The heart of the organization: you
Frances Hesselbein, who led the Girl Scouts of the USA from 1976 to 1990, believes that anyone can be a leader, no matter where he or she finds themselves in an organization.
Stock emergency supplies
Having an umbrella, lint brush, sewing kit, extra pair of panty hose or tie and other essentials in your drawer or car virtually ensures that you’ll never need them.
Some coffee with your stress?
You’re expecting an afternoon meeting to be stressful and charged with emotion. Should you provide coffee for your boss and the other meeting attendees? Or is all that caffeine likely to do more harm than good?
Sum it up
When completing a conversation, summarize key points so that you both agree what has been covered and what will be done.
Why am I getting the silent treatment?
If a colleague gives you the “silent treatment,” remember first and foremost that this type of passive aggressive behavior is her issue, not yours. Still, it can be stressful to deal with it, especially if you work in very close quarters. Try asking her if you’ve done something to offend her since she’s so “quiet.” If she says no, then you can only continue to be pleasant and professional. For all you know, she may have applied for your job or you are being groomed to replace her. Readers recommend that you bring this to the boss’s attention only if it is truly compromising your work and you have documented incidences of her interference. But if you do, come prepared with solutions. For example, if you spot an empty desk elsewhere, you might suggest that it could be a more productive space for you because it is closer to the boss’s office or (said without irony) because it is “quieter” there.
5 grammar myths
Grammar Girl has debunked these grammar rules, saying, “Almost everyone believes at least one of these myths”:
Print two itineraries
Give the boss two copies of her travel information: one to take with her and one for a family member or friend who made need to contact her.
Take control of your own training
If there’s one thing employees have learned from the recession, it is not to rely on the bosses to keep their skills sharp. Fortunately, there are many more ways to stretch your skills.
Don’t give in to doubters
Extract yourself from unproductive conversations with naysayers, people who only aim to shoot down your ideas. When they launch into a diatribe about what won’t work, respond by saying, “Until we’ve tried everything, I have faith that a great solution is out there.” Then make a graceful exit from the conversation.
Is cell phone chatter a problem or a symptom?
Question: “One of my employees frequently takes personal calls on his cell phone. I don’t mind calls for important matters or emergencies, but I often hear him chatting with friends or discussing a business that he operates on the side. My main concern is that his job performance is not acceptable. He always seems to be preoccupied with something other than work. I discussed the issue of personal calls at a company-wide meeting, but he still seems to be receiving them. What would be a tactful way to deal with this problem?” —K.B.