23Ask a Manager
Productivity Related Topics
my best employee quit on the spot because I wouldn’t let her go to her college graduation
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JULY 5, 2016
Due to a new product launch, we are expected to provide service outside of our normal hours for a time. A reader writes: I manage a team, and part of their jobs is to provide customer support over the phone. This includes some of my team coming in on a day our office is normally closed (based on lowest seniority because no one volunteered). said that if she could find someone to replace her for those two hours, she could start later. She asked her coworkers, but no one was willing to come in on their day off. She was raised in a few dozen different foster homes and has no living family.
we’re not allowed to bring coffee to work, my coworker is faking his expertise, and more
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OCTOBER 30, 2016
They could ban all cruciferous vegetables or all red foods or animal products or, yes, coffee and tea. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. My coworker is faking his expertise for the promotion he’s applying for. Our director of IT gave notice this week. Two internal people have expressed interest in the job. We are a small company, and the director of IT is the only IT professional on staff. We are a financial institution, so IT security is super important. John and Mary both expressed interest in the job. John is well liked and already in a comparable level job.
I have an awful summer intern, and I can’t fire him
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JUNE 20, 2016
His work product is consistently awful, and I have to ask him to make revisions, sometimes 3 or 4 times on the same document, because he rushes through things and never proofreads. My question is this: how do I deal with this tool for the next month? I’m going to keep correcting him when he mansplains me, and keep calling out his bad work product, but what else can I do? I don’t want this jerk to impact the internship experience of my other two interns, quite frankly, and I’m really, really buried at work … so this is making me insane. Repeatedly.
no, group work in school is not “just like in the real work world”
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JULY 25, 2016
feel like my teachers always emphasized the importance of group work but kind of threw us to the wolves to figure out how to do it, especially when we are all supposed to be equal players with no manager to oversee the final product. A reader writes: I’m starting a business graduate program now and all of the administrators are practically giddy proclaiming, “There’s going to be a lot of group work! Can you recommend any resources for how to do effective, professional group work among peers? Most importantly, at work you have totally different types of accountability. Anyway.
HR's Critical Role in Creating Productive and Meaningful Workplaces
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Today’s workplace is characterized by chaotic forces—low employee engagement and productivity levels, and declining employee well being. HR Leaders have a critical role in defining the vision and strategy to transform and create a more productive and happy workplace
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we can be fired if our friends and family don’t follow the company’s religious values
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MARCH 30, 2016
are the services the entity performs, the product it produces, or the educational curriculum it provides directed toward propagation of the religion?); A reader writes: The company that I work for is fairly conservative and has warned us that they are implementing a new policy where everyone will have to sign a legal document stating we uphold our company’s values. We all had to sign something similar when we were hired, but there is a catch now — we can be fired if our friends and family don’t follow the company’s values. could terminate my employment. What?!
4 big productivity traps for managers
Ask a Manager
DECEMBER 23, 2015
You can read it here. 4 big productivity traps for managers was originally published by Alison Green on Ask a Manager. If you’re a manager, you probably struggle mightily with time management; it’s pretty common for managers to feel like there are more demands on their time than time to meet them. But what if you’re inadvertently making choices that are undoing your best time management efforts? At Intuit QuickBase’s Fast Track blog today, I talk about four common managerial practices that can look like the right choices on the surface, but in actuality will become time sucks.
can working from home increase your productivity?
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MARCH 31, 2015
Some managers worry that telecommuting employees will be distracted and less productive, and as a result are reluctant to approve work-from-home arrangements at all or will only approve them in unusual circumstances. After all, their worry goes, can people really be as productive when they don’t have the immediate accountability of coworkers seeing how they’re spending their day, and when their home is filled with distractions like TV, pets, and the chance to get caught up on the laundry? can working from home increase your productivity? work habits
my manager wants twice-a-day reporting on how I’m spending my time, affair is causing a scandal, and more
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AUGUST 10, 2015
Do you have concerns about my work or my productivity?” represent the products of an internationally known man. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. My manager is asking me for twice-a-day reporting on how I’m spending my time. My current manager has started making me do a daily “plan of day” and “end of day report” to send to him. have to record in an Excel spreadsheet what I plan to do and what I AM doing every hour and send to him daily. Is this discrimination? He is posting pictures of her with him all over the world and at his home.
