Hotlist: How to Communicate a Tough Decision to Your Team

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Instead of putting the announcement off, blaming higher ups for the decision, or behaving in a disconnected way, you want to present the news in a way that is responsible, honest, caring, and patient. Follow these six principles for having the tough conversation. Read more   The Rebirth of Software as a Service Traditional sales models focus on customer acquisition and the "funnel" or "pipeline" metrics that dominate talk about sales. But this approach falls short when applied to a recurring revenue business, where the customer life cycle looks more like a bowtie, not a funnel: In a subscription model, most revenue takes place outside the marketing funnel. Read more   Why You Should Start A/B Testing Your DEI Initiatives DEI initiatives are becoming more and more common—but few companies test their efficacy. This article describes the benefits of targeted A/B testing for DEI initiatives, cites company examples that they've been involved with, and offers practical guidance for companies interested in doing testing of their own. Read more   Research: Asynchronous Work Can Fuel Creativity It's a common misconception that working synchronously is better for creativity. And while beneficial, synchronous work is also stifling a lot of people's creativity. Research studying Baul folk musicians in India shows that recording musical parts asynchronously led to greater creative freedom, and thus greater creativity, for women musicians, while no variation was noted among men musicians. By opening the possibilities for women and marginalized people to express themselves more freely in the workplace, asynchronous work has tangible benefits. Read more   The U.S.–India Relationship Is Key to the Future of Tech As the U.S. becomes more concerned about China, its relationship with India will become more important. This is particularly true in terms of technology. Both countries need to invest in creating a technology corridor between the two countries. That means removing trade barriers—but also means a mindset shift for U.S. companies. They need to think of India not just as a source of labor arbitrage, but as a true innovation partner. Read more       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 Microstress Effect: How Little Things Pile Up and Create Big Problems--and What to Do about It By Rob Cross and Karen Dillon A hidden epidemic of small moments of stress—microstress—has insidiously infiltrated both our work and our personal lives with invisible but devastating effects. The source is seldom a classic antagonist, such as a demanding client or a jerk boss. Instead, it comes from the people with whom we are closest. Drawing on fresh research, Rob Cross and Karen Dillon explain the science behind the phenomenon. They also share the secrets of a small set of people who've endured their share of microstress but have still managed to cultivate relationships that enable them to thrive both at work and in life. The Microstress Effect will help you build resilience and find purpose to help you break free from this quietly invasive force that's stealing your life. $30.00 Learn more     FEATURED PRODUCT Getting Along Toolkit: Practical Techniques for Dealing with Difficult People at Work By Amy Gallo Author Amy Gallo identifies eight familiar types of difficult coworkers--and provides strategies tailored to dealing constructively with each one. The tools in this collection will help you learn why problem colleagues behave the way they do, master tactics for dealing with their most difficult traits, and ultimately decide when to persist in your efforts or to walk away. $99.95 Learn more     ADVERTISEMENT   HBR.ORG | TOPICS | THE MAGAZINE | BOOKS | CASES | STORE | SUBSCRIBE TO HBR   UNSUBSCRIBE | MANAGE EMAIL PREFERENCES   PRIVACY POLICY | CONTACT     To ensure email delivery, add noreply@a.email.hbr.org to your address book, contacts, or safe sender list. 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