
Are you a corporate shock absorber?
Middle managers shield teams from brutal leadership. Learn to stop buffering, translate conflict, and steer strategy with clear trade-offs....

by I by IMD Published December 16, 2025 in Brain Circuits • 2 min read
Extracted from Jean-François Manzoni’s fascinating series of interviews with CEOs from global corporations, it was no surprise that this Brain Circuit attracted a lot of attention – and held about as much corporate wisdom as you can distill into 500 words.

Taken from our ever-popular Coaching Corner series, this short article identifies simple strategies for moving beyond a specialist mindset as you progress in your leadership journey.
In the first few days of his second administration, US President Donald Trump not only sought to outlaw DE&I programs in the public and private sectors stateside but also put pressure on European companies doing business in the US to do the same. However, that did not stop you from wanting to get it right in your workplaces, with these tips on inclusive communication for leaders proving one of the most popular short reads of 2025. Who said DE&I was dead?
Also aimed at emerging leaders, this Brain Circuit proved a timely reminder that it’s important to separate your true self from the demands and expectations of the role, and identified five ways to put intent into action.
In November 2023, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development established the Inner Development Goals (IDGs) as a necessary supplement to the SDGs.
In November 2023, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development established the Inner Development Goals (IDGs) as a necessary supplement to the SDGs. In one of our most-read features on sustainability in 2025, we distilled these into the skills needed to help organizations realize their efforts to combat climate change.
Knowing how much vulnerability to show and when to maintain distance is a key leadership skill. This Brain Circuit broke the art of building trust down into four easy-to-implement steps.

13 hours ago • by Robert Vilkelis in Brain Circuits
Middle managers shield teams from brutal leadership. Learn to stop buffering, translate conflict, and steer strategy with clear trade-offs....

July 28, 2026 • by Mark J. Greeven in Brain Circuits
Many organizations think they have created an ecosystem, but fall well short. Answer the questions below to check whether your “ecosystem” is sustainable in the long term....

July 23, 2026 • by Francesca-Giulia Mereu in Brain Circuits
Habits form in the basal ganglia and can resist effort - discover substitution strategies that replace old routines with productive ones at work....

July 21, 2026 • by Julia Binder in Brain Circuits
The role of the chief sustainability officer (CSO) has moved from the margins to the center of corporate strategy. Here are seven ways to harness AI to embed sustainability and drive growth....
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