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Category: Internal Communication

Transitions make the words flow

Using transitions in your writing is like taking readers by the hand and guiding them exactly where you want them to go. Transitional words such as “however,” “meanwhile” or “likewise” create relationships between your sentences and paragraphs so that readers can understand why you’ve written sentences in a particular order.

Partnering with a micromanaging boss

When a control-freak boss monitors your every move, you and your co-workers may be tempted to rebel. Instead, don’t let your annoyance show. “Getting visibly irritated when he leans on you will only make him think he needs to keep an even closer eye on you,” says Albert J. Bernstein, a clinical psychologist and author of Am I The Only Sane One Working Here? Here are more strategies:

Have a new boss? Clarify expectations with 3 questions

Take the guesswork out of a relationship with a new manager by having an up-front conversation about expectations. No doubt, you’ll need to talk about the nitty-gritty of your everyday tasks. But don’t leave the conversation at that. Get a big-picture snapshot of your role, so you can come to a better understanding with your new boss.

Handy e-mail subject line shortcuts

Keep internal office e-mail communications clear and efficient by asking everyone to stick to subject-line codes, says productivity expert Laura Stack. By using agreed-upon acronyms, people will know the gist and priority of an e-mail, without having to open it first. Example: Your team could use <AR> for “Action Required.”

Dealing with a scatterbrained boss

Question: “I work for a manager who thinks I can read her mind. She rushes up to my desk and says something like, ‘Did he come pick it up?’ Because I have no idea what she’s talking about, I ask what she means. Then she looks at me like I’m an idiot for not understanding. This happens all the time, and I’m starting to get really irritated. How do I deal with her weird communication pattern?”