The hottest Management Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

Writing better performance reviews: assembling the data

It Depends / Nimble Autonomy • 19 implied HN points • 05 May 24
💼 Business Management
  1. Start collecting data for performance reviews early in the year. This will help you avoid last-minute stress and ensure you remember important information.
  2. Use various sources for your review data, like meeting notes, emails, and feedback from peers. This way, you gather a well-rounded view of the employee's performance.
  3. Make performance reviews a meaningful summary of ongoing feedback. They should reflect the whole year and not just recent events, helping both the employee and the company.

Why I Stopped Trying to Scale My Business

Tiny Empires • 36 implied HN points • 01 Aug 25
💼 Business Management
  1. Growing a business isn't always the best goal. Making consistent money might mean you're successful, even if you're not expanding.
  2. It's important to find a business model that gives you time and money. Your business should help your life, not take over it.
  3. Testing ideas before investing a lot can save you time and money. Getting your first customers is about building trust and knowing what they really want.

The Capitalist and the Engineer

Rethinking Software • 149 implied HN points • 28 Oct 24
💼 Business Management
  1. The conversation shows a clash of values between a business-minded person and an engineer. They discuss their different approaches to life and careers, highlighting how they see work and success.
  2. They touch on the impact of privilege and family background on opportunities. Jan feels frustrated by Stan's wealthy upbringing and its effect on their perspectives.
  3. At the end, there's potential for growth as Stan reaches out to Jan years later, suggesting that people can evolve and learn from their past interactions.
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Help others make better decisions

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 59 implied HN points • 12 Dec 23
💼 Business Management
  1. Encourage your team to write down their decision-making process. This helps clarify steps and improves alignment.
  2. Identify key stakeholders in decisions. Knowing who matters most can streamline communication and decision-making.
  3. Look for ways to improve the decision-making process. Discussing it openly can reveal areas of improvement to help the team work better.

Insights into the future role of public relations in management

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 99 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23
💼 Business Management
  1. Public relations saw a boost during the COVID-19 pandemic, which suggests its potential future importance in management. It's important to understand how PR can be both positive and negative depending on its use.
  2. The author has faced difficulties developing a strong argument and is currently reconsidering his work to make it more dynamic and engaging. It often requires starting over to create better clarity and focus.
  3. The connection between management and public relations is not well-studied yet, and there's a chance to make meaningful contributions to this field. Tightening the research scope could help in making it more manageable and impactful.

The slow death of the hands-on engineering manager

Leading Developers • 139 implied HN points • 12 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Management
  1. Many engineering managers want to code more, but their roles shift them away from hands-on work. Finding even a few hours a week to code can help stay engaged with the team.
  2. Choosing small, impactful tasks can keep managers involved in coding. Projects that help the team or solve annoying issues can be both beneficial and satisfying.
  3. Creating internal tools, like a chatbot for documentation, can improve efficiency and learning. Such projects can bring value to the team while allowing managers to practice their skills.

The Parable of the Startup

Rethinking Software • 149 implied HN points • 18 Oct 24
💼 Business Management
  1. The founder promised each employee a share of ownership to create a feeling of equality. This made everyone feel included and valued in the startup.
  2. Everyone received the same amount of shares regardless of how long they had been there. This caused some confusion and frustration among long-term employees who expected more.
  3. In the end, the founder showed that he also valued his contribution by only taking one share like everyone else. This helped unite the team under a common goal and ownership spirit.

Better call ChatGPT

The Jolly Contrarian • 39 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
💼 Business Management
  1. The study compared human legal reviewers with large language models, showing that machines performed better overall.
  2. Experienced lawyers had the least agreement on what was important in contracts, showcasing the importance of human judgment in legal analysis.
  3. Utilizing large language models may lead to efficiency gains but also introduces complexities and potential risks in legal processes.

The Ways Microsoft Security Copilot Can Enhance Security Operations with Microsoft Intune

Rod’s Blog • 59 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Management
  1. Microsoft Security Copilot is an AI-powered security solution that supports security professionals in various scenarios like incident response and threat hunting, using plugins for wider threat visibility and context.
  2. Security Copilot integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Intune, aiding in managing user access to organizational resources, simplifying device management, and supporting the Zero Trust security model.
  3. Security Copilot helps analysts manage identities and devices, deploy apps, and monitor compliance and security posture using natural language commands, queries, and AI-generated dashboards and reports.

