The hottest Management Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

From 0 SEO experience to an agency

Kenny’s Sub • 179 implied HN points • 11 Jun 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Marketing Sales Management Personal Development
  1. To succeed, it's important to go all out and fully engage in your work. Learning from past experiences and caring about people can make business more enjoyable and rewarding.
  2. Staying committed to your daily routines helps maintain momentum. Missing a day is okay, but try not to miss two in a row to keep moving forward.
  3. Effective communication is key, especially in sales. By planning questions and being genuinely curious, you can connect better with people and help them achieve their goals.

The tough reality of being a "glue person"...

The Beautiful Mess • 595 implied HN points • 18 Oct 24
💼 Business Management Leadership Workplace Career development Self-care
  1. Being a glue person means your achievements are often overlooked, but your mistakes are very visible to others.
  2. You have to balance many expectations, which can be stressful and sometimes put you in difficult positions.
  3. It’s important to recognize your own successes, set boundaries, and take care of yourself to avoid burnout.

Paradox.

The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past • 30 implied HN points • 05 Jan 25
💼 Business Management Strategy Workplace Productivity Technology
  1. Companies today need to handle both Fragmentation and Integration to succeed. They should adapt to different types of workers and resources while ensuring everything works together smoothly.
  2. Fragmentation comes from having diverse employee types and many ways to reach customers, making it important for companies to simplify how they manage these aspects.
  3. To compete effectively, companies should create seamless services and use data smartly to combine insights, while also offering some customization without overwhelming customers.
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How on earth do you replace Jürgen Klopp?

Grace on Football • 648 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Soccer Management Team Structure Recruitment Decision-making
  1. Liverpool's journey to find structural stability after Klopp's era began with a turbulent start due to a mistaken committee approach.
  2. The success of Liverpool's recent transfers is attributed to a clear structure under Klopp's direction with Edwards as a key figure.
  3. As Liverpool faces the departure of key personnel like Edwards and Schmadtke, the focus is now on finding a new sporting director to seamlessly fit into the existing system.

The Tale of Two Teams

Software Design: Tidy First? • 1281 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
💼 Business Leadership Software Development Management Innovation Team Dynamics
  1. Software development teams can take two different paths over time - one struggling to maintain progress and innovate, the other accelerating and exceeding expectations.
  2. Executives play a crucial role in steering teams towards successful software development by fostering a culture of continual improvement, tidy code, automation, and collaboration.
  3. Understanding software design fundamentals as an executive can help diagnose ineffective teams, bridge communication gaps between business and technology, and inspire innovation and excellence.

Blockers to Innovation

Fish Food for Thought • 9 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
💼 Business Innovation Management Psychology Product Development Marketing
  1. Fear of failure can hold back innovation. If teams worry too much about making mistakes, they might stick to safe ideas and miss out on new opportunities.
  2. Organizations often focus too much on short-term goals, which can stifle creativity. When companies prioritize immediate profits, they may overlook projects that need more time to develop.
  3. Encouraging rapid iteration and creating a safe space for experimentation can boost innovation. When people feel secure to try and fail, they can learn and create better solutions.

The NHS - Making it Better

Rory’s Always On Newsletter • 1230 implied HN points • 26 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare Improvement Communication Management Software
  1. Patients and healthcare practitioners have had similar experiences of delays and poor communication within the NHS.
  2. Minor software tweaks can lead to significant time and cost savings for the NHS.
  3. Driving change within the NHS requires incentives, a vision for improvement, and individuals committed to pushing through the changes.

In Between Two Forces

Building Rome(s) • 15 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
💼 Business Management Leadership Strategy Execution Collaboration
  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.

Are hotdesks always hellish?

Make Work Better • 103 implied HN points • 14 Nov 24
💼 Business Workplace Culture Management Productivity Human Resources
  1. Most companies use their office space less than three days a week and are planning to reduce their office size in the near future. This change is a response to new work habits formed during the pandemic.
  2. Employees can be happy with hotdesks, but it's crucial to have a variety of workspaces available. A diverse range of settings helps them feel productive and satisfied.
  3. Some workers struggle more than others in hotdesk environments, indicating that not everyone adapts the same way. Companies should consider individual needs, like having good booking systems for personal spaces.

