We ask others for things all of the time: on the job, with our families, and in the community. Yet, we aren't always met with the response we want. How can we improve our odds? Here are four suggestions: 1) Ask for something specific. If people don't know exactly what [More]
The harder you work, the greater your rewards. These words are pounded into our brains from an early age - but are they true? Unfortunately, our rewards are determined not just by how hard we work, but also by those we work with, and especially those we report to. If [More]
In Japanese culture, there is a cultural practice to avoid causing others to lose face. In business meetings, this often means that objections are not raised, and decisions are made apparently without a thorough discussion. While this is what appears to an outsider, the reality is far different. The Japanese [More]
Have you ever been in a conversation when the other person spends more time talking about themselves than the subject at hand? They pepper the conversation with me, myself, and I, assuming that you (and others) are held spellbound by their perspective and accomplishments. Me has two letters, but it [More]
Each holiday season, there is no end to the number of parties, receptions, get-togethers, and other opportunities to spread the good cheer. Some people enjoy this opportunity, and others loathe it. Even for those interested in networking, the "fake smiles" that seemingly must be worn at these events can become [More]
While PAR 3 might have special meaning for golfers, it is actually the name of a great framework for describing your experience. It can be used in sales presentations, group status meetings, brochures and web sites. PAR stands for Problem, Action, Results. Rather than describing what you did (the "Action") [More]
As children, we get up and go to school... because that's what we do. As young adults, we choose a college or university to give us the skills to succeed in a particular career. For many people, formal education then stops - and for good reason: why bother with more [More]
How often have you said "Better late than never"? Like many, probably a few times. Close cousins of this expression include "I tried", "I'm sorry", and "I'm not feeling my best today". While they all may be true, they may also sound like excuses. When we rely on these expressions, [More]
Ten Career Planning Tips that we can learn from Barack Obama (and John McCain) Thinking back to the American Presidential election, are there any job search and career planning lessons that can be learned from Obama's historic victory? The answer, of course, is yes. 1) Anyone can grow up to [More]
There is no question that professional certification in your area of specialization provides enduring value. (In fact, there are a number of professions where you cannot practice without it.) Becoming certified differentiates you from your competition, and signals to others that you uphold certain standards and practices. These may include [More]
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