How to Reduce the Friction that Hurts You — and Harness the Friction that Helps

How to Reduce the Friction that Hurts You — and Harness the Friction that Helps

Author: Harvard Business Review January 30, 2024 Duration: 29:28
Organizations too often subject their employees and customers to unnecessary friction that creates inefficiency and causes frustration. But, in some situations, friction can be a positive force, spurring more innovation and better decision-making. So how do you reduce the bad kind and embrace the good?  Stanford professors Bob Sutton and Huggy Rao have studied this problem for seven years and offer strategies for leaders at every level to help them recognize when friction is needed or not and then add or subtract accordingly. They share ample examples of people and companies getting it right. Sutton and Rao are the authors of The Friction Project: How Smart Leaders Make the Right Things Easier and the Wrong Things Harder, as well as the HBR article, "Rid Your Organization of Obstacles that Infuriate Everyone."

Each week, the HBR IdeaCast from Harvard Business Review sits down with experts whose ideas are shaping the world of work. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a conversation focused on practical insights for leaders, managers, and entrepreneurs navigating real challenges. You'll hear from scholars, CEOs, and innovators dissecting topics across management, marketing, and organizational strategy, translating complex research into actionable advice. The discussions get into the nuances of building effective teams, driving growth, making strategic decisions, and understanding the forces transforming industries. By tuning into this podcast, you gain access to the forefront of business thinking, a resource for anyone looking to sharpen their skills and lead more effectively. The consistent, in-depth dialogue provides a valuable perspective that goes beyond headlines, offering a deeper understanding of how to succeed in a competitive landscape. It's a direct line to the ideas that matter, presented through thoughtful conversation designed to provoke reflection and inspire change in your own professional approach.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

HBR IdeaCast
Podcast Episodes
How Job Training Must Change in the AI Age [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:01
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence technology is creating, destroying, and changing jobs. And Harvard Business School professor Raffaella Sadun has been studying how leading companies are training and reskill…
Getting Feedback Right on Diverse Teams [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:51
We know that teams mixing people of different generations, genders, and cultures yield better outcomes, and that frank, constructive feedback is key to improving individual, group, and organizational performance. But the…
Reflecting on What Matters After a Terminal Cancer Diagnosis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:24
How does someone who's been told he will die much sooner than expected find contentment in the time he has left? As a former therapist, cofounder of the Deeper Coaching Institute, and business book author, Mark Goulston…
How to Solve Tough Problems Better and Faster [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:35
When it comes to solving complicated problems, the default for many organizational leaders is to take their time to work through the issues at hand. Unfortunately, that often leads to patchwork solutions or problems not…
Improve Your Impromptu Speaking [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:29
We all know that leaders need to captivate audiences and effectively convey their ideas. But not every speaking opportunity can be prepared and practiced. That's why it's so important to learn the skill of speaking off-t…
How Companies Can Recommit to Their DEI Goals [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:07
After the summer of 2020 in the United States, many organizations made a big push to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in their ranks and operations. But now, many fear that that momentum is slipping, especially…
People with Disabilities Are an Untapped Talent Pool [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:06
It is now accepted wisdom that increasing the diversity of your workforce in any dimension can improve both organizational culture and performance. But one group — people living with intellectual, developmental, and phys…
If You Want Culture Change, Create New Stories [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:37
Many leaders realize they need to change their organization’s culture to save the business. But employees usually resist change and stick to past norms. Jay Barney, professor at the University of Utah’s Eccles School of…
Leading a Workforce Empowered by New AI Tools [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:25
New AI technology enables anyone to become a programmer — opening doors to faster analytics and automation but also presenting big challenges. Organizations need policies and strategies to manage the chaos created by wha…