How TPMs Lose Credibility and What to Avoid

Building Rome(s) • 20 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
💼 Business Management Leadership Project management Team Dynamics Communication
  1. Credibility is crucial for TPMs because it's how they build trust with their teams and leaders. Consistently following through on promises and communicating effectively helps maintain that trust.
  2. Small mistakes can lead to big problems. Overlooking details, not following processes, and poorly communicating can damage a TPM's credibility quickly.
  3. Being proactive rather than reactive is important. TPMs should anticipate potential issues to show they're engaged and capable, which strengthens their credibility.

The Making of a Senior Engineer 💡: Guest Post by Addy Osmani

High Growth Engineer • 1238 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
💼 Business Leadership Engineering Career development Management Skills Development
  1. To transition into senior engineering roles, you need to shift from hands-on work to systems thinking, focusing on strategic leadership and fostering team autonomy.
  2. Senior engineers lead through influence rather than pure authority, emphasizing building trusted relationships, setting vision, and empowering teams.
  3. Developing critical leadership skills as a senior engineer involves improving empathy, communication, collaboration, systems thinking, and execution orchestration, while overcoming common pitfalls like losing sight of the big picture and excessive control.

Putting the I in Team

In My Tribe • 364 implied HN points • 02 Dec 24
💼 Business Management Workplace Teamwork Employee Relations Organizational Behavior
  1. Teamwork relies on everyone doing their part. If some people don't contribute, it can hurt the whole team's chances of success.
  2. Hiring people who are responsible and committed can help encourage teamwork. When employees feel connected to their mission or colleagues, they're less likely to slack off.
  3. Measuring how well employees cooperate can improve teamwork. Giving clear examples of what good teamwork looks like can help everyone understand how to contribute.

Where Steve Jurvetson Sees Dead Companies

The Geek Way • 399 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
💼 Business Innovation Technology Management Industry Economics
  1. Software proficiency is crucial in modern business - companies need to adapt and iterate quickly to stay competitive.
  2. Legacy companies face challenges in transitioning to modern software practices and may struggle to keep up with agile competitors.
  3. The 'geek way' of upgrading a company involves more than just technology - it extends to decision-making, culture, and overall organizational strategy.

How we built a business out of recession - chapter 29 - Aston Martin?!

The ZIPster • 35 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Startups Management Strategy Sales
  1. Starting a business is tough, especially during hard times, but with the right idea, it can thrive. CitNOW found success by focusing on video services for car dealers when no one else was doing it.
  2. Partnerships can make or break a business. For CitNOW, getting a big contract with Nissan was a major boost, but it also showed how complex relationships with larger companies can be.
  3. When competition increases, businesses must adapt. CitNOW faced new rivals offering cheaper services, so they had to find ways to cut costs without losing quality to stay competitive.

TBM 318: Why Orgs Become Too Tall

The Beautiful Mess • 449 implied HN points • 31 Oct 24
💼 Business Management Organizational Behavior Leadership Corporate Structure Business strategy
  1. Organizations can become too tall when they grow too big, leading to excessive layers of management. This often happens when companies cannot adjust their team sizes effectively as they deal with market challenges.
  2. Narrow spans of control make it hard for managers to handle large teams, resulting in more layers. This could be due to inexperienced managers needing more guidance or a culture that prefers smaller teams.
  3. A lack of trust and delegation can make organizations taller. When managers feel they need to oversee everything, it creates more layers instead of empowering teams to work independently.

Can new look Chelsea actually succeed?

