Category Archives for Career Advice
Squeaky Wheels and Your Job
Dear Lynn, I was recently passed over for a promotion after taking over the jobs of two other people – for five months. And the work still keeps coming. I know that in this economy I have to be careful, yet when I look around, I see “squeaky wheels get all the grease,” at least […]
Read MoreMore on the Downsized Office, “Surprise Boss”
As I mentioned in my last blog, layoffs are reshuffling people and departments constantly. Many employees don’t know what to expect from day to day, including how this environment will impact their own job duties. Flexibility is the word of the day. But when you have a newly “inaugurated” boss as a result of a […]
Read MoreMy Newly Inaugurated Boss
Dear Lynn, My boss was just laid off last week. Suddenly I have a new one, who got pulled over from another department, and is now doing two jobs. She’s totally different from my former supervisor, who I loved. She literally stands behind me and watches me work. It makes me sweat! I’m not sure […]
Read MoreHigher Unemployment: A TOT Incubator?
A few business executives have repeated an almost identical office scenario to me lately. And with December 2008 unemployment reaching 7.2 percent, it’s no wonder. The scene: The boss, let’s call him “James,” calls an employee, who we’ll call “Steve,” into his office. (TOT alert?!) Steve opens and closes the door behind him, and apprehensively […]
Read MoreReducing Tension During Tough Times: Tip #3
As economic pressures continue to make the workplace tone somber (except for the drumbeat of occasional Terrible Office Tyrant tantrums!), I’ve been sharing ways to minimize friction at work. This week I’d like to offer to you another one of those techniques: collaboration. Knowing that you and your colleagues are all in the same boat, […]
Read MoreCommunication Secrets: The One-On-One Meeting
One of the secrets of a healthy boss/employee relationship is great communication. I believe that you should meet with your boss regularly to build rapport and address questions directly. However, if you have a contentious relationship with your manager, you might have had mixed results in meetings, especially if your past attempts only dealt with […]
Read MoreTOT Taming Tips: The Sales TOT
Dear Lynn, There is a lot of pressure where I work because we have so many quotas. It’s especially rough at the end of the month. My boss goes through these moody periods where he’ll be really nice to get us to sell and then if we don’t make our quotas, he quickly turns into […]
Read MoreAvoiding the Doldrums
Boredom and burnout can be brutal, especially during the slow days of summer when most desks are empty, except yours! If you have been in your current job for a while, it’s especially important to keep things fresh. Set some personal and professional goals to work towards. Think of new projects that you may not […]
Read MoreTurning A Good Job Into A Great Job
You spend over one-third of your day at work if you are lucky! Just like everything else in life, you need to enjoy what you do and that includes work. You probably already feel that while your job may have its ups-and-downs, it’s a pretty good job. However, when you spend that much time at […]
Read MoreTOT Taming Tips: The Absentee Boss
Dear Lynn, My manager, who is the director of our software support team, has started to check out of her job. She will walk past my desk, and say “I’m going to let you handle support today.” Then, she either goes in her office and surfs the Internet – or just leaves. I do want […]
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