I’m eager each year for the Harvard Business Review’s annual list of most popular blog posts. I like knowing what its readers are concerned with and view the list as an indicator of trends among business and thought leaders. The editors at HBR say it was no surprise to them that most of last year’s top ten contained advice on how to succeed and be happy at work. Take a look.
HBR’s 10 Most Popular Blog Posts of 2011
1. Nine Things Successful People Do Differently
by Heidi Grant Halvorson
Talent plays only a tiny role in your success; what really matters is what you do. This post stayed on the most popular list for months.
2. I Don’t Understand What Anyone Is Saying Anymore
by Dan Pallotta
We all hate business jargon, but we can’t stop using it. More people commented on this post than on any other in HBR.org’s history.
3. The Best Cover Letter I Ever Received
by David Silverman
Silverman’s basic philosophy on cover letters? Don’t bother. This was originally posted in 2009, and it remains one of the most popular posts.
4. Four Destructive Myths Most Companies Still Live By
by Tony Schwartz
Do you perpetuate these productivity-destroying falsehoods at your company?
5. Seven Personality Traits of Top Salespeople
by Steve W. Martin
A survey of 1,000 salespeople returns some surprising results.
6. The Twelve Attributes of a Truly Great Place to Work
by Tony Schwartz
Great employers shift the focus from trying to get more out of people to investing more in them.
7. Four Ways Women Stunt Their Careers Unintentionally
by Jill Flynn, Kathryn Heath, and Mary Davis Holt
To get ahead, women must close the confidence gap with their male peers.
8. How to Accomplish More by Doing Less
by Tony Schwartz
Work is like weightlifting: Alternate stress with recovery to gradually build your capacity.
9. Why I Hire People Who Fail
by Jeff Stibel
If you’re not failing every now and then, you’re probably not advancing.
10. Five Things You Should Stop Doing in 2012
by Dorie Clark
Which of your activities are actually important to your career, and which merely provide the illusion of progress?
So, tell me, which of these did you want to read first?
Tags: happiness, human energy, leadership, leadership development, managing yourself, personal effectiveness, success
