3 steps to take after a tough work conversation It might be tempting to move on immediately after having a difficult work conversation and pretend the whole thing never happened, but that approach is counterproductive, writes Dolores Bernardo. Instead, acknowledge the situation, send a follow-up message to move the conversation forward, and focus on building a long-term relationship with the other person. Harvard Business Review online (tiered subscription model) (5/29)A game plan for entry-level workers Entry-level workers should approach their jobs with the same enthusiasm they would have for their dream job, career experts say. Some other ways to make early career roles more fulfilling are to seek interesting projects and start building a network. Fast Company online (5/30)
Making the Connection
It's a hard-knock life for middle managers Companies tend to use the middle management level of an employee's career to evaluate whether they can handle leadership responsibilities and eventually move to the executive level, writes Dana Theus. A School of Hard Knocks company culture around middle management can result in leaders developing bad habits that they take to the C-suite, she warns. SmartBrief/Leadership (5/30)
The Landscape
Legislation would seek ways to benefit gig workers Congressional Democrats have proposed a bill that would establish a $20 million program controlled by the Department of Labor to investigate ways of extending benefits to the growing number of people who work in the gig economy as part-time or independent workers. At the moment, this workforce is unable to receive funded parental leave or workers' compensation or invest in tax withholding and tax-advantaged retirement savings. Employee Benefit News (5/26)
Your Next Challenge
Keep your energy levels up at job interviews One of the most common mistakes people make at job interviews is to display low energy with their body language and responses to questions, writes Jenna Goudreau, managing editor at CNBC Digital. "It comes down to a simple truth: If you don't clearly want the job, it's near impossible to persuade someone to give it to you," she writes. CNBC (5/30)
A video of red lights flashing in White House windows has gone viral as Twitter users imagine the cause, with suggestions including "the White House's new orb wing" and President Donald Trump playing the game Operation. Press secretary Sean Spicer says the lights were a reflection from a nearby ambulance. The Hill (5/29)
Because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
