We all know the saying ''birds of a feather flock together.''  This does not only refer to the fact that those with common interests and values tend to be friends and hang around each other. Research has shown that adopting synchronous body language (essentially mirroring someone else) tends to make the individuals feel closer without ...

One of the most uncomfortable situations for employees and managers alike is a workplace that has obvious conflict. We are taught to work as a cohesive team and lots of resources is spent on teambuilding. The word ''team'' is considered sacrosanct in fact. Yet, the dirty little secret is that conflict is inevitable. If you have worked for any ...

Maine is a small state, and most of us in laboratory management know each other. We share empathy over job stress: regulations, physician demands, nursing demands, staffing shortages, and personnel issues. One manager complained, “When someone walks into my office with a little problem I just want to say, ‘Do you have any idea how low ...

“People hate change,” we are lectured, as though it is a law of physics. Change is constant, change is expected, change is inevitable, but people will always resist it. Managers are told to expect that a certain percentage (17% or so) of employees will resist, block, and obstruct change no matter what. Oh well, those employees may have to ...

I recently ran the Disney marathon -- It was magical. Also, long. After the race, I proceeded to consume my weight in fried food and chocolate for about a week until I finally evened out and started eating like a normal person again. Of course, I’ve written about endurance athletics before (I used small pieces of Clif Bar instead of ...

You cannot attend any professional conference without seeing at least one presentation on the intergenerational workplace. There are entire cottage industries dedicated to addressing the work ethic, learning styles and dedication of the various age groups found in the typical workplace. Interestingly, most of the lessons are directed at baby ...

As the years go on, I have noticed a steady decline in the ability of candidate students to conduct a successful interview. The ability to confidently sell yourself and provide a potential employer or professor a well-rounded view of your personality and professional qualities can really take you far in life. However, it seems this talent is an ...

From Black Friday until after the holidays, it’s bargain hunting season. Like most bargains, a new hire in your laboratory can be good or bad. And your lab will play “Ask the new guy” to figure it out. If management does its job, the news is good. Great managers look for people who complement the team’s sensibilities, temperament, and skill ...

Have you ever heard the expression that someone is always ''on'? That comes from the showbiz reference to the fact that the person mentioned always acts as if they are on stage, or before the cameras. The inference is that they are acting for effect and not being ''real.'' Well, I submit that in today's competitive world it is not such a bad ...

Communication is key to everything. Often, simple misunderstandings can be avoided through better communication, and a breakdown in communication can lead to big trouble. It is not enough to understand the elements of communication that every manager should know. We all need a reminder from time to time to communicate better so that we reduce ...