Tell Me Seven Times. No – Make that Three.

In an online article, author Matthew Kirchner says (and this won’t be news to any of us) that attention spans are getting shorter. He writes, “Microsoft published a study that our attention spans had decreased by almost a third in the preceding 15 years, from 12 seconds to just eight. Goldfish, so we’re told, have an … Continue reading Tell Me Seven Times. No – Make that Three.

The Best Home Office Setup

For many workers, the pandemic lockdowns meant they had to set up home offices overnight. Most believed (and hoped) that the setup would be temporary, so they carved out a place in the bedroom, on the dining room table, or the living room coffee table to call their “home office.” Others, with more means or … Continue reading The Best Home Office Setup

The Meeting Before the Meeting

What time does a meeting start? The agenda may start at a specific moment (give or take 10 minutes, in my sad experience), but you can be very productive in the minutes before a meeting actually begins. Those of us who are always early know this. In fact, we’re early for two reasons. One is … Continue reading The Meeting Before the Meeting

Soft Language Works for Women

In an article for The New York Times, Adam Grant says the advice women get to eliminate “soft language” is bad advice. He writes, “If you’re a woman, you’ve probably gotten this advice from a mentor, a coach or a teacher. If you want to be heard, use more forceful language. If you want a … Continue reading Soft Language Works for Women

Magic Words to Make you More Persuasive

What if there was one word – a simple word – that would increase your chances of persuading someone to do something by 50 percent? Sounds like magic, but it’s been tested and verified by social scientists for years. That word is “because.” Researchers have investigated persuasion for decades, and they’ve found that adding a … Continue reading Magic Words to Make you More Persuasive

Curiosity is an Essential Trait for Success

When I was hiring team members, one of the most important interview questions came at the very end. “Do you have any questions for me?” was more than a courtesy; it was a way to see how a candidate’s mind worked. If a candidate didn’t ask any questions, it was a red flag for me. … Continue reading Curiosity is an Essential Trait for Success

Time Management for the 21st Century

If there’s one aspect of quiet quitting that makes sense, it’s that the quitters are finally acknowledging that you can’t get it all done. Not in one day, not in a 40-hour workweek; maybe not in a lifetime. There will always be more to be done, and  the stress of that fact is what causes … Continue reading Time Management for the 21st Century

Managers Admit to “Quiet Firing”

JobSage, an online platform that brings insight to jobseeker issues, including inclusive workplaces, opportunities for growth, a sense of purpose, meaningful feedback, and flexibility, surveyed 1,000 U.S. employers about “quiet firing.” If you haven’t heard the term before, it’s the management equivalent of “quiet quitting.” Quiet quitting has been in the news for months as … Continue reading Managers Admit to “Quiet Firing”

If This is Your Year to Quit, Write the Best Resignation Letter You Can

(From our friends at FlexJobs.com) 3.9 million workers quit their jobs at the start of 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest JOLTS report. At the same time, recent surveys have indicated this trend may continue, with many workers considering a career change this year. If you’re one of them, a resignation letter is … Continue reading If This is Your Year to Quit, Write the Best Resignation Letter You Can

I Can Tell You’re in a Bad Mood. Your Email Gives it Away.

Preply.com, an online tutoring company, was curious about how email customs have changed over the years and about how workers felt about it. I’ve written before about the pressure women in business feel to be overly cheerful and expressive in email – the excessive use of exclamation points is not optional for them. It turns … Continue reading I Can Tell You’re in a Bad Mood. Your Email Gives it Away.