Leaving performance reviews behind: Where to start [Guide]
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Multi-year cycles for product. productivity and feel a lack of engagement. often correlate with productivity gains. sponsors care about such as retention, productivity, and employee engagement. aimed at increasing its focus on product. in productivity, a better co-ordination amongst. 1Making Dynamic Performance. more dynamic approach to managing. sprints.
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I misunderstood the schedule for my new job, former manager wants me to host a product party, and more
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AUGUST 30, 2015
My former manager wants me to host a product party for her. She’s asking you to do the marketing for her business for her, and to annoy your friends and family in the process, and to help her promote a product that you know is crappy. misunderstood the schedule for my new job, former manager wants me to host a product party, and more was originally published by Alison Green on Ask a Manager. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Perhaps she is aware of that, too. Apparently she is “starting a business” with Premier Jewelry. What do you think?
here’s another example of a great cover letter
Ask a Manager
MAY 3, 2016
Outside of work, I took it upon myself to become familiar with the products we carried so I could answer any questions that came my way. I’ve prided myself in being the employee managers can rely on, and I would love to bring this dedication to the City Watch. I often get asked for examples of good cover letters, and a reader recently sent me a great one that I want to share. Please remember she’s a real person when you’re commenting. This writer’s voice is her voice. It will not be your voice, and that’s part of the point. It works because it’s so customized to the writer.
is it bad that I use a chat program to talk to my friends throughout the workday?
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MAY 31, 2016
Is this generally considered more “okay” than other forms of personal messaging? I’m a pretty productive worker – I very rarely make personal calls at work, and I would never dream of texting people from my phone or Facebook all day. know that people who do it regularly tend to believe that it doesn’t affect their productivity, but in my experience from watching people who say that, it’s not true. Gchat feels different to me, but should it? Things are very casual where I work, and most people have their personal Gmail/Facebook up throughout the day.
a coworker told me not to leave early, when I know my manager would be okay with it
Ask a Manager
SEPTEMBER 13, 2016
It can also read differently if you’re highly productive during the day and occasionally leave early versus if you come in late a lot and waste time during the day and then leave early too.) It’s also true that sometimes behavior that’s fine for more senior people isn’t really okay for interns. A reader writes: I had a strange interaction with a coworker that I didn’t know how to respond to, and I’m wondering what your take on the situation would be. I’m in an hourly position as an intern. took a short lunch in order to make up the time. advice about your coworkers
Ditching the formal performance review? Kineo shares 3 Elements for Success
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as retention, productivity, and employee. at increasing its focus on product. in productivity, a better co-ordination amongst. From Performance Management. to Performance Development eGuide 2Part 2: A Roadmap. for Change In Part 1 of this eGuide, we explored the confluence. of factors that’s driving change in how performance. is managed and how organizations are moving. away from the traditional annual review process to. more real-time dynamic approach. This all sounds. very logical, of course, until an organization starts to. be some very real barriers to moving forward.
firing an employee after many chances, requiring employees to use vacation time for trips they win as prizes, and more
Ask a Manager
OCTOBER 2, 2016
We have employees who are occasionally awarded trips by the manufacturer of the products we sell. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Letting an employee go after many chances. An employee of our small company of 100 people has been moved around physically from department to department, manager to manager, and tried in various jobs that he wanted to try or jobs that managers thought he may be successful in. Sadly, the employee has been unsuccessful and at this point there is no manager willing to take him in their department. Can’t we find him something?”
