Posts

personal life

The Manager Sets the Tone for the Personal Life and the Professional Life Balance

Personal life is what, in theory, most of us appreciate the most. In theory. In practice though, most of the times you have a freaking deadline.
compliment

How to Accept a Compliment

In the highly (unlikely) situation that someone pays you a compliment at the office about your daily activity you should react accordingly.
poorly performing employee

What Can You Do With a Poorly Performing Employee

No, you should not let a poorly performing employee go. At least not on the first warning, because then you will end up alone in the company.
always

But… We Always Did It This Way

Just because you have an idea doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good one but we always did things this way around here and it worked out fine.
do wrong

What did I do wrong?

This is how the presumption of guilt starts, you wonder from the start “What did I do wrong?” – especially when your boss calls you for a meeting.
constructive feedback

Constructive Feedback or Hate

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Most of the times the difference between constructive feedback and hate is a fine line that can quickly escalate to harsh criticism.
back to school

Back To School

As the manager/employer you need to be there when your employees children go back to school and and help when school starts.
what i said

What I Said and What Did You Hear

What I said might be or not be right, but anyway, often we say something and people hear a different thing.
Old Lady Down the Stairs

Can’t Push an Old Lady Down the Stairs and Ask Why She’s in a Hurry

You shouldn’t push an old lady down the stairs, but neither should you do that to anyone else.
yell

Don’t Yell!

You can talk, NOT yell and still share your point of view. No matter if you are a teacher, a parent, a manager or a cashier, you cannot earn respect by using force.
respect

Respect You Earn, It’s Not Attached to Your Business Card

Once you are promoted to a new position, you may expect it to come along with the respect of your colleagues or superiors.
employee

You Cannot Treat Every Employee the Same

It’s the same as stating that every employee is different, that they don’t have the same needs and don’t respond to the same kind of motivation.

Useless Procedures with Annoying Results

You obviously encountered some useless procedures until now and not only they don’t solve anything, but they are really annoying.
trust you

I Trust You

Even though for many employees it may sound weird, a manager should trust you. This is how an environment where mutual respect is quickly built looks like.
delegation

Why Delegation Is So Important to a Manager

Delegation should be amongst the first chapters of the book “How to Become a Boss for Dummies”. The process itself means that you empower someone.
laugh

Why Don’t You Laugh More at Work

There should be some company policies – stipulating that you should laugh more at work. Yes, you read well, I strongly believe that we need to laugh more.
workaholic manager

What Do You Do With an Workaholic Manager?

If you have an workaholic manager you have a pretty good chance that he/she expects the same level of dedication from you.
Manage your boss

How to Manage Your Boss

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I mean how come, do you actually need to manage your boss? Really? Yes, and it will also prove very helpful on the long run.
good boss

Good Boss, Bad Boss

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How can you tell if you are a good boss or a bad one? Usually it’s pretty hard to realize, especially if you gathered around you a bunch of as*-kissers.
ask

Ask and You Shall Be Given

Yes, boss, ask, instead of giving orders, and you have greater chance to receive. It’s a little harder for those with a bossy attitude
stinky

What Can You Do About a Stinky Colleague?

I know that it does not happen to you to have someone stinky around, but occasionally you may experience a sting in your eyes.
bad boss

If You Have a Bad Boss, Replace Him!

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The best thing that can happen to your career is to have a bad boss … or more. You cannot possibly collect them all, even though it may seem sometimes that they all ended up on your reporting line.
get this

Better Get This, Because I Am Only Sayin’ It Once

This is the path many managers walked on: they only say it once get this and expect you to know everything later on, you have to get this very fast. Or shortly after.
i am allowed

Only I Am Allowed To Do It!

I am allowed to do it, because I am in command of things and you’re not. Wow, what arrogance! Legend goes that you should practice what you preach. Let’s leave aside the minister and gain some knowledge on why you shouldn’t tell people they are not allowed to do something and you are.
micromanagement

If You Suffer From Micromanagement-itis, You Weren’t Vaccinated For Sure!

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For the sake of all employees, know there is hope if your boss suffers from micromanagement-itis. If you have a sick boss, help him. Don’t let him in his/her own misery, as it will torment you too.
recruitment

Recruitment Is One of the Most Important Attributes of a Manager

Sometimes recruitment is considered to be a  dull activity, meant to fill up the empty sit. I have written here before, the way I see recruitment and some tips that help with that. Meanwhile, very little has changed, except for the time allotted to recruitment.
rely on your boss

Can You Rely On Your Boss?

It’s not so important to be able to rely on your boss, it’s VERY important.
i didn't want to

I Didn’t Want to Do It, They Made Me

In other words, it’s not my responsibility, I didn’t want to do it but the boss/company made me. It’s some way of saying it’s not my fault that you have to do this, I can even confirm it is a bull-sheet. I am not taking any responsibility, but passing it to you.
democracy

There Is No Democracy Within Companies

I hope you didn’t think there is democracy within the companies you work for and that we each get a vote on how to do our job. This thing with voting applies merely when choosing a location for the end of the year party, not for serious business decisions.
admit

Admit When You Are Wrong

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Yup, Bo$$, admit when you are wrong, especially in front of your subordinates or colleagues. It’s easier to admit it in front of the manager, even if it’s a cautious act – maybe I get away with it, a mistake admitted cuts half the negative impact. Or something like that.