People like to say business isn’t personal, but it is personal. All of life is people personally interacting with other people. Work is people interacting with people but with money and title attached to it. (Personal, in this post, doesn’t mean inappropriately intimate; you needn’t border on sexting.) Every interaction in business has the potential … Read more
It’s time to put on some real pants. Yes, your sweatpants are cozy, but in-person work and work events are happening again and unless you work in a very specific industry, you’re going to need to “up your game,” so to speak. But it’s more than just your clothes that may need changing. You have … Read more
A reputation for integrity and trustworthiness is worth whatever it may cost to build it. Integrity can make or break your career. Building trust at work makes you more likely to be promoted, motivates your peers and subordinates to follow you, and helps you stand out from the crowd. Conversely, break trust (even once) by … Read more
If you want to improve effectiveness at work, start by slowing down instead of speeding up. I was in a meeting with two executives discussing group training for some of their managers and department heads. Suddenly, a woman burst in to inform one of the executives about a change in appointments. With rapid-fire words, she … Read more
I wore a yellow dress to my mother’s funeral. It caused the wags of the relatives to whisper in disapproval but my mother had instructed me to wear it before she died. She knew I’d be sad and she wanted to remind me to be untroubled and lead a cheerful life like she had taught … Read more
A business friend of mine named Garret once played a mischievous trick on his employees. He pulled out their resumes from his file and made a few changes to them. He altered the employees’ names, the names of the companies they’d worked for, and other details that would identify each employee. At the next staff … Read more
It’s exciting to once again be entering a new year and a fresh start (although I’m a little concerned about a year that sounds like “2020 Won”). A new year always feels like a chance for positive change. I’m not talking about grandiose New Year’s resolutions (although those are all well and good). Instead, I’m … Read more
Most career-minded individuals spend some time thinking about what their boss wants from them. But if you really want to grow your career, consider not only what your boss wants from you, but also what your CEO wants . You can be an excellent employee, but if you don’t differentiate yourself in the ways that … Read more
Every organization needs a leader. Motorcycle gangs have (officially and unofficially) designated leaders, as do Red Cross workers. Children on school playgrounds follow the leader. Even dogs follow a leader of their pack. In business, you have lots of leaders (Manager, VP, CFO, etc.) but the “top dog” above them all is the CEO. At … Read more
You probably like to hear your name favorably called out. This is not you having a big ego, it’s you being human. Studies show that hearing your name activates your brain differently than hearing someone else’s names. We are wired to enjoy positive recognition. Others feel the same way. People never forget that you remembered … Read more