Does a fresh start in 2017 with a coworker with whom you were in conflict in 2016 sound like a good idea? Repairing the relationship may improve your mood, bring workplace fun back, and prevent you from going home feeling tired and tense. Being straightforward and admitting it's your fault is the most powerful fix-up strategy, along with expressing the desire to start over. Before rejecting this idea, realize most conflicts are fueled by both parties. Admitting fault can "reboot" your…

According to a study published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology up to 90% of workplace conversation is gossip. It appears that this type of natural human interaction is driven by the desire to warn group members against the harmful or inappropriate behavior of others. So, not all gossip is strictly bad, but a few rules for the modern workplace are important: 1) Don't try to eradicate gossip or scold others for engaging in it. Judging others won't work. Instead, model proper behavior…

If you discover yourself slipping back into old habits - returning to behaviors you committed to giving up in your pursuit of new goals - commit to not beating yourself up over failure. The nature of change isn't a straight line to the goal. There's an old saying saying that "defeat is temporary; only quitting makes it permanent." Instead, remember that tomorrow is another day to try again. Search for hidden opportunities to tweak, and, like the scientist searching for a cure for cancer, try…

If you haven't committed to any New Year's resolutions, you'll most likely still hope for a productive year. Productivity is about getting things done, and that means fending off procrastination. To fire up your commitment to follow through, experiment this year with letting people know that you are going to complete whatever difficult project you have in mind so they are positioned to hold you accountable. Really put yourself out there, even if it means supplying a calendar marked with the…

Listening well isn't just about hearing information. Listening well builds relationships. Remember this crucial role of communication and you may be motivated to do away with some of these common annoyances that sabotage relationships. 

• Distracting yourself-texting, picking up, straightening things-when someone is speaking.
• Interrupting because you are suddenly reminded of something "more important" to say.
• Showing impatience by responding to the speaker before information has been…

Ninety-six percent of employed domestic abuse survivors say domestic violence affected the ability to do their job. If you are a victim of domestic violence, you may be inclined to minimize the abuse, hope for the best, or hold on to a definition of abuse that perhaps doesn't include your situation. The key question: Does your partner exercise power over you and control your life, or have you seriously wondered whether you are in in abusive relationship? If so, talk to a counselor, EAP, or the…

Incivility at work is tit-for-tat exchanges, slights, verbal jabs, condescension, and discourteous interactions many employees give and get. Different from bullying, which is a form of workplace aggression and mistreatment, incivility is lower key. It's more ambiguous, but it's still harmful. Many researchers have shown that employees spend hours after an uncivil act thinking about it, processing it with a friend, and planning how to avoid the next incident. All this eats into productivity and…

Ageism is stereotyping of and prejudice against older persons. It's a growing area of concern for the workplace because people are working longer into their senior years and their numbers are growing because of aging baby boomers. As with reducing racism and sexism, reducing prejudice is about understanding and being aware of your biases (we all possess a few) and then choosing to eliminate their influence on interactions on the job. What are your beliefs about older people? What about old age?…

Acceptance and believability are the foundation of success in public speaking, and they begin with eye contact. Begin making eye contact with members of your audience before you present and you will reduce anxiety dramatically, appear less mysterious, and build trust faster to have them engage with you more. Crowd behavior is contagious, so positive interactions resulting from this warm-up step can rub off on others. When speaking, "smile with your eyes." This practice engages your whole face…