The hottest Management Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

Why your manager sucks [Finance Fridays]

Technology Made Simple • 99 implied HN points • 12 Nov 22
💼 Business Management Leadership Organizational Culture Career development Work Relationships
  1. The Dilbert Principle explains how incompetent employees may be promoted to management to get them out of the way.
  2. The Invisible Man Principle highlights how mediocre employees may end up in important projects when all the top performers are busy with other tasks.
  3. The Peter Principle shows that competent workers may be promoted until they reach a role where they struggle, impacting their career progression.

How we increased execution by 10x at Coda | Oliver Heckmann - Head of Engineering at Coda

platocommunity • 39 implied HN points • 13 Dec 23
💼 Business Management Productivity Execution Planning Tools
  1. Cutting down planning time to 10% allows for better focus and higher quality plans, leading to increased execution speed.
  2. Bridging the Planning-Execution Canyon by synchronizing OKRs in planning and execution documents improves insight, accountability, and progress tracking.
  3. Creating centralized Team Hubs with all important information in one place reduces information silos, fosters transparency, and promotes unified teamwork.

Hidden Tasks of Product Management

Sarah's Newsletter • 159 implied HN points • 28 Jun 22
💼 Business Management Data-driven Quality Assurance Stakeholder engagement Leadership
  1. Product managers should oversee their company’s offering like any manager oversees people.
  2. Being data-driven is crucial for product managers. They need to question data, consider various types of data, and course correct based on data-driven decisions.
  3. Product managers play a critical role in owning quality assurance and getting stakeholder buy-in for successful product launches.

The Hagakure #64: The Heart of W. Edwards Deming

The Hagakure • 113 HN points • 24 Aug 23
💼 Business Leadership Management Humanitarianism Organizational Culture
  1. W. Edwards Deming emphasized the importance of systems thinking and statistical process control in achieving quality and quantity in production.
  2. Deming's heart and compassion played a significant role in inspiring hope and confidence in the people of Japan, contributing to their rapid post-war recovery.
  3. Leading with compassion, embracing interconnectedness, and nurturing living systems over optimizing machines are key lessons from Deming's story.
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How to break the cycle of firefighting and build engineering excellence

The Incrementalist • 2 implied HN points • 01 Jan 25
💼 Business Management Operations Leadership Systems Thinking Team development
  1. Focus on identifying patterns in recurring problems so you can address the underlying issues, not just the symptoms. This can save time and resources in the long run.
  2. Engage your team in analyzing and understanding events to develop better strategies. Involving everyone ensures a shared understanding and ownership of solutions.
  3. Create processes and structures that promote proactive thinking and continuous improvement. This helps teams work more effectively and reduces the chaos of constantly putting out fires.

Why does Tech Hire and Fire so quickly [Finance Fridays]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 04 Mar 23
💼 Business Tech Finance Employment Management Economy
  1. Tech companies hire and fire quickly due to the boom and bust cycle - the economy goes through periods of growth and recession, affecting staffing decisions.
  2. Big tech companies compete aggressively, leading to hiring for unprofitable projects and mass layoffs later on.
  3. Hiring in tech can sometimes be driven by ego and market image, leading to quick layoffs as well. Stay aware of trends and project impact to protect your job.

How to speed up your group decisions

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 19 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
💼 Business Management Decision-making Organizational Behavior Remote work Productivity
  1. Group decisions can take a long time, especially with remote work. It's important to find ways to make these decisions quicker.
  2. Using decision maps can help clarify the decision-making process. They can guide groups through their choices more efficiently.
  3. Understanding how long decisions take in your organization can highlight where improvements are needed. This awareness can help teams speed things up.

Preventive decisions are underrated

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 39 implied HN points • 28 Nov 23
💼 Business Leadership Strategy Management Organizations Technology
  1. Preventive decisions are often overlooked but can save a lot of trouble later. It's better to act early to avoid bigger problems in the future.
  2. Building and maintaining strong relationships with your team or board is essential for effective leadership. Good communication can prevent misunderstandings and conflicts.
  3. Learning from the experiences of companies like OpenAI can provide valuable insights into making better strategic decisions. Watching their ups and downs can teach important lessons for everyone in business.

How do you go so fast?

Sunday Letters • 119 implied HN points • 17 Jan 23
💼 Business Management Productivity Team Dynamics Innovation Leadership
  1. In bigger companies, things can slow down because there are many people involved and a lot of requirements. It's easy to get used to this slow pace, but it's important to push for speed when working on new projects.
  2. People often mistake being busy with actually making progress. Sitting in meetings and creating documents doesn’t always mean you are building something valuable for users.
  3. Moving quickly can be challenging because you have to adapt and learn while you go. It requires a different mindset and the willingness to take risks while focusing on what matters most.

