Office politics: 4 tips
It pays to be a good politician, according to a new survey by Robert Half. Workers were asked, “In your opinion, what effect, if any, does involvement in office politics have on one’s career?” Their responses:
Category: Internal Communication
Caught in another ‘question trap’ on the job?
Sarah spent the afternoon working on a quarterly report for her boss, only to hear this when she delivered it at day’s end: “This isn’t a final version, is it? It won’t be a problem for you to work overtime today and fix this, will it?” Her boss just delivered a question trap—a leading question.
5 things you shouldn’t say to your boss
Build a stronger relationship with your boss by never letting these phrases cross your lips: 1. “It’s not my job.” 2. “It’s not my fault.” 3. “I can’t work with Person A.” 4. “I can’t do X, because I have to do Y.” 5. “That’s not possible.”
Use improv to improve listening skills
Most improv performers could tell you about this crucial rule of great improv: You’ve got to listen to your scene partner. Otherwise, you may miss an important cue or the opportunity to collaborate on a creative idea. It’s the same in the workplace. Here’s an improv activity that’s worth a try:
Grammar Repair Shop: Beware these misuses and abuses
Elevate your business writing by ridding it of these common misuses and abuses: 1. Ill-placed question marks. 2. Cool-sounding buzzwords. 3. Clichés.
Answer the boss’s tough questions
The boss shares an idea, and then asks, “What do you think?” You don’t have an instant answer. How do you avoid looking stumped?
Who’s in your network at work?
Winning at office politics could begin with this key question, “Who am I dependent on to get my job done?”
Building your online rapport
In the age of Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, the rules of social engagement have shifted ever so slightly. A few tips on building rapport online:
How ‘happy’ is your workplace?
When you think about a “happy” workplace, do you think Google? All those creative-minded people at a beautifully designed work space, working on projects while the entire world watches. You can use some of the same strategies used at Google and other offices to bring more happiness into the workplace.
4 tips to improve your listening skills
You’re on your way to a meeting or you’re in the middle of a project that requires your focus, when someone tells you something important. “Got it!” you say. Later, though, you realize you weren’t fully tuned in. Consider what sort of listener you are, and then heed these tips: