Working from home can be so convenient! If you’ve got a long commute and your work can be done remotely, it just makes sense. Plus, having some distance from the office can sometimes help you to be more focused and productive. But telecommuting can also cause problems. You could start to feel disconnected from the(…)
Have you ever worked with a bad listener? Someone who just can’t seem to hear what you’re saying (no matter how many times you say it)? It can certainly be frustrating – especially if you’re working on a project together and good communication is crucial. So what should you do if you can’t get your(…)
Does your job require a lot of teamwork? Are you often assigned to work with groups of people to get various projects done? If so, then you’ve probably experienced what it’s like to be on a successful team. Successful teams are friendly, creative, empowering, and productive. They make any project seem like it can be(…)
There are a lot of benefits associated with working from home or some other off-site location. Remote employees don’t need to uproot their lives and move to wherever the home office is. And there’s no need for a long, daily commute. Working from home also allows for greater flexibility. And for some people, it’s easier(…)
What makes employees feel happy and engaged? Cool perks like free lunches and company parties can give people a boost. But research indicates that one of the biggest contributors to employee happiness is transparency. People feel positive, invested, and engaged when information is shared openly and freely. Too often, company leaders keep information secret. There’s(…)
“Plain English refers to the writing and setting out of essential information in a way that gives a co-operative, motivated person a good chance of understanding it at first reading, and in the same sense that the writer meant it to be understood.” Cutts, M. (2013). Oxford Guide to Plain English. Oxford, England: Oxford University(…)
Ask almost any employee what the most expensive software is for a university. I think most people would respond by talking about our financial system, SAP. I disagree. I think email is where we spend the most money by far, but I wonder whether it’s where we derive the most value. Roll the clock back about(…)
Have you ever had a really difficult coworker? Someone who frustrated or annoyed you, or someone whom you clashed with on a regular basis? If you’ve answered “yes,” you’re certainly not alone. I think that most people have experienced this at some point in their career. In most workplaces, a bunch of different people (with(…)
I will never forget the first time I was invited to attend a project team meeting for a large project. I was so excited and proud to be asked as a non-scientist and administrative assistant to attend this weekly meeting. Here I was, finally sitting at the table as a “team member” — or so I(…)
You can tighten up your writing by getting rid of unneeded words. Here are a few examples: Advance planning. Just say planning. Isn’t all planning done in advance? Past experience. Past adds nothing to your sentence. Absolutely essential. It’s either essential or it isn’t. What’s the difference between essential and absolutely essential? Predict in advance.(…)