Character

Be assertive, not aggressive

December 9, 2020

Here’s how to be assertive without coming off as an ogre.

Being promoted or moving ahead brings new demands. But don’t move so fast that you abandon the relationships you’ve built. Though you’ll make new contacts, the odds are good that you’ll need your old contacts as well. Keep these groups in mind.

It’s not a weakness anymore!

October 7, 2020

Most of us think our weaknesses are holding us back, but we could be wrong. Using your supposed flaws wisely can be a path to success. By admitting to—and making use of—the following weaknesses, you can actually appear stronger.

Express anger—within reason

September 10, 2020

A researcher at Stanford University has found that anger is sometimes linked to success.

Lock horns with a peer? Bury the axe

September 10, 2020

Feuding with another manager? You’re both good arguers, so forget about rehashing the disagreement—no one will win.

Don’t let grudges poison your leadership

August 13, 2020

One of the worst effects of holding a grudge is that you may have trouble distinguishing your personal overreactions from legitimate misgivings about the employee. Take these steps if you feel you might be holding a grudge.

When under pressure, who are you?

July 9, 2020

Exceptional times—good or bad—often require leaders to change, either to take advantage of what’s going right or to remedy what isn’t. Look closely at three aspects of your leadership.

Banish your own negativity

April 22, 2020

Negative behavior can be changed! It just takes training and practice. The key is analyzing your behavior, planning a change, and implementing it consistently. Try these five steps.

If you can’t say something nice …

January 9, 2020

Q. I’ve been watching my boss botch move after move for a few years now, and it’s tough not to get swept up in the talk at work about his errors. I’d like to play devil’s advocate, but what argument can I make in defense of such a poor leader?

Banish traits that start arguments

January 2, 2020

Some days it seems everyone is in a bad mood. Or maybe it’s just you. If you’re getting into more than your share of altercations, perhaps you need to work on one or more of these issues.