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.

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

Why You’re Labeled as Negative (and What to Do about It)

They hired you for your experience and expertise, after all. You’re the one closest to the issue. You’ve been on this project for close to six months. You should be seen as the expert. Instead, you hear through the grapevine after the meeting that your director thinks you’re just negative. You’re “dragging down the team … Continue reading Why You’re Labeled as Negative (and What to Do about It)

Stop Complaining – There’s a Better Way

We complain a lot, and we all believe we have good reasons. From changes in technology to the smell of tuna sandwich in the break room, you’ll find someone with a gripe in every cubicle. But is anyone listening?  What do we really want to see come from our complaints?

When Life S*cks

Taya Micola is a therapist and author of When Life Sucks; A Therapist’s Guide to Surviving and Thriving During Tough Times.  Her book is aimed at helping people survive, and eventually move on, when they’re going through something they can’t control and that… well… sucks. She starts out with the basics. If you’re stuck in a … Continue reading When Life S*cks

How to Be More Persuasive Part 2: Reciprocity

Influence is a book about how to be more persuasive, written by Robert Cialdini, Ph.D., who admits in the introduction that he wanted to research how and why he became such a patsy. “For as long as I can recall,” he writes, “I’ve been an easy mark for the pitches of peddlers, fundraisers and operators of … Continue reading How to Be More Persuasive Part 2: Reciprocity