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How do you deal with a little old lady who happens to be a liar and a slacker and a favorite of the owner?  Can you advance as the nice guy at a firm full of cut-throat alphas?  In this episode Chris and Tim share advice for dealing with office a-holes. Segments in this episode Sweet Old Lady My Ass in Omaha - “She’s a total jerk but the owners love her!”Nice Guys Don’t Even Get in the Race in Boston - “I need to be an a*****e to get promoted?”The Gist: “5 Proven Tactics For Dealing With Jerks At Work” by MeiMei FoxWe want to hear about the drama, the dilemmas, and the conundrums that you face at work! All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent. Email us: [email protected], tweet us: @cubicleconfide1 and connect with us on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening! Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter!

This week Chris and Tim give tips on starting a job search and navigating changes to the work from home policy. We also talk through some practical advice for a smooth re-entry after a vacation. Segments in this episode Frozen in Place in Pasadena - “I’m done with my job but can’t get past my fear of leaving!”Tag, I’m IT in Wichita - “Help! My office is about to end our work-from-home policy.”The Gist: “Going Back To Work After A Vacation: 5 Tips” by Beth Braccio HeringWe want to hear about the drama, the dilemmas, and the conundrums that you face at work! All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent. Email us: [email protected], tweet us: @cubicleconfide1 and connect with us on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening! Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter!

In this episode we wade into the waters of the grumps, the grumblers, the bellyachers and malcontents. Chris and Tim offer advice on dealing with whining in the workplace and share takeaways from an article on dealing with chronic complainers. Segments in this episode Flabbergast In Fremont … "OMG, my new staff person just asked for an easier assignment!”STFU in Jeff City - "My neighbor in the office complains about everything and everyone!"The Gist: “6 Ways To Deal With Chronic Complainers” by Gwen MoranWe want to hear about the drama, the dilemmas, and the conundrums that you face at work! All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent. Email us: [email protected], tweet us: @cubicleconfide1 and connect with us on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening! Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter!

This week we hear from listeners struggling to toe the company line when they have reservations about the products they’re asked to sell. Tune in to hear Chris and Tim discuss navigating company misfires and reflect on some epic marketing fails. Segments in this episode Electrifying Bad in White Plains … “Our dealership just got the new EV and it sucks!”No Tips if you Do, No Job if you Don’t in Geneva “What if our lunch special isn’t so special?”RIP: New Coke and the American Airlines AAirpassWe want to hear about the drama, the dilemmas, and the conundrums that you face at work! All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent. Email us: [email protected], tweet us: @cubicleconfide1 and connect with us on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening! Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter!

Tune in to hear Chris and Tim discuss “Lessons in Strategery Part Two.”  You’ll understand the title when you hear the podcast. These next two weeks will be a little different here at Cubicle Confidential. Tim McClure, the owner of Blue Oak Consulting LLC will be the substitute co-host with Chris De Santis while Mary wraps up a very busy year at her firm Careerstone Group. While Mary will be missed, all is not lost.  We’re going to take this opportunity to learn about strategy, a topic Chris find interesting but knows little about it, luckily Tim does, and he’s got stories to prove it. Tune in to hear Chris and Tim discuss “Lessons in Strategery Part One and Two.”  You’ll understand the title when you hear the podcast.  We’re here to help you succeed! Send us your workplace dilemmas or career questions. Email us: [email protected] or tweet us: @cubicleconfide1. All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent... Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter!

These next two weeks will be a little different here at Cubicle Confidential. Tim McClure, the owner of Blue Oak Consulting LLC will be the substitute co-host with Chris De Santis while Mary wraps up a very busy year at her firm Careerstone Group. While Mary will be missed, all is not lost.  We’re going to take this opportunity to learn about strategy, a topic Chris find interesting but knows little about it, luckily Tim does, and he’s got stories to prove it. Tune in to hear Chris and Tim discuss “Lessons in Strategery Part One and Two.”  You’ll understand the title when you hear the podcast.  We’re here to help you succeed! Send us your workplace dilemmas or career questions. Email us: [email protected] or tweet us: @cubicleconfide1. All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent... Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter!

During a recent Managing Up presentation, Mary received some questions about dealing with a variety of bosses. She thought it would be fun to get Chris’ input on them, too! Tune into this week’s episode to learn how to work with an impulsive boss, ask for help when you’re spread too thin, share your achievements with your manager, and so much more! We’re here to help you succeed! Send us your workplace dilemmas or career questions. Email us at: [email protected] or tweet us at @cubicleconfide1.  All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent... Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter!

This week we hear from a listener trying to figure out how to select a candidate for a promotion, one seeking to climb the corporate ladder, and another one who realized their new role isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Tune in to hear Mary and Chris’ advice surrounding giving promotions and getting promoted! King Solomon’s Redux in Virginia has two perfectly suited candidates for a promotion but only one slot. They’re both outstanding at managing their respective retail stores and this promotion will elevate one to regional manager. Beyond filling the regional manager slot with a qualified candidate, they’re also tasked with adding more diversity to the management cadre. How can they keep both of these fantastic performers while only promoting one?  Do This Not That in Texas works for a retail chain and excels in product placement when stocking shelves.  They’ve increased sales by 10-15% on certain products based solely on where they put them. Unfortunately, their manager never gives them the credit they deserve. Being at the bottom rung of the ladder, how can they get the attention of senior management and supercharge their career? Charles Doesn’t Want To Be In Charge in Spokane just got promoted and discovered they HATE managing other people. They’re tired of dealing with their scheduling needs, questions, and sucking up. This clearly isn’t the job for them, but the pay is significantly better. They’d much prefer to just do their old job. Is there any way they can make this work or should they just look for a new job that pays the same without the added responsibilities? We’re here to help you succeed! Send us your workplace dilemmas or career questions. Email us: at [email protected] or tweet us: at @cubicleconfide1. All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent... Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter!

