Certain things in life bring with them a certain finality… Like getting fired, signing up for a mortgage, or having kids. But it's important to note that they also bring with them opportunity... Opportunity for new pathways and new experiences—even if those experiences are more mundane than the ones that came before. The reality is that when one door closes, another one opens, and you'll likely find that you end up in the right place eventually, even if you really wish that that initial door ha…

It's pretty safe to say that forcing out the only worker in your company who knows the contacts and data for all of your suppliers would be—well… not a great idea. It would be common sense to, at the very least, tactfully make sure that you understand the ins and outs and inner workings of their role before you decide to force them out of the company. But, if you're the sort of manager or employer who is willing to use this strategy as a management tactic, it's probably safe to say that critica…

"Comfort equals laziness" is an attitude that is pervasive throughout certain industries, with the idea that a comfortable employee is an unproductive one and that relative comfort is somehow offputting, prompting employers in these industries to treat their workers with cynicism and hostility.

At one point in everyone's professional career, you come across a manager who says something so ridiculous you have to question how it's possible that they are in charge of you. It could be a moment of sheer ignorance or a tone-deaf comment. Sometimes, it's troubleshooting technology, which is occasionally understandable. However, sometimes, it's as simple as “Where do I find the Spam folder?” and you really have to question how these people have functioned successfully over the last several de…

You'll never be appreciated in a toxic workplace until you're gone. Even then, instead of being grateful for everything you've done, they'll take to blaming you for all their own mistakes the moment you're out the door, making you a scapegoat for their own mistakes and incompetence. The problem is the remaining coworkers and friends you left behind in that toxic environment will keep their mouths shut for fear of drawing unnecessary attention to themselves, leaving your name tarnished and yours…

Sometimes, the best way to get revenge on your manager is by being as direct as possible. That means making it clear that they are the ones who are making your life at work all the more challenging. That means calling them out when you can. Sometimes, it's the only way you can actually stand up for yourself. Now, personally speaking, I would never do what this employee did. I'm too much of a people pleaser to name my work enemy in a company-wide email, but I understand that this person felt the…

Every member of a team brings with them their own unique traits, abilities, and experiences. No two people will be exactly the same or have the same perspective. Even on a single issue, it's surprising just how different different people's perceptions of that thing can be. In this same vein, it's important to accommodate other members of the team ; maybe they don't have the skills or even physical capabilities that you do, so it might make sense for you to pick up more of those tasks that you'r…

Money matters. Whether you're a blue collar tradesman, a desk jockey, a white collar C-level boss, or a preschool teacher, we all need to get cash in order to live our lives. Anyone who has a job these days has felt the hot breath of capitalism breathing down their necks for quite some time now, but recently, a lot of employees are feeling the added pressure of...

It's pretty confusing when your employer is losing workers faster than it can replace them and doesn't seem at all phased. Sometimes, you can chalk this up to general incompetence. Still, it's more likely that there are over-inflated egos involved, with key members of the company refusing even to consider that they, their policies, and the way they treat workers might be the problem. Other executives and HR play along, worried that if they acknowledge the situation, the entire company might imp…

It's not the best idea in the workplace to claim responsibility when you don't know the first thing about what you're doing. I'm all for the concept of “fake it till you make it," but within reason, and in this case, this administrative assistant was very much not within reason. One of the first jobs I ever had involved teaching subject matter to high school students and preparing them for college-level material. I primarily worked on reading comprehension, grammar, and SAT/ACT-level math. Howe…

“It's just business,” people (often your boss) love to spout… and it always is until it's personal. You can rest assured that anyone using this canned clamshell phrasing is probably using this to dismiss situations where they're exploiting you and are going to take it very personally should things one day not go their way. It's the same sort of tactic that is used when you're told by a notoriously toxic employer that “We're all a family here.” The hope is that you'll buy into the thin words the…

As nerve-wracking as it can be, starting a new job can also be an exciting experience. New challenges and opportunities await… Unless the job you've been hired for isn't actually as advertised. See, there's this thing that can happen where all optimism you had for the new role evaporates as you slowly realize that the job you've been hired for doesn't actually exist in the way you thought it did and the organization you're working for has no idea how the job they hired you for should function.…

There is something to be said for creating a healthy distance with your coworkers. Most folks understand this choice. The ways in which people choose to draw boundaries between their work and their social lives are personal choices. However, as much as you would think everyone would understand those choices, some folks simply don't get it. Like the coworkers who keep inviting you to events that you continually turn down…

When you're the go-to person in your workplace, continually asked to step up or fill in for your boss when they're away and taking on their excess work when they're overloaded, you'd probably expect that you'd be the next in line for promotion, a shoo-in, essentially having already displayed an aptitude for that level of work. You might especially expect this if you had worked in similar roles in the past and had taken a step down when moving into your current role for reasons not related to pe…

As much as getting fired stinks… at least there's a certain finality to it. Hey, you no longer have an income, which will soon affect your ability to afford food and a roof over your head, but at least you no longer have to get up at 5 a.m. every morning just to put on stuffy clothing, grab a hurried breakfast on your way out the door, and sit in traffic for an hour. Only to sit in traffic again on your way home after sitting in a noisy “open office” for nine hours.

It's hard to imagine how many times I've written this sentence in various different ways… but you really should not overestimate your knowledge when joining a leadership role in a new organization. Take some time to integrate yourself and learn the ins and outs along with the important players before even considering making changes. If you make changes too soon, wielding your ego with ham-handed fury, you'll soon find the organization crumbling beneath your feet.