How to protect online passwords
The safety of your online resources and your privacy comes down to one thing: your passwords. Make sure your passwords are protected with these tips from tech writer Denise Lu.
When mirroring goes way too far
Q: “‘Megan’ has started dressing exactly like me and even went to my eye doctor to get the same glasses. She always duplicates my order at lunch and has items similar to mine on her desk. Last week, I happened to meet someone who is friends with Megan. This complete stranger knew a lot about me because Megan apparently talks about me all the time. Should I be worried?” Uneasy
Find out if a due date is just wishful thinking
The next time someone asks you “When can you have this done?” resist the understandable temptation to blurt out the earliest, and possibly unrealistic date, just to please someone and show your efficiency. Instead, ask “Is time a factor for you?” The answer will give you much more of a sense of the real schedule […]
Improve your writing on the job: 10 tips
If you work in an office environment, writing is probably a big part of your day and reflects on your professionalism. Anita Bruzzese offers some tips to improve your style and prevent embarrassing communications errors.
Angry callers: like putty in your hands
Turn a growling caller into a purring, pleased customer, with these techniques.
Court ruling affects workplace suits
The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in a workplace harassment case may alter the way future harassment suits are brought against employers.
How to avoid self-assessment sabotage
Q: “As part of my performance review, I have been asked to write a self-evaluation, which makes me very uncomfortable. For the past eight years, my manager has completed the appraisal form by himself, so this process is new to me. Since I tend to be very self-critical, how do I keep from sabotaging myself?” Apprehensive
Get a healthy lift from food combos
Certain combinations of foods can work especially harmoniously together and help boost your energy and health. Health writer Lisa Evans offers a few choice combinations to consider.
A little slang can pep up almost anything
You wouldn’t want to use it as a style guide, or for almost any business-to-business correspondence, but getting familiar with some of the lingo found in the Urban Dictionary can help you add some modern flair to a routine document or presentation. Dropping terms like “phoneslinger,” “hate hug,” or “textretary” can be a real (and […]
Define a worker’s authority … or watch it spiral
Q: “I teach at an international school which employs people from several different countries. ‘Owen’ likes to create friction and is especially rude to our Asian staff members. Some good teachers have left because of Owen, yet no action is ever taken action against him. Whenever Owen is on vacation, we are like one big happy family. But as soon as he returns, the tension starts again. What can we do?” Fed Up