As I have progressed in my career I have come to realize that every job has its pros and cons. And every supervisor does as well. Sometimes your supervisor is too hands off. Or sometimes you might come across a micro-manager. You may wish that you received more praise or credit. Or maybe you receive… Read More
Author: Barbara Sulik
The KISS Principle
The US Navy adopted the KISS principle in the 1960’s. It is most commonly thought to represent Keep It Simple, Stupid. The intention is not to imply that people are stupid but to remind us that systems typically work best if they are simple to learn, understand, and adapt. I am not a huge fan… Read More
Touch it Once: Get Organized in 2015
Picture this, you arrive home from work and grab your mail out of the mailbox. You quickly flip through it and spend a few extra minutes looking at the grocery ad. The pile of mail is put down on the counter. After dinner, you pick up the pile again and flip through it looking for… Read More
The Joke that Went Too Far
Every week I am required to send a status report to a group of peers and my boss that highlights what I have been working on over the past week and what I am going to tackle in the upcoming week. Each person in the distribution group does the same. It is an excellent communication… Read More
Change your Mindset, Change your Life
As I’ve mentioned before, I embarked on my #1 Bucket List item this year and participated in a 140.6 mile triathlon this month. Back in March I started documenting my journey in a private blog for my family and friends. Over the course of my training, I have encountered some negative comments, hate filled drivers,… Read More
Why You Should Implement A Gag Order At Your Next Meeting
In a previous life I worked for the Chief Security Officer for a large hospital. I was often present in the Incident Command Center during critical times such as facility closures, new facility openings, and even visits from the President of the United States. Within the Incident Command Center there was a gag order in… Read More
The One Trait You Need to Get Ahead
Courage. No big decision, growth, or success can ever occur without courage. Building courage is all about putting yourself in uncomfortable situations more often. The more you get used to challenging yourself out of your comfort zone, the more courageous you become. The more courageous you become, the more able you will be to make… Read More
Using SWOT Analysis for Personal Growth
Are you looking for a simple model to analyze a plan related to personal growth? Do you need a simple way to objectively create a strategy for decision making? Try a SWOT Analysis. It is a great way to analyze your current situation in order to define where you want to go. All you need… Read More
Staying Healthy on the Road
My job requires about seven weeks of travel a year. While that is relatively minor, it is still almost 15% of the year and too much to let good health and fitness habits lax. It is important to remember that work travel is not vacation. This can be hard when you do not have access… Read More
Don’t Miss This Chance to Make a Great First Impression
I once started a new job, on a Friday, at 2:30 p.m. Mind you, this was a typical Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. job. There was no explanation given on the somewhat odd start day and time. When I showed up, no one seemed to remember I was coming in. My desk… Read More
How to Build a Balanced Team
Hiring the right people is a skill. When I first started hiring I was immediately drawn to people who were like me. I would fill my team with those folks, because, of course, my way was the only way to be successful. I was so naïve. The best teams are built from a variety of… Read More
5 Useful Tips When Asking for a Raise
Do you feel like you should be earning more money? Are other people in similar roles earning more than you? Has it been more than 12 months without a performance increase? Here are some tips to ask your Supervisor for a raise. 1. Schedule a time to meet with your supervisor The big question is… Read More