Two intense years of pandemic distancing and disruption gave way to another sort of distress in 2022—a year of soul searching, burnout, and quiet quitting.
The 10 most-read articles on Harvard Business School Working Knowledge showed a year that had many asking: “Is this what I really want?” Of course, new COVID-19 variants, rampant inflation, a labor shortage, and the sometimes awkward adjustment to new work arrangements didn’t help the mood. And yet, despite all these challenges, many leaders were determined to move forward, prioritizing digital transformation, racial equity, and collaboration.
1. Scrap the Big New Year's Resolutions. Make 6 Simple Changes Instead.
Self-improvement doesn't need to be painful. Rather than set yet another gym goal, look inward, retrain your brain, and get outside, says Hirotaka Takeuchi.
2. More Proof That Money Can Buy Happiness (or a Life with Less Stress)
It's not about the bigger home or the better vacation. Financial stability helps people escape the everyday hassles of life, says research by Jon Jachimowicz.
3. Curiosity, Not Coding: 6 Skills Leaders Need in the Digital Age
Transforming an organization starts with transforming its leaders. Data from 1,700 executives by Linda Hill and colleagues reveals the most important skills and traits leaders need now.
4. When Working Harder Doesn’t Work, Time to Reinvent Your Career
The second half of your life could be better than the first. Really. In the book From Strength to Strength, Arthur Brooks shows how letting go of past glory can open the possibilities of life's "second curve."
5. Where Can Digital Transformation Take You? Insights from 1,700 Leaders
Digital transformation seems like a journey without end, but many companies are forging ahead. Linda Hill and colleagues reveal six qualities that set digitally mature organizations apart.
6. Digital Transformation: A New Roadmap for Success
Is your company reaping the rewards of digital transformation yet? Linda Hill and colleagues offer seven guiding principles for transformations at any stage—nascent, progressing, or stalled.
7. Dick’s Sporting Goods Followed Its Conscience on Guns—and It Paid Off
After the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida, Dick's Sporting Goods' CEO declared: "I don't want to be part of the story anymore." Two new case studies by George Riedel go inside the retailer's decision to remove certain firearms from stores and restrict gun sales.
8. You Don’t Have to Quit Your Job to Find More Meaning in Life
Before you give notice and go on a vision quest, consider this: Fulfillment doesn't require big change, says research by Julian De Freitas and colleagues. In fact, you can find more meaning even in a job you don't love.
9. Rituals at Work: Teams That Play Together Stay Together
Rituals—even seemingly silly ones—help employees bond and add meaning to their work, says research by Michael Norton, Francesca Gino, and colleagues. Who wouldn't welcome a workday pick-me-up?
10. When Parents Tell Kids to ‘Work Hard,’ Do They Send the Wrong Message?
It takes more than grit to succeed in a world rife with systemic inequity. So why don't we tell children that? Research by Ashley Whillans and colleagues shows how honest talk about social barriers could empower kids to break them down.
And don’t forget these:
Does Hybrid Work Actually Work? Insights from 30,000 Emails
How often should employees come to the office? In the first large-scale study of its kind, Prithwiraj Choudhury finds that hybrid schedules might offer the best answer for everyone.
Why Are Prices So High Right Now—and Will They Ever Return to Normal?
Research by Alberto Cavallo probes the complex interplay of product shortages, prices, and inflation.
Feeling Seen: What to Say When Your Employees Are Not OK
Managers who let down their guard and acknowledge their employees' emotions can ease distress and build trust, says research by Julian Zlatev and colleagues.
Your Best Employees Are Burning Out: A Framework for Retaining Talent
Companies have long ignored the factors that are burning out employees. Hise Gibson and MaShon Wilson offer a five-step approach for leaders who are ready to support their talent.
Feedback or ideas to share? Email the Working Knowledge team at hbswk@hbs.edu.
Image: iStockphoto/designer491
