Management & Leadership

Sometimes the hardest part about writing a memo, report, or proposal is getting the words on paper. The key is to write all of your thoughts down before you can overthink them.

It’s a well-established principle that people need slack time to work through their ideas. Companies like 3M and Google have given innovation “time off” to their scientists and engineers. But perhaps your company struggles to justify that level of slack, or you aren’t confident that your employees would use such time effectively.

You might think a good manager should always be accessible when in the office. But, if every spare minute is filled with people walking through your door eager for attention, you’ll never get anything done.

If you’re trying to convince people outside clear reporting lines to collaborate with you, you’ll need to use your powers of persuasion. This doesn’t involve manipulating your colleagues, but rather leading them to a shared solution.

Dealing with tough personalities can make you feel powerless. What can you do if your client is a being a jerk or your colleague is criticizing your presentation?

When it comes to writing projects, finishing your first draft is only half the battle. Then you need to revise and edit. Revising is a reconsideration of what you’re saying as a whole, and where you’re saying it. As a reviser, you’re asking questions such as: Have I been utterly truthful? Have I said all that I need to say? Have I …

The building blocks of a great network aren’t purpose-driven meetings — they’re casual encounters and agenda-less coffee catch-ups. As often as possible, say yes to invitations, even if it’s not clear what you’ll get out of them.