Reconsider the comedy
If you’re tempted to use humor in your next presentation, make sure it helps illustrate a problem or encourages the audience to embrace your position. If you’re telling a joke just to get a laugh, skip it.
Year: 2010
Putting web pieces together
Store scattered pieces of information in one place with these online tools: 1. Strategically store web content with Springpad. 2. Organize a batch of business cards. ScanBizCards, WorldCard Mobile or CamCard keep business cards from disappearing in a messy drawer.
Change your outlook
Instead of saying “I hope this is a good day,” start by asking, “How can I make this a good day?” At the end of the day, don’t think, “How did my day go?” Instead ask, “What was good about today? What did I learn? How can I make tomorrow better?”
Do you procrastinate? Outsmart the habit
When resolving to reach a goal, it might help to commit to a hard deadline, and then tell colleagues, friends or a spouse about it. A public commitment might strengthen your resolve.
Inspire confidence with every word
Always state your position in positive terms. Say, “I’ll have it to you by 8 a.m. tomorrow,” instead of “I can’t get to that until late today.” Or say, “I will complete it in two hours,” not “I’ll get to that ASAP.”
Hold back on ‘out-of-office’ notes
Steer clear of “oversharing” when it comes to out-of-office messages sent to the rest of the office. For example: “I’ll be leaving the office at 4 p.m. today. I’m taking my daughter to the dentist. Please send any urgent requests to Pam.” Does the message really need to explain where the sender is going?
Draw attention to priority items
Develop a system so your boss sees every urgent item before he departs each day: Place a “high priority” label on a red folder or a special in-box on his desk.
When the office slacker is the owner’s daughter
Qustion: “My boss hired her daughter, “Tammy”, to work part-time in the business. Before that, I was her only employee. Tammy is arrogant, foul-mouthed and a know-it-all. She spends most of the day surfing the Internet and texting her friends. Although she is supposed to help with office work, Tammy won’t even answer the phone. She does exactly what the boss tells her to do and nothing more. I recently discovered that she is being paid almost as much as I am, which is extremely insulting. My boss had told me she was making much less. I doubt that any criticism of the daughter would be well-received, so I don’t know how to address this issue without creating hard feelings. Until this happened, I really loved my job. What should I do?” — Resentful
Step-by-step guide for a healthier you
Americans take fewer steps than our cohorts in Australia, Japan and Switzerland, according to a new study. Those extra steps have everything to do with the extra weight we’re carrying. Test your physical activity by getting a pedometer. Keep track for two or three days, then use these “steps per day” numbers to figure out whether you’re active or simply busy:
Speech faults to avoid
“It don’t matter.” Should be “It doesn’t matter.”“That’s a whole nother issue.” Should be “That’s a whole other issue.”“Where you at?” Should be “Where are you?”Also, use “said” instead of “like” and “go.”