The hottest Management Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

Three ways to reduce the noisy office productivity tax

A Bit Gamey • 6 implied HN points • 27 Jul 25
💼 Business Management
  1. Open-plan offices can hurt productivity because they are noisy and full of distractions. People find it hard to concentrate with so much background chatter.
  2. Introverts and extroverts have different needs in work environments. Introverts thrive in quiet spaces, while extroverts enjoy lively surroundings.
  3. To improve focus and satisfaction at work, companies should consider flexible working options, train managers to understand these differences, and create specific areas for quiet work and collaboration.

Everything you want to know about subscriptions

Logos • 19 implied HN points • 24 May 23
💼 Business Management
  1. There are different types of subscription models, like 'pay to access' or 'pay to save.' Each type has different strategies for companies.
  2. Companies should know their goal for subscriptions — either to make money directly or encourage customers to spend more on other products.
  3. Offering upfront annual payments may not be the best idea. Many users who pay upfront are less likely to cancel anyway, so the discount might not be worth it.

Big TAM Founders, Small TAM Startups

Working Theorys • 58 implied HN points • 15 Nov 23
💼 Business Management
  1. Consider being a big TAM founder working on a smaller TAM startup for increased chance of success.
  2. Choosing a smaller market and outcome might actually reduce risks and give you more control over success.
  3. Examples like starting a newsletter as a big TAM founder on a small TAM startup show how this strategy can work.
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The uncertainty mindset

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 219 implied HN points • 14 Oct 19
💼 Business Management
  1. Risk and uncertainty are not the same. We often confuse the two, but dealing with true uncertainty needs a different approach than just managing risks.
  2. Businesses need to adapt to unexpected changes. Having a flexible mindset can help companies navigate uncertain situations more effectively.
  3. Understanding uncertainty can improve personal and professional growth. Embracing uncertainty helps with better decision-making and can lead to new discoveries.

3 steps for a FAST promotion to management

Leading Developers • 43 implied HN points • 19 Mar 24
💼 Business Management
  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.

The Realities of Engineering Leadership in 2025

HackerPulse Dispatch • 5 implied HN points • 12 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Management
  1. To succeed in engineering leadership, you need to balance technical skills and management abilities. It's not just about writing code; it's about leading and empowering your team.
  2. Breaking through to senior engineering roles requires a mix of experience, expertise, and wisdom. You need to lead others effectively and make strategic decisions.
  3. The future of engineering roles is changing, with more overlap between job responsibilities. It's important to be adaptable and think across different areas to succeed in evolving tech environments.

Goal versus Process

Sunday Letters • 39 implied HN points • 02 Oct 22
💼 Business Management
  1. Focusing on goals helps teams and users create better outcomes. It's important to understand what problem we're solving instead of just following a strict process.
  2. Being adaptable is key. Just like driving, we can make adjustments along the way, which leads to a more effective journey toward our goals.
  3. Users care more about reaching their goals quickly than about the steps involved. Designing with their goals in mind makes them happier and more productive.

Is Now the Right Time to Become a Manager?

sumitha • 1 HN point • 09 Jul 24
💼 Business Management
  1. Making the switch from individual contributor to manager is a big decision that requires careful timing and consideration.
  2. Assess your readiness for a management role by evaluating your experience with technical problem-solving, leadership capacity, and familiarity with different tech stacks.
  3. Before transitioning to a management role, avoid pitfalls such as switching companies, attempting the switch during challenges, or considering management as an escape from technical challenges.

In Between Two Forces

Building Rome(s) • 15 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
💼 Business Management
  1. Technical Program Managers (TPMs) help connect the vision of leaders with the execution of managers. They play a key role in ensuring that strategies are implemented effectively.
  2. Collaboration with Product Managers is crucial for TPMs. Working together helps them handle complex projects and achieve great results.
  3. TPMs need to be clear and adaptable. They must turn challenges into opportunities and keep teams focused on success, no matter the situation.

#31: Alternative sociality

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 159 implied HN points • 03 Jun 20
💼 Business Management
  1. Uncertainty can push people to explore new ways of collaborating that they wouldn't consider in normal times. This can lead to creative solutions and innovations.
  2. Amorphous organizations have flexible memberships and allow diverse types of participants. This inclusivity can enable them to adapt better to changing conditions.
  3. It's important for organizations to maintain some level of inefficiency and diversity to stay adaptable for future changes, even if it seems counterproductive now.

Should managers still code?

The Engineering Manager • 13 implied HN points • 28 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Management
  1. Managers should definitely be involved in the code, meaning they need to understand how their team's code works and participate in reviews. This helps them stay connected to the team's work.
  2. It's not always necessary for managers to write code themselves. They can focus on strategic tasks that only they can do while still being engaged with the technical side.
  3. When managers do want to write code, it should be in a structured way, like setting aside specific time for it or pairing with team members. This keeps the balance between management duties and coding.

