Category: 1-Minute Strategy

When describing even a simple process, never assume that the recipient of your email or presentation will know exactly what you mean. Adding screen shots (press Ctl + Print Screen in Windows to grab one, then paste it where you wish) is the most effective way to remove all doubt.

It’s still a new year and you’re definitely going to make mistakes. So for 2013, give yourself a three-blunder allowance in advance. When you know three noticeable blunders are inevitable, they’ll roll more easily off your back when they do happen.

When you proofread a document, try approaching it differently with each pass. For example, read it first to check for formatting only, then solely for spelling and grammar, and finally, look for nothing but overall comprehension.

Having trouble getting along with someone at work? Ask yourself one question: What does this person do for fun outside the office? If you don’t know this one little fact, maybe you need to make more of an effort to see the whole person, not just the part you don’t care for.

No matter how busy you are, don’t skip your lunch entirely. You need the physical energy it provides, but perhaps just as importantly, taking even 15 minutes to eat will stem a buildup of resentment that can slowly erode your morale.

Always take advantage of the Comments field when placing an online order. Add a personal note about the order’s specific importance, and let the vendor know you appreciate their personal attention. Example: “It’s critical that this arrives at our top client’s address by Dec. 15. Thanks so much!”

Be mindful of what you tell folks at work, says Alexandra Levit on her blog “Water Cooler Wisdom.” If your medical condition or lifestyle choice truly doesn’t impact your job, then people at work shouldn’t need to know about it. If you must share, “keep your circle of informants small and limited to people you […]

When you wrong someone–a colleague, a subordinate, a customer–apologize by doing three things: (1) Without qualifiers, say you’re sorry. (2) Make amends if you can. (3) Explain what you’ll do to make sure the error doesn’t happen again.

When networking at a business event, hold your drink in your left hand. This prevents your handshakes from being cold and damp.

Listening to music while you work can do more than make you feel better–it can also make you more productive, experts say. “It breaks you out of just thinking one way,” says Teresa Lesiuk, an assistant professor, University of Miami.