Issue 107, Summer 2022

In this issue
Cover story
- Specialization. Scarcity. Rivalry. Humanity. Companies that understand—and harness—these forces will have an edge in creating vibrant workforces capable of achieving sustained, positive outcomes.
Navigating the new world of work
Explore perspectives on strategy, leadership, innovation, and more from interviews with top chief executives. For more insights, see PwC’s Global CEO Survey.Maintaining network connections
As we redesign work for the hybrid future, it is vital to understand the ways that information flows and networks form within organizations.- GMO
It’s time to challenge the status quo at family businesses
Next-generation leaders need to prioritize environmental, social, and governance issues to build their own legacy.
Leading Ideas
- Workforce
Leaders should revisit the works of three corporate culture pioneers
A trio of 20th-century thinkers yields insights into how to align culture with strategy and energize employees today. - Workforce
Why human resources chiefs are reaching the corner office
The ability to manage people at scale is more relevant than ever to the CEO role. - Thought leaders
Finnish dairy company Valio is feeding the future
CEO Annikka Hurme on innovating for growth and sustainability. - Workforce
Teaming is hard because you’re probably not really on a team
Hybrid and remote work are complicating many of the collaborative challenges that were present long before the pandemic arrived. - s+b BlogsWorkforce
The bullies are back
The pandemic has encouraged some bad behaviors that leaders need to look out for in the new hybrid world of work.
Essays
- Workforce
How healthy boundaries build trust in the workplace
Boundaries clarify responsibilities and expectations. Both employers and employees need to identify, set, and maintain them to keep people engaged and deliver strong performance. - Tech & innovation
The real value of video content
As spending on streaming content skyrockets in the media and entertainment industry, a new formula is needed to drive a sustainable return on investment. - Leadership
Great feats require crucial decisions
CEOs can hone their decision-making skills by studying leaders who directed world-changing projects.
Books in Brief
Business needs to adjust its political antennae
A new book suggests that the ways in which CEOs define the relationship between politics and business will shape our world in the future.Follow your S curve
In her new book, Smart Growth, consultant and speaker Whitney Johnson describes how the best career paths trace an arc of self-discovery.How the Fed came through the pandemic
An account of Jay Powell’s tenure as chair of the US Federal Reserve details a transformation from lender of last resort to the backup lender to the entire world.A guide to growing older
Arthur Brooks’s new book on aging shows how a healthy awareness of one’s own mortality can influence personal and professional lives for the better.To err is human, to regret, divine
In his new book, The Power of Regret, best-selling author Daniel Pink makes a case that regret can serve as a compass for better decision-making.
Thought Leader
How innovation has been the twist in our climate change story
Human ingenuity has gotten us into a global environmental crisis. According to Pulitzer Prize–winning author Elizabeth Kolbert, it also has the potential to get us out.
Endpage: Recent Research
Leaders need to be good writers, too
Being an effective manager requires strong communication skills, including writing. A few tips can help you avoid common traps and raise your game.