From the category archives:
Q: What do you do if you receive an e-mail you shouldn’t have and that wasn’t meant to be read by you? I’ve gotten several unintentional e-mails, and — mindful of the adage “there but for the grace of God go I” — I simply don’t acknowledge I ever received them. If asked about it [...]
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Q: The wife of one of my company’s VPs recently made headlines for some illegal activity involving minors and alcohol. Is there anything I can do about the situation other than ignore it and pretend nothing happened? A: Since you referenced “my company,” I’ll assume that you’re the CEO. The considerate thing would be to [...]
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Q: What’s the proper use of a speaker phone? A colleague uses hers to listen to voicemail messages and to make all of her outgoing calls so that I can hear the dialing. It’s very distracting and annoying. A: You’re right. Speaker phones in shared work areas are distracting and annoying. That’s why the speaker [...]
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Q: My office has just six people besides myself. Is it appropriate to invite only the four I’m “friendly” with to a Sunday barbecue, and not the two with whom I maintain an “all business” relationship? Or should I just suck it up and invite everyone? A: Just don’t diss the uninvited. When inviting a [...]
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Q: My co-worker crunches ice all day at the desk next to mine. Should I ask him to stop? A: Definitely. It’s the little things- the clicking pen, the tapping foot- that can drive others crazy! Try this: “Josh, you probably don’t even realize it, but your ice crunching is a little distracting.”
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Q: Some of my colleagues keep way too much food in our office fridge- so others don’t have any room. Can I remind the over-stuffers that the fridge is meant to be shared? A: Go for it: Check with your supervisor first, then send an email with a friendly request: “It’s time for an office [...]
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Q: A coworker who’s known as the office gossip has friended you on Facebook. Is it OK to ignore her request? A: Totally OK. Ignoring a Facebook request is no big deal (nor is it rude). While you have no obligation to join her in Facebook Land, a sincere, gracious refusal would be thoughtful. Shed some [...]
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Q: My coworker has been bringing her little boy to work (after his day camp) several times a week. He’s sweet, but having him around is disruptive; what can I do? A: Ask her why her son has been visiting so frequently, then try to help her find a better solution. If his visits are [...]
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Q: My supervisor loves to tell stories about her grandkids, and it’s really cutting into my workday. How can I get her to stop? A: You can’t! Your supervisor does have a certain amount of authority to hold you hostage. Plus, it’s simply gracious to listen some. Be grateful that her obsession is grandkids and [...]
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Q: My coworker prints two copies of everything–”just in case.” How can I get her to be more eco-conscious? A: Polite prodding is the right way to eco-educate your coworker–to a point. You could say, “Joyce, as you may know, the environment is one of my big causes. I hope you don’t mind my mentioning [...]
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The Gift of Good Manners
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