All posts with the ‘ communication ’ Tag

Feeling like you don’t have control over what happens in your work is a pretty crappy feeling.

I hear from freelancers all the time about clients who push them around and bills that necessitate taking less than stellar jobs. About the frustration of feeling like the jobs dictate the work, instead of being able to direct one’s own career.

I also know that working a … Read More

Last week I got to join some of the fine folks from Freelancers Union and a number of freelancers from around Oregon to talk about, well, freelancing.

One of the many topics that came up was how best to educate clients so they understand what it means to work with a freelancer. Or at least so they don’t provide fodder for Clients From Hell.… Read More

I’ve probably taken the Myers-Briggs personality test, or some variation on it, at least a dozen times over the course of my life so far.

Every time I’ve taken it in the last twenty years, the proctor has given me the results with a raised eyebrow.

Why?… Read More

I’ve found that when people first start negotiating, they tend to put a high priority on being fair.

Being fair is generally a very honorable pursuit. But in negotiations fairness does not always mean what you think it means. At least, not to the other side.… Read More

A few weeks ago I asked Twitter followers to send me questions they’d want to see addressed on the blog, and one of them struck my fancy in particular:

What do you do when you have one thing to offer, like a manuscript, and there are two different parties who want to negotiate with you for it?

How do you make sure you get the … Read More

Last week was the United States’ annual celebration of gratitude, Thanksgiving. If you’re a regular reader of my blog, it should come as no surprise that Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays: a time to reflect on what is good and appreciate what we have.

I’m always sad that it passes so quickly.

So here is my plug for prolonging the holiday spirit and … Read More

“So what do you do for fun?”

I was at a party and had just been introduced to a friend of a friend. Unfortunately, my friend was called away almost immediately and we two not-quite strangers were left staring at one another.

And that’s when it happened.

That is when a seemingly simple question made me want to run screaming from the building.

Small talk … Read More

It’s time to answer another question from a dashingly attractive reader!

This week’s Good Advice conundrum is as tough as it is common: what do you do when you want to handle a conflict but you hate talking to people on the phone?… Read More