An Amazon Sr. Manager's Guide to Managing AI Teams effectively [Storytime Saturdays]

Technology Made Simple • 79 implied HN points • 04 Jun 23
💼 Business Management
  1. Managing AI teams can be uniquely challenging due to the multi-disciplinary and opaque nature of the field, requiring robust systems to tackle.
  2. Gaining insights from experienced managers like Christopher Walton, who shares tips on effective AI team management, can help you stay ahead in the AI race.
  3. Learning from the experiences of others in areas like Leadership, Productivity, and Personal/Professional Development through stories can provide valuable lessons for your own growth.

✅ Owning public relations as a management discipline

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 179 implied HN points • 02 Feb 23
💼 Business Management
  1. Public relations is more than just writing press releases; it should be seen as a management discipline. Practitioners need to highlight its strategic role in building relationships and trust.
  2. A recent Deloitte report shows that public relations has become important in top management roles. It emphasizes that practitioners should contribute to decision-making and planning before diving into tactical communications.
  3. There is a need for public relations practitioners to own their identity and definition. Using alternative terms can weaken their position and influence, making it harder to communicate its true value and potential.

Buffett's big lesson after 80 years of investing.

Jon’s Newsletter • 159 implied HN points • 26 Feb 23
💼 Business Management
  1. Making a few great investment decisions can have a huge impact over time. It's better to focus on quality rather than quantity when it comes to investing.
  2. Staying calm and focusing on long-term goals is crucial. Short-term market noise shouldn't distract investors from their main objectives.
  3. It's important to be flexible and willing to change your approach as circumstances evolve. Adapting to new ideas can lead to better investment opportunities.

#8 I'm Becoming a Manager!

The Second 90% • 78 implied HN points • 12 Jun 23
💼 Business Management
  1. The author is excited and nervous about becoming a manager.
  2. They have experienced challenges and growth from taking on this new role.
  3. The author plans to share insights and experiences but might still be figuring out what to write about next.

The Best Businesses are the Worst

MoneyLemma • 78 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
💼 Business Management
  1. Great companies are a myth - even the best ones have flaws and imperfections.
  2. Focus on doing the job at hand well, not on perfection - being good enough is the key to success.
  3. The best companies excel in certain areas but may be lacking in others - it's a trade-off due to scarce resources.

Surviving SVB 😰😕😅

The SaaS Baton • 78 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
💼 Business Management
  1. Surviving a crisis like the SVB chaos requires staying solution-oriented, generating multiple outcomes, and reaching out for support.
  2. In the early days, focusing too much on Product-Led Growth (PLG) without testing through outbound sales can be risky.
  3. Transparency in recruiting, from defining assessments to sharing feedback, can lead to better alignment with candidates and improvement in the hiring process.

☁ Benchmarking 101

Hard Mode by Breaking SaaS • 78 implied HN points • 11 Sep 23
💼 Business Management
  1. Benchmarking helps you compare your company's performance with your industry peers and make strategic decisions.
  2. Choose the right benchmarks based on factors like size, growth, and time to ensure accurate comparisons.
  3. Find benchmarking data from public company SEC filings and aggregated private company reports.

As an engineering leader, you’re not managing a cruise ship. You’re managing a flotilla.

Developing Leadership • 78 implied HN points • 07 Apr 23
💼 Business Management
  1. As an engineering leader, don't treat your organization like a cruise ship, but rather like a flotilla of multiple boats working towards a shared goal
  2. Approach your organization as the admiral of the flotilla, allowing each team to move independently but aiming for overall success
  3. Encourage communication and collaboration between teams, so they can leverage their unique strengths to achieve more collectively

Firefighting

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 99 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
💼 Business Management
  1. Teams should be designed to adapt quickly to change rather than stay rigid. This means creating temporary project teams that can be evaluated and disbanded if they're no longer needed.
  2. Instead of focusing on strict, clear KPIs, organizations should promote flexibility. This allows teams more freedom to make the right choices based on changing situations.
  3. Employees should be encouraged to take on roles that allow for continual change. This mindset helps everyone prepare for shifts in their jobs and the organization as a whole.

The Simple Secret to Influence

Perspectives • 10 implied HN points • 20 Nov 25
💼 Business Management
  1. Influence comes from making other people feel smart, not from showing how smart you are. When people leave a conversation feeling capable, they trust and follow you more than if they just feel impressed.
  2. Use simple habits—give clear context, speak plainly, ask curious questions, avoid assumptions, and give credit—to invite ideas and keep conversations productive. These small choices help people feel heard and willing to share.
  3. Real leadership is about creating psychological safety so people can take risks and learn, not about dominating the spotlight. You gain lasting influence by empowering others to grow and contribute.

