Putting Happiness to Work

Career

Sticky Situations: Resolving Toxic Conflict

Eric Karpinski and Becca Labbe Karpinski on May 9, 2022

The non-violent communication (NVC) model can be used by managers to resolve conflict among team members.

The non-violent communication (NVC) model can be used by managers to resolve conflict among team members.

Stress

Sticky Situation: Is It Possible to Find Nonstressful Work?

Eric Karpinski and Becca Labbe Karpinski on March 31, 2022

"The last two years have been extremely stressful for me. I can’t live with this level of stress anymore. Is there such a thing as a nonstressful job?"

"The last two years have been extremely stressful for me. I can’t live with this level of stress anymore. Is there such a thing as a nonstressful job?"

Leadership

Sticky Situations: When a Direct Report Won't Take Your Advice

Eric Karpinski and Becca Labbe Karpinski on March 2, 2022

“One the supervisors I manage regularly comes to me with problems. But when I give him advice, he ignores it completely.”

“One the supervisors I manage regularly comes to me with problems. But when I give him advice, he ignores it completely.”

Relationships

Sticky Situations: My Team Has Drifted Apart During COVID

Eric Karpinski and Becca Labbe Karpinski on January 24, 2022

“My team has been working remotely for 22 months now, and we’re not as cohesive as we were. How can I bring back that strong-team vibe?"

“My team has been working remotely for 22 months now, and we’re not as cohesive as we were. How can I bring back that strong-team vibe?"

Career

Sticky Situations: How Can I Up My Appreciation Game at Work?

Eric Karpinski and Becca Labbe Karpinski on December 15, 2021

“Appreciation doesn’t come naturally to me. I have an easier time seeing problems and flaws and it feels awkward and stilted. How can I get better?”

“Appreciation doesn’t come naturally to me. I have an easier time seeing problems and flaws and it feels awkward and stilted. How can I get better?”

Creativity

Sticky Situations: Feeling Obsolete and in the Way?

Eric Karpinski and Becca Labbe Karpinski on October 28, 2021

“Every time a new idea or initiative comes up at work, I feel like I’m the grumpy old person who’s always saying, ‘That will never work’ and ‘We’ve tried that before.’ Help!"

“Every time a new idea or initiative comes up at work, I feel like I’m the grumpy old person who’s always saying, ‘That will never work’ and ‘We’ve tried that before.’ Help!"

Gratitude

Sticky Situation: I’m Struggling to Care About My Team

Eric Karpinski and Becca Labbe Karpinski on September 23, 2021

"A core part of employee happiness and engagement is feeling like your supervisor cares about you as a person. But I’m struggling to care right now. How can I re-find the love?"

"A core part of employee happiness and engagement is feeling like your supervisor cares about you as a person. But I’m struggling to care right now. How can I re-find the love?"

Career

Sticky Situations: Scared of Tough Conversations

Eric Karpinski and Becca Labbe Karpinski on September 1, 2021

"I’m terrible at conflict. Any time I need to tell someone something I think they won’t like, I freeze up. How can I get better at these conversations?"

"I’m terrible at conflict. Any time I need to tell someone something I think they won’t like, I freeze up. How can I get better at these conversations?"

Career

Sticky Situations: Using Team Meeting Time Effectively

Eric Karpinski and Becca Labbe Karpinski on August 3, 2021

"Our team meeting time is precious but it’s hard for me to prioritize how to spend it. Everyone wants something different, and urgent issues regularly derail our plans. Help!"

"Our team meeting time is precious but it’s hard for me to prioritize how to spend it. Everyone wants something different, and urgent issues regularly derail our plans. Help!"

Career

Sticky Situations: How to Handle a Racist at Work

Eric Karpinski and Becca Labbe Karpinski on July 21, 2021

“My colleague regularly says the most racist and misogynist things and acts like I—another white male—should obviously agree. I do not. How can I stop him?”

“My colleague regularly says the most racist and misogynist things and acts like I—another white male—should obviously agree. I do not. How can I stop him?”

Career

Sticky Situation: No Remote Work for Locals? That’s Unfair

Eric Karpinski and Becca Labbe Karpinski on July 6, 2021

"Some of my co-workers moved during the pandemic. Now management says locals must return to the office. I want to continue working from home. Should I pretend to have moved?"

"Some of my co-workers moved during the pandemic. Now management says locals must return to the office. I want to continue working from home. Should I pretend to have moved?"

Career

Sticky Situation: A Goodbye Party for Someone You Fired

Eric Karpinski and Becca Labbe Karpinski on June 23, 2021

"I have to fire my VP of sales. People love him but I need better results. Should I throw a goodbye party, or is that too painful and awkward?"

"I have to fire my VP of sales. People love him but I need better results. Should I throw a goodbye party, or is that too painful and awkward?"

Career

Sticky Situations: Handling a Martyr

Eric Karpinski and Becca Labbe Karpinski on June 15, 2021

"My co-worker constantly talks about how late she stays and drops hints that she’s the one doing most of the work. It makes me crazy. Please help."

"My co-worker constantly talks about how late she stays and drops hints that she’s the one doing most of the work. It makes me crazy. Please help."

Career

Sticky Situations: Are You Being Forced Back to the Office?

Eric Karpinski and Becca Labbe Karpinski on June 10, 2021

"Our organization is planning to require us all to return to our offices soon. How can I make them see that many of us actually do better work at home?"

"Our organization is planning to require us all to return to our offices soon. How can I make them see that many of us actually do better work at home?"

Leadership

Sticky Situation: Sharing Personal Challenges with your Team

Eric Karpinski and Becca Labbe Karpinski on June 7, 2021

"In the last month, my wife had major surgery for cancer, my dad had heart surgery and my child came out as transgender. I'm not at my best. What — if anything — should I share?"

"In the last month, my wife had major surgery for cancer, my dad had heart surgery and my child came out as transgender. I'm not at my best. What — if anything — should I share?"

Career

Sticky Situations: One of My Direct Reports Is Just Okay

Eric Karpinski and Becca Labbe Karpinski on June 3, 2021

"One of my direct reports is just okay: not bad enough at her job to performance-manage out, but not really contributing the way I’d like her to either. Do I just put up with her?"

"One of my direct reports is just okay: not bad enough at her job to performance-manage out, but not really contributing the way I’d like her to either. Do I just put up with her?"

Career

Sticky Situations: Do I Have to Play by the New Rules?

Eric Karpinski and Becca Labbe Karpinski on May 25, 2021

"Pre-COVID, I met my clients in person and everything was casual. Now with Zoom, there is a very different 'being presentable' standard. I hate it! What can I do?"

"Pre-COVID, I met my clients in person and everything was casual. Now with Zoom, there is a very different 'being presentable' standard. I hate it! What can I do?"