No matter where we work unless we are hermits you will share work space with coworkers. It could be physical space at the office, hyperspace as in telecommuting or virtual office. Without fail, there will always be a difficult coworker or difficult boss who challenges your people skills and ability to cope with difficult people. […]

In focusing on what makes for a good boss, or a good job. There are many theories, and number of items on a composite wish list is long. Have you ever tried to come up with a list of things that would make your boss more tolerable, or make you job more satisfying? I never […]

By Cheryl Stein, Monster Canada Personal Coach http://career-services.monster.com/yahooarticle/get-along-with-coworker-you-hate#WT.mc_n=yta_fpt_article_get_along The reality of life is that sometimes we have to work with people we don’t like. Worse than that, sometimes we end up working with people we absolutely hate and wish we could vaporize into oblivion. Although making people disappear is not a good (or viable!) option, […]

Unless we work for ourselves, most of us have to cope with a boss. What makes a boss more challenging to cope with than other authority figures? Why is more important to learn to cope with your boss? For one thing the circumstances of working are much different the environment in which we were raised. […]

Its Not You Its Your Boss! The PracticaL Mentor’s Guide On How To Cope With A Difficult Boss has something for everyone. Go to Buy Now There are few jobs where there is not someone in a supervisory capacity overseeing the work. Even if you are a supervisor you have someone supervising you. More often […]

The other day a friend sent me a Chinese parable that I think is worth sharing. It illustrates several concepts we experience in our thinking and careers. When you read my paraphrased short version of the parable think of situations, which you faced that parallel the parable. In addition, there are three people involved in […]

I met a new friend with an interesting job situation. She is the sole representative of a foreign company in New York City. Being a long way from the home office has created some real challenges. First there is a lot of envy among her home office coworkers, which results in less than desirable support. […]

Many of the tactics discussed in this article by Lynn Taylor have been mentioned in previous Practical Mentor articles. The idea is to present the information in as many forms as possible or maximum effect. In addition, Psychology Today is an outstanding source for workplace information and strategies. As you will notice there are common […]

This too shall pass, is a very common mantra for those who work for a difficult boss. While conditions may very from a nuance to sever, the effects are very similar. Day-after-day the situation with the boss occupies the majority of the workday, and for most of us most of waking hours. Stress is difficult […]

This week I responded to several question on Yahoo Answers.com regarding problems with difficult coworkers. The problems range to from mild irritations to potentially damaging situations. One of the key concepts to keep in mind is everyone in the workplace is there to make a living and get ahead as best they can. That is […]

This week there were several questions on Yahoo Answers related to working under adverse conditions. There were several categories, bad boss, nasty co-workers, critical adversaries, and the list goes on. Although the scenarios differ the common thread is a toxic situation with no apparent remedy. The most common answer posted in response to these questions […]

Most of us spend more time working than at any other activity, but we manage our working relationships less than in any other situation.  In our personal relationships we usually seek and obtain a level of interaction that permits us to enjoy ourselves and grow our skills.  Even in our casual relationships, like recreational activities […]

I re-learned a lesson the hard way this week.  This summer I took a temporary job. When I was hired I was told the job had a definite term, and there would be no more work after the term was over. I accepted the job.  There were several people who were hired to accomplish the […]

The July – August edition of Psychology Today (psychologytoday.com) has an article on six office top gripes and how to fix them. The six topics chosen are: Procrastination; Difficult Boss; Really Difficult Boss; Projects not going well; Feeling Negative; and Working too many hours. I am not sure how they came up with the list. […]

This week I responded to a question posted on answer.yahoo.com. The question read; “My new boss has told me and my other 2 colleagues that she is going to change our job titles as its not working for the private hospital we work in. Our titles are Team Leaders and she wants to change it […]

Good job with great benefits, nice place by the ocean, active social life with lots of friends, what more could you want?  Isn’t it everyone’s dream to be financially secure, live in a nice house, and have lots friends? The term “golden handcuffs” is often used to describe a state where apparent benefits hold us […]

Every office has one. The person who comes in first and leaves last, accomplishes little or nothing, and professes to be the office go-to person. Their omnipresence makes them appear as superstars. How do you compete with work aholics? The first task is to properly identify these tactics and learn the pattern. There are several […]

Shelly’s wrote: Dear Practical Mentor, I have been working under my current boss for 1 year. His management style is one of a kind. I’m writing in for any advice that could help ease my frustration and view the situation from a different perspective. My boss has a Jeckel & Hyde personality. You never know […]