AskTheManager.com

 
Circuit City – Another One Bites the Dust
In what might be the least surprising business announcement of 2008, Circuit City filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday.
Wow, really? Color us shocked.
To be honest, we’re a little shocked it took this long. We’re also a little surprised that their creditors aren’t forcing them [...]

Tags: leadership development, leadership observations, Management Training, typical manager

 
The 25 Most Annoying Business Phrases Managers Use
From the overused to the clichéd, we are inundated on a daily basis with annoying and ridiculous business phrases from the lips of well-meaning managers.
Why so many of us, present company included, rely on the latest catch phrases or tired business jargon to relay a particular message [...]

Tags: leadership observations, management 101, Management Advice, management mistakes, typical manager

 
Managing Up – Overcoming the Fear of Leading the Dullards Above You
Explaining to your boss or your boss’ boss that he/she is an idiot is never a good idea, though everyday in American business we are faced with substandard leadership and a mission at hand. How can we help move the business forward when we [...]

Tags: Leadership Advice, leadership development, Management Training, managers, typical manager

 
Questions from Our Readers – Empowering Your Team to Make Decisions
In response to our recent post regarding empowering your team to make decisions (to read that post, follow this link), Olzhas writes:

How do managers make decisions? How might they make better decisions? How do job satisfaction and organizational commitment affect an individual’s behavior at work? [...]

Tags: improving management, leadership development, Management Development, Management Training, managers, typical manager

 
Potential Employer With Great Promises and a Lowball Offer
 

I am faced with a dilemma and I need some advice. Although I am currently employed, I had a meeting with a prospective employer and things went (mostly) great. Although they knew my salary restrictions going in, they balked at guaranteeing anything near that amount and they [...]

Tags: Job Interviews, Job Offers, Leadership Advice, typical manager

Q. Every time my coworkers or I ask my manager a question, he snaps at us and tries to make us feel stupid for not already knowing the answer. What should we do? Lisa in Raleigh, NC

 
Well, as my teachers always said: there are no stupid questions. Of course, it sounds like there are some [...]

Tags: leadership development, Management Training, typical manager

Ask The Manager.
 
Go ahead, ask him. Are you afraid? Is it possible you’ll be humiliated? Brow-beaten? Demoted?
 
Guess what? You’ve got the poster-child of managers. If your manager was a leader, you not only wouldn’t be afraid to ask him questions, you’d probably already have the answer.
 
True leaders check their egos at the door [...]

Tags: Leadership Advice, Leadership Weblog, Management Development, Management Training, Online Management Training, typical manager