These simple principles, based on the empathetic, iterative practice of design thinking, can help you help your people perform to their fullest potential.

The most effective customer strategies are grounded in active engagement, setting clear expectations and empowering users with options that suit their needs.

Rather than trying to convince people your change initiative is the right one, invite them to talk openly about what it might take to implement it: the good, the bad, and the frustrating.

Writers at strategy+business pick the year’s best books in seven categories.

A selection of books perfect for your commute — or the beach.

Big change can’t happen without employee buy-in, which is easier to get if you’re an emotionally engaged leader.

Dan Cable, professor of organizational behavior at the London Business School, argues that although managers need an element of control to get results, change efforts should happen with less work and more play. For more insights, visit the Transformation Talks podcast series.

Moya Greene, former chief executive of Royal Mail, shares insights on how to approach a complex change initiative involving multiple stakeholders. For more insights, visit the Transformation Talks podcast series.

Tim Davie, CEO of BBC Studios, talks about making change efforts meaningful by involving people at every level of the process. For more insights, visit the Transformation Talks podcast series.

Writers at strategy+business pick the year’s best books in seven categories.

By recognizing the counterproductive thoughts and behaviors that cause you to silence yourself, you can stay visible to your team and give your people more reasons to follow you.

They’re outdated, inaccurate, misleading, or simply eye-roll inducing. For more insight, read “How the Right Business Language Can Catalyze Change.”

Leaders need to use great care when choosing the words that shape companies, industries, and societies. See also “Banish These Words from the Business Lexicon.”

Many companies confuse purpose programs with corporate responsibility. Here’s how to craft an authentic and effective purpose statement.

A selection of books perfect for your commute — or the beach.

In his new book, Andrew Santella explores procrastination, and why it is that whenever there is a job to do, you can count on someone putting it off. See also “Summer Reading: 8 Business Books – in Pictures”

Management guru Jeffrey Pfeffer argues that modern management practices are making employees sick.