should I do mediation with my incompetent boss, recruiter said she felt used when I turned down an offer, and more
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OCTOBER 5, 2016
Do you have any advice for how I can normalize this relationship and make it productive again? It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Should I really do mediation with my incompetent boss? I am an admin at a small company, 15 employees, and have a high-anxiety supervisor. Every day the supervisor’s work includes multiple errors, not remembering items or situations, and anxiety about issues that have no impact on the day-to-day running of the office. The manager suggested mediation. I’m not sure what we can achieve with mediation. This suggestion is crap. 2.
my coworker got a raise to motivate him to show up to work, when religion limits an employee’s availability, and more
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JULY 31, 2016
When told about this promotion and raise, I asked our VP if something had changed in this employee’s demeanor or work production since we last spoke. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. My coworker got a raise and promotion “to motivate him to show up to work” An coworker in my department was given a promotion and pay raise. It was puzzling because many of my colleagues — including me — were aware that he had been ignoring emails, calling out sick, and generally causing our VP a lot of headaches. No, nothing had changed. That is fine! Thoughts? Good luck! 5.
do job-seekers really need an elevator pitch?
Ask a Manager
OCTOBER 14, 2015
The students who we’d actually consider for an internship generally took the more standard approach of having an unscripted but productive conversation with me about their coursework, their experience, and the company that I work for. A reader writes: I recently visited my grad school on behalf of my employer as part of their college recruiting team. They’re making an “elevator pitch” for themselves. want an engineering intern, not a salesman, and the slick pitch and presumptuous attitude was actually a turn-off. It’s nearly always the case though.
The Performance Management Storm: Four Macro-Trends Driving the Change
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drives more productive conversations. 1Why Your Company Will Need to. Rethink Performance Management eGuide Part 1: The Argument. for Change 2 3About this Guide Organizations are increasingly. moving from traditional performance. management systems (organized as. an annual review process) to newer. performance development systems. organized around real-time dynamics). happening now. If the.
my coworker complained about my burping and farting, my manager gave away my project, and more
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JUNE 29, 2016
told her this, and she told me to go to the bathroom. I was literally speechless. I’m attempting to comply with her demand, but it’s making me less productive, is super anxiety inducing, and a little bit painful. Our boss is really hands-off and I don’t know what he would think if I brought it up, and I don’t think I’m capable of speaking to my coworker about it. I’m pretty sure this mostly doesn’t smell, and scented products make me completely unable to work, so even if there is there’s not a lot to be done. Here we go…. 1.
getting sick your first week at a new job, I won’t work in an open office, and more
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JUNE 30, 2016
When it’s longer periods, I’ve sent reminders, but get more of the “in a minute” response. I’ve run out of semi-productive things to do (reading training materials, cleaning out my inbox, etc.) so the waits are becoming painfully boring, and being in limbo is miserable itself. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Getting sick your first week at a new job. I got sick during my first week of work. I was dragging on Friday, but attributed it to a long week of meeting new people and getting used to my routine. since they don’t know you yet. dread finishing work now.
my boss wants me reachable by phone and email on the weekends, I think a coworker is fudging her time sheets, and more
Ask a Manager
JULY 12, 2016
You may also like: my boss sent around photos of my coworker in body paint, getting paid for commute time, and more my exempt employees are confused about how to manage their own time I misunderstood the schedule for my new job, former manager wants me to host a product party, and more my boss wants me reachable by phone and email on the weekends, I think a coworker is fudging her time sheets, and more was originally published by Alison Green on Ask a Manager. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. My boss wants me reachable by phone and email on the weekends.
my manager believes that working from home is a day off work
Ask a Manager
MAY 25, 2016
A reader writes: My manager, “Trish,” believes face-time = productivity. how productive should you be on a day you’re working from home? Last year, she started allowing people to work from home one day a week based on pressure from upper management because our group was not working remotely during weather-related closings. Most of us did not have the VPN required to do so and because she generally did not work from home at all. Trish’s solution was to allow everyone to work from home one day a week and she would control the schedule. always strive for excellence.
