Are you a pain to work with?
Perhaps you’ve been doing things the same way for so long that you no longer have the ability to look at situations from a different viewpoint. To measure your flexibility, take this simple quiz.
Category: People Skills
Turn enemies into accomplishments
If you’re like most people, you “deal” with difficult co-workers by trying to avoid them as much as possible. But every time you hide in the shadows as the Difficult One comes around the corner, you miss another opportunity to enhance your career.
When your boss doesn’t have a clue
An incompetent boss is annoying at best and damaging to your career at worst. To keep your career moving forward in spite of a clueless boss, Dorothy Tannahill-Moran recommends these five actions.
Turn down the volume at work
Most people would agree that it’s important to manage your emotions in the office. But is it appropriate to create official policies that would ban heated exchanges? That’s what one reader asked recently on the Admin Pro Forum.
What your boss needs most: Simplicity
Whether it’s deciding what to eat or what to wear, making decisions drains mental energy, writes Robert C. Pozen. Assistants who free their bosses from having to constantly decide on things can easily become indispensable.
Don’t let whiners bring you down
The negativity that flows from workplace whiners can spread “kind of like a cancer,” says Jim Harter. If you’re struggling to remain an optimist in the midst of workplace whiners, try these tactics.
First-time manager: Start by learning
When you start your first job as a manager, don’t rush in and begin changing everything. Instead, get in learning mode, writes Dorothy Tannahill-Moran.
Strategize, then pitch your great idea
Winning over your boss and co-workers to “see things your way” is a key component of success. Here are three ways to raise the odds that you’ll get what you want.
Insert yourself back into the loop
You’ve always compiled a monthly report for the division heads … until recently. Last week, out of nowhere, one of the execs asked another staffer to “take a crack at it.” Now, you feel left out of the loop. What can you do about it?
Conquer negativity in the workplace
A large percentage of people have to deal with colleagues who frequently complain, according to a study by Cloud Nine Media. Such negativity isn’t just annoying; research shows it can also take a toll on your brain’s ability to function properly.