Movers, Shakers, & Money Makers #4

Human Capitalist • 19 implied HN points • 01 Apr 24
💼 Business Employment Management Startups Investing Innovation
  1. There are 10 noteworthy job changes each week that highlight shifts in the business world. These changes often show where companies are heading and who is taking on important roles.
  2. Some of the job moves involve leaders from well-known companies. Their experiences and skills may bring fresh ideas to their new roles, impacting industry trends.
  3. Monitoring job changes can provide insights into potential investment opportunities and emerging talent in various sectors, especially in tech and finance.

3 steps for a FAST promotion to management

Leading Developers • 43 implied HN points • 19 Mar 24
💼 Business Career growth Management Promotion Leadership Professional development
  1. Be the go-to person for your manager by taking ownership of important tasks and being proactive in asking for responsibilities.
  2. Become visible outside your team by working on critical projects for the organization, actively participating in Slack channels, and producing helpful content.
  3. When seeking a promotion, be respectful but firm in asking for what you want, setting concrete goals, and taking proactive steps to achieve them.

My Markdown personal management system

normality’s Substack • 3 HN points • 25 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Software Productivity Management Documentation
  1. This personal management system uses plain text in Markdown format, making it easy to use and modify. You can adjust it to suit your own workflow without getting overwhelmed.
  2. It provides flexibility while still offering helpful structure, so you can prioritize your tasks effectively. You can customize it to include sections for today, this week, and even future tasks.
  3. Though it's a personal tool, it can help you keep track of your projects and milestones. You can also use it to document completed tasks, which can be handy for remembering what you’ve accomplished.

Becoming a sales-engineer

Leading Developers • 49 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
💼 Business Sales Management Career development Customer Relations Product Development
  1. Acquiring new skills through new challenges can be exciting and lead to unexpected career paths.
  2. Transitioning from a technical role to sales doesn't mean losing technical skills - understanding the product deeply remains crucial.
  3. Sales engineering roles offer variety, immediate value, and potential for lucrative rewards, but require strong communication and collaboration skills.

The Shitty Stack System

Trying Truly • 124 HN points • 22 Jun 23
💼 Business Management Incentives Collaboration Leadership
  1. Relying on fear and coercion for motivation can be damaging and counterproductive in the workplace.
  2. Implementing competitive ranking systems can lead to toxic work environments and hinder collaboration.
  3. Replacing negative incentives with positive sum dynamics, such as teamwork and personal development, can ultimately lead to greater success and organizational growth.

Managing the Employee Incentive Pool

Nathan’s Substack • 39 implied HN points • 15 Nov 23
💼 Business Management Startups Employee Benefits Negotiation
  1. Managing the Employee Stock Option Pool (ESOP) is crucial for startup founders to prevent further dilution and attract key talent
  2. Equity distribution should be an integral part of your hiring plan, considering factors like vesting periods, refresh grants, and employee turnover
  3. Negotiating for a lower Employee Incentive Pool (EIP) percentage in subsequent fundraising rounds can help minimize dilution impact and improve share price

✅ Status report: artificial intelligence in public relations

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 13 Nov 23
💼 Business Public Relations Artificial Intelligence Management Digitalization Strategy
  1. Public relations is using AI mainly for testing new ideas, but there's a need for better tools and data management. Companies need to be more organized with their use of AI technology.
  2. AI can help create basic drafts but often lacks quality and can make mistakes. As AI gets better, the quality of its writing is improving.
  3. Jobs at the entry level may be at risk because AI can automate basic writing tasks. Skills like adaptability and managing relationships will be important for staying relevant in the industry.

Why CEOs are the very last job that AI will replace

The Future of Life • 19 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
💼 Business Management Leadership Strategy Value Creation Corporate Governance
  1. CEOs are more than just financial managers; they serve as agents of the owners and have a broad range of responsibilities. Their main job is to implement the company's mission and make key value judgments that drive the business's success.
  2. AI may become very smart, but it can't replace the human ability to make complex value judgments. For example, deciding which products align with a company's values requires deep understanding and insight that AI doesn't have.
  3. Maximizing profits is not just about cutting costs; it's about pursuing a clear mission. Just like individuals find success by following their goals, businesses need a strong mission to guide their decisions.

Applying Socratic Wisdom to Engineering Management

The Healthy Engineering Leader • 39 implied HN points • 08 Nov 23
💼 Business Management Leadership Learning Philosophy Engineering
  1. Humility is important in engineering. Recognizing that you don’t know everything helps create a culture where everyone feels valued and can share ideas.
  2. Being a leader means being a lifelong learner. It’s vital to keep learning about your team and technology to support them effectively.
  3. Taking time to reflect on actions and decisions can lead to better results. Regular team retrospectives can help improve processes and boost team morale.

How to find your own best practices

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 19 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
💼 Business Management Strategy Innovation Best Practices Organizational development
  1. Look for best practices inside your own organization first. You've already tested these ideas, so you know they can work for you.
  2. Using what you already have saves you the trouble of making big changes or learning new systems.
  3. Finding internal best practices helps you build on your own successes instead of starting from scratch with outside ideas.

