Before You Send That Angry Email, Read This

It happens to us all. In dealing with a colleague, employee or even a customer of business partners, something rubs us the wrong way. Big time.

In the old days, we might manage the situation by walking down the hall and have a quiet chat. Well, it would most likely be a loud conversation. But we wouldn't throw too many verbal punches because we were looking the other person right in the eye.

Email and instant messaging changed everything. Since those are the most common forms of office communication nowadays, we get a bit of digital courage and write things we often wouldn't say. Oh, and what is written lasts forever, since people on the receiving end can keep it.

The good news is that if you use the written word correctly, you can speak your mind, and still avoid total office warfare. The next time you find yourself at your wit's end and ready to throw an electronic barrage, consider these seven steps to getting your point across professionally and resolving the issue.

Read more here.

6 Questions to Help Unleash Your Inner Entrepreneur

When I was a kid, the majority of adults in my life were business owners. Both of my parents, my grandfathers, uncles and even close friends of the family were entrepreneurs. To me that seemed normal. It was what people did when they grew up. While most of them started from very humble beginnings and struggled to make ends meet, their commitment to their ventures was something I greatly admired.

The idea of working for someone else was foreign to me. Yet, when it was my time to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up, I wasn't sure. In fact, I didn't even think about following in their entrepreneurial footsteps. Instead, I did the opposite: I decided to work for someone else.

Eventually, I found myself feeling unfulfilled, unsettled and extremely antsy. I was always successful at the jobs I held. I had a strong work ethic and I went above and beyond the call of duty. But at the same time, I felt like I wasn’t working for the right cause. Deep down, I knew I was meant to do more with my life and...

Read more here.

How to Snap Back After You Blow Up at Your Staff

As a business leader, you hold most of the cards when dealing with your staff. Generally, what you say goes, and employees must obey if they want to succeed within the organization.

But leadership is more than just wielding power. It’s your job to set an example on every level, including when employees or situations stretch your patience to the limit. But you’re also human, and you might lose your temper sometimes, even yelling directly at an employee or two. That creates deep problems in the organization, since it can leave your staff feeling uncomfortable, dejected and even doubtful of your ability as a leader.

Thankfully, if you take a proactive approach to repair any damage done, you can make sure that the impact of your tirade is short-lived and doesn’t ruin morale. Follow these six steps to quickly win back your employees’ trust and repair any damage to your reputation.

Read more here.

4 Signs It's Time To Quit Your Job

Keeping work life separate from your personal life can be difficult. What’s going on at the office inevitably seeps into our private life—for better or worse.

When life at the office gets bad it can impact everything in your life, whether you realize it or not. And knowing when it’s time to walk away from a job can be tough to do. After all, the labor market isn’t exactly thriving at the moment. But there are signs that it’s time to plan you're your exit strategy and move on.

Sign No.1: You Don’t Feel Well. An unhappy professional existence can...

Read more here.

How to Overcome a Workplace Confrontation

Most people don’t enjoy confrontation—especially when it happens in the workplace.

Engaging in an office confrontation can leave you feeling uncomfortable and even remorseful. Whether the clash was your fault or your colleague’s, participating in an office conflict can bring irreparable reputational damage. But before you start hiding in your cubicle or start looking for another job, consider this seven-step guide to help you repair any damage:

Read more here.

How To Get Paid More Today

President Obama’s proposal for raising the minimum wage to $10.10 has pundits and economist-types arguing whether or not it’s government’s responsibility to demand raises for workers and what impact, if any, that mandate would have on business’s ability to retain current staff and add headcount. Those in favor claim that businesses are screwing over employees and, therefore, government must step in and force employers to “share the wealth.” As a coach, I’m not going to chime in on the merits of this initiative. I do, however, argue that no matter what the law says, it is, has and always will be up to the employee to prove her own worth and negotiate her compensation.

This may sound easier said than done. First of all, many professionals don’t feel comfortable tooting their own horns. Those that don’t mind it may fear being labeled as conceited and dread the repercussions of that. What’s more, employees in general feel funny about asking for more money, especially when companies are keeping their purse strings tight due to the current economic uncertainty.

But it doesn’t have to be so difficult and torturous.

Read more here.