Do office holiday parties get you in the festive spirit or turn you into the Grinch? Our listeners are navigating some ho, ho, horribly awkward holiday situations at work. Tune in to hear Mary and Chris’ advice on how to handle this season with a little extra joy and cheer! Shit Canned at Christmas in Atlanta got laid off from his job and his fiancé—who works at the same company—wants him to attend the annual holiday party with her as if nothing happened. How can he get through this event and answer the question “how’s it going” when things aren’t going well. Santa’s Secret Is Safe in Stanford in participating in the company’s annual Secret Santa. Unfortunately, they drew the name of their boss’ boss. The spending cap is set at $20 for a gift and the present is supposed to be funny. They work for a health sciences lab which is an industry that doesn’t lend itself to people with great senses of humor. Is there a way they can make a favorable and fun impression? In The Spotlight, Again, in Fremont got a little bit out of control at their annual Christmas outing last year. They were overserved and ended up as the talk of the office for months. Eventually, the chatter died down but now everyone is making jokes at their expense again. They even received a visit from a person in HR who reminded them what is considered appropriate at office functions. Should they attend the party again this year and if so, how do they overcome last year’s shame? We’re here to help you succeed! Send us your workplace dilemmas or career questions. Email us at: [email protected] or tweet us at @cubicleconfide1. All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent... Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter!

When was the last time you did something brave in your job or career? This week, we hear from listeners trying to find their voice in meetings, harness extra energy for a retreat, and confront an executive about bogus expense receipts… Tune in to hear Mary and Chris’ advice on how to channel courage in the workplace! A Sleuth on The Loose in Chicago just started his first real job out of college in a firm where everyone but him has a business degree from a fancy Ivy League school. In meetings, he feels intimidated by the business school crowd—who take up all the air space and seem to do nothing but state the obvious. How can he share what he knows without freezing up and being talked over? Sharing Is Scaring in Buffalo has to attend a weekend firm retreat in Florida. The retreat is part team-building and part learning. She doesn’t mind the learning part, but she loathes the idea of team building for an entire weekend. There will be networking sessions between offices, levels, and affinity groups. As an introvert, she finds the thought of all this overwhelming. How can she survive all these days and nights without losing her energy (and her mind)? Pocketing Change in Philadelphia works in accounting for a consulting firm. They handle invoicing and reimbursing employees for expenses. Recently, they noticed that a senior employee’s expense reimbursement requests consistently lack the necessary receipts for things like cabs, meals, etc. This person does this way more often and in greater quantities than anyone else in the office. Word among the staff is that he may run this firm one day. Is this issue even worth bringing forward? We’re here to help you succeed! Send us your workplace dilemmas or career questions. Email us: at [email protected] or tweet us: at @cubicleconfide1. All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent... Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter!

What work situations make you cringe? Some of our listeners find themselves stuck in awkward situations and need support to figure out what to do! Tune in to hear Mary and Chris’ advice about job changes, connection requests, and honest feedback. Worried About a Gaffe with The Government works for the government with a good job that boasts a great salary and benefits. Unfortunately, their job is being phased out. They interviewed for a highly prestigious position, but this organization expects them to accept the job without providing salary information. Should they take a chance and accept the offer hoping for the best or should they voice their concerns? Avoiding The Awkward in Arkansas has a “friend” who is launching a new business and has asked our listener for her help in securing new business through introductions to our listener’s client base. The problem is that our listener doesn’t want to help. After multiple unsettling personal and professional interactions, they don’t want to have their name associated with this person and certainly don’t want to waste their clients’ time with someone they don’t respect. How can they gracefully decline this request? Is Honesty the Best Policy in Hanover has their annual review coming up, and in addition to sharing a narrative on their accomplishments and challenges, their boss wants them to give him feedback on his management style. The problem is that he’s not a very good manager and they suspect he’s not very open to feedback based on their history with him.  How honest should they be with their feedback and what’s the best way to deliver it to him? We’re here to help you succeed! Send us your workplace dilemmas or career questions. Email us: [email protected] or tweet us: @cubicleconfide1. All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent... Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter!

Decisions, decisions! This week, our listeners are trying to decide if they (or others) should stay in their jobs or move on to greener pastures…  Tune in to hear Mary and Chris’ advice on retirement, switching jobs, and making other big career choices (for yourself and others!) A Few Cards Shy of A Full Deck in Denver has spent 45 years at the same company--working their way up from the mailroom to the C-suite. They now find themselves at a crossroads – either retire or continue to work as a contract employee. They don’t need the money, so they could easily retire but they can’t picture themselves sitting around. If they stay, they’d report to a former direct report who isn’t the sharpest tack in the box. Can they tell the powers that be that this project manager shouldn’t be managing at all? A Curtain Call in California works in HR and has the unwelcome task of talking to senior partners about retiring. They don’t have a formal retirement age, so some partners stay way past their expiration date. Their contributions have been declining and they cause angst in the other partners. How do they go about having this difficult conversation? Painted Into a Corner in Houston’s father started their paint business nearly 53 years ago and it has grown into a seven-store chain. Now, it’s being run by second and third-generation family members but their father still comes in every day. If he doesn’t like what’s going on in a store, he’ll grab the employees and make them do things the way he thinks they should be done. Our listener is supposed to confront his Dad about this, but it’s still his business. Is there any way they can get Dad to see things differently? We’re here to help you succeed! Send us your workplace dilemmas or career questions. Email us: at [email protected] or tweet us: @cubicleconfide1. All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent... Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter!