Claim OwnershipThe Manager Lab
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Welcome to The Manager Lab, where we delve into the increasingly dynamic world of talent management. In each episode, we will unravel key insights, breakdown the most relevant books and articles, and provide actionable tips to optimize your approach in developing and retaining top talent. Stay tuned for a deep dive into the art, science, and strategy of unlocking your team’s full potential. Let’s enter…The Manager Lab.
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Music. Welcome to the Manager Lab. This episode explores how loneliness is reshaping workplaces, driven by hybrid work, technology, and broader social shifts, and how that erosion of trust and belonging harms innovation, engagement, and retention.
It highlights surprising insights—connection is part of the work, weak ties matter, and vulnerability builds trust—and offers practical strategies: build rituals and shared identity, design space for authentic connection, role-model vulnerability, create opportunities for weak ties, measure loneliness, and embed connection into hybrid policies.
Leaders and employees can start small—one ritual, one personal check-in—to strengthen connection, resilience, and creativity in their teams.
In this episode of Manager Lab, host Greg Gillum breaks down decision-making and delegation using Cheryl Strauss Einhorn’s HBR framework: "Should You Delegate That Decision? Ask These Four Questions."
Learn the four questions to determine when to delegate—who’s closest to the action, whether a decision can be routinized, whose perspective will improve the outcome, and where momentum is stalled—plus a real-world example involving minor design approvals.
Greg shares practical tools (decision audits, decision matrices, clear decision rights), common pitfalls to avoid, and a simple weekly challenge to help you start delegating effectively and grow leadership across your team.
Music. Welcome to the Manager Lab, where we delve into the increasingly dynamic world of talent management. In this episode Greg Gillum breaks down the HBR article "The Secret to Building a High‑Performing Team," highlighting two foundational capabilities—open, structured communication and the courage to speak up and take risks—that drive trust, innovation, and lasting performance. Learn the culture map (connection vs. courage), see where your team sits, and get practical steps: lead with vulnerability, invite honest conversations, set three commitments, and move toward the "Last 8%" culture of high care and high accountability.
In this episode of Manager Lab, Greg Gillum breaks down Paul Ingram’s HBR article "Who Are You as a Leader?" and introduces the identity map — a simple visual tool to list, connect, and curate the roles and traits that shape your leadership.
Learn practical steps to build your identity map, choose situational leadership selves, and use context-aware leadership to boost authenticity, trust, and performance. Try the quick exercise: sketch your map, highlight one identity in your next meeting, and reflect on the results.
Greg Gillum breaks down why managers struggle to delegate and how to make delegation work, drawing on Elsbeth Johnson’s HBR insights.
Discover the four hidden barriers—task-driven dopamine, difficulty saying no, unclear expectations, and confusing doing with leading—and simple fixes: create routines, reframe delegation, clarify outcomes, practice small handoffs, and schedule reflection.
Walk away with practical steps to free your time for strategic work and help your team grow.
In this episode Greg Gillum breaks down a new HBR study showing that foundational "soft" skills—like communication, adaptability, teamwork and basic numeracy—form the backbone of long-term career success. The researchers map a nested skill structure and find that roughly 80% of the wage benefits from advanced skills depend on these core capabilities.
The episode explains skill entrapment and its role in persistent inequities, and gives five practical steps you can use today: audit your foundational skills, practice nested learning, integrate soft skills into daily routines, mentor early-career colleagues, and advocate for systemic training that prioritizes fundamentals.
In this episode of the Manager Lab, Greg Gillum explores Harvard Business Review author Peter T. Coleman’s concept of Conflict Intelligence (CIQ) — an emotional-intelligence-plus framework that combines self-awareness, social conflict skills, adaptivity, and systemic wisdom to turn workplace friction into clarity and innovation.
Listeners learn why conflict matters, how leaders can embed CIQ across teams, and three practical steps to start cultivating conflict intelligence today: reflect on triggers, invite safe tension, and use quick pulse tools to surface microtensions.
In this episode of The Manager Lab, Greg Gillum breaks down Jamil Zaki’s Harvard Business Review piece on the “super facilitator” — a role that integrates diverse expertise, ensures equitable contributions, and builds trust to boost team collective intelligence.
Learn three practical practices — attunement (reading the room), communication (affirming others), and distribution (balancing participation) — plus a simple meeting exercise: a one-word emotional check-in, public acknowledgment of recent contributions, and rotating who speaks first.
The episode explains why super facilitation matters, how anyone can develop it, and how these habits turn meetings into engines of inclusion, trust, and higher team performance.
In this episode of Manager Lab we unpack the HBR article "Job Interviews Aren't Evaluating the Right Skills" and explain why interviews often miss critical, role-specific competencies—especially emerging areas like AI.
You'll get three practical tactics to improve hiring: audit and expand skill coverage, probe depth with structured follow-ups, and add skill-based assessments (simulations, work samples, case studies). Finish with a quick action plan: audit open roles, update interview guides, and gather feedback to build fairer, higher-performing hiring processes.
In this episode of Manager Lab we explore why kindness is not optional but essential for trust, psychological safety, and high performance. Drawing on HBR research and practical examples, we explain how respectful listening, thoughtful feedback, and inclusive practices improve engagement, retention, and business outcomes.
Managers will learn concrete ways to embed kindness into routines and policies and leave with a simple action: ask your team what one thing you can do to make their work easier or more supportive.
Music. Welcome to the Manager Lab, where we delve into the increasingly dynamic world of talent management. In this episode we summarize Ranjie Gulati’s Harvard Business Review piece "Now Is the Time for Courage," exploring why bold leadership matters when uncertainty is high.
