
Meeting Goals
Sure, we all hate meetings — but they are essential, and there are ways to make them better
I bet you a cup of coffee that you are reading this just before a meeting, or maybe just after. Another bet: You feel that there are too many meetings. A third: This gauntlet of meetings can make it tough — or impossible — to finish your work.

Out in the Open
The good, bad and ugly of open-space offices
The idea of open-space offices has been with us since the start of the tech revolution. It seems we are under the mistaken belief that the early technology companies — such as Google, Wikipedia, eBay — were onto something when they tore down office walls, removed cubicles and allowed workers to float in a sea of open access. Teamwork became the goal.

How to Become a Coach-Style Leader
A good leader is someone whose people are productive, innovative and excited to be part of the team. How does an employee — particularly one new to a leadership role — develop the skills to create and manage such a team?

Dilemma of the Month: Responding to Requests for Reference Checks
“Evil HR Lady” Suzanne Lucas explains what you should say — and what you shouldn’t — when a prospective employer calls with a reference check.

In Transition: Maria Kang Leads an Empowerment Mission
Elk Grove woman stands her ground — and goes viral
The irony of Maria Kang’s international success is not lost on her: The same critics who helped her message go viral inadvertently opened the door for her to reach a global audience.

Getting Intimate
Becoming closer to coworkers may increase productivity, collaboration and innovation
Advanced leaders realize the importance of intimacy, with a goal of creating a second family in the workplace.

In Transition: How Embracing Change Changed My Life
Comstock’s introduces Bethany Crouch’s new column on professional transitions
“Space and distance from TV news has welcomed perspective and
clarity. I now see my unhappiness with work and life as a
reflection of my internal misalignment. As I yearned for
stability, I could not see the faultiness of my own personal
foundation; something no job, no partner, no achievement could
fix. This was soul work.”

5 Strategies Leaders Use to Sustain a Great Workplace Culture
Unemployment rates in Sacramento and across America are at historic lows. The competition for talent is fierce, because great people are the lifeblood of every successful enterprise. There is no more important role for leaders than that of a teambuilder.

How to Manage Workplace Stress
Employees and managers both have a role to play in reducing workplace stress
We think we know workplace stress. We avoid it, we are overwhelmed by it, we relish it, we handle it, we thrive from it. But do we really understand it?

Dilemma of the Month: Giving Feedback to Rejected Job Candidates
How and when to give feedback to rejected candidates.