Our Top 15 Stories of 2023

Does loyalty to your company really pay off? When shouldn’t you trust ChatGPT? And what are we getting wrong about millennial workers? 

These are just a few questions we explored this year in articles on Smith Business Insight, with answers provided by business researchers and experts in the field. 

They’re included in the list below of 15 of our most popular stories from 2023. Several articles here are about the world of everyday work. It’s no surprise, for example, that many of us are still figuring out how to do remote work right, and two articles here cover that. 

But other issues grabbed attention: Does it make sense to compensate CEOs for ESG outcomes? Research suggests not. Another popular story tackled the vexing problem of managerial mental health. Too often, we think leaders should act like superheroes, even though they, like the rest of us, have their own kryptonite. 

If you’re looking for a new job in 2024, you won’t want to miss the first story on our list: “How to answer the hardest job interview question.” And if you’re still hunting for the perfect holiday gift for a client or colleague, we recommend the last article: “Why do-good gifts may miss the mark.”

How to Answer the Hardest Job Interview Question

Every interviewer will ask this one. Unfortunately, most of us won’t come up with a great response

Is Loyalty Just for Chumps?

Lofty words to the contrary, loyal staff are often undervalued by organizations. They can also earn less than job-hoppers

The Curse of Overconfidence

Self-confidence is in the DNA of successful entrepreneurs, but too much can cloud decision-making. Here’s how to keep overconfidence in check

Think You Understand Millennials?

Think again. This generation of workers spans too many years to be painted with a broad brush

It’s Time for a Sober View of AI

Like rivers to the sea, biases will seep into AI tools and products. Businesses need to adopt new cultural lenses before it’s too late

The Uncomfortable Questions Posed by Remote Work

From electronic monitoring to random home safety checks, there’s a lot to the remote workplace we haven’t thought through

Why Can’t We Let Our Leaders Be Human?

Leaders are as likely to struggle with poor mental health as the people they supervise. Yet they’re expected to act more like superheroes

Are You Ready for a ChatGPT World?

The hottest AI chatbot around probably writes better than you. Too bad it can’t always get its facts straight

How to Decolonize Your Business

Many companies admit they don’t know how to get started. So we spoke to an expert about where to begin and the obstacles to overcome

5 Steps to a Winning Team Debrief

You can’t make your next project better if you don’t learn what worked (and what didn’t) the last time 

Where ESG Doesn’t Pay Off

Tying executive pay to environmental or social outcomes sounds like a good idea. In practice, it’s throwing good money after bad

A Gendered View of Tall Poppies

Emotional ambivalence explains our love-hate feelings towards a high-achieving colleague. How can we use these emotions constructively?

How to Strengthen Hybrid Team Bonds

Learn to adapt your people strategy to the five types of interdependence

Can Investing Drive Social Impact?

We talk with an expert on what happens when private capital does public good—and expects a return

Why Do-Good Gifts May Miss the Mark

Moral satisfaction is hard to transfer. Here’s how to give a charitable gift with meaning