Call to action
Spur responses to important e-mail by adding the word “action” to your subject lines before forwarding them to your boss. That way it’s obvious which messages deserve immediate attention.
Year: 2011
How to handle catty coworkers
Question: “Every day, I have to work with a group of rude and catty women. They call me a tattletale, even though I’m not. When I’m around, they make whispered remarks to each other. I tried to fit in by chatting and having lunch with them, but that didn’t work. Now I’ve adopted the attitude of “speak only when spoken to.” I limit my comments to “good morning” or “how is the weather?” Then I listen to my IPod all day. Although I like my work, I dread going to the office. The tension is taking a toll on me emotionally. Our manager is no help at all, and I can’t move to another position. What should I do?” — Hate My Coworkers
Avoiding the slash
The slash or “/” is usually deployed when you need a quick and dirty way of saying “and” or “or.” Examples: “writer/director” and “and/or.” But, one reader asks, how do you make such phrases possessive?
Tidy up
Declutter your office by thinking vertically. Instead of letting papers blanket every surface, use your wall space. Buy a shevling system or hanging racks, and start organizing on the walls.
Top business blogs for women
Women turn to blogs nearly twice as often as social networking sites to find information and share opinions, according to PINK magazine. Here’s PINK’s list of the top business blogs for women, based on site traffic and know-how:
Climb out of that rut
If your romance with your job starts to sputter, seek a new project. Tackling a new type of assignment will add excitement to the workday.
No need for a game face
A fake smile could be bad for your health. According to a study recently published in the Academy of Management Journal, putting on a game face can actually worsen your mood and cause you to withdraw from work.
Improve your likability
People generally like upbeat people. By stocking your vocabulary with postitive words, you’ll enhance your charisma. Practice using “wonderful!” and “perfect!” to exude friendliness; avoid negative words like “never,” “awful” and “stupid.”
How to organize a multi-tasking, hands-on, disorganized, time-pressed boss?
First, make sure your boss wants your help. What looks like chaos to one person may work (surprisingly) well for someone else. If she’s open to your help, schedule small blocks of time—30 minutes—to address the mess. Work together, as a team. Keep it simple with only three piles labeled: “Action Needed,” “To File,” “Throw.” Let the supervisor note which pile papers should be put in. (Organizers say, “You’ll find at least 1/3 of the papers can be thrown.”) Take the “File” pile and made new files as needed and file as time allows. Brightly color-coded “Read,” “Act” and “File” folders can help you both see through the clutter as you transition to a better system. For great advice, see: Taming the Paper Monster.
Looking for support? Here’s who you need
Whether you’re trying out a new routine or trying to shift to a new career path, you’ll need supporters. These are the people who can advise you or simply listen to you when you need it. According to Laura Goodrich, author of Seeing Red Cars, you need three types of supporters during your journey. And all three are useful in their own way.