Last year, Americans used 17.2 vacation days, the most since 2010 according to new research from Project: Time Off. Despite this marked improvement, 52 percent of employees reported leaving vacation days unused at the end of the year. The new report, Under-Vacationed America: A State-by-State Look at Time Off and Travel, provides a look at vacation behavior in all 50 states. … [Read more...] about Who tops the nation in vacation days?
Your career
5 actions to take when you hear, “I don’t trust you”
By Audrey Epstein bio Talking about trust is tough in business. When a colleague tells you, "I don't trust you" your first instinct is probably to react defensively or aggressively, and rarely with curiosity and an openness to understand. You take "I don't trust you" as an attack on your character and an afront to your integrity. But trust is the foundation for strong, … [Read more...] about 5 actions to take when you hear, “I don’t trust you”
Is your career headed nowhere?
In your role as medical office manager, you no doubt set goals for the practice and your staff. But have you taken the time to think about your career goals? As baseball great Yogi Berra said, "If you don't know where you're going, you might not get there." Understanding the process Although a performance appraisal or a new year may seem like an ideal time to set goals, … [Read more...] about Is your career headed nowhere?
5 ways to network to a better job
The sport of networking is a full time game for job seekers, according to the author of a recent book for those starting out or starting over in a career. "Keep in mind, networking can happen anywhere," says Phil Blair, author of "Job Won! 500,000 Hires and Counting," and co-owner of Manpower San Diego, a franchise of the U.S. staffing firm. "Networking occurs in restaurants … [Read more...] about 5 ways to network to a better job
Eight rules for managing an office, especially a small one
The smaller the office, the more the manager works under a microscope. Everybody sees everything that's going on and everything the manager does. For a new manager in that setting, the microscope gets even stronger because staff are watching to see who their new boss is. And if that new manager has been promoted from within, the scrutiny is unforgiving because it's coming … [Read more...] about Eight rules for managing an office, especially a small one
You can be personally liable for what happens in your workplace
By Lynne Curry bio It comes as a surprise to most managers when a plaintiff names them personally as a co-defendant in a lawsuit against the manager's company. The ugly truth? Personal tort actions against individual managers and employees often accompany discrimination and harassment claims. Disgruntled employees may target a manager not for what he did, but for … [Read more...] about You can be personally liable for what happens in your workplace
Being a great leader by applying what I’ve learned as a mother
By Abby Curnow-Chavez bio With Mother's Day just behind us, I've been thinking about the connection between motherhood and my other "job" – not the one of mom to teenage boys, but my work as a leadership consultant and executive coach. As parents, we are "leading leaders" and just like leaders in business, shifting from parenting to "leading leaders" requires an … [Read more...] about Being a great leader by applying what I’ve learned as a mother
4 ways to keep your cool in the midst of chaos
By Cheryl Toth How well do you think you handle stress at work? I used to think I was pretty good at it, until a few years ago, when I realized I wasn't. I was working for a healthcare technology company that was young and rapidly growing. Every day, my task and responsibility list seemed to grow exponentially. At first it was exciting, but after a while I was buried under a … [Read more...] about 4 ways to keep your cool in the midst of chaos
4 tricks to surviving and thriving in a highly political office
A medical office is filled with many different personalities and many different dynamics. And with those differences come office politics. And with the politics the manager can become a casualty. Here are the solutions to five situations where politics and personalities come into play. They are outlined by Margaret Hintz, SPHR, manager of HR services for Insperity, an … [Read more...] about 4 tricks to surviving and thriving in a highly political office
Why you need to stop talking to start leading
By Rebecca Teasdale bio Recently, a colleague and I were at a dinner function with a group of leaders from a client company. We found ourselves seated at a table with a new member of the executive team who we were meeting for the first time. Waiting for the plated meals to arrive, we eased into the conversation with small talk about sports and weather and then we … [Read more...] about Why you need to stop talking to start leading