The episode breaks down five actionable practices—crafting a purpose-driven narrative, preparing thoroughly, deconstructing complex problems, leaning on allies and mentors, and prioritizing calm and self-care—to help leaders balance risk and opportunity and act decisively when it counts.
Listen for practical tips to cultivate courage, make strategic bold moves, and unlock your team’s full potential in volatile times.
Welcome to the Manager Lab, where we explore the dynamic world of talent management. In this episode, we dive into a data-driven approach to delegating, inspired by a July 2025 Harvard Business Review article. Learn how to effectively track, categorize, and delegate tasks to unleash your leadership potential.
Discover the power of a time log, a simple yet effective tool for capturing how your workday is spent. By dividing your day into 15-minute intervals and tracking all activities, you gain valuable insights into tasks that can be delegated or automated. With practical examples and actionable steps, this episode guides you through the process of refining your delegation strategy and maximizing your efficiency for better team and personal growth.
Welcome to The Manager Lab, where we explore the dynamic world of talent management. In this episode, we dive into Vanessa Erk Druskitt's HBR article, "Do You Have an Emotionally Intelligent Team?" to uncover the importance of team-level emotional intelligence. Discover how fostering trust, shared identity, and group efficacy can transform individual stars into a cohesive powerhouse.
Learn about the nine assessment questions that gauge your team's emotional intelligence, and how these insights can be leveraged to build a supportive and effective team environment. Implement norms that cultivate emotionally intelligent teams, drive smarter decision-making, enhance engagement, and boost overall performance.
Join us as we provide actionable tips on developing emotional intelligence within your team, creating a healthy emotional ecosystem, and adopting leadership strategies to elevate your team to new heights.
Welcome to the Manager Lab! In this episode, we explore the delicate balance of effective leadership, drawing insights from the July 2025 Harvard Business Review article by Melody Wilding. Discover the transformative potential of the "visibility grid," a practical framework designed to help leaders determine the right level of oversight for various projects.
With the visibility grid, leaders can effortlessly map projects based on risk and team experience to decide the frequency and detail of updates required. This structure empowers leaders to remain informed and proactive without falling into the trap of micromanagement.
Join us to learn how to apply this adaptable tool for improved project oversight, team autonomy, and personal growth in leadership dynamics.
Welcome to the Manager Lab, your destination for uncovering the secrets of talent management. In this episode, we explore practical strategies to enhance happiness and well-being, inspired by Arthur C. Brooks's book, 'The Happiness Files, Insights on Work and Life.' Discover how investing in relationships, engaging in physical activity, and fostering generosity can transform both personal and professional lives. Join us as we delve into ten effective techniques designed to unlock happiness for business professionals.
Welcome to the Manager Lab, where we delve into the art and science of talent management. In this episode, we explore the power of well-designed off-sites as a strategy for team development and morale boosting. Through insights from a Harvard Business Review article, we discuss five essential questions to consider when planning an off-site, starting with defining the desired emotional outcomes for your team.
Discover how changing the venue, addressing decision-making obstacles, and shifting team behaviors can lead to lasting impact. Learn to identify unproductive actions to eliminate and ensure lasting change by focusing on specific outcomes and commitments. Join us for actionable tips to transform routine gatherings into catalysts for meaningful change, and empower your team to thrive.
Welcome to The Manager Lab, your gateway to mastering talent management in an ever-evolving world. In this episode, join us as we continue our exploration of the five ways leaders communicate power, based on insights from Chris Lipp's article in the Harvard Business Review.
We recap the first two communication techniques: focusing on action and thinking big. Leaders gain authority by presenting not just facts, but a vision that transcends data. In this episode, we delve into three more dynamic strategies: "taking the hit" by owning failures to signal strength, "assessing others" to project confidence and balance power dynamics, and finally "directing the spotlight," steering discussions to shape effective teamwork.
This discussion equips you with the tools to express your leadership potential effectively and foster a powerful presence in any organizational setting. Tune in to refine your approach to dynamic, impactful leadership communication.
Welcome to the Manager Lab, where we delve into the increasingly dynamic world of talent management. In this episode, we explore the art, science, and strategy behind effective leadership communication. Taking inspiration from Ronald Reagan's renowned communication style, we uncover how leaders can exert power through words and presence.
The discussion centers around Chris Lipp's article from Harvard Business Review, highlighting five techniques that elevate speaking power, the first two being "Focus on Action" and "Think Big." Listeners gain insights into how abstract thinking and action-oriented communication can enhance managerial effectiveness, secure resources, and boost team morale.
Welcome to part two of "The Manager Lab," where we continue our exploration into finding joy in the busiest of lives. This episode uncovers five research-backed strategies for enhancing happiness amidst demanding schedules.
We discuss the importance of engaging with others, avoiding passive activities, and following your passions. However, new insights show that focusing exclusively on a single passion can diminish joy over time, advocating for diverse leisure pursuits to keep experiences fresh and exciting.
Learn how protecting your leisure time from work's encroachment not only boosts personal well-being but also enhances professional engagement. Discover how investing in variety over intensity and ensuring dedicated personal time can create a more fulfilling, balanced life.
In this episode of the Manager Lab, we explore the elusive element of joy in life satisfaction and reveal five research-backed strategies to optimize your free time. Discover the importance of engaging with others, avoiding passive pursuits, and following your passion to boost your happiness and fulfillment. Join us as we delve into practical insights for finding joy beyond work achievements and meaningful commitments.
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