If you find yourself crumbling under the weight of constant criticism, there are essential perspectives to consider before you respond, and six approaches you could choose to respond in the most constructive manner possible.
In the heat of new year resolutions, we’re determined to get rid of aspects of life that no longer fit and we’re eager to embrace the new. That energy may make us want to leave a stressful job. But is leaving really a solution?
Having a former team member who reported to you transition into being a manager of equal standing can be a challenging adjustment, as you redefine the relationship. There are 12 things you can do to make the working relationship a success.
Most people experience major change as unsettling. Even if it’s a change for the better and everyone is looking forward to positive outcomes. Good management can mitigate some of the costly, negative impacts of change. If you’re aspiring to good leadership, this is what it looks like at any time.
I have a manager who avoids making decisions, who doesn’t delegate and who’s always out of reach. I can rarely catch her in her office and she doesn’t respond to emails until it’s too late. Consequently, I’m waiting for direction and then I get blamed for not having accomplished my work. It’s affecting my reputation. I’m thinking of leaving, but it sounds bad to blame my manager at interviews. Do you have any strategies for handling her?
I’d love to go for a management position. Everyone is telling me I should; I know I have the experience and knowledge and I’m bored with my current job. I can’t see myself staying at this level. But the next step includes leadership and I have no knowledge or experience of leading people. Sometimes, I’ve tried asking people to do things and they take no notice of me. I’m scared of being thrown into a leadership position and totally failing.
The end of a year is a good time to take stock and plan your career strategy for the year to come. If you think of yourself as a product, and your employer as a customer, it’s easier to understand how you can market yourself so that your management clearly recognises your skills, innate abilities and knowledge and puts you first in line for new opportunities.
The world changes so quickly these days for us to be safe plodding along on the same path without some kind of growth that increases our choices. I’ve reinvented myself so many times I’ve lost track, but it’s always expanded my options and has contributed greatly to my professional success and ability to flow with changing market trends.
I’m moving into a leadership position that requires me to think and plan at a higher level. That’s my weakness. How can I learn to think logically?
A team operates at peak efficiency only if it has the vital support in place.
A week ago I had a gruelling performance appraisal with a subordinate of mine, who went on full attack of me as a manager.
My question today is, how do I address the conflict I have between doing and having a job, or being creative? More importantly, if ones ‘nine to five’ job and the stress it involves interferes with your creative life?
Here are a few tips to ensure you don’t allow careless mistakes to ruin your reputation as an educated professional who pays attention to detail.
Question: I am enjoying the Wise Ways newsletters. My question is, the conflict between doing and having a job, or being creative? Or more importantly if one’s nine to five job and the stress it involves impinges on your creative life? DH
I am so keen to practice mindfulness meditation, but my work is so busy, I have no time. When I get home, I have to prepare dinner and then I’m exhausted and forget all about it. My mind won’t stop racing. There’s nothing else I can let go to make room for mindfulness. How do busy people fit it in?
I work for a company that has a contract with a major corporate client. Every couple of years our company has to re-compete in order to renew the contract. I was new to the position, which involves managing many different small projects between me and a counterpart. He managed the majority of projects.
The challenge of any leader is to keep people highly motivated, so that they contribute their best.
Good leaders conduct good performance appraisal interviews. Bad leaders don’t see the need to give staff any feedback.
Go back in time. Recall teachers or early supervisors who stand out in your memory.
Have you ever tried to learn something, only to find it takes forever, doesn’t sink in and you just give up? Do you criticise yourself for being a ‘slow learner’? It could be the way to fast track your success.
Most of us find it very difficult, but the worst thing you can do is avoid dealing with the issue. It doesn’t have to be unpleasant if you follow certain guidelines.
You may have begun a degree course, only to lose interest in it. Or you may not know in which course of study you need to invest your time and money. You may not even know what career would suit you best.
Your letters and emails represent you and your company. Write badly and you risk confusion, time wasting, frustration, and your reputation.
There are some people who hold nothing back at work. Everyone knows all their woes and this can come back and bite them if the information gives a poor impression of how they are handling their work.
The beginning of a new year is a good time to make sure you’re developing the skills and attributes that are most useful for your career path.
Office parties can be a terrific opportunity to get to know the people in your firm, expand your network, and to make yourself known to key decision-makers.
In a rapidly changing world, the ability to adapt to change is the key to survival, success and fulfillment.
Your role is to help your manager achieve objectives effectively, as well as find challenges of your own for your job enjoyment and enrichment.
Hello Jacquie, do you have any tips on communicating confidence to others? For example in say a job interview or other situation where it would be advantageous to at least appear confident?
How can I improve my business writing skills on an ongoing basis?
How to interview because interviewers are interviewed too! Have you ever wondered how you could have been so wrong about that cheerful dynamo who turned out to be such a morose plodder, or why that person who seemed so keen and reliable at interview left after only a few months? How could you have missed …
How to interview because interviewers are interviewed too! Read More »
Is it a good idea to take a gap year and see the world or settle down?
Anyone who is about to start a small business has an intrinsic sense that there are key questions to ask if you are going into small business.
Imagine this scenario that was presented to me recently:
You’re new to your job. You rely on your colleagues to pass on work to you that is meaningful. But the only tasks you’re being asked to do by different people are menial tasks.
Have you ever wondered – Does our destiny eliminate our power of choice? Is your destiny immutable?
I never knew there was an official Employee Appreciation Day on the 1st Friday in March.
I received the following question via email from a person who has a problem with public speaking and wanted some help:
Are you leaving your career planning to chance? Do you need a career plan template?
Question: I have been in my new job for three weeks. The person I took over from has transferred to another department. She’s reluctant to inform me and still gets queries that I should be dealing with. How can I get better known in this organisation and make my mark?
Have you found it hard to layout or organise your office at home or work?
The world changes too quickly these days for us to be safe plodding on the same path without some kind of growth that increases our choices.
We end up wearing our lives like a shoe that doesn’t fit, often only becoming aware that something is not quite right when it starts to hurt.
Here you are at a cross-roads in your career at a mature age. You have years of experience behind you and are looking for a way to use your knowledge as an independent consultant.
