One innocent interview question that could land you in court
Do you ask applicants what year they graduated from high school or college (or otherwise finished their education)? Does your application request that information? Watch out!
Rein in meeting disruptions
Few things annoy office workers more than unnecessary and unproductive meetings, surveys find. People wander off topic, send texts instead of listening, and behave in all sorts of dysfunctional ways. Keep your team meetings on task by adopting a few techniques.
Can you convince the boss to adopt flextime?
Question: Because of my hour-long commute, I would like to ask my boss for a more flexible work schedule. By working longer hours four days a week, I could eliminate one day of driving. I know that some of my co-workers would also welcome this arrangement. How should I approach my boss about this idea? Tired of Driving
Will you be my mentor?
Mentors are important to your success as an administrative professional—and they are easier to find than you fear, says Shellye Archambeau, CEO of MetricStream.
Conference coming up? Network like pros
Networking is critical for building a great career, and there’s no better place to do it than a professional conference. A little preparation will help you get the most out of the experience. Tips from the pros:
New tool: Online database of consent decrees
As part of negotiated settlements or court judgments, employers often sign off on “consent decrees” in which they agree to take (or stop) a certain action or pay damages. The Labor and Employment Law Program at Cornell University has unveiled an online repository of consent decrees, searchable by type of claim.
Are you a ‘reverse leader’?
You’ve probably seen reverse leadership in action: when someone not in a formal leadership role demonstrates great leadership ability, Scott Edinger, founder of Edinger Consulting Group, observes. Do you have the makings of a reverse leader? Here’s what admins should ask of themselves:
Problem: Difficult co-worker is boss’s relative
Question: Every night, my husband “Scott” comes home talking about a co-worker who is driving him crazy. Most of our after-work conversations now center on his latest problem with “Rachel.” Rachel is related to the company president, who apparently can’t see her true nature. Whenever Scott asks Rachel a question, she pointedly ignores him. She frequently instructs him to do things that he later learns he wasn’t supposed to do. She has even told people that Scott said things that he never said. Rachel also avoids work and wastes time chatting with her friends. She sometimes disappears completely. My husband loves his job and gets along with his other co-workers, but the Rachel problem seems to be getting worse. Please help. Scott’s Wife.
Watch out for your blind spot
To avoid being a casualty of your own flaws, examine your blind spot. Brent Sherwin, a manager at Schwan Food Co., learned this lesson after hearing from his boss that he’d be stymied in his career unless he was better able to work with colleagues.
PowerPoint bells and whistles: noise or not?
I recently heard a train-the-trainer presenter refer to all animations and transitions as unnecessary fluff and distractions. While I agree that animation beyond basic slide transitions can be distracting, I do think there is a place for well-placed advanced features in your PowerPoint. Here are my basic guidelines: