Category: 1-Minute Strategy

The subtle way you temporarily cease listening to the music in your headphones when a co-worker starts a conversation delivers a potent message. Remember, removing both earbuds says, “You’re important to me, let’s talk.” Removing just one unfortunately says, “This better be good.”

Make punctuality your friend and you’ll soon notice how much of our stress comes from simply taking too long to get ready to go somewhere and leaving late, creating a lifetime of frustrating beat-the-clock episodes that can easily be avoided. Make a goal to be early and watch your tension level drop.

 Try entering “Not to Do” items into your regular to-do list. These might include “don’t play solitaire” or “don’t surf the sports scores.” If you go through the day without doing these things, check them off your list—and it’ll be that much easier to forgo them tomorrow.

If you find it hard to keep your eyes constantly locked on the person who is speaking to you, the next best place to glance is downward. It gives the appearance that you are ruminating what was said. An upward glance appears as an eye roll and sideways glances come off like you are distracted.

By putting up a humor board, where anyone can post cartoons, jokes, or funny pictures, you’ll remind everyone in the office that there’s a place for levity. Just remember to give it a prominent spot—preferably close to the office entrance, or the kitchen, so it’s one of the first things people notice each day.

It’s amazing just how often you wind up needing a good old-fashioned wooden ruler to measure little things here and there. No tech wizardry has yet replaced it, and it’s as cheap as can be. Make sure you have several on hand for the staff. It’s the type of item nobody thinks they need until […]

Laughter and good humor are terrific for morale, but there are ways to make people laugh at work that aren’t helpful. Cynicism never gives others any kind of boost; instead it gradually dampens spirits and makes people less likely to confide in you. The next time you make a cutting remark—even a pretty darn funny […]

If you’ve had a particularly agonizing setback at the office, try heading out a little early and going right to the movies. The immersive nature of the big-screen theater experience, with its constant visual and aural input in the form of an interesting story about a situation that has nothing to do with you, tends […]

During your first week or so at a new job, you’ll probably find some employees are much more friendly, helpful and similar to you than others. It’s tempting to take their cue on everything so you don’t feel so adrift and alone as a newbie, but keep a little distance to make sure their advice […]

Once in a while, try to become hyper-aware of the times you sprinkle your speech with so, um, like, I mean, well and other placeholders. It’s going to be impossible to get rid of them all—who’s ever accomplished that?—but a good place to focus on is the very beginning of your sentences. You sound stronger […]