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Bragging

Here are the questions filed under this category. To read Ken's advice on any item, click on the link "Read Ken's Answer."


I've noticed that several of the employees who work with me are spending a lot of time bragging to our manager. Whenever they finish an assignment or even a minor project, they rush to tell him about it. It's not my nature to brag, but should I be doing some too?
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I work for a manufacturing company that recently hired a new manager who previously worked for several large corporations. He constantly makes negative remarks and tells us that employees where he used to work can do our work many times faster and for less pay. I feel uncomfortable with him around. Should I talk to someone over him or do I need to move on?
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One of the owner's teenage sons is going to be working here this summer, so his father had him spend a day on the job with us during his spring break. All I can say is that he was the most condescending, arrogant, know-it-all that I have ever met. Is it worth mentioning this to the owner or just forget about it?
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I manage a department where there is an otherwise productive employee who keeps dropping names. It's driving everyone who works with her crazy, and she doesn't realize that they're laughing at her. I have broached the subject with her, but she does not pick up the hint.
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How do you deal with a co-worker who always uses vocabulary words that most of us don't understand? He quizzes us about their meaning, usually in front of other people, and he then gives the definition.
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I worked on a project with one of my co-workers, and I just heard that he has been telling people that he did all the work and I did practically nothing. The truth is that we both worked hard, and I am very disappointed that he is saying this. Should I confront him or is that just lowering myself to his level?
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I have one manager who reports to me, and I work with her on a regular basis to make improvements in her department. We work well together, but when the two of us meet with my manager, there is a problem. The manager who reports to me makes it sound like she is the only one responsible for improvements in the department. I am reluctant to say anything to her or to my manager because I think I would look weak. How should I handle this?
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Whenever my boss comes around to my department, I have one particular employee who typically makes a comment that puts herself in a positive light and makes me look bad, and sometimes she's not quite truthful or does not give the full story. Do I lower myself to say something to her, or should I just let it go?
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One of the people I work with makes himself the center of everything that's discussed. He shrugs off what we say, but we are expected to listen as he talks endlessly about himself. How do we change this?
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A co-worker of mine constantly rushes to our supervisor and brags about everything she does here, even if it's just completing the most menial chore. None of us can stand listening to her. To make matters worse, now our supervisor is telling us how wonderful she is. What should we do?
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