What Does Your Office Tell Others About You?

Have you ever walked into someone’s office and had to wait for them to take stacks of clutter off a chair so you could sit down. Or have you been repulsed by old take-out food containers sitting on your colleague’s desk or by putting your papers down on top of something sticky? Or maybe your coworker likes to work out after work and keeps gym clothes and shoes in the corner. These may seem like extremes, but they are more common than you might imagine. You also may be thinking ... Read more

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Avoiding Negative Optics

Recently, President Trump arrived 20 minutes late for a Gender Equality Advisory Committee meeting at the G7 Summit in Quebec. His entrance was disruptive and rude, and it was documented in news reports around the world. The optics were especially negative. Think back to a recent meeting at your workplace. Was anyone late? Were you late? If so, what optic did your lateness provide for others? A few possible scenarios include: 1. You were viewed as someone who thinks she is self-important. ... Read more

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Would You Promote You?

Most promotions are not automatic, and, generally, a variety of factors enter into the decision making process. Sometimes there are annual quotas such as the number of open positions for tenure decisions at a university. Sometimes a business is quite small, and there is a very short career ladder. Other jobs, like many in government, require a certain score on a civil service exam in order to be promoted. And, it is a reality that not all promotions are fair. For example, a family member of ... Read more

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10 Ways to Introduce New Ideas at Work

You have been at your job for a few months. While things are going fairly well, you have discovered several areas that you believe would streamline effort (including your own) and help the organization save money and be more effective. You have mentioned some of your ideas to your immediate supervisor, and they were met with a lukewarm response. Now you are thinking of trying to get to the actual decision makers. Wouldn’t this help others recognize your expertise and value. The answer ... Read more

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Power and Sexual Misconduct

Today the media is filled with pundits talking about sexual misconduct. Examples drawn from Capitol Hill include Roy Moore (Senate candidate from Alabama), Al Franken (Senator from Minnesota), past Presidents Bill Clinton and George H. W. Bush, and current President Donald Trump. Former Congressman Anthony Weiner recently started a 21-month prison sentence for sexting with a minor. We also watched Fox News terminate CEO Roger Ailes and political commentator Bill O’Reilly for their ... Read more

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The Downsides of Efficiency

I love efficiency. I seek it in most things, and I admire it in the efforts of others. Little is as upsetting to me as having to redo a task, or having to take the long way around, or having a project or outcome stalled or derailed. However, someone recently pointed out (jokingly, I hope) that my need for efficiency may be borderline pathological. That gave me pause, and made me think about the downsides of efficiency, especially in the work setting. I believe most people want to be ... Read more

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The Pros and Cons of Working Offsite

Your company is rather small, and management usually doesn’t approve of people working offsite. However, some significant changes in your life now make it necessary for you to work from home for 6-12 months. You have been an excellent employee and you know they don’t want to lose you. Besides that, you love your job and are good at it. You carefully prepare your request and argument. Then you meet with your boss and explain the possibility and how you feel you can be as ... Read more

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How Useful is Rethinking?

You’ve been the lead on a big project. You inspired and encouraged your team. You planned carefully and stayed within budget. You’ve tried to be a big thinker while paying attention to details. All seems to be in order for the final presentation, but you have an uneasy feeling that something isn’t quite right. Are you just tired, or is there really something you missed? You and the team are anxious to have the project finished and on your boss’ desk, You don’t ... Read more

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What’s Your Higher Purpose? Do You Still Have One?

Think back a few years ago to the moment when you decided what your career path or life work would be. Perhaps it was the day you declared your college major or when you were offered your first job. Is what you are doing now what you expected to be doing two or five or ten or more years later? Did you set out with a purpose—with a higher purpose? Has that changed? You may now work for a nonprofit (a for-purpose) organization, and, on a daily basis, be involved in helping to meet their ... Read more

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Thoughts Have Power

Recently I found a copy of “The Magic of Believing” by Claude Bristol. It was written in 1991, but I had never read it before. One phrase, in particular, stood out: thoughts have power. We know we can talk ourselves into (or out of) doing something. We can use our thoughts (and our self-talk) to bolster our confidence or undermine our efforts. While most of us can’t actually project our thought power and manipulate others (or a ouija board) simply with our minds, we can ... Read more

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