by Sonia Alleyne Just because professionalism calls for being friendly with everyone, does not mean that everyone is your friend. I recently had a conversation with a young woman whom I mentor who was very disappointed in a colleague’s behavior. The two, in my mentee’s words, “enjoy a good relationship and are friendly toward one… read more

by Melissa Wilson What is tone when it comes to writing? It’s a simple question, but the answer can be rather complicated. In basic terms, tone usually refers to how a writer uses certain words in a specific way to convey non-verbal observations about specific subjects. Not only does tone help to deliver facts, but… read more

by Dr. Travis Bradberry We’ve all said things that people interpreted much differently than we thought they would. These seemingly benign comments lead to the awful feeling that only comes when you’ve planted your foot firmly into your mouth. Verbal slip-ups often occur because we say things without knowledge of the subtle implications they carry. Understanding… read more

Being a good negotiator can make a big difference in your career. It can help you earn more money (by negotiating a better starting salary or a raise), a higher title (by negotiating a promotion) or even budget money (to take on a prominent project). How good are you at negotiating? No matter what the… read more

It’s only when I’m actually on vacation that I find myself thinking, “I really believe in vacations!” Sure, I’m excited beforehand, but it’s only when I’m actually there that I realize just how much I needed it and how much better I’ll be when back at work for having taken some time off. Research shows… read more

The dog days of summer are here. Maybe you’re alone in the office and trying to fill the time that your boss and colleagues are at the cottage with some productive thinking or perhaps you’re basking in the freedom that comes from the ability to duck out at 4:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon without raising… read more