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Year: 2011

Next on the meeting agenda: brain food

You may have seen Chef Jamie Oliver’s show “Food Revolution,” in which he transforms school menus. Now Oliver is doing the same thing for employees slogging through long off-site meetings. If you plan off-site meetings or conferences, boost the meeting’s ROI by rethinking food.

Not “why,” but “how”

Solve problems easier by replacing “why” with “how.” That shifts your perspective from the problem to the solution. Example: “Why won’t anyone listen to me?” becomes “How can I persuade people to listen to me?”

Does your boss struggle to lead?

Good news for the bosses of the world: Most employees (59%) say their direct supervisors are doing a good or even great job. However, 20% of the respondents to the CareerBuilder.com survey say their supervisors’ performance is poor or very poor. The biggest gripes?

Lighten up to work smarter

According to studies, people who are lighthearted and having fun do better work. Why? Postitive feelings increase oxygen, endorphins and blood flow, which start creative juices flowing and allow for clearer thinking. Some suggestions: Keep fun supplies in the break room, such as Legos, dominoes, Silly Putty and Slinkys. Toss around a beach ball before […]

Email efficiency

If you’ve broken the bonds of email slavery and check messages only a couple of times a day, let others know your schedule. Set an automatic response in your email program that tells people, for example, that you will answer all messages by 4:30 p.m.

Don’t let well-paying job keep you from exploring new career options

Sandy has a well-paying job as an EA to a CEO. But she wants to transition to a new career in producing. Forum reader Diane suggests she talk to people within her firm who work in that area and see if she can fill in for someone.  “You’ll gain first-hand experience in small increments and increase your network in that area.” Others suggest she take continuing education courses. Many universities offer “summer intensive” program for career changers to gain new skills during “learning vacations.” Gloria cautions her to first “Assess your motives for why you want this change. Sometimes we move only to find ourselves in the same unhappy situation. We might really just need to challenge ourselves more or take on new assignments.”

7 questions to better admin-exec rapport

In your relationship with your boss, who sets the tone for the relationship? Your boss? Test your assumption. You probably have more power than you think to shape the way you work together. Ask yourself these seven questions to improve your relationship:

Ride the boss’s coattails

Send a handwritten card of admiration when your boss wins a promotion. Then when she thanks you, suggest ways you can lend a helping hand for her new position, like tackling stray responsibilities. Focus on how you can help the boss, not your own advancement. That will follow.