Gossip is and will always be a part of the work environment. Whether it’s during a quick chat over a morning cup of coffee or a marathon session at happy hour, we’ve all started or repeated a rumor about someone in their absence. In fact, employees gossip up to sixty-five hours a year at work, according to a July 2002 survey ...

When we were younger, making friends was easy. School provides us with an instant pool of people our own age that we interact with on a daily basis, who are in the same boat we are. But once we leave college and enter the real world, finding friends can be a more difficult task, especially if you have to relocate for ...

Years later, I still remember that sinking feeling, just after I'd hit the Send button after writing an email complaining about an editor. My worst virtual fear was quickly confirmed: Yes, I had sent my bit of snark to the editor instead of my friend--and no, the editor wasn't amused. Although he initially refused to work with me again, he eventually ...

Finding a job is no easy task. Thankfully you’re employed, but it’s hard to watch your buddy network, scour job boards, send updated resumes, and… still not get a single call back. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could nudge her through the door at your company with a glowing reference? Definitely! But beware, oh gracious pal. Putting in a good ...

1. Dorms College is a time of extreme freedom but, let’s face it, not everything about college screams unfettered space. Students don’t usually have a lot of extra money and that means that their personal space is limited. In fact, the average college student has bunked down in a dorm room. According to the 2000 census, about 2 million students ...

At the end of a hellish day, it can be fun to go out and have a few with your favorite coworkers. But drinking with your office mates isn’t like drinking with your friends on the weekend. The same rules just don’t apply. No matter how laid-back your office may be, your actions always reflect on your professional persona. So what ...

If you've ever read a book on job-hunting, you've probably encountered a statistic that says 80-85% of job offers come through networking. Personal contact, it seems, is essential to getting a new position. But despite the numbers, many job-seekers remain in resume-overdrive, or try to click their way to a new career. "Our culture tends to act as though we all ...

I love Social Media and Social Networking! In my audiences where I speak, I see more and more serious business people are devoting time, money and effort to learn how to use these tools. Social Networking tools provide the ability to connect with others in ways that we never would otherwise. By using Twitter, I have connected with people that I ...

Social Media sites like Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube are changing the way the world does business. I think this is in response to our desire to connect with others. Relationship Marketing is all about connecting with people first as human beings and then as customers later. For a real business relationship to work, both parties must receive value. If only ...

What do you do to ensure your professional batteries stay fully charged? There are numerous ways to approach this including continuing education courses, reading books and industry publications, researching trends and issues on the Internet, and networking with other professionals. Yes, I said NETWORKING with other professionals. Don't let the word networking scare you off. You don't have to be an ...