Driving Extreme Clarity

Perspectives • 7 implied HN points • 11 Dec 25
💼 Business Management
  1. Prefer a clear no to a messy yes because vague agreements hide real disagreements and cause wasted work later.
  2. Prioritize by force-ranking hard choices; if prioritization doesn’t feel painful, you aren’t prioritizing clearly enough.
  3. Capture decisions in writing (prework, live notes, restatements, and a running alignment document) so alignment lasts and people can act confidently.

How to be(come) a manager

Wednesday Wisdom • 123 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24
💼 Business Management
  1. Becoming a manager means doing a different job, not just coding. You won't have much time for hands-on tasks, so you need to let that go and focus on managing your team instead.
  2. It’s important to find a mentor and connect with peers who can help you learn how to manage better. Talking with others in similar situations can give you fresh ideas and support.
  3. You need to learn the tools and skills required for management. Understanding processes, having tough conversations, and giving feedback are all key parts of being a successful manager.

Make Your Future a Little Less Uncertain

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 39 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
💼 Business Management
  1. Success can come with unexpected challenges, which can be hard to talk about. It's important to recognize and address these challenges as they arise.
  2. Changes in society, like those seen during the pandemic, can really impact how organizations connect with their clients. Adapting communication methods is crucial for effective outreach.
  3. Issues like inflation and increased stress in people's lives can lead to more divorces and conflicts. Organizations need to be ready to support their clients through these tough times.

Want an unfair advantage in your tech career? Consume content meant for other roles

Matthew’s Substack • 544 HN points • 06 Mar 23
💼 Business Management
  1. To stand out in your tech career, gain a competitive advantage by consuming content meant for roles you work with.
  2. Understanding other roles helps you avoid common pitfalls and promotes cross-functional collaboration in modern tech companies.
  3. Learning about other roles boosts empathy, clears misconceptions, and helps you be strategic in your interactions with colleagues.

RTO's Dead Cat Bounce

Make Work Better • 98 implied HN points • 07 Jan 25
💼 Business Management
  1. Many companies that push for office returns are being seen as out of touch, as employees are leaving in response to strict policies.
  2. New AI tools are emerging to help manage work, making it easier for people to keep up with meetings without attending them all.
  3. Investing in employee training and culture is key for business success, and companies need to adapt to modern work-life demands to thrive.

Compensation is Communication

The Radar • 19 implied HN points • 19 Apr 24
💼 Business Management
  1. Compensation is a clear signal from an employer to an employee, offering insights into future viability with the company and helping individuals frame expectations and make decisions.
  2. Organizational cultures often hide true intentions behind layers of confusing messaging, especially regarding compensation, which may not necessarily reflect individual performance but rather the company's desire for retention.
  3. Understanding the true meaning behind raises can empower individuals to make informed decisions about their future within a company, recognizing signals of either retention or potential exit based on financial health and performance evaluations.

Keep Going University: Building a Calm, Profitable Company That Lasts

Startup Strategies • 28 implied HN points • 14 Aug 25
💼 Business Management
  1. Building a calm and profitable company is more sustainable than chasing rapid growth. It's important to focus on steady progress rather than stressful expansion.
  2. Quality matters in business. Prioritizing the quality of products and services fosters trust with customers and contributes to long-term success.
  3. Respecting the creative process is crucial. A patient approach allows for better outcomes and a happier work environment, preventing burnout.

Invert, always invert

The Engineering Manager • 10 implied HN points • 23 Nov 25
💼 Business Management
  1. Inversion is a problem-solving technique where you think about how things could fail instead of just focusing on how to succeed. This helps you spot potential problems before they happen.
  2. Using inversion in engineering projects can reveal blind spots we often miss when we only plan for success. By anticipating failure, we can create better strategies and avoid disasters.
  3. Next time you're starting a big project, try doing an 'inversion pass.' Ask what could go wrong and work to prevent those issues, which can lead to more successful outcomes.

Startups: Stop innovating so damn much

CommandBlogue • 1 HN point • 06 Sep 24
💼 Business Management
  1. Startups should focus their innovation efforts on fewer things that really matter. Trying to change everything can slow your progress and make things confusing.
  2. Innovation comes with risks, especially if a startup decides to ignore proven methods that have worked for successful companies. It's often safer to go with what’s already known to work.
  3. Not all areas need innovation. It's smarter to copy what works well in job roles, company structure, and communication tools, so you can spend your energy on truly valuable changes.

The importance of mentoring in engineering leadership - part 2

The Healthy Engineering Leader • 39 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
💼 Business Management
  1. Mentoring is important for both personal and professional growth. It helps you learn from others and share your own experiences.
  2. As a mentor, you don’t need to have all the answers. You can facilitate discussions and brainstorm solutions with your mentee.
  3. Being involved in mentorship can speed up your learning, especially when facing new career challenges or transitions.