Workplace Communication
In an era of Casual Fridays and work-from-home colleagues, how can you maintain effective office communication in a changing business climate?
We’ll steer you through changes in business etiquette, and help you successfully navigate through the new realities of workplace conflict and office politics.
Chewing gum magnate William Wrigley had a lot going for him, although in the beginning, money wasn’t one of them. He arrived in Chicago from Philadelphia in 1891, holding only $32. “A man’s doubts and fears are his worst enemies,” he said. “He can go ahead and do anything so long as he doesn’t know he can’t do it.”
Leadership guru John Maxwell has put his finger on yet another truth: You should never suppress candor in the interest of caring about your employees. Before having a candid conversation, make sure you can answer yes to these:
A new study by researchers at Tel Aviv University found that employees with strong social networks on the job actually lived longer than those “working in a very unfriendly and nonsupportive environment.”
A recent survey by OfficeTeam reveals that one in five employees knows someone who has lied on his or her résumé. Here's the type of information employees are most often misrepresenting or exaggerating about:
A few bits of career counsel from Lilit Marcus’ Save the Assistants: A guide to surviving and thriving in the workplace: Know the difference between a job and a career. Do your job, and do it really, really well. Pay your dues intelligently. Learn everybody’s name and develop the right allies.
Tuning in to body language is one of the most important things you can do in business situations. Unfortunately, most of us become so wrapped up in what we’re saying, we forget to pay attention to the person we’re talking with. The solution: Look out for basic cues.
Your morning is completely planned, with top priorities penned on your to-do list, when a boss derails everything with two additional, hefty tasks that he needs “ASAP.” Doesn’t he realize there’s only so much you can do? Here’s a calendar-planning tactic that will let the boss know where you spend your time and help you better manage your schedule.
Can you hear a colleague mention your name three cubicles over while in the middle of a task? If so, you can thank your Reticular Activating Center (RAS), which is similar to a big filter at the base of your brain. It’s up to you to program it for its highest and best use.
You’d be forgiven for expecting Shaun White to become a shill after winning a gold medal in snowboarding at the Olympics and more gold in skateboarding at the Summer X Games. Instead, the “Flying Tomato,” with his wild red hair and southern California style, took control of his image.
Focus on knowing where to get information quickly rather than knowing how to do everything ... Watch what you say on Facebook: More than 90% of job-screeners say they’re using social network tools to weed out applicants ... Take the lead in developing your own professional skills.
