Ask a Manager

My employee lied about a reference Mar 27, 2019

An employee who lied to get a reference, avoiding hugs, and lots more.

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How to say no to your boss Mar 20, 2019

Contrary to popular belief, you CAN say no to your boss -- as long as you do it the right way. Alison walks you through how to do it, what to say, and what not to say.

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Help! I work for a micromanager Mar 13, 2019

Is there a way to get a micromanaging boss to back off? Maybe.

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I saw an email I wasn’t supposed to see Mar 06, 2019

The hazards of having access to your boss's email, touchy-feely coworkers, and more.

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Tone in Job Interviews Feb 27, 2019

The power dynamics in job interviews can make job seekers overly deferential. Don't do it! Today we talk about nailing your tone in an interview.

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My coworkers overshare -- and it gets really personal! Feb 20, 2019

Coworkers who tell you way more than you want to hear, references you didn't offer, and more.

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My coworker is unbearably negative Feb 13, 2019

Being around negative people who complain all the time can be exhausting, especially when they're a coworker and you're trapped in the office with them.

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My coworkers say my boss is in love with me Feb 06, 2019

Addressing problematic gossip from coworkers, negotiating salary when you get a written offer, a boss who freaks out when you're a few minutes late, and more.

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How can I be a good manager? Jan 30, 2019

Being a good manager is hard, and managers often don’t get a lot of guidance. Our guest is a new-ish manager who wants to make sure she’s doing a good job.

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What's Wrong With Being Chilly at Work? Jan 23, 2019

Why should you have to be social with coworkers, managing two employees when one is much stronger than the other, and more.

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We're All Awkward Creatures Jan 16, 2019

Alison talks with awkwardness expert Melissa Dahl about the things that make us cringe.

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I Don't Want to Become the Office Secretary Jan 09, 2019

When you're getting stuck with all the menial work, a rambling boss, and more.

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How Do I Start a New Job on the Right Foot? Jan 02, 2019

Starting a new job can be nerve-wracking and awkward. Here's everything you need to know about being the new person.

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Where Are They Now? Updates from Past Callers Dec 26, 2018

Questions about office holiday parties and gift-giving, and stories of times that office holiday celebrations went terribly wrong.

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Holiday Mayhem at Work Dec 19, 2018

Questions about office holiday parties and gift-giving, and stories of times that office holiday celebrations went terribly wrong.

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Will I Ever Find a Job I Like? Dec 12, 2018

Will you ever find a job you like, what to do when you're asked to report on your boss, and more.

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The Weird World of Interviewing Teenagers Dec 05, 2018

The principles that you use when you’re hiring adults don’t always work when you’re talking to teenagers. Alison talks with a summer camp owner who hires lots of teens about how interviewing teens is a whole different world.

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I'm the Boss and I Messed Up Nov 28, 2018

Recovering from a mistake as the boss, letting an employee change their mind about quitting, and more.

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How to Cope with a Work Problem You Can't Change Nov 21, 2018

When you're stuck in a difficult situation at work and you don't have the power to change it, how do you hold on to your sanity?

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Do You Have to Be a Jerk to Succeed at Work? Nov 19, 2018

Do you have to be a self-interested jerk to succeed at work, what you're supposed to talk about in one-on-ones, and more

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Your Office is Filthy (with Jolie Kerr) Nov 14, 2018

Jolie Kerr, of Ask a Clean Person, joins us to talk about cleaning at work: How much clutter in your office is too much? Why is the office microwave so gross? And much more.

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My Coworker Gets Away with Everything Nov 12, 2018

Dealing with a coworker who can do whatever she wants, leaving a career you love, and more.

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My Team is Overworked - and I'm the Boss Nov 07, 2018

You're a manager and your team is working way too much -- how can you get their overwork under control?

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My Boss Uses an Offensive Slur Nov 05, 2018

A boss who uses an offensive slur, juggling job offers, and more.

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When Work Gets Spooky Oct 31, 2018

A special Halloween episode, where we talk about Halloween in the office – and hear from callers who have had spooky experiences at work.

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My Boss is Burning Out Oct 29, 2018

How to stop a boss from burning out, an employee who goes over your head, and more.

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My New Job Isn't What I Signed Up For Oct 24, 2018

If your new job turns out to be different from what you thought you’d be doing, is there any saving the situation?

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Toilet Trouble Oct 22, 2018

Dealing with the office non-flusher, personality tests in hiring, and more.

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My Boss is a Jerk to Me Oct 17, 2018

If your boss is horrible to you -- but only you -- is there any way to fix it?

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I'm Drowning in Too Much Work Oct 15, 2018

What to do if you're overworked, weird comments on weight loss, and more.

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People Say My Tone Sounds Mean Oct 10, 2018

Getting your tone right makes a huge difference in how you come across to people. Today’s guest is worried that her tone at work sounds too confrontational and is making people feel defensive.

