Phone answering standards at work — Phone tree prompts have almost eliminated the need for a real person to answer the ringing telephones in offices. …

9 Priorities for your list — Of course a manager’s priority list is filled with goals given to them by the company. It goes without saying those goals should be taken seriously and achieved. Beyond the goals that are given to a manager are the priorities they chose themselves. These are the things that make their…

Classroom? Family Party? Carolers? Scouts? No Problem! — You read all the flyers your child brings home. You check your email for a note from the PTA. Review the school calendar that is front and center on the refrigerator. You even riffle through the backpacks that slump just inside the front door. …

Stop. Look. Think. Breathe — Social media, including LinkedIn, is filled with triumphant (if exhausted) photos from teams that survived the rigors of extended hours, too few workers, and uncertain supply chain that made up the Black Friday of 2022. Looking at those beaming faces I marveled at their energy even after all of the…

No problem; I’ll tell you what it is — Imagine that you are in a restaurant, at your table. The waitstaff brings your food and you smilingly say ‘Thank you’. They look you in the eye and their response is one that makes almost every Boomer wince and every Greatest Generation shudder. “No problem”. EEEEEP! No! Sound the buzzer!

Close the sale no matter what you are selling — A retail employee waves a hand in the direction of the product after walking to its location when a customer asks for help. NO SALE! A car salesperson stands by the closed door of the car and talks about the gas mileage while the customer kicks the tires. Although they…

A model for every situation — We receive feedback throughout our life in many ways: Warned not to touch the hot stove or run into the street Report cards in school several times a year Partner gives their opinion on the new blue jeans Friends give you their opinion on the new date Too often, though…

The lessons I learned about keeping my wishes and desires to myself started early and repeated often. I broke my mother’s cheese plate when I was about 8 years old. It was white, with a built-in lip around the edge, and a round raised spot on which the uncut cheese sat. A…

Five things you need to know to stand out in the crowd — It’s tough to start a new job as a seasonal or temporary employee. Standard training goes out the door, people are rushed and you feel pressured to learn ALL THE THINGS right away! Here are five simple things you need to know to stand out from the crowd of newbies. Five Simple Things …