Do you need a plan(ner)?

When I wrote my Happiness Manifesto, I included the truth that happiness is a skill, not a choice. Just like any other skill, happiness takes practice, planning and patience. Let's pretend I wanted to become a ninja. Just hoping to learn mad ninja skill isn't going to work out well. As we say at my…

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Ask Wendy: Hunters vs Gatherers

Q: I manage two very talented employees. They each bring different things to the table, and the team has a nice skill balance. One is a vegetarian and the other is a hunter. Hunter isn’t pinning up pictures, but there is some hunting discussion going on. Veggie asked me, as their manager, to talk to…

Ask Wendy: Finding a Mentor

A recent text from a close friend: Wendy! Could use some advice from my HR/professional development friend. 😉 Any suggestions on how you ask someone to be your mentor? So, I am conflicted about "formal" mentoring. I know this can be heresy in the HR world...Clutch your pearls now! If you're thinking about asking someone…

When are rules flexible?

Q: How do you balance being the kind of manager you "want" to be (trusting, hands-off, same rules apply to all) when one team member clearly needs more boundaries? A specific example: I truly think working from home is a positive benefit offered by my company. I personally like it, and I like to give…

Venting vs Bitching: The Difference Matters

Q: What is the best way to approach employees who say unkind things about other employees or customers and are overheard doing so? They are usually blowing off a little steam after a frustrating conversation, they may not know they can be heard, and the things they are saying aren't racist or sexist, just generally…

Child-bearer of Bad News?

Q: When is it appropriate to tell a potential employer you're pregnant when applying for a job? And to whom: the recruiter, the hiring manager... or just to HR after you start? A: Before jumping into an ideal disclosure strategy, remember you're not obligated to say anything. I don't advocate this approach and recommend considering the interview process as the…

avoiding the slurpy tea drinker

Q: What do you do when a colleague's habits are distracting/terrible? I have a new colleague in our open office environment who is a terrible tea slurper, and it's distracting all of us and driving us crazy every morning. It's gotten to the point where I'm strategically scheduling meetings/time out of the office to avoid…