we are all awkward creatures by Alison Green on January 16, 2019 On today’s episode of the Ask a Manager podcast, I talk with awkwardness expert Melissa Dahl, who’s the author of the amazing book Cringeworthy: A Theory of Awkwardness (paid affiliate link). We talked about what causes situations to feel awkward, why we’re all especially prone to awkwardness at work, the amazing letter here from someone whose […] Read the full article →
the backless shirt, the person who frosted cupcakes at her desk, and more of your cringeworthy work moments by Alison Green on November 22, 2018 Last month I asked people to share things they did at work in the past that they now cringe over. In lieu of any more posts today since it’s Thanksgiving, here are some of my favorites. 1. “I was executive assistant to the president of a local college. She left for a business trip, after […] Read the full article →
yes, you are awkward … and yes, it’s okay by Alison Green on February 15, 2018 I love awkwardness — my own, other people’s, all of it. There’s little I enjoy more than dissecting a mortifying moment with a close friend (“What do you think they were thinking when that came out of my mouth?!” “They must have been so baffled by why you said that!”) or even speculating on hypothetical […] Read the full article →
my work clothes are revealing more than I intended by Alison Green on December 5, 2017 A reader writes: I’ve been working at a large, well-known company for about six months now. It is my first job out of college and I’m eager to make a good impression on my colleagues since I am one of the youngest members on my team. The company as a whole is pretty buttoned up […] Read the full article →
my coworker overheard me trash-talking her by Alison Green on November 29, 2016 A reader writes: I talked badly about a coworker behind their back and unbeknownst to me, she overheard and now I feel terrible. I was complaining about her work ethic, and the coworker I was complaining to had the same complaints. It was things like “She’s done that to you? OMG she has done that […] Read the full article →
I accidentally hugged the CEO by Alison Green on June 2, 2016 A reader writes: Today as I was arriving at work, I got to the door of the building just before the CEO. I was holding the door for him, and he reached over me–I assume to take the door and hold it open for me. I’m a woman, and I don’t know… chivalry? Anyway, my […] Read the full article →
10 most embarrassing networking stories by Alison Green on January 21, 2013 Some people love to network, and it comes as naturally to them as talking to a close friend would. For others, networking can be far more formidable, full of the potential for mistakes and even outright humiliation. Here are 10 of the funniest and most embarrassing networking stories readers have shared here. 1. Doused in champagne […] Read the full article →