Dear Executive Woman: A very good friend of mine, who had been a colleague, is now my direct report. How do I manage her without losing an important friendship or giving the appearance of favoritism? Signed, Furtherance or Friendship? Dear Furtherance or Friendship? First of all, congratulations on your new position! Every...
Dear EW: I’m scheduled to have an exit interview before leaving my job for a new position at a different organization. How honest should I be? Signed, Truth or Lie? Dear Truth: Exit interviews can be stressful, particularly if a negative experience with the company or a manager has contributed...
Dear DW, I’ve noticed some of my colleagues talking about the upcoming elections. I know that in the past, talking politics and religion was frowned upon. Has anything changed? Signed, Politically Hesitant Dear Hesitant, You have good reason to feel uneasy about joining the conversation. Talking about politics can be OK if...
Dear DW, Is it too casual to use texting language in emails, Slack, or Teams, or are there times when it is appropriate? Signed, Inclined to Text Dear Inclined, When people text, there is often a familiarity within the conversation that isn’t typically found in workplace emails. In a text,...
Regaining Trust after a Loss of Temper Dear DW, I lost my temper in a meeting. How can I regain my team’s trust? Signed, Short Fuse Dear Short, If it’s any consolation, you’re not the only one who has had this experience. In fact, more than half of employees have...
How Do I Safeguard My Ideas? Dear DW, One of my colleagues is constantly stealing my ideas and making it seem like they are his own. How do I work with someone who rarely contributes original thoughts yet gets credit for my work? Signed, Plagiarized Dear Plagiarized, When someone frequently takes...