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Help! My stalker ex-boyfriend has applied for a job where I work!

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au (Aunty B) — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:37:02 +0000

Dear Aunty B

I broke up with my boyfriend about a year ago and he has just told me he is applying for a job at the company I work for.

Should I give our useless intern a reference?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au (Aunty B) — Tue, 21 May 2013 01:07:44 +0000

Dear Aunty B

I run a small PR agency and we regularly have interns from universities work with us for a two-week period.

Should I trade my pay rise for some new computers at work?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au (Aunty B) — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:58:51 +0000

Dear Aunty B,

I’m the manager of a small design team working within a larger organisation.

My employees won’t stop gossiping

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au (Aunty B) — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:49:55 +0000

Dear Aunty B,

I work in management at an inbound call centre. For the most part everything runs smoothly, and my team of 10 people get on very well.

Should I stalk my mentor?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au (Aunty B) — Thu, 16 May 2013 01:41:34 +0000

Dear Aunty B,

Lots of successful business people credit their success to mentors who have helped them along the way. I don’t have a mentor so am worried I am missing out.

I have no idea of how to get one. I’m going to a business women’s networking event next week and I’m wondering whether I should stalk a mentor there. I thought I could go up to the most successful and well known of the women and ask them if they will mentor me.

Is this the best approach?

Kim,

Hervey Bay

Dear Kim,

If you want a mentor you can certainly stalk them, but there’s a right way of doing this and a wrong way, and I fear you are focusing on the wrong way.

First of all, you need to identify why you want a mentor. Is your business growing fast and you want advice on new opportunities or is your business in trouble and you need change?

Once you are clear about the reason for getting a mentor you can identify who might be able to help you. It’s not necessarily the most successful and well known of the women. It may be someone in a specific area you need help in like sales or someone in your industry. There could be a great mentor amongst your family and friends who you haven’t thought of until now.

If you are keen on approaching someone you don’t know at all, don’t just front up and ask for mentoring. Business people are busy people and they are unlikely to help you out of the goodness of their heart (although you never know). If they are speaking at the event, try going up and talking to them about their presentation, or find out some background on their business and talk to them about how you admire what they have done and ask some relevant questions.

Now it is the time to swap business cards and ask if you can call them for some advice on a particular area. Follow up a few days later; no need to mention the “m” word. In this call, you can ask if you could call now and again for advice. Maybe when they are commuting home from work they could talk to you for half an hour.

Be Smart,

Your Aunty B

Email your questions, problems and issues to auntyb@smartcompany.com.au right now!

Am I being persistent or just a pest?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au (Aunty B) — Wed, 15 May 2013 02:00:52 +0000

Dear Aunty B,

I had an interview for a job a while ago with a clothing store. I rang them to follow up and they told me I hadn't got the job, so I asked for feedback and they said they would get back to me. I've now called three times and they are always too busy to speak to me.

I really want to get feedback on where I went wrong, but should I just give up and move on now?

Amber,

Canberra

Dear Amber,

I'm not sure how to say this in a nicer way but – move on! You are wasting this small business' time and your own. And believe me when I say time is precious in a small business.

Sure it's always great to get feedback but you've now requested this three times. If this business was really motivated to give you feedback they would have done it by now.

At this stage, the best feedback you could hope for is that you are indeed persistent and at the worst you could be dubbed a pest.

Be smart,

Your Aunty B

Email your questions, problems and issues to auntyb@smartcompany.com.au right now!

Home troubles have made this employee unemployable. What do I do about it?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au (Aunty B) — Tue, 14 May 2013 00:09:51 +0000

Dear Aunty B,

We have an employee whose personal life constantly affects their work and professionalism.

How do I overcome my loathing for ‘networking’?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au (Aunty B) — Sun, 12 May 2013 23:45:50 +0000

Dear Aunty B,

I want to network and learn from other business owners. I really do. But whenever I sign up or intend to go to networking events, I end up bailing and going home to spend time with my wonderful husband and two gorgeous children instead.

Is this bullying? Help!

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au (Aunty B) — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Dear Aunty B,

I work in the accounts department in a small company. My boss is VERY unpredictable, and gets really mad if everything is not going the way he expects.

Shall I whack the office mole?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au (Aunty B) — Wed, 08 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Dear Aunty B,

I hired a marketing manager a year ago on a good salary.

Will I breach the Privacy Act by producing bitchy emails?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au (Aunty B) — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Dear Aunty B,

I recently read your last article on bitching in the office and wanted to find out your thoughts on my particular case.

What do I do about my nasty colleague?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au (Aunty B) — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Dear Aunty,

I have a real problem for you. I work with a woman who is a real bitch. She talks about everyone behind their backs and tries to create trouble for people. She always has a target and it is usually another younger woman that she focuses on until they leave.

They are bitching about me in the office. Help!

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au (Aunty B) — Sun, 05 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Dear Aunty B,

I'm a partner of a firm and I recently saw an email between a staff member and manager bitching about me.

My manager is “freezing out” a staff member – is she a bully?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au (Aunty B) — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Dear Aunty B,

I employ a manager who has a very forceful personality. If a staff member gets on the wrong side of her, she acts very cool to that person. She has high expectations and can get quite critical of people’s weaknesses.

Where can I find a mentor?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au (Aunty B) — Wed, 01 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Hi Aunty B,

I read your answer to: "I want to grow, who can help?"

Can I start an online business selling replica designer stuff?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au (Aunty B) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Dear Aunty B,

I am thinking of starting an online business selling replica designer handbags and accessories. As long as I state that these are replicas and not the real thing, am I breaking any laws?

What can I do about the office kitchen pigs?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au (Aunty B) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Dear Aunty B,

I am on the verge of burning our kitchen to the ground. It is an absolute pigsty of dirty dishes, crusty breakfast plates and smeary cutlery. I only occasionally wander in to get a cup of tea and can never even find a clean cup!

The new Gen Y employee refused to get coffee!

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au (Aunty B) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Dear Aunty B,

I am so angry. I just asked our young new staff member very nicely to do the coffee run.

How do I curb the domineering behaviour of a busy-body manager?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au (Aunty B) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 01:01:45 +0000

Dear Aunty B,

I have a manager who is driving me – and my staff – crazy!

Am I really that loud and annoying on the phone?

auntyb@startupsmart.com.au (Aunty B) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 02:17:03 +0000

Dear Aunty B,

I work in an open plan office and one of my colleagues who sits at the cubicle next to me has complained that I talk too much on the telephone.