September 2014

open thread – September 19, 2014

It’s the Friday open thread! The comment section on this post is open for discussion with other readers on anything work-related that you want to talk about. If you want an answer from me, emailing me is still your best bet, but this is a chance to talk to other readers.

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why does a neat or messy desk reflect on your productivity?

A reader writes: I’d love to know why people tend to associate a clean / organized desk with lack of productivity. I’m a neat freak when it comes to my desk and I don’t like stacks of papers tossed everywhere, so of course I have a sparsely covered desk, and it seems that anyone who […]

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4 keys to building a team that delivers results

Lots of managers are fond of talking about how they’re only as successful as their people. And it’s true — but startlingly few managers (including plenty of the ones who like to repeat this phrase) actually practice the behaviors that should stem from that belief. If you truly believe your success hinges on your team, you should be putting […]

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my interviewers seem like they haven’t read my resume, my coworkers keep rummaging through my papers, and more

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My interviewers seem like they haven’t even read my resume I started interviewing a few months ago for jobs and have averaged anywhere between one interview to five interviews in a week. In about 10 situations, maybe more at this point, it doesn’t seem like […]

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my coworker is tracking my hours

A reader writes: There is a person in our office who likes to keep track of other employees’ schedules. I am not sure how long she has been doing this, but I was near her desk today advising her of her schedule. I noticed that she had a calendar open that on her desk top […]

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how to earn respect as the new hire

It can be tough to start a new job: No one knows much about you, the reputation that you spent time building in your old company might not have followed you, and to most of your coworkers you’re still an unknown quantity who might or might not turn out to be great. But with the […]

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as a new manager, am I saying “I’m sorry” too much?

A reader writes: I’m a new (2 weeks) manager at a ~50 person company where I’ve worked for years. In trying to adjust to the role, I’m realizing that I’m the sort of person who says “sorry” a lot. I’m not always doing it to take the blame on myself; I’m often doing it because […]

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