(Newsletter #19) Managers: what are you waiting for to ‘leave the cave’?

The figure of the manager seems to be perceived alternately, or even simultaneously, by articles, discussions, and at the very heart of organisations, as a solution and/or a problem.

Autonomy, transparency, productivity, trust... and their negative equivalents play the role of ideals or repellents.

But is it reasonable to individualise expectations and tensions to such an extent? Are managers themselves not caught up in demands that are difficult to reconcile? Or, on the contrary, are they not doing enough and should they not seek more information and training, for the benefit of all?

In this new newsletter, our professors present their latest thoughts and suggestions for actions to be taken towards ‘enlightened management’.

They are convinced that the status of manager requires the development of strategic, relational, organisational and emotional skills, to name but a few, at any age and in any organisation.

So, are you ready to 'leave the cave’?

Don't forget that all these EDHEC Vox articles are also available in French on our website.

Happy reading!

Proactivity at work: managing the cost of going the extra mile

By Mouna El Mansouri (EDHEC), Karoline Strauss (ESSEC), Doris Fay (Potsdam University), and Julia Smith (ESSEC)

We’re told to go beyond our job descriptions—to innovate, improve, and break routines. But the researchers reveal here a hidden trade-off: proactivity comes with a cognitive cost that can leave you mentally exhausted, less focused, and even worse at your core tasks. The good news? It’s not about stopping—it’s about working smarter, and small daily shifts can make all the difference... Read this article

"As a leader, especially during challenging times, if your words don’t match your behavior, you’re not inspiring anyone"

An interview with Michelle Sisto (EDHEC)

Michelle Sisto’s spent her career proving that leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about asking the right questions and living them. Having directed MBA programmes - and even all graduate programs - at EDHEC, shaped QTEM’s global network, or now exploring AI’s role in education, she gives leaders and managers a simple piece of advice: ‘being authentic, listening to your teams, and trying to put yourself in the shoes of your stakeholders’... Read this interview

• To read the full original version of this interview (June 21, 2024 - Medium), follow this link

Three key steps to prevent micromanagement

By Julia Milner (EDHEC)

The reflex to control every detail is a trap & the fastest way to stifle creativity and burn out any team. The alternative? Trade the manager’s playbook for a coach’s mindset. Instead of imposing solutions (even if you have them), one will equip her/his team to think, decide, and innovate. The author suggests a pretty simple 3 step-method for empowering individuals... Read this article

How leaders transform their emotions into assets for making decisions and fully embodying them

By Sylvie Deffayet Davrout (EDHEC)

The so-called basic emotions - anger, fear, sadness and joy - are inescapable. They structure our minds, our reactions and our decisions, and are the subject of countless books, films and TV series... People are also confronted with them at work. And for leaders and managers, they are as feared - wrongly, according to the author - as they are powerful. How can we better understand these emotions and develop authentic, embodied leadership... ? Read this article

Addressing professional paradoxes: the importance of emotional intelligence

By Camille Pradies (EDHEC)

At work - as at home - everyone can experience what are known as complex paradoxes, i.e opposing elements that are interconnected and that persist over time. When professionals face paradoxes (related to time, money, scale, etc.), they are likely to experience emotional ambivalence, particularly when their values are on the line. The researcher argues in favour of emotional intelligence as a means of improving decision-making, relationship-building and problem-solving... Read this article

In this new series, "Around the Word", we unpack how a single idea fractures into meaning—starting with mindfulness, a buzzword with surprising depth.

(1/2) Mindfulness in the workplace: which techniques for which benefits?

For Peter Daly, it’s an inner toolkit: meditation, sensory awareness, and emotional regulation help managers and leaders break autopilot, reduce stress and “balance individual needs with those of others"... Read this article

(2/2) Can mindfulness help employees see social inequality more clearly?

For Yanina Rashkova, it’s a social X-ray but not all mindfulness skills are equal when it comes to perceiving inequality. Only clearly describing inner experiences unveils social unfairness: “It’s not just about being present — it’s about how we make sense of that presence”... Read this article

A manager who looks out for you, not over you — What young graduates want in a manager

By Geneviève Houriet Segard & Manuelle Malot (EDHEC NewGen Talent Centre)

When asking nearly 2000 recent graduates of business and engineering schools what they expect from a "good boss", between the data and candid testimonials, a clear picture emerges. Trust over control, purpose over tasks, and feedback that fuels growth: the authors advocate that mentorship as opposed to micromanagement, has a bright future ahead of it... Read this article

Meet Tristan-Pierre Maury, a committed director and free spirit at the crossroads of knowledge

A professor of economics at EDHEC for over fifteen years, Tristan-Pierre Maury stands out for his rich and unusual intellectual background, navigating between mathematics, philosophy, economics and sociology. A passionate teacher, committed researcher and, since 2023, director of the Grande École and Masters of Science programmes, he pursues a constant ambition: to train critical, open-minded people capable of acting on the world with lucidity... Read this portrait

Illustration (header) 2025 - Anne Moreau