The Performance Management Storm: Four Macro-Trends Driving the Change
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drives more productive conversations. 1Why Your Company Will Need to. Rethink Performance Management eGuide Part 1: The Argument. for Change 2 3About this Guide Organizations are increasingly. moving from traditional performance. management systems (organized as. an annual review process) to newer. performance development systems. organized around real-time dynamics). happening now. If the.
week-long vacations as a summer intern, staff lunches that you have to buy yourself, and more
Ask a Manager
MAY 23, 2016
My job often requires me to reach out via email to users of my company’s product, e.g. to request permission to feature them in a newsletter. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Taking two week-long vacations as a summer intern. I was recently hired as an intern in a large scale company, but small scale office. Many of the employees are at a senior level, whereas about three of them are entry level. I was chosen as an intern for the summer. In another eight weeks, my family is going on a one-week vacation. Yes, it’s likely to make you look bad. short answers
bad manager or deliberate saboteur?
Ask a Manager
JANUARY 29, 2016
The most relevant tips relevant to your blog can be found near the end of the manual and contain gems such as: Managers and Supervisors: To lower morale and production, be pleasant to inefficient workers; give them undeserved promotions. also like these additional tactics that the full manual advises: Insist on perfect work in relatively unimportant products; send back for refinishing those which have the least flaw. A reader writes: I thought you might find this old OSS/CIA manual from 1944 as interesting examples of bad management. Employees: Work slowly. work habits
don’t pretend to have a question just so you can talk about yourself — in interviews and in life
Ask a Manager
SEPTEMBER 1, 2016
my manager invited me to a product party don’t pretend to have a question just so you can talk about yourself — in interviews and in life was originally published by Alison Green on Ask a Manager. When your interviewer asks what questions you have for them, this is your cue to ask legitimate, genuine questions that you have about the work (or the company, or the team, or so forth). Candidate: What’s the most important thing you’re looking for in candidates for this job? Candidate: Oh, great. have a ton of experience doing that. Interviewer: Anything else I can answer for you?
how to stay productive during the holidays
Ask a Manager
DECEMBER 17, 2014
With so many distractions during the holiday season – from parties to gift shopping to travel – how do you stay productive and focused when you’re at work? how to stay productive during the holidays was originally published by Alison Green on Ask a Manager. If you’re not deliberate about staying on track, it’s all too easy to find yourself dividing your attention between winter sales and eggnog, and coming back in January to unfinished work that you’d intended to complete. But it’s not impossible to stay focused during the holidays. You can read it here. work habits
4 Ways to Close the Learning-Doing Gap for Front-Line Managers [GUIDE]
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retention, productivity, and employee engagement. FOUR WAYS TO CLOSE THE. LEARNING-DOING GAP FOR. FRONT-LINE MANAGERS 4FOREWORD We’re in business to help organizations. achieve their goals by making sure their. employees have the knowledge and skills. they need to succeed. Our experience. and research led us to identify that one. audience organizations consistently. managers. What’s. skills.
did I get too drunk at a work party, how to get out of a work obligation, and more
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NOVEMBER 3, 2016
It doesn’t impact their work or productivity (unless their computer crashes). It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Did I get too drunk at a work party? recently attended a work party. There was a lot of drinking and a lot of dancing. I don’t usually do much of either, but I ended up drinking three and a half glasses of wine (my usual limit is two) and being louder and more outgoing than usual. also ended up dancing (something normally outside my comfort zone) and at one point grabbed the hand of someone I was sitting with and held it for a moment. ” 3.
