1-Minute Strategies: June ’11
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?
Category: Communication
Should you call out a co-worker?
Another admin on your team just made a cringe-worthy mistake. It was so bad that, although you’re a team player, you’d like to make sure your co-worker is held accountable. Is there a way to place the blame in a professional way? Opinions differ among the experts.
Cell phone turning your brain to mush?
The jury is still out on whether cell phone radiation has a negative effect on our brains. Regardless, most health researchers recommend that you hold a cell phone an inch or two from your ear. Their top tip?
9 tips on writing effective surveys
What do your customers think? The answers are often uncovered through a survey. But writing a customer survey is more complicated than most people think. If you’re ever tasked with finding out what people think, use these tips for writing survey questions:
How to be a better business writer
Whenever possible, choose concrete words to express your ideas, says Deborah Dumaine, author of Write to the Top. “Abstract writing is open to many interpretations, all potentially inaccurate,” she says. “Make a real effort to clarify your ideas so that the reader understands your intention.”
LOL! Text-speak now in the dictionary
OMG! The Oxford English Dictionary officially approves of the three-letter “word.” Among the entries in its latest edition are a number of expressions that first became popular online but then crossed over into everyday use.
Lead your peers by stepping back
Before administrative professional Ilja Kraag wrestles for too long with a difficult task at work, she checks in with her peers. “How do you do it?” she asks them. That trait—reaching out to others—is what makes Kraag a natural leader. The org chart may not show it, but Kraag leads her peers by setting the right example.
1-Minute Strategies: May ’11
Make any decision-making group more effective by limiting membership to seven … Turn an intention into an action with the power of “when” … Find the volunteer gig that’s right for you …
How to talk to a company VIP
At some point, it will happen: Suddenly you’ll find yourself face-to-face with the company CEO, with a few brief minutes to make your best impression. What will you say? Here’s fodder for just those occasions:
Write a killer e-mail newsletter: 8 tips
E-mail newsletters remain one of the most effective ways to build relationships with customers. For proof, look no further than the recent popularity of Groupon. If you’re asked to develop an e-mail newsletter, keep in mind these tips: