A few things to consider when revising your e-mails: 1. Toss useless words. 2. Last things first. 3. Watch your format. 4. Use effective subject lines. 5. Set the right tone. 6. Always allow room to be corrected.
Could an oversized waistline put your future career at risk? Career columnist Anita Bruzzese says, “If you’re carrying too much weight—enough to be considered overweight or obese—then you’re a concern to employers.”
Your office may have escaped a massive outbreak of swine flu, but odds are there’s still the lurking threat of seasonal flu. One admin wrote on our Admin Pro Forum that all employees at her company are required to attend an hour-long presentation about pandemic preparedness. A few ways to keep the flu at bay:
“I feel like I’m talking to a wall!” Judy told her co-worker over lunch. “Whether at home or work, I find myself repeating my requests as everyone is just too darn busy to stop what they’re doing and truly listen!” Do you often feel as if your words are falling on deaf ears? Learn to listen with L-O-V-E.
How far would you go to help your boss? Would you call in a bomb threat? That’s what one admin did in an attempt to delay a flight out of Miami International Airport—so her boss wouldn’t miss it. It’s an extreme example, to be sure. But most of us have felt tempted, at some point, to go overboard to help a manager we’re loyal to.
As business travel picks up, try incorporating this savvy tip to make trips hassle-free: Ship your luggage via FedEx ahead of time, using three-day service or ground. CBS travel editor Peter Greenberg says he hasn’t checked luggage on domestic flights in nearly nine years—even before airlines began charging to check bags.
The recession has led to more than just job cuts. It has also opened the door to more gossip around the water cooler. In a survey conducted last year by the SHRM, 54% of managers said they had seen an increase in gossip or rumors about downsizing or layoffs. Want to quash rumors? Kathi Elster, co-author of Working with You Is Killing Me, offers these guidelines:
When your job is to keep things from falling through the cracks, a good time-management system can serve as a tightly woven net. Sue Shellenbarger, a columnist for The Wall Street Journal, recently took the most widely used systems for a test drive, trying each one for a week. Here’s what she learned:
Question: “I work with someone who has a strong Diva personality. She is a good worker, but believes she is better than everyone else, and points that out on a regular basis through her actions. To top this off, she is constantly interrupting others. How should I deal with this without insulting her or raising a big fuss?” — Caron Mosey