Buckingham argues that data show that the only way to truly make an impact on performance is to make sure customers don't just like - but love - whatever you are selling them. He shares why extreme positive experiences are so important, companies that are getting it right, and how even the most basic products can inspire love and connection--with the right strategy. Buckingham is author of the HBR article "What Companies Can Learn from Their Biggest Fans" and the book Design Love In: How to Unleash the Most Powerful Force in Business.
SummaryThe Case for Designing Work Around Circadian Rhythms
Apr 700:25:35Summary readyAre you a morning type, a night owl, or somewhere in between? And what about the people on your team? When do they feel most energized and productive? Stefan Volk, professor of management at the University of Sydney Business School, says that leaders need to pay more attention to their own and employees’ circadian rhythms because they have a big impact on performance. While forcing everyone into the same schedule can lead to conflict, mistakes, and burnout, carefully planning tasks around individual energy peaks enhances collaboration not only during overlaps but also when people are apart. He offers practical advice on how to get all chronotypes working well together. Volk is author of the HBR article "Tapping into Your Team's Circadian Rhythms."
SummaryStrategy Summit 2026: Who’s Going to Succeed with AI?
Apr 200:29:56Summary readyArtificial intelligence is advancing quickly, but its real impact on productivity, jobs, and competitive advantage is still uncertain. In this four-part special series, we'll share conversations from the recent HBR Strategy Summit to help you get ahead. In this episode, Andrew McAfee, principal research scientist at MIT and cofounder and codirector of the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy at the MIT Sloan School of Management, will explain why we’re in a moment where “nobody knows anything” about how AI will ultimately reshape business—and what leaders should do anyway. Plus, he argues cutting entry-level hiring because of AI could be a major long-term mistake. HBR editor at large Adi Ignatius contributes audience questions.
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