Interruptions Are Even Worse Than We Thought
That GChat is definitely hurting your work.
Office Hours in the Pool Hall
Teaching this semester? Wondering about ways to connect to your students? It might be time to try meeting them somewhere unusual. Holding office hours in different places helped me reach certain students, drive home points I had made in class, and get students to campus facilities they should know about,” writes John Soares. “I was […]
Job Seekers, Don’t Curb Your Enthusiasm
For those of you heading on the job market this year, take some advice from Allison M. Vaillancourt, VP of institutional effectiveness and HR at the University of Arizona: This candidate’s job talk got attention because it is so unusual for candidates to express such obvious enthusiasm. Many exude an “I could take it or […]
Getting Over Procrastination
The tendency to procrastinate dates back to the very beginnings of civilization. As early as 1400 B.C., Steel told me, ancient Egyptians were struggling with basic time management. ‘Friend, stop putting off work and allow us to go home in good time,’ read some hieroglyphs, translated by the University of Toronto Egyptologist Ronald Leprohon. Six hundred […]
Reclaiming To-Do Lists
I had been using the Clear app on my phone and my desktop computer because it allowed me to sync all my tasks no matter where I was. It worked great for me when I had fewer daily tasks but with more items and the constant shifting in priorities, it no longer did the trick. […]
Random Reflections on Getting Published
Kirsten Bell, associate editor for Critical Public Health, spills the beans on what it takes to get published, including strategic submission dates, how to challenge an editorial decision, and doing your part as a reviewer. Here’s an excerpt: It’s my belief that when you submit your paper affects how long the review process takes—and, potentially, […]
Win Over an Opponent by Asking for Advice
Whether it’s a high-stakes monetary negotiation or winning support for a proposal, the simple gesture of soliciting advice can make you more likeable, encourage your counterpart to see your perspective, and rally commitment. The beauty of this approach is that it costs so little. So as you plan your next negotiation, consider how a targeted […]
The First Days of a New Tenure-Track Faculty Job
This is the season when some lucky ones preparing for new jobs in the fall. A few people have asked me what to expect, so I imagine even more are wondering. I’m writing from my own experience (starting 2.5 new faculty jobs), and yours have been different, so please do comment. What can you expect from […]
57 Ways to Sign Off on an Email
Of course, you’ve all read Send and have a firm grounding in email etiquette. Now it’s time for a special seminar. The topic? Closings, the often overlooked cherry on the email sundae. Susan Adams at Forbes writes: Here are my four rules for signing off on emails: Don’t include quotes. Avoid oversized corporate logos. Sometimes […]
The Awesomest 7-Year Postdoc, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Tenure-Track Faculty Life
In 2003, at a party, I met this very cool guy. He was on the job market for faculty positions and had just gotten an offer from MIT Sloan. I was on the job market too, and so we instantly hit it off. I had recently completed my PhD in computer science from MIT; it […]