March 5, 2013 • Volume 4, Issue 5 • ISSN: 2154-3240

In This Issue

♦	Feature Article: Reputational Warfare
♦	Ask Amanda: How can I set boundaries with my client?
♦	Practical Tips: The Five Whys

Reputational Warfare

Any place that brings together disparate groups of people is likely to have a robust information "grapevine." It's part of how we relate to one another and, according to some researchers, it provides a useful tool for enforcing social rules and maintaining group solidarity. Being tied into what is happening in your office can help you position yourself more strategically and prepare you for potential bumps in the road.

When office gossip turns hostile, though, it's important that you take action to keep back-biting from thriving. Anonymous chatter can quickly take on a life of its own and savage reputations. You may not be targeted initially but don’t kid yourself, you probably will be at some point.
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	All innovation stems from failure.

Practical Tips:
The Five Whys

When things go wrong—and they will—it's important to get to the root of the issue so you don't end up solving the wrong problem. To do so, try the technique Toyota developed after World War II to improve its manufacturing process. Bring your team together and as a group and ask "Why" five times to uncover the core problem that needs to be addressed.

For instance, let’s say you had an issue with your technology at a big presentation. Why?
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My client is all up in my business—how can I set boundaries that don't get me fired? S.G., New York, NY

We’re constantly reminded that relationships keep business and sharing what we care about is natural in any relationship. It’s especially common to blur the line between work and personal life when you’re in a service-provider role.
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If you have extra shoes that you no longer need, consider donating to Soles4Souls — a Nashville-based charity that distributes donated shoes to those in need.

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About Us: Our Corporate Life LLC (OCL) is a company that offers a new system for reducing unnecessary workplace suffering caused by the organizational, interpersonal, and ethical issues of our time. It is founded on the belief that adhering to core human values and achieving business success are always compatible. Working with both companies and individuals, OCL helps create solutions that enable corporate employees at every level to optimize profits while enabling them to thrive in the corporate environment. OCL was founded by Amanda Mitchell to help meet the needs of people working in corporate America during this transformative moment in our nation's history. The OCL system reflects her experience and insight gained from a 20–year corporate career working with Fortune 500 companies, and as an executive coach to senior–level corporate executives.