office

career

15 Qualities That Will Impress Your Boss

Every job is different, but most bosses seek the same set of basic characteristics in their employees.

Every job is different, but most bosses seek the same set of basic characteristics in their employees. You can wipe out some of the stress your manager causes by learning and anticipating her quirks, understanding her expectations, and talking to her about shared goals and needs. Get a head start by making sure you are radiating these attributes in the workplace.

career

15 Ways to Annoy Your Boss

Whether you're hoping to get ahead at work or just trying to build healthy relationships, it's important to understand how your boss works — what she appreciates, what she respects, and what she can't stand.


Whether you're hoping to get ahead at work or just trying to build healthy relationships, it's important to understand how your boss works — what she appreciates, what she respects, and what she can't stand. Create a strong connection with your manager and avoid irritating her by steering clear of these 15 ways to annoy your boss:

  1. Arrive late, coffee in hand. If you waltz into the office 20 minutes late, clutching a Starbucks cup, chances are it's not going to be well-received. If you're running short on time, skip the coffee shop and head to the office coffeemaker instead.
  2. Dress inappropriately. Your boss doesn't want to feel like your parent, so she won't be thrilled if she has to regularly address your workwear. Keep things professional and remember to err on the conservative side.
  3. Regularly bring up your accomplishments. Patting your own back is fine every once in a while, but high-fiving yourself for every little victory is sure to frustrate both your co-workers and your boss. Save the boasting for your year-end review and always note your successes with a purpose — as in, say, while negotiating salary.
  4. Say you'll "try" instead of you "will." When you're asked to finish something, that means you're expected to finish it. Form your responses carefully, as even small tweaks can have a huge effect. Instead of saying, "I'll try to get to that," nod and assure your boss by saying, "No problem, I will get to that as soon as I've finished this."
  5. Ask personal questions. Your boss will offer personal information as she sees fit, so refrain from asking anything too intimate. Small talk is fine, of course, but remember to maintain professional boundaries during conversation.
  6. Tattle on other employees. Most information finds its way through the grapevine, so chances are your boss will find out about any significant scandals from someone else. Nobody likes the office tattler — and telling your boss someone else's secrets would say more about your character than theirs, anyway.
  7. Reply to all her tweets. You may be Facebook friends, but that doesn't mean you need to "like" every status or comment on every one of her pictures. Keep the interactions minimal so that you don't aggravate her with hourly notifications that say you've commented on five more of her Instagram photos.

Keep reading for more ways to annoy your boss.

Organization

Organize Your Desk With These Stylish, Affordable Items

Desk accessories aren't known for being the most stylish products out there, but there are items to help you get organized at work that don't look so drab.

Desk accessories aren't known for being the most stylish products out there, but there are items to help you get organized at work that don't look so drab. So with the new year, why not give your workspace a new look? We've rounded up some cute and practical picks that will rein in your clutter and shape up your space.

productivity

2013 Planners For Every Personality

It's hard to believe 2013 is just weeks away, and one of our must haves to start the year off right is a good planner.

It's hard to believe 2013 is just weeks away, and one of our must haves to start the year off right is a good planner. No matter what your interests are, we've gathered some of the best out there for every type of person, from the fashionista to the geeky girl and everyone in between. If you don't pick one up for yourself, consider gifting one and helping make someone's life a little easier and more organized.

Halloween

Is Your Office Haunted?

When Sugar HQ first moved into our current home in San Francisco, a rumor began skipping through the office .

When Sugar HQ first moved into our current home in San Francisco, a rumor began skipping through the office . . . but not the kind you're apt to hear over the watercooler like the ones involving secret romances or odd co-worker behavior. As I stood in the elevator lobby one night, an editor pal excitedly asked, "Did you hear that this building is supposedly haunted?" According to a former building resident, a mysterious figure was once spotted in an elevator car and then proceeded to disappear into thin air. While we have yet to record any spectral beings of our own, around this time of year it's still fun to think that an uninvited guest might show up to mingle at our office Halloween party! So we're curious:

Halloween

5 Tips to Keep the Halloween Spirit Alive in a Costume-Free Office

Not all workplaces are OK with employees sporting elaborate Halloween costumes on Oct.
Tips For Celebrating Halloween at Work

Not all workplaces are OK with employees sporting elaborate Halloween costumes on Oct. 31. But before you throw in the Frankenstein-printed towel on having a hauntingly fun Halloween at work, we've found a few ideas that conjure up the holiday's spirit and may not be too spooky to a conservative office. Run your ideas by your manager and HR before you organize any Halloween activities to make sure that they approve of your plans, and check out these five frighteningly fun ideas!

Source: Shutterstock
Fall

Earthy Desk Accessories to Fall For

Maybe it's the thought of falling leaves, crisp air, and fragrant firewood, but this time of year puts me in an earthy mood.

Maybe it's the thought of falling leaves, crisp air, and fragrant firewood, but this time of year puts me in an earthy mood. Whether I'm using delicate branches in home decorating or just spending more time in the great outdoors, I can't wait to get my hands on anything ocher, moss, and rusty brown or natural and knotty. And since many of us will spend the greater part of our day tied to our desks, why not bring some of those woodsy tones and natural materials indoors to keep us company while we type, file, and email? Here are some of my favorite desk accessories that will bring Autumn to the office!

productivity

How-To: Do More From 9-5

If you find yourself struggling to stay focused at work, and as a result, your workday seeps later and later into the evening, these tips might help you complete more during your 9-5 stretch.


If you find yourself struggling to stay focused at work, and as a result, your workday seeps later and later into the evening, these tips might help you complete more during your 9-5 stretch. Beyond tackling your to-do list, we've included steps that can help you better manage your office time.

  1. Plan your day on a curve – Start off easy, complete your hardest projects between 10 a.m.–2 p.m., and finish your day with housekeeping tasks.
  2. Address projects first and email later – We all spend hundreds of hours a year reading our email. Every time you choose to read a new message rather than continue what you are doing, you prolong the total time it takes to finish an assignment. Try to ignore your inbox while you are mid-project and instead, check it afterward or limit this distraction to every 20 minutes.
  3. Stay organized – I know I'm guilty of shying away from a chore to organize my desk. Keep your space clean and clutter free, so you can focus your attention on your work rather than feeling anxious about the mess around you.

See more tips, after the break.

career

Cute Desk Accessories in Every Color

Black, gray, and white seem to take over during the Winter months, so make your days bright and colorful by adding accessories of every shade to your desk space.

Black, gray, and white seem to take over during the Winter months, so make your days bright and colorful by adding accessories of every shade to your desk space. We've rounded up cute and practical picks in every color of the rainbow.