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My Coworker Sucks at Her Job Oct 08, 2018

What's this? We're moving to two episodes a week. In this one, Alison tackles a bonanza of questions, including dealing with a coworker who can't do her job, an excessive apologizer, and more.

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Am I the Annoying Coworker? Oct 03, 2018

We've all had annoying coworkers before -- and today's guest worries she might be the culprit! We investigate.

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I Don't Have Enough Work Sep 26, 2018

Not having enough work to do can be incredibly boring and can make the work day really drag. Today’s guest finds herself chronically underworked.

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The Yelling Boss Sep 19, 2018

What can you do if you have a boss who yells?

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I'm Bad at Taking Feedback Sep 12, 2018

Do you handle negative feedback poorly – get defensive, upset, or shut down? It can be hard to change your reaction, even if you want to.

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I Need More Confidence at Work Sep 05, 2018

A lot of us struggle with worries that we’re not good enough at our jobs – and when things go wrong, it can feel like proof of that. Plus, if you struggle with confidence, sometimes that can bleed into the way you deal with coworkers too. Here's how to handle it.

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How Can I Control My Emotions at Work? Aug 29, 2018

Part of being professional is keeping your emotions in check – but that doesn’t mean that you magically stop having them. Our guest is worried she has a habit of emotional outbursts at work and wants to try to stop them.

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Evil HR Lady, Bedbugs at Work, and More Aug 22, 2018

Bedbugs at work, invasive interview questions, and bosses who can't stop emailing from vacations. Suzanne Lucas of Evil HR Lady joins us to help advise.

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My Assistant Keeps Mothering Me Aug 15, 2018

In the market for a mom? This week's guest has an assistant who can't stop mothering her colleagues

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I'm So Burned Out at Work Aug 08, 2018

If you're exhausted and overwhelmed at work, how can you tell if it's fixable or not?

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I Want More Feedback Aug 01, 2018

If your boss only praises you and never gives you any constructive criticism, that's not as nice as it might sound at first. Here's how to get useful feedback.

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I'm the Boss's Daughter Jul 25, 2018

What if you’re getting direction from two different people, and they’re not always telling you the same thing? And what if one of those people just happens to be your dad?

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The Talkative Intern Jul 18, 2018

If your intern rambles on and on, is there a kind way to rein her in?

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The Lazy Coworker - with Han and Matt Jul 11, 2018

If you're friends with the office slacker, are you obligated to intervene?

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Getting Your Tone Right as the Boss Jul 04, 2018

If you're the boss, people will pay a ton of attention to your tone. Here's how to get it right.

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The Angry Coworker Jun 27, 2018

What should you do when your coworker is angry, disruptive, and a little scary, and your employer isn't acting?

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The Clingy Coworker Jun 20, 2018

It can be awkward when a coworker you’ve become friends with wants a more intense friendship than you do. Our guest this week has a coworker who’s a little too clingy for her.

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Am I Showing Off at Work? May 01, 2018

This week's guest wants to show off at work, and is trying to figure out why and how to keep it under control.

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How to Get Your Tone Right in Tricky Work Conversations Apr 25, 2018

Tone really matters when you're raising something awkward or tricky. This episode has a bunch of examples of how to get your tone right.

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What Should Salary Negotiation Sound Like? Apr 18, 2018

What do you say when negotiating salary, and what should your tone be?

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Am I a Mansplainer? Apr 11, 2018

After I asked for volunteers, a man who worries that he might be a mansplainer was brave enough to come on the show and talk about it.

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Behind the Scenes with Captain Awkward Apr 05, 2018

In episode 7 of the show, I talked with Jennifer Peepas of the Captain Awkward advice column. Here's some of our conversation that didn't make it into the show.

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The Maligned Coworker - with Captain Awkward Apr 04, 2018

You thought you were helping an unfairly maligned coworker ... but the situation wasn't what it seemed. Featuring Jennifer Peepas of the Captain Awkward blog!

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Do I Like Bad Bosses? Mar 28, 2018

If you like managers who your peers dislike, what does that say about you?

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Happiness and Work - with Gretchen Rubin Mar 21, 2018

Best-selling author Gretchen Rubin of The Happiness Project and The 4 Tendencies joins us to talk about how to be happier at work.

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My Employee Works From Home Too Much Mar 14, 2018

Flexibility is great, but what if an employee is using it in a way that doesn't work for your team?

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The Helpless Coworker Mar 07, 2018

How do you deal with a coworker who leans on you for help way too much?

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I Can't Quit You Feb 28, 2018

I quit my job three months ago, but I'm still training my replacement.

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The Friend Boss Feb 23, 2018

My friend is becoming my boss! How do I navigate this?

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