a good employee who’s really a terrible employee
Ask a Manager
FEBRUARY 22, 2016
These tasks may be left undone for many reasons, and there have been times when she’s caused a major snarl by shipping products that aren’t fully packaged or something akin. Some people have reported that she goes through and pulls the best products for herself, leaving others with sub-standard. A reader writes: My direct manager recently resigned and, until I hear an answer from higher up, I am the acting manager. I’ve been receiving complaints from some of my employees about another employee, let’s call her Leah. Leah is a very good employee.
interview with a budget and money coach
Ask a Manager
AUGUST 11, 2016
mean that I bring a clarity for my clients about their money that helps them be bolder and wiser about their decisions and their next moves. A lot of people come to me saying things like “I don’t know if I can afford X” where X is to give themselves a raise, to hire an employee, or to take a risk on a new product or service. Lynne Somerman is a regular reader here, and she’s also a budget and money coach. asked her if she’d do an interview here about her work, and she gracious agreed. Here’s our Q&A (and here’s her website ).
I was laid off but but my employer asked me to keep working
Ask a Manager
AUGUST 15, 2016
My current position has become irrelevant as focuses in our product have changed and my role is no longer existing. A reader writes: I found out last week that I am being laid off from my job. It was the nicest layoff I could have asked for though, despite the circumstance – I saw it coming as my manager and I have been discussing growth opportunities here, but in a company that’s downsizing and only hiring entry-level positions, nothing has come up. Is it normal to be asked to stay on for a certain length of time after being laid off? This isn’t uncommon. Good luck! layoff
I think I’m burning out — what should I do?
Ask a Manager
AUGUST 19, 2015
My productivity is less than half what it should be, and I’m horribly embarrassed and ashamed of myself. I’m taking sick days and leaving work early when I can, which helps a bit, but not enough. I’m also doing all the recommended self-care stuff – diet, sleep, exercise. I’m scheduling a doctor’s appointment for next week. A reader writes: Thanks for running such a helpful blog! Your advice has helped me stay true to professional norms through a couple of toxic situations, which has both kept me sane and gotten me big kudos from management.
coworker sent us all a 12-paragraph rant about office supplies
Ask a Manager
APRIL 6, 2016
And some of you are even taking these supplies for your home use for several days, only to have used up almost all of the supply associated with that product and then you return it and not tell us we need to buy more. A reader writes: This morning, I came to work to find an email that had been time-stamped at 12 a.m. from someone in our department who was disgruntled that other people were leaving our office a mess and taking each other’s office supplies. While I agree that this behavior is annoying, the email that followed was the single most unprofessional thing I have ever seen.
how productive should you be on a day you’re working from home?
Ask a Manager
FEBRUARY 19, 2015
An entire afternoon of errands would be a problem, of course, but hitting the dry cleaners or the pharmacy isn’t a big deal, assuming you’re exempt and have some degree of control over your own time and assuming you’re a generally productive employee who gets a lot done overall. In other companies, snow days have the same bar for productivity as any other day. how productive should you be on a day you’re working from home? ” This is what I think: I am a salaried employee in a client service role. The same goes for most of colleagues.
I found a horrible blog about a coworker — and it’s true
Ask a Manager
MARCH 14, 2016
This isn’t a me or her situation or anything like that, but I’d still like to know this was addressed with her and she knows she needs to make changes to be productive within our company. A reader writes: What should one do when they find a nasty blog written about a coworker, but the horrible statements are true? There’s a certain head of a department who I have to work with occasionally who is rude, dismissive, and just does not seem competent enough to do her job. I’ve spoken with other coworkers and they think the same of her. Sort of…).
how to research the company you’re interviewing with
Ask a Manager
MARCH 4, 2015
– their biggest current initiatives/projects/products/clients. On a recent post , one commenter wrote: When I first started job searching, I tried to research the companies a lot. That was a waste of time. No hiring manager I ever talked to quizzed me about my company knowledge. They wanted to talk about the specifics of the job. And honestly, when you think about how many people are interviewing for one position and how many jobs each of those people are interviewing for, that’s a lot of wasted hour memorizing facts about companies they are probably not going to work at.
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