Burning Time

The Radar • 19 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
💼 Business Management Leadership Workplace dynamics Time management
  1. Unpaid time theft from employees is normalized in business culture, but it's essentially stealing from them.
  2. Leaders need to proactively manage and respect their employees' time to avoid burnout and ensure mutual respect.
  3. Time is a valuable asset for everyone, not just senior leaders, and should be honored and acknowledged in all aspects of work.

✅ Planning for sustainable agency growth

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
💼 Business Management Marketing Public Relations Media Diversity Technology
  1. Using the Traction business planning model can help agencies grow sustainably. It aligns everyone in the team around shared goals and values.
  2. Agencies should aim to reduce the reliance on founders for daily operations. This makes the business more efficient and allows for smoother growth.
  3. Many companies are seeing positive results from a four-day work week, improving employee well-being and job satisfaction. This change could be a sustainable management strategy.

👨‍💻👩‍💻 Product Management vs. Product Marketing vs. Project Management: A Guide to Choosing Your Career Path

The Product Channel By Sid Saladi • 6 implied HN points • 03 Nov 24
💼 Business Career development Management Marketing Product Design
  1. Product management is about creating a product that meets customer needs and involves strategy and teamwork. If you like big-picture thinking and technology, this role might be for you.
  2. Product marketing focuses on promoting and selling a product through messaging and campaigns. If you enjoy creativity and connecting with customers, product marketing could be a good fit.
  3. Project management is all about making sure projects run smoothly on time and within budget. If you have strong organizational skills and like leading teams, project management may be your best path.

getting stuff done

Midnight Musings • 19 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
💼 Business Leadership Teamwork Management Execution Culture
  1. It's really important for everyone on a team to be clear about what success looks like. When everyone understands the goals and expectations, it helps avoid frustration and saves time.
  2. Planning is key before starting projects. When people know their roles and the project scope from the beginning, things go smoother and it's easier to stay on track.
  3. Good communication can make a big difference. Sharing information openly helps build trust and keeps everyone on the same page, leading to better teamwork and collaboration.

How to work with the best people

Sunday Letters • 39 implied HN points • 22 Oct 23
💼 Business Management Collaboration Skills Development Networking Performance
  1. Working with skilled people helps you learn and grow because they can show you what you don't know. It's important to surround yourself with those who excel in their field.
  2. To attract top talent, you need to bring something valuable to the table. Just asking to work with them isn't enough; you have to offer something they want.
  3. Understanding the needs of others is key. Whether it's in a jam session or a workplace, showing that you can add value makes you a desirable collaborator.

Corporate culture starts at the top

Klement on Investing • 2 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
💼 Business Corporate culture Leadership Management Employee Relations Organizational Behavior
  1. Leadership sets the culture of a company. If managers are good, employees will stay, but bad managers drive people away.
  2. High employee turnover often means poor corporate culture. People leave bad work environments, showing how they really feel about their jobs.
  3. Companies with staggered boards tend to have worse cultures. This setup allows old board members to stay, making it hard for shareholders to demand changes.

Engaging Your Staff to Drive Success

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 19 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
💼 Business Strategy Implementation Management Leadership
  1. Most strategies fail during implementation because the planning phase is fun, but putting plans into action is hard. Engaging staff is vital to convert plans into reality.
  2. Engaging staff before creating a strategy helps gather useful feedback and ideas. This can be done through surveys, townhalls, or one-on-one conversations.
  3. After a strategy is made, leaders should support staff by explaining how it benefits them personally and providing the tools they need. Keeping changes simple helps everyone adapt better.

Middle management lessons

Logos • 39 implied HN points • 17 Oct 23
💼 Business Management Leadership Career development Workplace culture Communication
  1. Relying on your gut feeling can sometimes be better than overthinking with too much data. Sometimes common sense leads to clearer, quicker decisions.
  2. Managing upwards is key; keeping your boss informed about your work helps them understand your efforts and successes better. Regular updates are more helpful than you might think.
  3. Hard work is usually more important than just being smart. At work, showing your effort often matters more than your natural talent or intelligence.

Conquering the Dreaded Annual Plan

Build To Scale • 39 implied HN points • 17 Oct 23
💼 Business Planning Management Team Dynamics Resources
  1. Annual planning is crucial but understand that it's a flexible roadmap, not a rigid rulebook for the year ahead
  2. Using SWOT analysis can help identify internal strengths, weaknesses, and external opportunities, threats to guide strategic initiatives
  3. Evaluate your team's readiness to scale, recognize their strengths, weaknesses, and consider bringing in new talent as needed

Are Your Grand Challenge Strategies Robust?

Under the Hood: The Power of Principled Leadership • 39 implied HN points • 06 Jun 23
💼 Business Strategy Leadership Management Organizations Sustainability
  1. Developing a participatory architecture is crucial for addressing grand challenges
  2. Fostering multivocal inscription allows for diverse interpretations and engagement in addressing grand challenges
  3. Engaging in distributed experimentation helps in generating small wins and promoting continuous learning while addressing grand challenges