Grace on Football • 982 implied HN points • 03 Sep 23
🎾 Sports Football Finance Management Player analysis Team performance
  1. Chelsea has undergone a significant squad overhaul with new signings and a new manager.
  2. There are concerns about Chelsea's financial compliance with UEFA's rules and the long-term sustainability of the club's investments.
  3. The success of Chelsea's revamped team depends on the performance and development of young players in a stable environment.

Amorphous consulting

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 319 implied HN points • 27 Mar 24
💼 Business Consulting Management Strategy Organization Ethnography
  1. There are two types of consulting: concrete and amorphous. Concrete consulting is clear and focused on known problems, while amorphous consulting deals with unclear and complex issues.
  2. Amorphous consulting involves starting with open conversations to uncover hidden problems. The consultant learns about the organization’s inner workings that insiders often overlook.
  3. The true value of an amorphous consultant comes from asking the right questions and understanding what clients initially can't see. This helps clarify the scope of the work over time.

New year, new templates

The faintest idea • 599 implied HN points • 03 Jan 24
💼 Business Management Strategy Design Templates Leadership
  1. Using visual tools like FigJam can help connect ideas better in meetings and projects. It's a fun way to share updates and collaborate.
  2. Templates for strategy, decision-making, and team management can make work processes smoother and more organized. They help you tackle big problems effectively.
  3. Regular 1:1 meetings are important for team development. They allow for thoughtful discussions and reflections on projects and career growth.

The loneliness of the long distance runbook

Wednesday Wisdom • 56 implied HN points • 11 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Documentation Management Processes
  1. Runbooks are often not followed closely because experienced engineers adapt them to their own knowledge and context. This can be good, but it also means runbooks might not be used as intended.
  2. When runbooks have errors or are not up to date, they can cause big problems. It's crucial to review and update runbooks regularly to keep them relevant and accurate.
  3. Don't expect runbooks to be perfect or solve all issues. They should be seen as guidelines rather than strict instructions, and everyone should have an understanding of the system behind them.

Using Microsoft Intune to Implement and Manage Security

Rod’s Blog • 535 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Security Management
  1. Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based service to manage and secure devices in an organization.
  2. You can use Intune to enroll devices, create and assign security policies, and enhance security with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.
  3. Monitoring device security status and alerts in Intune and Defender for Endpoint allows for better protection of devices and data.

Safe vs ALL-IN Engineering Management

Leading Developers • 70 implied HN points • 26 Nov 24
💼 Business Management Leadership Team Dynamics Work Culture Career development
  1. There are two main styles of engineering management: Safe and All-In. Safe managers stick to the rules and like a structured work environment while All-In managers push for change and challenge the status quo.
  2. All-In managers are seen as demanding and sometimes annoying by others, as they constantly seek improvement and advocate for their team's needs. They care deeply about their team's success and fight for resources.
  3. The big clash happens because Safe managers prefer a calm, methodical way of working, while All-In managers bring energy and chaos. Both styles can struggle to cooperate effectively.

The Family

Venture Prose • 1058 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
💼 Business Startups Entrepreneurship Venture Capital Management Leadership
  1. The Family organization had a lot of ambitious individuals and a strong sense of community, but struggled to find a sustainable business model.
  2. Despite the energy and enthusiasm within The Family, they faced challenges with loose processes, lack of focus, and poor accountability.
  3. Individuals within The Family, like Oussama, played significant roles in both the success and failure of the organization, showcasing the importance of leadership and responsibility.

Overhead Costs vs. Marginal Costs

In My Tribe • 227 implied HN points • 28 Dec 24
💼 Business Economics Finance Management Market Analysis Business strategy
  1. Overhead costs are the ongoing expenses of running a business, while marginal costs are the expenses incurred by producing one additional unit.
  2. Many businesses today focus more on overhead costs because it's hard to measure the contribution of individuals in a team setting.
  3. Understanding these costs is important for making better decisions about managing a business.