How Yasir Al-Rumayyan Became The Most Powerful Person In Sports

Huddle Up • 19 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
🎾 Sports Management
  1. Yasir Al-Rumayyan has become a key figure in sports, connecting with major players like FIFA's president and Tiger Woods. His influence helps him shape decisions in various sports leagues.
  2. Saudi Arabia is using its wealth to expand into sports, with its state-controlled oil company making huge profits. This financial power supports the country's long-term growth strategy.
  3. Al-Rumayyan's rise shows how money and relationships can create significant influence in global sports, impacting leagues like UFC, Formula 1, and soccer.

How Do TPMs Drive Accountability When AI Owns the Work?

Building Rome(s) • 7 implied HN points • 05 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Management
  1. As AI takes on more tasks, it's important to think about who is responsible for the outcomes. If something goes wrong, we need a clear person to turn to.
  2. The way we manage accountability will change as fewer people work on tasks and more AI agents do the work. It could become harder to track who is responsible when problems arise.
  3. There might be a need for new systems to keep track of AI decisions and their results. This way, we can still ensure accountability even when computers do much of the work.

Product Management ++ 👀

Turnaround • 138 implied HN points • 16 Dec 19
💼 Business Management
  1. Neil McElroy's memo proposing the 'Brand Men' role at Procter & Gamble laid the foundation for modern brand management and product management in consumer product companies.
  2. The evolution of technology has shifted the composition of Fortune 500 companies towards the technology industry, impacting the role of product managers who now require a blend of management frameworks and tech understanding.
  3. Product managers today need to not only understand management strategies but also be adept at technology to succeed in the competitive landscape of building successful companies.

Who before what

Tech Ramblings • 19 implied HN points • 30 Apr 23
💼 Business Management
  1. Choosing the right people is crucial for success. Having a strong team matters more than knowing exactly what to do first.
  2. Wells Fargo thrived because they recruited talented leaders who embraced change, while Bank of America struggled with weak leadership.
  3. This 'who before what' principle also applies to personal relationships. Make sure the people you bring into your life add value and support your growth.

Three effective negotiation tactics

A Bit Gamey • 6 implied HN points • 29 Jun 25
💼 Business Management
  1. Having good fallback options is crucial when negotiating. If you know what your best alternative is, you'll feel more confident and likely to get better results.
  2. Setting a strong anchor at the beginning of a negotiation helps guide the discussion. The first number mentioned sets the tone for how the talks will go.
  3. Presenting multiple offers at once makes it easier for the other party to agree. It shows flexibility and helps reveal what they value the most.

Output vs. Outcomes - Problem #4

Fish Food for Thought • 17 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24
💼 Business Management
  1. It's important to focus on outcomes, not just outputs. Companies should ask themselves if their efforts really make a difference for customers.
  2. Measuring success by outputs can lead to short-term wins but might miss real problems. Companies should aim for quality and value instead of just quantity.
  3. Shifting to an outcome-driven approach means redefining success metrics. Businesses should prioritize customer satisfaction and engagement over just the number of tasks completed.

Engineering teams are like ADHD brains

peoplefirstengineering • 17 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Management
  1. Engineering teams have high cognitive load, just like ADHD brains. Both need to manage a lot of information at once, which can be overwhelming.
  2. Interruptions can hurt focus for both ADHD individuals and engineering teams. Managing distractions is crucial for getting work done effectively.
  3. Breaking down tasks helps both ADHD individuals and engineers. Smaller tasks make big projects feel less overwhelming and more manageable.

The history of inhouse legal

The Jolly Contrarian • 59 implied HN points • 23 Oct 21
💼 Business Management
  1. In-house legal departments in banks have evolved over time from negligible involvement to becoming key players in managing legal relationships and adding value to the organization.
  2. The rise of magic circle law firms marked a period where law firms charged high rates for extensive legal work, benefiting from banks' willingness to pay for legal protection in their big financial deals.
  3. Management consultants stepped in to help banks reduce legal spend, resulting in the development of legal operations teams within organizations to optimize legal processes and costs.

Salary of a Early-Stage Startup CEO

Tech Ramblings • 19 implied HN points • 23 Apr 23
💼 Business Management
  1. When starting a business, pay yourself just enough to live on. This way, you can focus on building the company without financial stress.
  2. Try to keep your living costs low before launching. This can help you manage funds better and prepare for the long journey ahead.
  3. As a startup CEO, it's important not to pay yourself too much. This helps keep resources for growth and shows you value your team's contributions.

Pub Landlord

Net Interest • 16 implied HN points • 29 Nov 24
💼 Business Management
  1. Buying a pub can be a great opportunity if you have the right team and concept. In this case, a popular chef and manager helped attract more customers.
  2. It’s important to adapt to market demands, like adding lodging to increase profits. This idea allowed them to earn more money alongside the pub's main offerings.
  3. Running a pub can lead to highs and lows, especially in the hospitality business. Success can come with great rewards, but challenges are always around the corner.

Rethinking Ownership in the New Normal of AI Work

Building Rome(s) • 5 implied HN points • 11 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Management
  1. AI tools can help us create documents faster, but we need to rethink what ownership really means. It's not just about who writes the words, but who shapes the ideas.
  2. Using AI doesn't take away from our skills; it can actually enhance our work. Just like having editors and collaborators, AI can help us focus on the bigger picture.
  3. We should change how we evaluate work. Instead of just looking at the effort put in, we should focus on the outcomes and the impact of what we create.

