Are Your New Year's Resolutions Not So New (or Resolved)? It’s March. Raise your hand if you remember the resolutions you made on New Year’s Eve. Anyone? C’mon now. Just one.Hmmm. That’s what I thought. New year’s resolutions are for new years. Once the year has lost its newness, March rolls around along with streets full of icky, melted snow and we tend to lose the fresh-faced, 'bring on the change!' attitude we had back in January.What happened to all that enthusiasm? Productivity guru David Allen wisely pointed out making resolutions at the end of the year may not be such a good id... view article details

Working in the airline industry can take you places. Even from an elevation of only 110 feet -- the official above sea level height of the city of Everett – which is the site of The Boeing Company’s commercial airplane plant on Washington state's northernmost coast. The career path of Bridget Beckmyer-Johnson provides clear evidence of the 'sky’s the limit' type of opportunities available to the dedicated employee. Her passion for people and learning has transported her from an entry-level position as an airplane “sealer” all the way to management during her 15-year tenure at the plant.Between... view article details

Dear Heather:I read your 'Death in the Workplace' column and found it to be helpful. But the person who was sick/dying wasn't in the workplace. It was a spouse of a co-worker. Right? How do you deal with a death IN the workplace?Thanks, 'Rachel'-----------------------------------------------Dear Rachel,While job promotions, moves, and career changes can shift the balance of personalities and politics in an office place, death leaves a sudden and often unexpected vacuum. With a co-worker's ascent up the career ladder, there is at least the promise of 'lunch' and a continued connection on Linked... view article details

Learning how to 'manage up' is a critical skill that contributes toward the success of your boss, the success of your organization, and ultimately toward your success.This article outlines 12 steps designed to build a strong, trusting relationship between you and your boss. You'll learn how to give your boss what he or she needs, so you can get what you want!Step 1: Stop blaming your boss. It’s easy to blame work-related issues on your supervisor. “The project wasn’t completed on time because of poor communication.” “I’m bored at work because the boss doesn’t recognize my skil... view article details

Productivity bonuses have their roots in the days when manufacturers rewarded hourly workers for speeding up their work pace. For instance, a worker who finished rolling 100 packages of shrink-wrap would earn a productivity bonus because an increase in personal efficacy meant a greater rate of output - and more profit - for the company.No longer confined to hourly workers, productivity bonuses are now being used throughout the payscale as rewards for performance and efficiency.In a survey of 783 employees across diverse companies, 20 percent of executives said they are seeing productivity rewa... view article details

When it comes to colorful language at work, on one end of the spectrum there's the timid colleague who gives up the occasional 'Darn!' and, on the other, there's the over-the-top constant curser who's probably got a trip to HR in his future.But sometimes, things are not be so black and white. That's why knowing the difference between the good, the bad and the ugly can save your ears -- and possibly your job. Here's how...Team Work: The Good Teams that can freely express themselves may build stronger ties. For example, when emotions run high, overlooking a 'freakin'' here and a 'What t... view article details

Educate Employees as to How Performance Reviews Affect Their Pay It's Performance Review Season. Is Your Process Working? Insight from Employees on Performance Reviews and Seven Tips for Everyone to Get More from the Process EMPLOYER MYTH #1:  Your employees "Get It." FACT:  Many employees don't understand how the performance review impacts their compensation. Generally speaking, the majority of employees don't have a clear understanding of how their employer links pay to performance. For managers who have been trained in the organization's performance management program and merit budg... view article details

Employers know that their employees need a break once in a while. That's why companies offer paid time off (PTO) in the form of vacation days, holidays, personal leave, and sick leave. Some employers' plans offer a specific amount of days for each form of PTO, while others, particularly in the healthcare and financial industries, provide one set amount of paid days off that can be used for various reasons at the employee's discretion. The definition of paid time off is any time not worked by an employee for which the regular rate, a fixed or a prorated amount of pay, is accrued and paid to th... view article details

Failure to Adapt to the New Working World Will Leave You in the Unemployment Line by 2020 Times Are Changing While the year 2020 may feel futuristic, in reality it's just around the corner. Will your career be prepared to fly into orbit, or will it stall on the ground? We’re predicting 10 global trends we believe will shape the future workforce. In addition, we'll share tips and hints that help you plan for and respond to these trends. Read on to make sure you'll be considered relevant and not a relic. 10. Global Talent Seeking As countries continue to invest in emerging economies -- spec... view article details

Real-life Leaders, Their Shortcomings, and How They Overcame Them "A business owner has to realize that, as the saying goes, 'A skunk stinks from the head down,' and a business does too," writes Bill McBean in his book The Facts of Business Life. That’s why, McBean posits, behind every great leader is a successful business. But just because you’re sitting in the leader’s chair doesn’t mean you excel at managing and motivating a team. Plenty of highly-placed executives lack essential people skills, or worse, rule with a bully’s iron fist -- it’s their way or the highway, a la TV bosses Donald T... view article details