Working with Others

Ah, spring, a time of new beginnings – even in the workplace. With diploma firmly in hand, eager new graduates fill offices with renewed energy, fresh perspectives . . . and plenty of rookie behavior. Time often proves the best…

"Sorry, but I didn’t get your email." "Sorry, but I can’t make it to that meeting." "Sorry, but I have a question." If you tend to start most of your sentences with “Sorry, but....” you may be hurting your career.…

There’s no such thing as a perfect workplace. No matter what industry you’re in and what kind of team you’re on, you’re going to find yourself facing dilemmas and wondering whether you should step in to fix them. In fact,…

A clean kitchen area and breakroom can help coworkers de-stress at certain times throughout the day. Cleanliness also conveys that your company cares about its employees and business environment. Without rules, though, the room designated for eating and relaxing may…

There is a dearth of listening in the workplace. How did this happen? And does listening matter in this rushed and Tweeting world? Yes. People talk too much. They do not listen. They ask questions in order to answer them rather…

People with disabilities are one of the fastest growing customer and employee bases. According to the Centers for Disease Control one in four Americans have a disability, and it is consistently growing. People with disabilities are beneficial to the workplace…

We've all been in the situation where one of our favorite workmates decides to leave their job in order to pursue a different job or career path, or to make more money, or for other personal reasons. When a beloved…

So, you’ve been named “Project Manager” for your company’s upcoming charity event. If you’re like most, you’re probably asking yourself, “Where do I start?” Taking an event from “idea” to “Of course, I’d be happy to accept this check on…

We’ve probably all worked with a “yes person” at some point in our careers. If someone has a bad idea, the yes person says it’s terrific. They tell you what they think you want to hear and have a strong…

If you work outside the home, chances are you spend more time with your coworkers than you do with your own family. You’d definitely notice if one of your coworkers was depressed, right? Don’t be so sure. The stigma surrounding…

Perhaps you’ve noticed that everyone in your department seems to be overworked, so you come up with the brilliant idea to hire an intern. You wouldn’t have to pay them a salary and they could pick up the slack wherever…

We've all heard of entrepreneurs, those who roll the dice and go out and start their own company. But in fact, 70% of successful entrepreneurs got their business idea while working for a previous employer. Why not bring that same…

How did this happen? You had a great interview with your future boss. Everything clicked: same values, same interests, same working style. By the second week, you realize you made a BIG mistake. There’s either too much work or not…

Working with family members is commonplace, whether it's in a capacity of a partnership or a boss/employee situation. And it can be a rewarding experience to work with family members but there will likely be challenges and complications involved. With a…

Working with an autism spectrum coworker is a complex topic. This short article offers some possible approaches to interacting with an autistic coworker. No two people on the autism spectrum are identical. What applies to one may not apply to…

The big project your department is working on ends in disaster. The boss is out for blood, and your coworker friend is the unfortunate scapegoat. Even if they made a mistake, you still don't think they deserve the amount of blame…

Workplace behavior involves more than just company rules and regulations. It includes those unwritten expectations that create a culture that leads to both high productivity and a pleasant work environment. It often seems, though, that even the best spot has…

You’ve just received an email about a team building event. Nearly everyone in the office is spilling over with enthusiasm, however, as an introvert this news is cringe-worthy. You’re not very social. You tend to work better on your own…

Death can come at any moment and is a part of life everyone deals with, including at the workplace. Sadness, pain and grief are all normal reactions for those grieving and getting support from those they work with is more…

Jarelyn was pleased at how the meeting had been going. It seemed her efforts to encourage collaboration were paying off. Then, the door banged open. “Sorry I’m late,” Michael announced, noisily taking his seat. Michael, a fellow department head with…