When you’re short on time, keep others from frittering it away with idle chitchat by keeping absolutely quiet. Any response (even “um” and “uh-huh”) will encourage more chatter. Make a nonstop talker feel self conscious through total silence.
Patti’s slow recovery from a serious accident has led to numerous absences from the job she loves. As a long-time employee, she has been granted intermittent FMLA leave, but she is depressed that her boss seems unsympathetic. Many forum readers advise her not to let her stress and hurt feelings worsen the situation. Reader Charlean suggests good planning and the ability to delegate can help. “Work each day with the idea that you may be off tomorrow … cross-train co-workers to make sure the company will run smoothly in your absence.” Readers also suggest she discuss accommodations like flex time or telecommuting with the HR department.
Should you really have to say something twice to get someone to follow through? The most effective managers repeat themselves at least once, according to Harvard researchers. Some even send three or four redundant communications.
Need a co-worker to help you with something? Place your hand on the person’s desk, says Dr. David Givens, the director of the Center for Nonverbal Studies in Spokane, Wash. Givens says that by placing your hand on your co-worker’s desk as you explain the help you need, it becomes far more likely the person […]
Deadbeats suck the life out of everyone around them. They may sometimes be hard to identify, and they’re even harder to publicly label once found. According to the blogger behind “HR Fishbowl,” you’re a deadbeat employee if you:
Don’t apologize if you must say no to a request. “Say ‘sorry’ only if you’ve done something wrong,” says Jenni Prisk, owner of Prisk Communications. Instead say, “No, I can’t stay late. I need to leave at 5 o’clock today because I have another commitment” or simply say, “I’m not able to do that.” The […]
Question: “Because I used to work in human resources, co-workers often come to me to vent. Now my manager says someone has complained about the amount of time that people spend chatting in my office. He said that he doesn’t blame me for this and that it isn’t hurting my work. However, he has asked me to start telling people ‘my boss wants us to stop chatting.’ I don’t feel that it’s my place to deliver this message, especially since my job performance isn’t suffering. Shouldn’t the other managers tell their employees to talk less?” —Not My Fault
Mind your business P’s & Q’s … Ask permission before giving feedback … Pose the right questions when you’re waiting … Is a cluttered desk the sign of a cluttered mind?
Gain support for your big idea by repeating it a few times. Why? According to scientists at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, when people hear the same idea over and over–even from the same person–it gives the impression that it’s a popular viewpoint, which makes it more likely to agree with it.
Executives are struggling with time management now more than ever, given the “doing more with less” philosophy that reigns in most workplaces. Ask your boss: “How can I open up more time in your schedule?”
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