As organizations confront rising burnout, shifting expectations, and growing demands for inclusion and psychological safety, the workplace has become one of the most critical frontiers of leadership. Performance, well-being, and culture are no longer separate conversations. They are deeply intertwined, shaping how people experience work and how organizations sustain success.
The European Business Review’s editorial team has curated this collection of must-read workplace articles to help leaders, managers, and employees navigate the interpersonal, cultural, and psychological dynamics defining work today. These pieces move beyond theory, offering practical guidance rooted in research, lived experience, and real-world challenges.
These articles provide:
- Tools for managing difficult relationships and toxic behaviors
- Insight into inclusion, bias, and psychological safety at work
- Strategies for preventing burnout and building resilience
- Leadership guidance for creating workplaces people are proud of
Whether you are leading teams, shaping culture, or striving to protect your own well-being, these articles offer timely insights to help you create healthier, more human-centered workplaces in 2025 and beyond.
1. How to Manage Challenging Colleagues
By George Kohlrieser
Drawing on his experience as a hostage negotiator, George Kohlrieser offers a powerful reframing of workplace conflict. Difficult colleagues whether negative, controlling, or disengaged can leave us feeling trapped and emotionally drained. The solution, he argues, lies not in force, but in connection, mindset, and influence.
Read More2. “Reverse Backstabbing”- The Art of Praising People Behind Their Backs
By Avi Liran
Gossip is often seen as corrosive, but Avi Liran introduces a compelling alternative: reverse backstabbing. By deliberately spreading positive stories and praise behind others’ backs, individuals can build trust, strengthen relationships, and reshape workplace culture.
Read More3. AuDHD and Workplace Law: Avoiding Pitfalls, Unlocking Potential
By Leanne Maskell
As awareness of AuDHD grows, organizations face new legal, cultural, and managerial responsibilities. Leanne Maskell explores how equality law applies to neurodivergent employees and why one-size-fits-all approaches fall short.
Read More4. Exposing the Racial Bias that Influences Day to Day Business Transactions
By Redzo Mujcic
Racial bias in the workplace is often subtle and unconscious, yet its effects are deeply consequential. Drawing on rigorous research, this article reveals how bias influences everyday business interactions even when individuals believe they are acting fairly.
5. How to Handle a Toxic Colleague – Strategies to Protect Your Wellbeing
By Katia Vlachos
Toxic behavior at work is not always loud or obvious. Often, it appears in subtle forms that erode confidence and well-being over time. Katia Vlachos offers clear, practical strategies for recognizing toxicity and protecting yourself from its impact.
Read More6. How Business Leaders Can Build a Workplace Employees are Proud Of
By Anne Katrine Carlsson Sejr
Pride at work does not come from slogans or perks—it grows from authentic, people-centered leadership. This article outlines four essential themes that help organizations create workplaces where employees feel respected, trusted, and connected to purpose.
Read More7. Identity Threats often Lead to Burn Out and Quitting – But Managers Can Help
By Mailys George
When employees feel devalued or misunderstood, their sense of identity is threatened, often leading to emotional exhaustion and disengagement. Mailys George explores how managers can recognize identity threats and respond through open dialogue and diagnostic tools.
Read More8. From Burnout to Breakthrough: Why Resilience Matters and How to Create It
By Shawna Simcik
Burnout is no longer an exception. It is a widespread reality, even among high performers. Shawna Simcik examines why traditional performance models are unsustainable and how organizations can cultivate resilience without sacrificing results.
Read More9. How Microaggressions Erode Confidence and What Leaders Can Do
By Ginka Toegel
Microaggressions are often unintentional, but their cumulative impact can be devastating. This article explains how subtle slights undermine confidence, belonging, and psychological safety—ultimately driving attrition.
Read More10. The Difference Between Necessary Pressure and Toxic Stress and How to Stay on the Right Side
By Sylvana Rochet
High performance often requires pressure, but too much pressure becomes toxic stress. In this timely article, Sylvana Rochet shows leaders how to apply performance-boosting pressure without damaging morale or health.
Read MoreThe future of work will belong to organizations that recognize the human realities behind productivity and create environments where people can perform without sacrificing dignity, identity, or health. By applying the insights from these must-read articles, leaders and professionals alike can help build workplaces that are not only effective, but genuinely sustainable.
