Work Better in 2024

A new year is the perfect opportunity to change old habits and adopt fresh perspectives. This month's articles provide guidance and insights to help you better navigate workplace relationships in 2024 – from the intricacies of giving feedback in multigenerational teams to overcoming the tendency to be quick to judge others.

We also delve into the importance of building genuine connections when networking and explore how bosses can use their success stories to positively impact and inspire their teams. Finally, we highlight how organisations can break down the barriers that women face on the path to senior leadership.

The Pitfalls of Giving Feedback Across Generations

From Baby Boomers to Zoomers, each succeeding generation has developed its own ideas about who should give feedback to whom, how formal that feedback should be and the ideal ratio of praise to criticism. According to INSEAD's Erin Meyer , if you are leading a multigenerational team, the best way to handle diverse expectations about feedback is to establish explicit norms for how and when it should be given.

Effective Networking Is About Giving, Not Just Taking

While networking can be intimidating, it is crucial for career success and innovation. INSEAD’s Charles Galunic offers advice rooted in research: We must embrace diversity in networks, focus on building genuine relationships rather than superficial ones and understand the importance of reciprocity. Finding a balanced approach to relationships, neither overly insular nor solely opportunistic, is key for personal and professional growth.

Why We Can Be Quicker to Judge Others Than We Think

Ever had a manager who set certain benchmarks only to end up being much stricter in reality? Research by INSEAD’s Nadav Klein and the University of Chicago's Ed O'Brien suggests that this could be because the psychology of setting thresholds differs from the psychology of following them. This can lead to discrepancies between how people say they’ll treat others and how they actually treat them, with consequences for their reputation and relationships.

The Biggest Barriers Women Face on the Path to Senior Leadership

Women continue to encounter significant career barriers long before reaching top leadership positions. INSEAD's Alexandra Roulet explains that part of the reason why not enough women are senior leaders is because their career choices are constrained. INSEAD's Asher Lawson adds that appointing women to senior leadership roles leads to them being more closely associated with leadership-oriented traits, without negatively affecting their likeability.

Braggy Bosses Can Boost Their Teams

Subordinates can draw inspiration from their bosses sharing their own achievements, according to INSEAD’s Andy Yap and IE’s Kelly Nault . Role models need to frame their work success as a journey to positively impact others. This boost depends on the relevance of the achievement and the hierarchy – while colleagues don’t motivate same-level peers, leaders can foster motivation by communicating relatable achievements with actionable steps for success.

We hope you've enjoyed this month's selection. For more, listen to our latest podcast with INSEAD’s Jason Davis on how digital relationships can limit companies' ability to innovate and change.

Here's wishing you a relaxing end to the year and an inspired start to 2024.

The INSEAD Knowledge team