Management
Stop Enabling a Culture of Overwork
If you’re not careful, flexible work can blur the boundary between your employees’ personal and professional lives, leading to a culture of overwork. If your organization needs to make a change, you can follow a three-step plan. Start by assessing the level of overwork in your organization. Conduct interviews and surveys to identify how deeply […]
257257Protect Your Boundaries When Your Company Is Struggling
When your company is having a tough time, you might feel compelled to work longer hours in an attempt to help right the ship. But if you’re not careful, your valiant efforts could lead to burnout. Here’s how to strike a balance between being loyal to your company and to yourself. Get specifics before taking […]
257257How to Break Through When You’re Feeling Stuck
We all feel stuck sometimes at work. Maybe you want to quit your job and start another career. Maybe you’re trying to build a new skill or habit. Maybe you’re searching for a new idea to pitch. How can you take steps to get un-stuck? Start by silencing your inner cynic. In the early stages […]
257257Resisting Imposter Syndrome When You Weren’t the First Choice
It’s not uncommon to experience imposter syndrome in a new job. When you know you weren’t the first choice for the role, your feelings of self-doubt may be amplified. Here’s how to rebuild your confidence. Start by clarifying the gaps with your manager. Have a candid conversation about what was missing that didn’t make you […]
257257Have a Conversation with Your Boss About the Promotion You Missed Out On
You didn’t get that promotion you were expecting. How should you talk to your manager about your disappointment—and how do you move forward? Start by clearly expressing your disappointment, and seek to understand what went into the decision not to promote you. Listen for explicit criteria. Ideally, you’ll gain some insight into your manager’s perspective […]
257257Building a Healthy Relationship with a New Boss
Your relationship with your manager has the power to make or break your experience at work. What do you do if you have a new manager who makes you question a job you once loved? Here’s how to adapt. Tap the power of positive thinking and empathy. It’s normal to resist change. Pause and ask […]
257257Keep Perfectionism from Holding You Back
Are you a perfectionist? While aiming for perfection is necessary in some professions, in many cases it may actually be detrimental to your performance. Combating perfectionism ultimately comes down to learning how to start—and how to finish—a project. Here’s how. How to start. Perfectionism often leads to procrastination. To overcome it, you need to get […]
257257Encourage Intergenerational Friendships on Your Team
Managers today are tasked with leading up to five generations at the same time, making intergenerational relationships at work more important than ever before. Well-managed generational diversity has the potential to bring substantial benefits, ranging from knowledge transfer and mentoring to innovation and reduced turnover. Here’s how to foster and nurture these relationships on your […]
257257Become a Pro at Asynchronous Communication
With the rise of remote and hybrid work, the number of employees working at different times and collaborating across time zones is growing. As a result, you need to develop an increasingly important skill: asynchronous communication. Here are a few tactics that can help. Asynchronous work requires more autonomy. Familiarize yourself with company resources, like […]
257257Make a Habit of Taking Short Breaks During the Workday
Productivity is a matter of optimizing your energy, not just your time. And taking regular breaks—even short ones—is an essential way to sustain your capacity to get things done. These strategies can help you be more disciplined about making breaks a habit. Block time for communication. It can be tempting to use the spare minutes […]
257257Beware the Risks of Too Much Humility
Humility is a virtue in leadership—but being too humble can backfire. Here are three ways humility can undermine your leadership. You may be perceived as indecisive. Democratizing every decision-making process can be misconstrued as a reluctance to take a stand, or a lack of conviction in your strategic vision. Don’t defer to consensus all the […]
257257When You’re Not the Boss’s Favorite
It can feel demotivating when your manager has a clear favorite—and it’s not you. But don’t give in to the sense of rejection. You can strengthen the relationship and regain some favor. Observe and adjust. Where is your boss’s attention focused? What’s their communication style? What are their goals? Take steps to better align yourself […]
257257Diversify Your Internal Network
Professional relationships, like all interpersonal connections, tend to form between people who are similar. But to truly grow, it’s important to build a network that isn’t only made up of people just like you. Here’s how to broaden and diversify your internal network. Look beyond “chemistry.” Don’t wait for connections to naturally pop up. Adopt […]
257257Are You an Introvert? Boost Your Visibility.
If you tend to avoid the spotlight, you don’t have to feel invisible at work. As an introvert, you can make yourself seen and heard—without pretending to be someone you’re not. Don’t wait for the “right” moment to jump in. Challenge yourself to be the second or third person to contribute in a meeting. This […]
257257How to Provide Stability in Uncertain Times
Uncertainty is a part of life—and business. But how can you lead people when inflections, disruptions, dislocations, and other threat conditions feel like they’re constantly compounding? Try these strategies to help you engage your team under the most tumultuous circumstances. Build trust. In a volatile environment, become a stabilizing force. This means being reliable, predictable, […]
257257Combat Microstresses at Work
Microstresses are small stresses from routine interactions—they’re often so brief we barely even register them. Individually, they might seem manageable, but cumulatively they take an enormous toll. How can you combat them? Start small. Commit to tackling one small, easy-to-address microstress a week for the first two weeks to build confidence, a different mindset, and […]
257257Set Boundaries Against Emotional Manipulation
Emotional manipulation is when someone preys on another person’s feelings to trigger guilt, fear, or obligation. If you think you’re being emotionally manipulated by a colleague or manager, try these five strategies to protect yourself. Trust your gut. If something feels off or an interaction leaves you with a lingering sense of discomfort, don’t dismiss […]
2572574 Questions to Ask Before Making a Career Pivot
Changing careers is one way to keep yourself engaged in your work, but it inevitably entails some risk. Ask yourself these four questions before embarking on a new path. What’s motivating this change? Sometimes, the answer is obvious: You have a lifelong passion, and it’s finally time to commit to it. But other times, a […]
257257Get More Comfortable Making Small Talk
Making small talk can be uncomfortable—especially at international conferences and networking events where you might be paired with a stranger from a different culture. These tips can help you start a conversation with anyone from anywhere—confidently and respectfully. Find common ground. You might break the ice by asking questions about the conference: What brought them […]
257257Processing an Organizational Decision You Disagree With
You won’t agree with every organizational decision senior leadership makes. But you can make peace with a strategic direction you disagree with. Start by asking yourself a few questions. What specific situation do I disagree with? Define exactly where the misalignment is happening—and why. How will setting aside my disagreement benefit me? This encourages you […]
257257