let’s discuss weaponized incompetence by Alison Green on October 5, 2023 Let’s discuss weaponized incompetence: when someone pretends not to know how to do a task well so that they won’t be asked to do it (also known as “strategic incompetence”). Sometimes this is used for ill (like the classic example of men who can’t seem to figure out how to do their own admin work) […] Read the full article →
how do I ask for things and get people to actually help me (as a manager and as a volunteer)? by Alison Green on September 28, 2023 A reader writes: In my both professional and personal life, I notice a common theme, and I’m wondering what I’m doing wrong. I manage people in my work life, and am the chair of a not-for-profit in my personal life. In both situations, I notice that I have a lot of difficulty getting people to […] Read the full article →
can I ask my boss for feedback about how I’m doing? by Alison Green on September 20, 2023 A reader writes: I am fairly new to the workforce. I’ve been at my current job for close to two years and I cannot shake the feeling that I’m bad at it. Rationally I think there are parts of it that I am indeed not-so-great at; rationally I think there are parts that I’m decent […] Read the full article →
my coworkers say I should hold back because I’m early-career … but am I? by Alison Green on September 11, 2023 A reader writes: I’m having a hard time figuring out my career stage. I entered a male-dominated, technical, and niche field right out of college. I worked for several years, then eventually went back to school for my graduate degree. I worked throughout school, so have been in the field for nine years. Most of […] Read the full article →
is it ever bad to reply to an email too quickly? by Alison Green on September 7, 2023 A reader writes: I work in municipal government, and often we get requests that we need to say “no” to. In this case, a constituent asked for a bus stop outside of her building. This wouldn’t be unreasonable, except there is no bus route on the street in question. This kind of confusion happens sometimes, […] Read the full article →
what weird habits have you picked up from your job? by Alison Green on August 31, 2023 We all pick up weird habits from our jobs that we carry into the rest of our lives. Maybe you still fight the instinct to yell “NO RUNNING” at kids because you used to lifeguard … or you’re an ER nurse who checks out everyone’s arms to see what size IV you’d put in … […] Read the full article →
how to professionally say “I told you so” by Alison Green on July 18, 2023 A reader writes: I work at a small-ish company in a creative industry that has a lot of issues with changing/inconsistent expectations and management that isn’t in the habit of really listening to employee feedback. My direct manager and grandboss also have a habit of saying one thing in team trainings and then doing the […] Read the full article →
how can I avoid talking shop outside of work? by Alison Green on June 28, 2023 A reader writes: I have a colleague who I am sharing a few really challenging, long-term projects with. They’re great to work with and we’re getting a lot done. The only problem is that we live in the same part of town and frequently bump into each other on the way in — which in […] Read the full article →
my bosses praise me so much that it’s embarrassing by Alison Green on June 1, 2023 A reader writes: I realize this is not the worst problem to have, but here it is: My bosses — and even some of my at-level peers — talk a lot about how good I am at my job. It is a steady stream of praise that seems like it should be gratifying but is […] Read the full article →
why do people insist on writing an entire message in the email subject line? by Alison Green on May 22, 2023 A reader writes: I have a low stakes question, but it irritates me to no end. I have three colleagues who all insist on writing the body of their email in the subject line (unless it doesn’t fit, in which case it will be half in the subject and half in the body of the […] Read the full article →