The Daily Idea from Harvard Business Review

 

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser.

November 18, 2013 Is English an Economic Necessity? English is the lingua franca of the business world. So for emerging economies looking to compete in the global marketplace, an English-speaking workforce is a must. In fact, according to new research, there's a direct correlation between English proficiency and economic performance, per capita income, and quality of life. The upshot: the more money and resources a country invests in language training, the more competitive it will be. SOURCE: Countries with Better English Have Better Economies by Christoper McCormick

PREVIOUS IDEAS Job Candidates Should Be Less Risk Averse Ideas Are Easy; Execution Is Hard You Need More Sleep There's Nothing Wrong with Service With a Smile Indies Need to Push Back More on Amazon Women Have Trouble Letting Go Because They Have A Lot to Prove

BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials | HBR's 10 Must Reads Boxed Set | HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations | HBR Guide to Better Business Writing | HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done

FEATURED PRODUCT The First 90 Days App for iPhone and Android MAKE YOUR NEXT CAREER TRANSITION A SUCCESS. Download The First 90 Days App today to help you stay ahead of the game. Download on the App Store Download on Google Play

FEATURED PRODUCT HBR Guide to Coaching Your Employees HBR Press Book When you're swamped with your own work, how can you make time to coach your employees—and do it well? If you don't help them build their skills, they'll keep coming to you for answers instead of finding their own solutions. Got a star on your team who's eager to advance? An underperformer who's dragging the group down? A steady contributor who feels bored and neglected? You'll need to agree on goals for growth, motivate your people to achieve them, support their efforts, and measure their progress. This guide gives you the tools to do that. You'll get better at (1) Matching people's skills with your organization's needs; (2) Creating realistic but inspiring plans for growth; (3) Customizing your approach; (4) Prompting with questions before you dispense advice; (5) Providing the support your employees need to achieve peak performance; (6) Giving them feedback they'll actually apply; (7) Tapping their learning styles to make greater progress; (8) Giving people room to grapple with problems and discover solutions; (9) Engaging your employees and fostering independence. Buy It Now

ADVERTISEMENT

HBR.ORG | THE MAGAZINE | BLOGS | BOOKS | CASES | STORE | SUBSCRIBE TO HBR UNSUBSCRIBE | NEWSLETTERS PRIVACY POLICY | CONTACT Copyright © 2013 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing 60 Harvard Way Boston, MA 02163 CUSTOMER SERVICE: 800-545-7685 (US/Canada) 1-617-783-7600 (outside the U.S. and Canada)