Athletes know that achieving peak performance involves striking a balance between training and recovery. You probably know that weight lifters exercise different muscle groups on consecutive days. That’s because muscle growth occurs on recovery day. If you’re constantly working with no recovery time, you’ll not only be inefficient, you’ll likely be cranky too. Try these […]
Question: My New Year’s resolution is to be more optimistic. The problem is, I work in a very negative environment. I think my negativity is making me feel worse at work. How do I keep my “glass half full” mindset? K.S., New York, NY Answer: Smart move! The best thing about optimism is that even
I work in a negative place and want to remain optimistic, help! Read More »
Question: I have an inexperienced team who always asks for “training.” I realize they have knowledge gaps but when I try to educate them, they just look at me blankly and I can tell it’s not registering. Then weeks later, the very issue I tried to avoid happens. It makes me hesitate to spend my
I’m concerned that investing in my team isn’t worth it—what should I do? Read More »
It sounds counterintuitive but limiting your options can help you perform better. The idea is that avoiding relatively insignificant daily decisions preserves your brain’s executive function for more critical tasks. It’s why Steve Jobs limited his daily wardrobe to jeans and a black turtleneck. One way to help yourself is to always identify your three
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It’s not unusual for goal-oriented people to occasionally feel lost. It may be that you’ve grown and your original goal isn’t relevant to you anymore. Or the tradeoffs you’d have to make for success are not worth it to you. Or perhaps you’ve realized that you aren’t talented enough to achieve the level of success
How many times have you heard someone complain about their work/life balance? It’s completely the wrong metaphor. The concept assumes that you’ll be equally accomplished in both spheres constantly, and that’s not how life works. When you’re doing well in one area, you undoubtedly are taking shortcuts in the other. Trying to achieve the unachievable
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Question: There’s a new manager in my group and he’s behaving like a douche. He sits right next to me, yet insists on sending inappropriate emails (asking for status of my projects, suggesting I do extra research to provide background to the team for upcoming meetings, etc.) and cc’ing the CEO, who is located in
My new colleague is a game player. What should I do? Read More »
Question: I thought that once the election was over things would go back to normal. Now I find myself overwhelmed and fixated on what’s happening in D.C. and it’s affecting every part of my life, especially work. Any suggestions? L.M., New York, NY Answer: Obsessing over the direction of the country or the actions (or
I’m still stressed out from the election, help! Read More »
Many people, especially women, are uncomfortable talking about their accomplishments. There’s a belief that it is not “team” behavior. Although recognizing team wins is important, focusing only on team accomplishments does a disservice to yourself and the company. Making others aware of your value has many benefits. The company understands how to best use your
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Undoubtedly you’ve heard the maxim “you can’t have it all.” Life lessons prove the truth of it but our culture—and reality TV in particular—suggests that you can have it all. This attitude is often carried into the workplace and can be challenging for both coworkers and management. Managing expectations by pointing out necessary tradeoffs is
Life Is a Series of Tradeoffs Read More »