my intern is way too passive by Alison Green on March 22, 2023 A reader writes: I am currently supervising an intern, Lauren, who is completing a postgrad professional degree in my field. The placement with my organization is a mandatory part of her course, and she is here to learn high-level skills with an emphasis on critical thinking and creativity. My field is one that most people […] Read the full article →
should I insist my employees get comfortable with public speaking? by Alison Green on March 22, 2023 A reader writes: As a director, a large part of my role involves public speaking and training, which I enjoy and am good at. Two junior people I supervise are not public speakers. They, each to varying degrees, hate it to the point that they will avoid it at all costs. It gives them a […] Read the full article →
can an intern refuse to do menial office tasks? by Alison Green on March 15, 2023 A reader writes: I work at a company with the general rule that any work you don’t want to do can be delegated to an intern. (Our interns are all paid and students.) Interns often find themselves assigned random menial tasks, like reformatting a PDF for a manager who can’t be bothered. On the reverse […] Read the full article →
managing a seriously ill employee who’s making mistakes by Alison Green on March 8, 2023 A reader writes: My team’s strongest performer is in the midst of a serious, life-changing health crisis, and this is causing issues with her usually stellar performance. Typically, she requires little to no oversight and exercises astute judgment. However, due to her stress during this time, she is failing to follow standard operating procedures, sending […] Read the full article →
my entry-level employee gave me a bunch of off-base criticism by Alison Green on March 1, 2023 A reader writes: I have a junior staff person (who has been on my team less than two years) who recently took it upon themself to give me some “constructive criticism” about my management, none of which was relevant or constructive (I did consider it and discussed it with others, and they were all confused […] Read the full article →
my employee can’t handle even mildly negative feedback by Alison Green on February 27, 2023 A reader writes: I’m a manager who recently hired a junior-level employee. I could tell she was sensitive during the interview, which was fine, but didn’t find out until she started working that she has awful, awful anxiety. I feel for her, but she’s struggling to get through her training without things like very mildly […] Read the full article →
as a manager, should I not wear a “childless” shirt in my off-hours? by Alison Green on February 22, 2023 A reader writes: This is a low-stakes question and one that’s more philosophical than imminent, but I’ve been curious about your take on it for a couple weeks now and decided to write in. A women-focused satire site has been advertising me a pullover sweatshirt that says CHILDLESS in big letters across the front. Could […] Read the full article →
should I be so emotionally drained by managing? by Alison Green on February 22, 2023 A reader writes: I manage in a manufacturing environment, leading a team of about 40 headcount altogether. I love my job and my company, and most of the time my work feels rewarding. I work hard to be an effective coach, identify the needs of my team and help them to achieve success. Like anyone […] Read the full article →
I supervise a manager who falsified an employee write-up … but I don’t think she should be fired by Alison Green on February 22, 2023 A reader writes: My manager recently overruled me on a firing decision and it is not sitting right with me. I’m a division manager. I manage all the teams within my division. I report to Manny, the departmental manager. He manages all the divisions in our department. Our office employees were all remote from March […] Read the full article →
my employees tell me what they’re doing, rather than asking permission by Alison Green on February 15, 2023 A reader writes: I am a fairly new manager for a small team of creatives. I have noticed that when my team has a request, they have almost all have a habit of making it a statement rather than a question. For example: “I have to come in a hour late on Tuesday,” or “I’m […] Read the full article →