Create an Out-of-the-Office email message when leaving the office for a day or longer. This shows consideration to email senders by cutting the suspense. The message should mention: duration of absence; activity (if work-related and unclassified); commitment to a specific response time; your or your staff's contact numbers for matters that are at the same time important and urgent. Make it warm and brief. Don't overshare information. If it's a vacation don't gloat about it. When you move to another company, leave a permanent Out-of-the-Office note thanking your now ex-company and indicating your personal email address and other contact details. An Out-of-the-Office message should never exceed three sentences.
Unless you're working for Mark Zuckerberg, never use Facebook's personalized email address (yourname@facebook.com) for professional online transactions, including when applying for a job or pitching to a client. Think of the impression that headhunters and HR people will have about you - that you spend way too much time on Facebook. Stick to your Yahoo or Gmail.
Associate yourself with successful people. Ask them to be your success mentors. Learn from their drive, motivation, skills and practically all other useful things that they are willing to teach. Ask them about 1) what they were like back in the day when they were not yet successful, 2) their turning point, and 3) their success factors. Watch them in action. Apply what you learn. Thank them.
The boss from hell makes the workplace, well, hell. But does that mean that an employee can boss-bash no-holds barred? No. Even wars between countries are governed by rules of engagement. Make sure that you are not just being oversensitive. The boss's wrath is directed your way perhaps because you are a non-performer in the company, a liability rather than an asset. Introspect. You may be the larger part of the hate equation.
Challenge other people's ideas, including the boss's. When doing so, pose your 'challenge statement' in question form, not as direct criticism. Example: "How will this (complete the statement)?" "What would happen if (complete the statement)?" Ask open-ended questions instead of questions answerable by yes or no. More important, be ready to offer your own ideas. Be tactful.
