Every day, we're faced with situations that require us to make decisions that have ethical implications. They may be decisions about what to tell somebody, how to react to a situation, or what to do? We have different ideas about what's 'right' in any given situation. Ethics is the branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions a...

A positive attitude is often touted as a secret ingredient to entrepreneurial success. And it’s true: your outlook can impact everything from your sales numbers to your mental health. But blind optimism can leave you ill-prepared for stressful situations. And as every entrepreneur knows, pressure is par for the course when running a business. A new theory posits that a certain type of negative thinking can actua...

We all know the “it” words for leadership qualities today, those buzzwords that pop up over and over to describe the qualities leader aspire to. Frankly, I’m totally over words like “ninja” and “guru.” But there are several words that are common in today’s management vernacular that really do describe great leaders. If you’re a leader or aspiring to be one, I hope you&rs...

Fact: I used to despise networking. A sense of dread would come over me. I would do it, but I hated it. I established routines to network regularly, but I would fall off the wagon and have to start over again. I dreaded starting over even more, but I would do it. I have come to learn this is a common vibe among a lot of us. Regardless of the need to network – need a new job, drum up business, update...

The summit of Denali (formerly known as Mount McKinley) is 20,310 feet above sea level, and Werner Berger was 200 feet from the peak. Just another 20 minutes of climbing and he would cross the tallest mountain in North America off his list. The weather, however, had turned nasty. And rather than risk getting caught in a whiteout, Berger’s group turned back. “Everybody was so disappointed for me and wondered h...

Are you frustrated with your boss or irritated at co-workers' annoying habits? Do some customers' behaviors infuriate you? How do you react in these situations? In today's workplace there are varied people with diverse perspectives and behaviors. Disagreements occur because people hear, see and interpret things differently. To resolve disagreements with people who have d...

I’ve been walking several times a week with a friend. We hike through the hills in our neighborhood and at the end of the hour, I’ve easily gotten 90+ flights of stairs and 10,000 steps logged on my Fitbit. We chat the entire hour. We discuss politics, the economy, technology, work, family, new recipes we’ve tried and our weekend plans. We’re both self-employed so we often talk business strategy and...

'During lunch a valuable customer makes an offensive racist remark.' As a professional, how would you handle this situation? What does professionalism mean to you? The American Heritage Dictionary and the Oxford Dictionary define a professional as a person having a high degree of knowledge, skill, judgment and continuing practice in a particular activity. Mirriam Webster College Dictionary indicates professionals exhib...

You’re in a meeting when a colleague takes credit for your work. What would you do: 1) Publicly confront the colleague over ownership? 2) After the meeting, request she give you credit when discussing your work? 3) Nothing? 4) Publicly thank her for referencing your work, and give the group additional information? If you selected # 4, you've demonstrated emotional intelligence or EQ. Studies show that emotiona...

Rosemary writes: “I’m starting a new position and want to make sure I get off to a good start. What to do?” Starting a new job is exciting and sometimes intimidating. You have a fresh start, new challenges and renewed energy. But you may also feel apprehensive, particularly if you were fired or laid off from your last job. Tips for thriving in your new job - Believe in yourself. Have faith in y...