You need to neglect mostly everything to win big

Play Permissionless • 319 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Strategy Productivity Management Optimization
  1. To win big, you only need to get a small number of things right and can afford to mess up everything else. This applies to both companies and individuals.
  2. Winning big often requires unlearning traditional schooling strategies and focusing on doing a great job at a few key aspects while neglecting the rest.
  3. Removing non-essential tasks and focusing solely on what helps deliver better and faster results can lead to significant improvements and ultimately winning big.

What I wish somebody told me during my first year as a manager

Leading Developers • 59 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
💼 Business Management Leadership Career development Team Dynamics Productivity
  1. Don’t try to control everything in your team. It’s important to let your team members take on responsibilities and grow.
  2. Stop complaining about others without taking action. It’s more effective to give direct feedback to those who need it instead of gossiping.
  3. Remember to take a step back and appreciate the progress you and your team are making. Self-reflection can help you see how far you've come.

The Sunderland Vortex

Grace on Football • 845 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
🎾 Sports Football Premier League Management
  1. The creation of the Premier League led to financial risks and rewards in English football.
  2. The 'Sunderland Vortex' traps teams in making short-term decisions to avoid relegation, sacrificing long-term planning.
  3. Clubs without significant wealth in the Premier League are at risk of being caught in the 'Sunderland Vortex' and facing relegation.

When Overwhelmed, Make a List of Questions

Push to Prod • 39 implied HN points • 05 Aug 24
💼 Business Management Problem Solving Decision-making Project management Team Collaboration
  1. When you feel overwhelmed, writing down your questions can help clarify your thoughts. It's a simple way to break down a complex problem.
  2. Answering even one question can give you more confidence and direction, leading to better decision-making. It’s a helpful way to gather information and make progress.
  3. This technique isn't just for work; it can be useful in everyday situations too, like before meetings with accountants or lawyers. Taking the time to write questions helps you feel more prepared.

A good start

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 239 implied HN points • 10 Apr 24
💼 Business Consulting Management Strategy Leadership Organizational
  1. Amorphous consulting is about tackling unclear and emerging problems that organizations face. It's often the first step in consulting even if clients don't recognize it or want to pay for it.
  2. Starting with amorphous consulting is cheaper and quicker than hiring a concrete consultant right away. It avoids the lengthy process of re-scoping a project.
  3. Amorphous consultants ask the 'dumb' questions that uncover hidden problems. This approach is useful when there's uncertainty, helping organizations find solutions they didn't even realize they needed.

Recommending Kent Beck: 2011

Software Design: Tidy First? • 1170 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
💼 Business Recommendation Employment Management Career development Software Development
  1. Kent Beck's role in enhancing engineering teams for growth and prosperity by working on product features and tool building.
  2. Kent Beck's impact through research and publication on software design, attracting new recruits and revolutionizing design ideas.
  3. Kent Beck's personal relationships and pair programming sessions significantly improving engineering skills and career prospects of individuals.

The Difference Makers: Key Person(s) Value!

Musings on Markets • 579 implied HN points • 10 Dec 23
💼 Business Valuation Management Finance Entrepreneurship Investment
  1. Key people can significantly impact a business's value, whether it's a small practice like a doctor or a large company like Tesla. Even at bigger companies, certain individuals can make a big difference in how the business performs.
  2. Understanding who key people are in a company is crucial. These can include founders, top management, or even important employees at different levels who contribute unique skills.
  3. Companies can take steps to manage the risks that come with relying on key people, like using insurance or succession planning. These strategies can help ensure that the loss of an important individual does not as heavily affect the business.

30-60-90 For TPMs

Building Rome(s) • 19 implied HN points • 07 Jan 25
💼 Business Management Career Startups Strategy Leadership
  1. When starting in a big tech company, your first month should focus on understanding the company's structure and people. It's important to learn the processes and key players to effectively navigate your new role.
  2. At startups, you need to adapt quickly, often ramping up in just a few weeks. Jump in and start contributing right away, as limited resources mean you’ll likely wear many hats.
  3. Building relationships is key in any new role. Prioritize meeting with colleagues and stakeholders to enhance collaboration and gather insights that will help you succeed.