The choice we’re making about AI
AI can improve productivity if implemented with training and human connection. Poor rollouts cause frustration and workplace loneliness, warns Best Companies Group.
Don’t import 996: Why America should reject overwork culture
China’s 996 model — 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week — was sold as a path to speed, discipline, and dominance. In reality, it became a case study in how overwork corrodes the very foundation of business success. People can push themselves for a while, but there’s a ceiling. Past a certain […]
The People Paradox: Why ‘Soft’ Skills Deliver the Hardest Numbers
Honestly, this job would be a breeze if it weren’t for the people part.” A regional sales director said that after recounting missed targets, two resignations and a turf war between product and marketing. The room laughed — tired laughter, the kind that comes when you recognize a hard truth. Plans obey Gantt charts; people […]
The Manager Multiplier: How Engagement Turns Into Margin
You don’t need a billion-dollar strategy to boost your bottom line. You need a manager who gets it. Here’s the math: move a team from meh to energized, and you’ll see profits rise 23%, sales climb 18%, quality jump 14%. No new software. No flashy rebrand. Just people doing their best work. Yet most executives […]
Elon Musk’s memo exposes a trust crisis in leadership
Musk’s memo sparked debate, but the real issue isn’t accountability — it’s a lack of trust, clarity, and communication in modern workplace culture.
Out and About Best Places To Work 2025
Virginia’s top workplaces shined at a disco-themed awards night celebrating the 15th annual Best Places to Work in Virginia
Best at Work Insights: Employees’ happiness is overrated
Do we worry too much about how happy employees are? I lead Best Companies Group, a research and advisory firm focused on helping organizations create high-engagement and high-performance cultures, and I certainly believe so. If anything, I think caring about employees’ happiness is overrated. Let me explain. Employee engagement levels have been dropping for years. […]















