Internal Communication
We’ve offered advice before about keeping your professional and personal networks from overlapping too much. Now a new survey from OfficeTeam reveals that people are still uncertain about the rules of online social networking. Here are tips for blending personal and professional friends on Facebook:
Take the guesswork out of a relationship with a new manager by having an up-front conversation about expectations. No doubt, you’ll need to talk about the nitty-gritty of your everyday tasks. But don’t leave the conversation at that. Get a big-picture snapshot of your role, so you can come to a better understanding with your new boss.
Tried Twitter but find the deluge of information-sharing too much to manage? If that sounds like you, these web sites and services can help you manage the chatter and enrich your communication:
When a control-freak boss monitors your every move, you and your co-workers may be tempted to rebel. Instead, don’t let your annoyance show. “Getting visibly irritated when he leans on you will only make him think he needs to keep an even closer eye on you,” says Albert J. Bernstein, a clinical psychologist and author of Am I The Only Sane One Working Here? Here are more strategies:
Keep internal office e-mail communications clear and efficient by asking everyone to stick to subject-line codes, says productivity expert Laura Stack. By using agreed-upon acronyms, people will know the gist and priority of an e-mail, without having to open it first. Example: Your team could use <AR> for “Action Required.”
Question: “I work for a manager who thinks I can read her mind. She rushes up to my desk and says something like, ‘Did he come pick it up?’ Because I have no idea what she’s talking about, I ask what she means. Then she looks at me like I’m an idiot for not understanding. This happens all the time, and I’m starting to get really irritated. How do I deal with her weird communication pattern?”
Ask a person if he likes criticism, and he’ll probably say no. Most of us would prefer constant praise. But most of us also want to know that people take our work seriously. We crave feedback that is thoughtful and thought-provoking. The trick is learning how to give and receive meaningful feedback. Here’s how:
Just because you don’t feel confident doesn’t mean you can’t play the part. It pays off: Confident people get the plum assignments, the raises, the recognition, Trent Hamm says on the blog The Simple Dollar. Follow Hamm’s tricks for appearing confident:
How well can you capture the attention of someone receiving your memo? Your memo will capture readers if it includes one of the three R’s in its opening line: It should recommend something, reveal information or request that someone act. Test your skill by picking the best opening sentence in this example:
A co-worker comes to you to complain about her boss. How should you respond? It depends on the outcome you want. Before reacting, pause, focus on the outcome and then choose your reaction.
Question: My department recently moved to a new building … I was given an office that was originally designated for “Judy.” Judy seems offended by this change. I think she blames me for the decision, even though I had nothing to do with it. Now I’m starting to feel guilty. How can I fix this?
Blogs are spreading faster than kudzu in the business world, and for a reason: They help build relationships with customers, something every business and boss want to see. Here’s how to write blog posts for your company, without spending too much time, according to Stephanie Lloyd, founder and CEO of Radiant Veracity.
Three blind mice, the three little pigs, three wishes—there’s a reason childhood stories revolve around the magic number “3.” Our brains tend to think in threes. How can you take advantage of this simple truth?
