Monthly Insights & Musings
New to the Job? Four Crucial Pointers to Help You Succeed
Wow! It must be the New Year, because I’ve been receiving a lot of questions from readers who’ve just started new jobs and are looking for advice. We’ve all been there. It’s your first day, and you’re not even sure where to hang your jacket. Or whether it’s OK to use...
How to Negotiate a Fair Starting Salary
Hey! How much money do you make? What’s your take home pay? You got a raise? What’d they give you? You’re expecting a bonus this year? Like how much? Most likely, these are questions you’ve never been asked, because in our culture, we view them invasive and impolite....
Upping Your Customer Service Quotient
Hello there, you Customer Service Expert, you! But why would I call you an expert? For starters, you've been a customer all your life. Since you were a little kid, you've been buying stuff, going to the movies, paying bills, eating in restaurants, getting your teeth...
Questions to Ask Before Your Next Job Interview
You wouldn't go on holiday to a far-off land without finding out about the climate, the culture, and whether you need to bring your winter parka or bathing suit, would you? Well, if you've never stepped foot in the organization you're about to interview with (and...
Office Party Planner: A great big hassle, or a great big opportunity?
Hello, and Happy almost-Thanksgiving to my US readers! I've been receiving a lot of great questions on my website lately, and while I often answer these questions privately, every now and then, I come across one that I think might be interesting to everyone. In this...
Group Projects: Four Tips for Success
Group projects. You either love ‘em (Oh, good—I get to hang out with my co-workers every Tuesday for the next four months!), or you hate ‘em (Oh, rats—I have to hang out with my co-workers every Tuesday for the next four months!). Whether you’re a manager, a...
Time Management Re-Re-Revisited
Ho-hum. Sigh. Yawn. Another time management article, you say? Yes, I say. Why, you say? Because managing your time effectively is one of the most valuable skills you can master, I say, so let’s stop chatting while I write this article! Okaaaay, you say, but reading...
Weight-lifting for Your Brain! Optimizing “Learning Transfer”
Hey there! When’s the last time you actually attended a class and learned something new? I’m talking about any class—it could be a weekend CPR/First Aid class at the local Red Cross. Or a gardening class at the YWCA. Or a professional seminar on management and...
Are You The New Kid on the Block
Hey you, with the "deer in the headlights" look! Have you just begun a new job? Feeling a little "iffy" about what to do and how to conduct yourself? Well, every single person reading this blog has been where you are at one point or another. Everybody's gotta start...
How to Calm your Inner Chatterbox
Do you sometimes feel as if your brain just won’t relax and take a break? I sometimes feel that way—especially when I wake up at 4am and really want (and need) to go back to sleep, but my mind just won’t cooperate. I may as well get up and do something...
Your USP – A Powerful (and free) Self-marketing Tool!
Hi there, and welcome to the latest edition of my blog! This time, I’m going to answer a question that was sent in to me by a reader. After reading my book, she asked if I would comment further on the concept of having a “USP,” and how to best use it in a job...
Simple Tips for Perfect Email Etiquette
Email is fast and efficient and doesn’t require postage or laboriously typed letters on fancy letterhead. But, as with all written communication, it’s definitely got its downsides: you’re relying completely on written words to get your message across. No one will be...