Ever wondered about the origin of the phrase “over-the-top”? Research indicates that during World War I, the British coined the phrase to describe how the infantry would emerge from the relative safety of the trenches and display excessive bravery by attacking the enemy across open ground. Today this phrase is used to describe excess and is meant to suggest the following [...]

This week’s Comfort Food is about mouth-watering Crème Brûlée. You may well ask what Crème Brûlée has to do with relationships. Actually a lot…stay with me a moment. Crème Brûlée is a French term for what the English refer to as Burnt Cream. It consists of smooth custard topped with a small amount of sugar that has been caramelized using a small torch or broiler. It’s usually a special dessert one enjoys in an elegant restaurant at the end of a superb dining experience [...]

According to the Oxford Dictionary of Current English, to speak with one’s tongue in one’s cheek is to speak “insincerely or ironically”. This phrase dates back to 1748 when it was “cool” to show disdain or disrespect for someone by putting your tongue inside your cheek to make it stick out. While we rarely use [...]

Unfortunately, businesses have suckers and weeds too. These unattractive thieves rob the organization blind by ruining its competitive advantage, and choking and stifling its people. To avoid these outcomes, try applying a heavy layer of protective interpersonal mulch to effectively stop all but the most persistent of suckers and weeds.
Here are four suckers and weeds that are typically found in the business orchard, along with ways to yank them out before they root too deeply:

Nothing is more off-putting than someone who comes across as rude, curt, or arrogant in an email. So, how do we avoid being perceived as insensitive and unprofessional in our email correspondence? Here are a few tips: