I had a great time being interviewed on Heard TV. Here’s a link to the interview:

http://www.heardtv.com/portfolio/episode-20-gina-maddox/

Working in an office where people guard their desks and hide their data  is no fun. Dealing with co-workers who horde information, play the blame game, and hide the facts makes it nearly impossible to get your job done.  Working in an environment of distrust is just plain demoralizing.

Trust in a professional setting is a key ingredient for a company or an individual to be successful. When trust levels are high people exceed expectations and break boundaries. The atmosphere becomes collaborative, and brainstorming and problem-solving becomes a highly effective routine practice. Working in an environment of trust opens the doors for the development of new skills, abilities, and opportunities.

So, the big questions is, “How do I build trust in my office?” If you’d like some ideas on why building trust is so important, and HOW to do it, follow this link to my story over at Yahoo! Associated Content and read Building An Environment For Workplace Trust.

Recently, my friend, Carla, announced, “Sometimes I’m just plain moody. Does it really matter in the grand scheme of things if I set my bad mood free at work?”

I wasn’t sure how to answer her. The truth is, we have good days and bad days. So, does it really matter when we let the ugly side of things take control?  I found the answer when a butterfly fluttered by. The butterfly knows the answer. If you want to know the answer, and understand why, follow this link and read, “Everything You Do, and Don’t Do, Really Does Matter.”

Recently, I felt like thinking outside of the box required too much energy.  I fell into a thinking rut, and into writer’s block; not a good thing when your career centers on writing and speaking.  I decided I needed a jolt to open my mind. I did some early spring cleaning and dusted the cobwebs out of my brain. Now I have a plan in place to help me keep my thinking habits fresh and creative.

If you need some inspiration and ideas to jolt yourself back into an open mind you might enjoy reading “Four Steps to Get Out of A Rut and Into An Open Mind.”    

Happy thinking!

If you’ve got a crazy co-worker you might want to watch this:

My mother once told me that there is value in everyone, even the people you don’t like. I’ve had a few crazy co-workers and found it a challenge to take my mother’s advice to heart.  I bet you’ve seen some challenging colleagues, too.  In fact, with our current slow economy and high unemployment rates we’re probably seeing more annoying co-workers than usual. They won’t’ quit and move on, and most of us aren’t going anywhere for the time being either. So, what can we do to turn our crazy co-workers into valuable allies? Follow this link to Associated Content and get some “motherly advice” for “Coping With Crazy Co-Workers.”

Recently, after presenting a webinar for administrative professionals, I received a question from an HR professional who had participated in the event. She wrote, “We have a few admins here whose daily workload fluctuates between multiple supervisors.  There is rarely good direction about juggling the competing needs of multiple folks.  Any suggestions?”

I realized that working for multiple bosses has become the new normal for many working Americans. The corporate environment isn’t hiring, but the workload is still there. Administrative support staff is being stretched thin and it looks like that’s the way it’s going to be for a while. Most administrative professionals aren’t complaining about the increased workloads because they’re simply happy to be counted among the employed these days. But, still, the stress of managing multiple projects and responsibilities for multiple supervisors needs to be addressed. Without a few new skills and systems put in place there’s sure to be a catastrophic workday when priorities collide, and it won’t be pretty.

If you’re juggling projects and priorities, and trying to please multiple “masters” at work, read ”Five Ideas for Making Multiple Bosses Happy.” They’re posted at Associated Content in, “When Everyone is Your Boss (Or, Thinks They Are).”

A good friend called the other day seeking advice on how to handle a tyrant in the office. Her co-worker, who was higher up the ladder, had a habit of verbally abusing the staff.   Life in the office became “my way or the highway” and people were edgy and defensive.  The worst part of the story was that everyone in the office was beginning to adopt a similar approach to communication. A plague was spreading through the office.   

We discussed a few alternatives for dealing with a dictator, and my friend went back to work. The next day she phoned, singing, “Ding-dong the witch is dead! Which old witch? The wicked witch! Ding-dong the wicked witch is dead…”  The tyrant had been terminated.

But, there was still a problem in the office…the communication plague. Rather than beating each other into submission, the staff needed to relearn diplomatic negotiation and persuasion skills. I pulled together a quick bit of advice for my friend and posted it here at Associated Content. Take a look, because mastering the skill of persuasion can reduce workplace stress, increase productivity, and open the door to career opportunities.

The summer break is winding down and the stress season is about to spin up. Back to school activities, the holidays, and no more lazy days on the beach will push us into overdrive.  Why not head off your stress before it begins?  Take a look at this story over at Associated Content and get some advice on how to Think Your Stress Away. It really works. Learn how to do it now, before the stress gets to you; the best defense is a good offense.  (It’s just 125 days until Christmas.)

It’s summertime, and I’ve been soaking in the sunshine and floating in my swimming pool!  Here in Florida, it’s been Hot! Hot! Hot! In my book, summertime is not the time for serious studying. It is, however, time for skimming through something fun and fabulous while lounging by the pool or laying on the beach.

With fun in mind, and looking for good advice, I turned to my girlfriends, all members of  “The Working Woman’s Rant & Rave Group”  on Facebook.  Join us here.

These ladies never let me down! They offered up all that’s good in their favorite magazines.  I pulled it all together and created a list of magazines for working women. If you need a short, summertime, skimpy read, take a look here at Magazines For Working Women.  Happy summer reading!

It’s summertime, and the reading is easy!  I love to crack open a good book when I’m catching Florida sunshine by the pool or killing time in an airport.  Recently, I reread some old classics that I read as a kid. Funny thing is, this time around I got way more out of Ayn Rand’s “The Fountainhead” and “Atlas Shrugged” than I did as a kid.  I highly recommend them.

I’ve got a dozen books loaded up on my Sony Reader and waiting for me this summer.  I’m like a kid in a candy store when I visit the online ebook store.  Some of my books are just for fun, and others are selected to help me think outside the box or enlarge my skill base.  James Bryce, a British politician said, “The worth of a book is to be measured by what you carry away from it.” I agree with his assessment;  I like to carry a good message away with me after I close a book.  (I love Any Rand’s books because they are fiction filled with romance, intrigue, plot  twists, and philosophical and political messages that really make you think about your own values and beliefs.) 

Because this is a business-related blog, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mentioned a few great reads for career women. So, click here and take a look at my post over at associated content. You’ll find a review of five fabulous, fun, and inspiring reads for women.  Let me know what you think!  Happy reading!