New Skills to Navigate Continuous Change

New Skills to Navigate Continuous Change

Author: Harvard Business Review May 5, 2026 Duration: 30:53
What if the biggest barrier to change isn’t resistance—but the way we’ve been taught to lead? Nilofer Merchant, an author and leadership expert, says a number of habits are holding organizations of all sizes back. She walks through behaviors to adapt and not just survive but thrive in a world of continuous change, including normalizing discomfort, not overlooking your best ideas, and separating confidence from competence. Merchant wrote the book Our Best Work: Break Free from the 24 Invisible Norms That Limit Us.

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
The Case for Selling Products that Adapt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:41
Many companies make money by selling goods that need to be constantly replaced; think fast fashion, or tech devices that come out in new versions each year. But according to Vijay Govindarajan, professor at Dartmouth's T…
A Hollywood Producer’s Formula for Taking Bigger Risks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:49
Hollywood is known for huge personalities and behemoth production studios taking big swings. But critics worry that the movie industry is playing it way too safe recently — by churning out remakes and fleshing out franch…
Boost Your Creativity in Any Job [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:09
We all know that innovative thinking is vital to individual, team, and organizational success. But we still often put creativity in a box, assuming it's only for people in certain roles or best attempted once a year at a…
Tried-and-True Networking Tips from Decades of Experience [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:09
Twenty-five years ago, a Harvard Business School case study featured the exceptional networking practices of Silicon Valley entrepreneur and venture capitalist Heidi Roizen. This was before the rise of online social netw…
10 Gems from IdeaCast’s First 1,000 Episodes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:12
This week marks a huge milestone for the HBR IdeaCast: our 1000th episode! Since the podcast launched in 2006, so much has happened. What hasn’t changed is our commitment to sharing in-depth conversations with expert thi…
The Growing Trend of Part-Time Executives [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:08
Imagine you’re leading a small organization, but you’re struggling to recruit and afford the senior talent you need to grow. You could hire a part-time executive. So-called “fractional leadership” is common in startups a…
Unifying Leadership in a Divided Time [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:36
Around the world, the past few years have been marked by increasing political polarization and public outrage. Like it or not, this spills over into the business world, with employees, customers, and shareholders more wi…