When a colleague or customer gets so upset they stop making sense, you need to remember this: Too much adrenaline is muddling their thinking. Here are the most common forms of ranting, along with what to say to get them back on track quickly:
Here’s some help on setting priorities when more than one person is clamoring for your attention “yesterday”:
Can you spot the errors in these sentences? 1. Come quick or you’ll miss the bus. 2. Hank felt badly about missing the deadline. 3. Which would be best, a raise or an extra vacation? 4. Speak slower when you answer the phones.
“All first drafts are terrible. I don’t care if you’re Hemingway.” That comes from a writing professor who may as well have been talking about email. No email should be sent without revision. Here’s an
email etiquette checklist to follow:
When you hear “negotiation,” what comes to mind? When I ask this question at seminars, women often respond: men in suits arguing and yelling; buying a car; attorneys. When I ask how many women enjoy negotiating, only a few hands go up. Yet in reality, women are born to negotiate.
"Our office allows a more casual attire in the summer. But some of the employees push it way too far. It doesn’t help that the VP in charge of the office likes to wear shorts, so everyone else thinks it should be OK. We don’t have any written rules on this, but I think it’s hurting our image (as some of our sales reps sometimes have clients in for meetings). How can I present this to ‘Mr. Casual’ VP…or should I? — Kathleen
"How can I deal with a co-worker who constantly complains that he doesn’t like his job or the people in the department? I suggested he talk to those he has issues with. I even suggested he find a new job. But he just keeps complaining and it interferes with my performance and morale. What can I do? I don’t want to be mean or unprofessional." — Janice
You dread going to work. The problem isn’t your job, which you love. And you’re blessed with a great staff. But your boss makes you miserable. Here’s how to fight off intimidation and get support when you need it most …
Question: “I manage the gift shop at a beautiful, historic winery. Although this is a wonderful place to work, we do encounter customers with a variety of challenging personalities. I have several employees who complain about how stupid customers are and what dumb questions they ask. Since we don’t work in a bubble, I’m sure customers sometimes overhear these comments. I’ve tried asking everyone to be more positive, but negativity spreads like a disease. How do I stop this catty chatter?” — Frustrated in Wisconsin
Question: “Is there a rule of thumb when it comes to determining severance for an employee? What factors should be considered when calculating severance (length of service, position in company, etc.)? What seems to be the “norm” in this economic time?” — Sheri Thomas
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