4 ms·

This is a good articulation of the problem. It’s effectively business-class shovelware. But my concern is less about the people writing or publishing this driv

This is a good articulation of the problem. It’s effectively business-class shovelware. But my concern is less about the people writing or publishing this drivel than about the people who consume every drop of it, hoping for some “insight” into “strategic thinking”. Before anyone accuses me of attacking a straw man, I have personally met dozens of such people. What pains me the most is that there is something out there that can give them what they want; a classic liberal-arts education would actually teach them to think with some rigor. But they’re stuck. They can’t think well enough to dig themselves out of this hole of mediocrity, and it’s an unsettling mix of tragic and repulsive. So in true HBR form, if you find yourself reading “thought leaders” or looking to improve your “strategic thinking”, please — for all our sakes - read a book. (NYT bestseller doesn’t count.)

dylan604 4y ago
>than about the people who consume every drop of it but but but, how can you become a thought leader if you don't slurp up this kind of content to regurgitate on your own blog as if it was your original thought and then relentlessly post about it on $theSocials?
itronitron 4y ago
While I mostly agree with you, I can offer a more optimistic view that you may choose to consider. Think about all the hobbies that people pursue in which there is some new gear they can read about and aspire to having that will take their pursuit of said hobby to the next level. There are entire magazines devoted to reviews of new gear. If HBR is such a magazine for managerial oriented people then at least it shows that some people are aspiring to improve their ability as managers, or at least the functioning of their organization.
- omginternets 4y ago
  I see your point, but this is akin to witnessing someone go to a psychic for help. There is little cause for optimism when people seek help from vacuous people or publications.

dylan604 4y ago

>than about the people who consume every drop of it but but but, how can you become a thought leader if you don't slurp up this kind of content to regurgitate on your own blog as if it was your original thought and then relentlessly post about it on $theSocials?

itronitron 4y ago

While I mostly agree with you, I can offer a more optimistic view that you may choose to consider. Think about all the hobbies that people pursue in which there is some new gear they can read about and aspire to having that will take their pursuit of said hobby to the next level. There are entire magazines devoted to reviews of new gear. If HBR is such a magazine for managerial oriented people then at least it shows that some people are aspiring to improve their ability as managers, or at least the functioning of their organization.

omginternets 4y ago
I see your point, but this is akin to witnessing someone go to a psychic for help. There is little cause for optimism when people seek help from vacuous people or publications.