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The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas.
Linus Pauling Categories
Author Archives: Chip Cutter
Financial advice from the nation’s top grads
It’s graduation season. That means hordes of newly-minted MBA students and undergraduate business majors will soon be entering the work force.
They’ve spent years studying the intricacies of business and finance. Now, they’re ready to start dispensing that financial wisdom on Wall Street and everywhere else.
What will they say? And what tips do they have for the rest of us? . . . read more Read More
How to ask for special treatment at work
Sean Ryan’s schedule becomes a juggling act this time of year.
Come springtime the public relations account manager in Richmond, Va., has to balance his work responsibilities with coaching a varsity high school baseball team. And to be an effective coach he needs to leave work early to supervise practices, attend games and travel to tournaments.
It’s a common situation these days. Many workers face scheduling conflicts in April and May . . . read more Read More
Your Career: What to do when your boss gives up
Your boss shows up late, sneaks out early, ignores e-mails and winces at work-related questions.
Sound familiar? Many managers are burned out from trying to get more work done with fewer staffers and resources. Some have even stopped caring.
That can frustrate employees who can’t get questions answered, are waiting in vain for decisions to be made and feel like the workplace is in limbo.
Here are some tips for those trying to cope with a boss who’s given up . . . read more Read More
Workplace lingo: The good and bad of office jargon
At the end of the day, it’s important to achieve a win-win solution. Be sure to think outside the box to demonstrate thought leadership. And harness key learnings to change the game on that mission-critical project.
Confused? You have company. Many workers say they’re fed up with business jargon and corporate buzzwords.
Every industry has its own lingo. In technology, employees use “bandwidth” in conversations that have nothing to do with the Internet, saying things like, “I don’t have the bandwidth to deal with this situation.”
In finance, workers toss about terms such as “best-in-breed” when referring to investments. And young attorneys at large law practices like to say they’re “underwater” when they’re busy, said Bob Knaier, a senior associate at a San Diego firm.
“It’s a nice example of how attorneys want to make things sound much more drastic than they are,” Knaier said. “‘I’m not just busy, but my life is at stake; I’m drowning in work.’”
Business speak does have some up sides, for example, creating a sense of camaraderie among co-workers. But many people still feel it can go a bit too far. Here are some tips for coping with the babble . . . read more Read More