MasterClass: High-Priced Edutainment with Celebrity Sparkle, but is it Truly Scalable?

Gad’s Newsletter • 50 implied HN points • 02 Oct 23
💼 Business Management
  1. MasterClass offers high-priced edutainment with celebrity instructors, blurring the lines between entertainment and education.
  2. Evaluating scalability involves factors like growth potential, constraints, alignment, leadership, and efficiency.
  3. High production costs might challenge MasterClass's path to profitability, impacting its ability to balance growth and maintain quality.

✅ The opportunity for public relations to build on management status earned during COVID-19

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 23 Mar 23
💼 Business Management
  1. Public relations has gained importance during COVID-19, helping organizations manage changes and communicate with stakeholders. This role is now more recognized in leadership decisions.
  2. Corporate affairs directors are seen as important advisers who help balance business goals with social needs. They work closely with top management to guide the company’s direction.
  3. There’s a shift towards using data and technology in public relations to understand society better. Companies are focusing on employee engagement and societal issues as key parts of their communication strategy.

Have a Board Meeting, Even Without a Board

Tippets by Taps • 4 implied HN points • 07 Aug 25
💼 Business Management
  1. Quarterly 'Not a Board Meetings' are useful for early-stage founders to plan and reflect. They help create clarity and accountability about the business's progress.
  2. These meetings align stakeholders by providing a shared understanding among investors, preventing miscommunications. It's key for everyone to be on the same page.
  3. Running these meetings can improve communication skills and problem-solving abilities. They set up a good groundwork for when formal boards are created later.

Oxford Nanopore - Baseless Rumors

ASeq Newsletter • 36 implied HN points • 24 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Management
  1. Rumors about layoffs and nepotism at Oxford Nanopore are circulating, potentially impacting the company's share price.
  2. The company's delayed announcement of layoffs raises questions, with some seeing it as a strategic move and others as a demotivational tactic for employees.
  3. The overall strategy of Oxford Nanopore is being called into question, with suggestions that changes may be needed for the company to succeed.

Building CAUSL - Episode 7: Onboarding at Lightspeed

CAUSL Effect • 19 implied HN points • 02 Apr 23
💼 Business Management
  1. Onboarding at a new company can be really tough. It often takes new employees months to fully understand the business and their role.
  2. It's common for new hires to feel overwhelmed, especially when they have to learn everything quickly. Having a structured process can really help ease this transition.
  3. By creating an efficient onboarding system, employees can get settled in just weeks instead of months. This makes the experience much smoother for everyone involved.

Preparing for Senior Level Leadership

DruGroup • 59 implied HN points • 02 Nov 21
💼 Business Management
  1. Senior leadership comes with a lot of pressure that can be hard to escape, so preparing to share some of that pressure can help ease the transition.
  2. Making decisions as a senior leader is different because you need to own the choices you make, so it's good to practice making decisions at lower levels and learning from the outcomes.
  3. Time management is crucial for senior leaders, so getting better at saying no and focusing on important tasks can help when you reach that level of leadership.

On Keeping Score

CTOrly • 19 implied HN points • 18 Aug 22
💼 Business Management
  1. In a data-driven world, don't overlook the importance of gathering personal data from your colleagues.
  2. Use a simple question like 'What's your score?' to help understand your colleagues' feelings and improve their well-being.
  3. Asking simple questions and building trust can lead to deep, actionable insights for better leadership and communication.

Navigating the First 90 Days Without (Too Many) Hiccups

Pragmatism • 64 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
💼 Business Management
  1. In the first 30 days, focus on building relationships and understanding the company dynamics.
  2. From 30 to 60 days, dive into working with product and engineering counterparts, prioritize quick wins, and showcase thought leadership.
  3. Within 60 to 90 days, become a key stakeholder in planning, ship your first feature, refine the product roadmap, and take ownership of your product suite.

Defining An AI Native TPM

Building Rome(s) • 5 implied HN points • 19 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Management
  1. The role of Technical Program Managers (TPMs) will shift from task management to orchestrating systems that combine humans and AI tools. This means they'll focus on designing workflows and ensuring everything runs smoothly.
  2. AI tools are taking over many tasks that TPMs used to do, which means future TPMs need to adapt their skills to manage these tools effectively while keeping the bigger picture in mind.
  3. Humans will still be essential for navigating complex team dynamics and making decisions about what should or shouldn't be automated, ensuring a balance between AI efficiency and human oversight.

Cyber Fantasy Versus Reality

The Security Industry • 31 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Management
  1. In the cybersecurity industry, a company's success often comes from acquiring and integrating other successful cybersecurity companies that offer products in different areas like network, endpoint, data, identity, or GRC.
  2. Professional management is essential for growth through acquisitions in the cybersecurity field. It's crucial to make wise choices, integrate acquired teams effectively, and stay focused on customer service.
  3. Cybersecurity companies need to deliver good products at good prices to succeed, rather than solely relying on complex platformization strategies for sales growth.