Inheriting a team of workers presents interesting challenges and opportunities. To build peak performance you must address the weakenesses and challenges of the entire team. Yet as the new hire, you must walk a thin line to gain respect and motivate your team while giving specific feedback to individuals. The sooner you begin to address problem behaviors the better.  Deb offers guidelines to incorporate into your approach.

The extent to which employment has extended itself into the lives of workers is an unfortunate reality. Reflecting on the role that your work and/or your employer plays in defining you can lead to insights on satisfaction and fulfillment. Deb explores several themes to start the discovery.

Keep your professional network alive whether you are employed or not. When properly nurtured, your network can help support you through job loss, job search, AND better job performance.

After a number of years in my career, successfully working my way up and through a variety of related positions, I am toying with the idea of making a career change.  How does one go about making a move of this magnitude?   

Even if you've had a promising interview and left feeling as if the job is yours for the asking, it is best not to negotiate any terms until an actual offer is made. This is especially true for salary deliberations.

Age bias can be a serious challenge for job seekers who've been around the block a time or two. But with the right attitude and understanding about how age bias works both ways, you can make sure it doesn't hinder your attitude or opportunities.

Can an international student graduating with an MBA receive serious consideration for employment with solid U.S. companies? Yes. Corporations can receive many tangible benefits from including international students in their hiring pool. If an international candidate meets the established criteria, there is a system in place to guide employers through the process.

Single-handedly attempting to bring about culture change is not the best position from which to launch your career with a new organization.  If change is the mandate, and it’s not yet clear that it is, you’ll be better served by first attending to a few important details. 

Virtual employment has arrived. Telecommuting brings a unique set of challenges, especially in how you develop positive, effective relationships with your long-distance managers, some of whom you may have never met. The key to your telecommuniting success is to reach out often, clarify expectations, and check in routinely.

In a climate of corporate restructuring, it can be hard to know where you stand.  Check out Deb's four clues to assess your alignment.