Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. As a manager and customer service officer, it is an essential skill. But empathy may actually hold some people back from making business decisions. Rapport might actually be more appropriate for many work interactions — understanding others’ ideas and communicating well, thereby forging a […]
What does your LinkedIn photo say about you?
When you meet someone for the first time you make an impression within the first few seconds — your facial expressions, tone of voice and the way you greet people all play a role. These days our first meeting is often online — so your photo may deliver an instant impression to others, and they will […]
Five of the worst customer service mistakes you can make
The notion of a customer dates back centuries. The origin of the expression is ‘habitual practice’, and in The Middle Ages it meant a person or business with whom one has regular dealings. By 1830, it signified ‘made to order’ (hence the notion of ‘customise’). Tailoring a customer’s experience both during and after a transaction is […]
Beginning and ending affairs at work is risky business
One of the most common places to meet a new partner or start a love relationship is at work. It’s hard enough finding a special someone, is it really that unreasonable to find that person at your place of work? How many organisations have partners comfortably working under the same roof, and may have even […]
9 skills you need to get ahead at work
Even if you’re not especially ambitious, many of us want to get ahead at work. It’s not really possible to remain hidden in a corner and hit the repeat button, although some jobs seem to require this. Whether you’re stagnating or gunning the motor, particular skills are called for if career progression is in order. Try these […]
Why our increasing use of screens has sparked blue light concerns
With so much of our waking lives spent viewing screens, is it any wonder people’s eyesight is suffering? There used to be similar concerns over people reading books and newspapers. Two-thirds of Americans are now suffering from digital eye-strain, with 73% of adults younger than 30 impacted. How do you feel when you wake up? Many people at […]
Do people of different gender identities process emotions differently?
“Men are from Mars, Women from Venus” was all the rage during the 1990s. Whether there’s actual proof that we are emotionally wired differently is yet to be conclusively proved (especially with gender fluidity much more highlighted these days). Controversially, according to psychologists Bobbi Carothers and Harry Reis, men and women are from Earth! Are women […]
Open-plan offices — a love-hate relationship at work
Is the open-plan workplace a viable and healthy work option? Or is it too noisy and distracting? Researchers have deemed open-plan offices as poor for productivity, worse for socialising and bad all round for catching germs. Hot-desking Many government departments and large companies are only just getting into the swing of open-plan hot-desking, where employees […]
5 ways to sharpen your strategy and get your ideas heard
Introducing new ideas into a workplace can be a delicate task, and one that is often carried out ineffectually. When you come up with ideas, don’t expect people to rush to adopt them; but don’t feel like it’s not worth trying just because you get little or no reaction. Instead, sharpen your strategy to be […]