Dealing with Impending Layoffs? Ask Madeleine

Dear Madeleine, I am an executive leader for a giant global organization. Last week, massive layoffs were announced. I have a team of twelve direct reports with hundreds of people reporting up to them. I don’t know every person, but I know a lot of them. Layoffs are going to be devastating for these people.…

Hungry for Constructive Feedback? Ask Madeleine

Dear Madeleine, I get no feedback. I like my job, my boss, the team I work with, and my company. At every annual review I write my own review first and my manager adds her two cents, always pointing out ways I contribute that I hadn’t thought about or had forgotten. So I do get…

Boss Is Always Criticizing You? Ask Madeleine

Dear Madeleine, I have always really liked my job even though the workload is oversized and the hours are long. I provide expert advice and coaching around diet and weight management in a community medical clinic. I have a master’s degree in nutrition and am a registered dietitian. We are government funded and located in…

Considering Working with a Coach? Ask Madeleine

Dear Madeleine, My company has recently started offering coaching to all managers at my level. It is optional. I have read what our HR department has posted about it, but they didn’t give much information. I always thought coaching was for underperformers, but that isn’t how they are selling it. What would I work on…

Colleague Is Edging You Out? Ask Madeleine

Dear Madeleine, I am senior project manager for a global construction firm. I am one of the very few women in the organization, and wouldn’t you know, my problem is with one of them. She is a peer to me, and we have very different but overlapping roles. The fundamental problem is that she changes…

Ask Madeleine: The Top 5 of 2021

2021 will be remembered as a year of change and it was certainly reflected in the questions Madeleine received from her readers. Here is a list of the top five most-viewed columns. They tell a story of the year we’ve been through. Madeleine will be back next week with a new year of questions from…

New Boss Is Just Not Competent?  Ask Madeleine

Dear Madeleine, I got promoted about six months ago. My new boss, who used to be my old boss’s boss, is just not competent. When I try to clarify priorities with her, she changes her mind so many times that I end up more confused than ever. She doesn’t attend meetings that she calls, so…