Personal Optimization

Driving Change at Your Workplace – 5 Questions to Ask

You want to make a change in your workplace. Perhaps a process you use every week is driving you crazy and feels inefficient. Or there’s a policy that rubs you the wrong way and doesn’t seem logical. You may be asking yourself: Does anyone else care? Do I have the clout to make the change? Where do I even begin? Read more on Driving Change at Your Workplace – 5 Questions to Ask…

Resolving Conflict when Others Disappoint, Step 3 – The Conversation

In our previous posts, we talked about deciding when to have a conversation with someone who has disappointed you, and how to prepare for having this kind of emotionally charged and difficult conversation. Now it’s the big day! The work isn’t over yet: Here are additional things to keep in mind so you can have a constructive conversation with someone who let you down. Read more on Resolving Conflict when Others Disappoint, Step 3 – The Conversation…

Resolving Conflict when Others Disappoint, Step 1 – Is This Worth Discussing?

We’ve all been in situations where others let us down. Maybe a co-worker missed a deadline, putting you in a tight spot. Maybe your friend is keeping you from being on time to an event for the umpteenth time. Maybe a peer plagiarized your work from a group project, and you now feel that they took advantage of your trust in them. Read more on Resolving Conflict when Others Disappoint, Step 1 – Is This Worth Discussing?…

Questions to Ask Your First Prospective Tech Employer

Working in technology today is a great place to be. The question isn’t really if you’ll get a job as you leave school, but rather which one you’ll take. New grads have a lot of power in the marketplace. I would encourage you to wield that power wisely as you weigh the first move in your career.

Read more on Questions to Ask Your First Prospective Tech Employer…

Six Steps for Effectively Helping a Coworker Resolve an Issue

Have you ever had a coworker approach you with an issue they are dealing with? Sometimes, issues come up through minor complaints or occasional venting. Other times, issues are front and center as the main topic of a conversation. When this happens, how can you help your coworker without taking ownership of their issue? Read more on Six Steps for Effectively Helping a Coworker Resolve an Issue…

Three Google Calendar Hacks for Busy Teams & Complex Schedules

I like to think of spring as the real start of the year. The snow starts to melt, the flowers emerge, and the excitement begins! In keeping with this fresh start, it’s time to revisit the tools you use every day to explore what has changed and what you can use differently. Below are three ways to optimize your use of Google Calendar and stay organized. Read more on Three Google Calendar Hacks for Busy Teams & Complex Schedules…

Annoyed by Everyday Frustrations? Try a Little Humility

A lot of people think humility is a good characteristic to have both in and out of the workplace. But why? You might say it’s because people who lack humility are arrogant, and arrogant people aren’t any fun to be around. But while that’s true, I think there’s much more to it. Read more on Annoyed by Everyday Frustrations? Try a Little Humility…

Consider Giving the Company Feedback After Your Next Interview

When an interview doesn’t lead to an offer, it’s not uncommon for candidates to ask for feedback on the interview process. Given the human relationship involved, the time candidates invest, and the opportunity to help someone grow, we always take the time to meet and provide the most valuable feedback we can. But it’s rare that a candidate volunteers feedback for our hiring team. Read more on Consider Giving the Company Feedback After Your Next Interview…