It’s Not What You Say…It’s How You Say It

I’m trying to settle a disagreement between two of my friends. One is remodeling her home and the other is an architect. I convinced my remodeling friend to hire the architect to help her create the perfect plans.

I thought they’d work well together.

I was wrong.

Relationships aren’t always as they seem

Last week I sent my remodeling friend an e-mail to ask her how things were going with the architect. She sent me a one-page e-mail describing everything that had gone wrong with the project. She couldn’t understand why I would have a friend as nasty and unprofessional as my architect friend. [Read more...]

‘Tis the Season to be Cranky?

Almost every blog post on Working Naked has something to do with improving the way you work from home, growing your business or making your business run more smoothly. Today’s post isn’t so much about running your business as it is about dealing with others who run a business.

Yesterday I picked up a gift I’d ordered from one of my favorite stationery stores. I looked at the order to make sure my friend’s name was spelled right and told the owner of the store how much I liked the gift.  She thanked me several times for being nice to her.

Was she serious? I didn’t give her a standing ovation, a high five or even a pat [Read more...]

11 Ways to Avoid Micromanaging

For the past month I’ve been working with a company that’s sending its sales staff home to work. The company has finally realized that through technology including videoconferencing and e-mail, their staff can be just as productive in their individual home offices as they are under the corporate thumb.

There’s only one problem: the sales manager is a micromanager. I’m not only helping their staff make a smooth transition from a corporate office to a home office, I’m teaching the sales manager how to let go and let his staff work on their own. If he can’t change his controlling ways, the company is going to let him go.

In the Management Excellence article Leadership Caffeine-Give Your People Room to Run,” Art Perry shares 11 ways to avoid micromanaging. These tips apply to anyone with a large or small staff or someone who works with a team of freelancers. [Read more...]

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