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Year: 2011

Self-quiz: Are you intuitive?

Psychiatrist Judith Orloff describes intuition as “a still, small voice inside … an unflinching truth-teller committed to our well-being.” Take this self-quiz to determine whether you have a connection with your intuitive voice:

Overwhelmed trying to create a ‘paperless’ office? You’re not alone

Trying to create a paperless environment is a major challenge and a project everyone should participate in. Plan to involve key players who need to retrieve, store and update documents. Let the group help determine which documents must be stored. Break the project down into smaller parts. Separate e-docs into files as you would with a paper file system. This helps you decide which documents you can combine into a single folder with a single title. Once you organize these docs, the job will go faster and help you see what type of help you need. If you already use a Document Management Software program, PDFs can easily be moved into e-folders. Be sure to delegate and training. If you can’t delegate, you do not have a system that is logical to use and easy to maintain.

Can you be a boss and a friend?

Question: “I’m not sure how to handle my new supervisory position. Before being promoted, I was friends with my former co-workers, so I’m finding it difficult to tell them what to do … I know I have to demonstrate leadership, but I’m afraid this will turn me into an unlikeable person. After all, does anyone really like their boss?” — Nice Guy

Fan out to network

When attending a large group meeting, don’t sit with the people from your department or office. If familiar faces surround you, you’re less likely to reach out and make new connections.

Make a snappy comeback

Didn’t have the right snappy comeback to a colleague’s subtle put-down or the boss’s accusatory comment? “You have to be able to respond on your feet at work, and I think some people are becoming less adept at it,” says Kathleen Kelley Reardon. Some of her suggestions for comebacks:

One in, one out

Adopt the same strategy at the office that professional organizers advocate to keep homes clutter-free: For every new item you bring in, toss one out. Example: Take a moment to discard old directories and software manuals when the new ones arrive.

Better decision-making

Neither Predictably Irrational nor Blink is new, but both nonfiction tomes continue to sell like gangbusters. And with good reason: Both titles help illuminate the way we think about choices and make decisions.