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December 06, 2013 Why Black Friday Was "Meh" By The Daily Idea Black Friday sales dropped 2.7% from last year. We can blame some of the dip on consumers making more purchases online, but brick-and-mortar retailers should place some of the blame on themselves, too. Since Thanksgiving fell late on the calendar this year, retailers started their big sales early — in some cases, weeks ahead of the big day. This stole away some of the punch, excitement, and exclusivity of Black Friday. The sales went on... More »

Leadership Find Your Inner Mandela: A Tribute and Call to Action by Rosabeth Moss Kanter He didn't cling to power. He empowered. Transportation New York's Train Derailment is a Reminder of the Importance of Sleep Health Policy by Russell A. Sanna Better corporate policies around sleep can prevent accidents. Government The Mistakes Behind Healthcare.gov Are Probably Lurking in Your Company, Too by Amy C. Edmondson Mistake #1: Setting irrational expectations. Giving feedback Three Ways to Say No to a Reference Request by Jodi Glickman How to decline without causing offense. Innovation Amazon Turned a Flaw into Gold with Advanced Problem-Solving by Michael Skok How many levels of problem-solving have you mastered? Morale The Best Morale Boost $3 Million Can Buy by Gretchen Gavett A brief history of the corporate musical -- with soundbites. Small/medium business Small Businesses Need Big Data, Too by Christina Donnelly In a study, access to consumer data amplified small firms' entrepreneurial spirit and collegiality. Managing people How to Manage Impossible Clients by John Butman Effective responses to four classic bad behaviors. Disruptive innovation Would You Rather Have Brazil's Economic Problems or America's? by Justin Fox In Brazil, wage increases outpace productivity gains. In the U.S., it's the reverse. Managing yourself Reduce Stress with Mindfulness by HBR IdeaCast Maria Gonzalez, author of "Mindful Leadership," explains how to minimize stress -- not just manage it. Contains a brief guided breathing exercise. Education A Few Hundred Dollars in High School Can Make a Big Difference in Earnings Later On by The Daily Stat An inner-city college-prep program that pays students $100 to $500 for each score of at least 3 on Advanced Placement tests led to higher college-degree attainment and an 11% increase in participants' later earnings, according to a study in Texas by C. Kirabo Jackson of Northwestern University. The high-school program, begun in 1996, also includes teacher training, curriculum oversight, and bonuses for teachers if students score well on the tests, which measure understanding of college-level... More »

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