Scientific problem-solving is important in the workplace | Confidence, self-awareness are key to effective negotiation | Be reliable, respectful to make better connections with co-workers
Scientific problem-solving is important in the workplace Exploring creative solutions is crucial to avoid jumping to conclusions that could lead to errors, says astronomer and science communicator Moiya McTier. Address a problem with a question to help you think outside the box, she writes, and form a hypothesis to have something to measure your success against. Fast Company online (5/17)Confidence, self-awareness are key to effective negotiation Have an understanding of the company or other party before you begin negotiations, and go in with a positive and confident mindset, Deep Patel writes. Be aware of your own strengths and weaknesses, listen to the other party's priorities, then be sure to outline your own priorities to create a "win-win" situation. Entrepreneur online (5/16)
Stick to the plans you make with your colleagues, and find time to interact with the new person in the office, writes entrepreneur Michael Volkmann. Show appreciation to co-workers who help you with a project by offering to help them with a task or treat them to a coffee. Lifehacker (5/15)
The Landscape
How bad employees reveal hiring process flaws Managers spend nearly a quarter of their time in a workweek coaching underachieving employees, according to a survey from Robert Half. A bad hire may point to a flaw in an organization's hiring process, says Paul McDonald, senior executive director for Robert Half. Ladders (5/16)
Trust your instincts and take note of how you feel about a job before you go ahead and accept an offer, executive career coach Mikaela Kiner says. Career coach Dana Manciagli recommends reviewing the job description and asking yourself if you want to spend your workdays on those tasks. Glassdoor (5/18) The No. 1 tip to get your resume seen Hiring managers get an overwhelming amount of resumes for every job posting, given the proliferation of job boards and relative ease of applying, executive recruiter Jack Kelly writes. Instead of spending a lot of time perfecting your resume, tailor it to the job you're applying for to show that you would be a perfect fit, and clearly show that you have the relevant skills and experience. Forbes (5/15)
The Water Cooler
Starbucks make major changes to loitering policy Starbucks announced in a letter to employees that it will allow noncustomers to use restrooms or sit in stores without making a purchase. Store employees have been given detailed instructions for how to deal with disruptive customers, including asking a fellow employee to "observe and verify." Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model) (5/21)
The basis of insincerity is the idealized image we hold of ourselves and wish to impose on others.
