3 steps to negotiating a better salary
How can someone convince her boss she deserves more money, without revealing that she knows she’s being underpaid? Three steps:
Year: 2012
Do you have a presence?
“Presence.” You know it when you see it: Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan had it. Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter did not. Those who have it gain an advantage in winning over others.
Give advice without preaching or pontificating
Offering advice? The I-would-do-this-if-I-were-you approach can sometimes backfire. So: 1) Check your timing. Wait until an agitated co-worker is calm before asking, “Would you like my advice?” 2) Be direct. Avoid vague hints. Instead say, “You may want to consider…” 3) Confirm the goal. Was she venting or looking for a solution?
Excel: Find peace with merged cells and calculations–two natural enemies
There is a way to get the look of Merge and Center without the inconvenience.
10 rules to reverse the email spiral
Chris Anderson, who runs the high-profile TED conference, believes we need to focus on limiting the flow of email, rather than focusing on how to organize and file all those messages. Anderson penned 10 ideas that could make a dent in email quantity:
Business writing made simple
Strengthen your sentences by using fewer words and getting rid of awkward or passive construction. Practice by rewriting these wordy sample sentences, inspired by the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL):
Why playing nice pays
It still pays to play nice at work, a Robert Half survey confirms. When employees were asked, “In your opinion, to what extent does being courteous to co-workers positively impact a person’s career prospects?” 48% responded it can accelerate advancement.
Crafty ways to corner challenging work
Colleagues may hesitate to share work if they’re not confident in your abilities. Here are some crafty ways to show others that you’re more than capable:
Do 2 ‘mismatched’ jobs in 1 year label me a job hopper?
Question: “I recently lost a job after six months because management said I was a ‘mismatch.’ Although I found another job immediately, it is not something I want to do long-term. I like my supervisor and co-workers, but I don’t enjoy the work…
What’s the use of LinkedIn for an admin?
“Exactly, what is the advantage of LinkedIn?” asks one administrative pro on our online forum. “Many people I know are on it, but no one can say what they get out of it.” According to most admins, the benefits are many, if you use the online tool the right way.