Feeling Underappreciated at Work?

On this My Crazy Office podcast Kathi and Katherine address a topic that some people consider “soft” but actually affects staff morale, productivity and retention — showing appreciation. They start with a question from a manager who recently learned that their staff do not feel appreciated. Kathi and Katherine discuss different ways to demonstrate appreciation and why it can be critical to your success.

Waiting Too Long to Fire Someone?

In this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine talk about waiting too long to fire an employee. They start with a question from someone whose recent hire has become a real problem. This person is always late, disorganized and unable to perform the job well. Yet the manager can’t seem to fire them. Kathi and Katherine discuss what makes it hard to fire an employee and what you can do to speed up the process.

Are You a Manager Who Is Afraid of Upsetting Your Staff?

It’s really hard to manage effectively if you are afraid of upsetting your staff. On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine discuss this challenge for some managers. They start with a question from someone who is new to management but realizes she must give certain members of her staff some tough feedback. This manager is afraid that honest feedback will result in people getting mad at her.

Is Your Co-Worker a Suck Up?

On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine address a familiar challenge to many individuals at work: What do you do if your co-worker is a suck-up? By “suck up” they mean someone who constantly does and says things to flatter and impress the boss. Kathi and Katherine start with a question from someone who recently got promoted, only to discover that her new co-worker spends most of his time sucking up to the manager that they both report to.

Can I Turn Down a Promotion?

In this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine address an interesting question: Is it okay to turn down a promotion? They start with a question from someone who has been offered a promotion but doesn’t want the management headache that comes with it. Kathi and Katherine consider the pros and cons to saying “No,” and what your options might be if you have to say “Yes.”

Are You Snapping at People Because You Are Overwhlemed at Work?

In this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine investigate what you can do if you are lashing out at people because you are overwhelmed at work. They start with a question from someone who works as an office manager for a not-for-profit where the responsibilities are overwhelming, and this person finds themselves snapping at anyone who makes a request. Are you snappy at work? Listen to this podcast.

Promotion negotiation — Do you know how to do it?

Do you know how to negotiate a promotion? In this My Crazy Office episode, Kathi and Katherine discuss what it takes to do just that. They start with a question from someone who wants to get promoted but has been told by her boss to wait for another year so that he can offer a better promotion with higher pay. This individual would like to propose a compromise that would result in a smaller promotion in the near future. Kathi and Katherine talk about the pros and cons of this approach.

Ghosted by Your Manager?

On this My Crazy Office episode, Kathi and Katherine examine a challenging situation — being ghosted by your manager. They start with a question from someone whose boss insists on scheduling regular bi-weekly meetings only to never show up for them. This manager also doesn’t respond to emails or texts and does not see their ghosting behavior as a problem. Join Kathi and Katherine as they consider your professional options when the boss ghosts you.