Dear Madeleine, I really like my job and tend to go the extra mile. I had scheduled my quarterly one-on-one meeting with my manager, and then got an email from him that said “Hey, do you mind if we cancel for this quarter? You are doing great and I never worry about you. Just keep…
Dear Madeleine, I am 28 years old and was hired five months ago at a globally recognized tech company. I moved across the country, took on a one-year lease, and furnished an apartment. I made some very solid friends among many of the people who were members of my orientation class. I was assigned to…
Dear Madeleine, I am a junior partner in a law firm and the expectation is that I work. A lot. Many of the partners work virtually in the summer, but I usually go into the office because it is easier for me to get things done there. My in-laws bought a house at the shore…
Dear Madeleine, I read Feeling Trapped with interest and it scared me. I have had several jobs in retail and have been promoted to manager in each one, only to become disillusioned with the owners. I also just ended my marriage and moved to a new city for a fresh start. My dream is to…
Dear Madeleine, I am an experienced manager. I really thought I was capable and prepared to deal with pretty much anything that shows up, but right now I am feeling a bit at loose ends. Our global manufacturing company is going through relentless change, which is normal. But the constant changes in the news about…
Dear Madeleine, I have had a great deal of success. My problem is now that I have achieved my goals, I realize this isn’t what I thought it would be. I am 38, married, with two young kids and another on the way and a massive mortgage (albeit at a low rate compared to today’s…
Dear Madeleine, I have been managing people since I was first promoted to supervisor in my first job while I was still in college. I am now a senior director in my late 40s. I manage a couple of business units for a large financial services company in Europe. In the last few years, my…
Editor’s Note: Madeleine is on summer break this week, but don’t fear! We’ve rounded up the five standout themes from the first half of the year, complete with top examples you won’t want to miss. From navigating toxic bosses to setting coaching goals that actually stick, Madeleine addresses it all with wisdom that’s equal parts…
Dear Madeleine, I am a director in the finance department of a national restaurant/foodservice company. I have always liked my job, brought a lot of creative problem-solving to my team, and enjoyed hosting events to create bonds among people in my organization. My last kid just graduated from high school and left for a six-week…
Dear Madeleine, My boss is driving me nuts. I work in corporate communications at a complicated global corporation with a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. I am often given assignments with tight deadlines on top of my regular day-to-day work. My boss will send me emails with assignments, using a request format that I thought was smart…