Insights

The most likely layoff candidates are employees who resist new technology or are not interested in upgrading their skills, ones who demonstrate little or no emotional commitment to the company, those disliked by peers and subordinates, and finally, those who made any major mistakes—even many years ago.

Be very careful when evaluating your boss—an increasingly common practice in many companies. Assume that he/she will find out who said what, even if comments are supposed to be kept confidential. Also, give facts—not opinions—and do not repeat hearsay. Only mention things you personally heard or saw. Avoid making recommendations even if asked what the boss could do to improve performance. Most bosses prefer to believe subordinates like and respect them. Anything negative you say could become a problem for you later.

Learn to read body language. You’ll have a better idea of what someone is really telling you… When someone smiles, look at his/her face—real smiles crinkle the eyes. A tilted head and wide-open eyes suggest a willingness to listen. Someone who is biting his lips may feel he is being criticized. People cross their legs when they feel defensive and cross their arms when they want to be convinced. Leaning back shows friendliness—or feeling in control. Helpful when meeting someone new: Establish rapport by mirroring some of his signals, such as leaning forward or smiling. Or use the same body positions. Jo-Ellan Dimitrius, PhD, is a jury consultant and coauthor…

Although dreams often seem nonsensical, the close examination can yield self-knowledge and practical guidance for everyday living. Interpreting dreams is usually a challenge. They so often deal with thorny issues that we avoid thinking about when we’re awake. And most dream-analysis systems impose rigid symbolism and meanings that don’t fit everyone. The dream-analysis method I use involves freely exploring a dream with others but accepting only the insights that strike a personal chord. My dreamwork programs normally contain eight to 10 people, but the system also works with just two or three Present The Dream To allow for wide-ranging speculation, the dreamer first tells the “straight story.’’ He/she should write…

Bad moods magnify trivial annoyances and dampen enjoyment. Once you get to the wot of the problem, use these quick-fix tactics to restore emotional equilibrium. Eat some good dark chocolate (avoid milk chocolate as it is terrible for your health). The chocolate is vital as it prompts the release of serotonin, the brain’s natural chemical “upper.” Eat it slowly, savoring the sweetness and texture. Limit yourself to two pieces—a chocolate binge will only make you feel worse later. Play with a toy or a game. It could be something as simple as a yo-yo or a game on your phone, or even one on a game console like PlayStation. The…

Concerns over security and data privacy in the cloud need to be seen in the context of what organisations are currently doing to protect their confidential information, says Gordon Smith. Survey after survey rate security concerns as the main obstacle to cloud computing. Whether the risks are perceived or real is to some extent irrelevant; as long as they exist, cloud providers must address them or face reluctant customers, despite a persuasive business case that offers cost savings and flexible technology to meet a company’s needs. A recent report from the World Economic Forum (WEF), while broadly positive about cloud computing, cited significant barriers blocking its widespread adoption. Among the…