Pulling rank

My complaint is hearing my talk down to those below them ont the totem pole. Every person at the company matters, from the mailman to the CEO. So respect your colleagues if you want to impress your boss.

The Boss: Anne Parducci, senior vice president, worldwide girls/Barbie marketing, Mattel

Hiding the bad news

My biggest problem is with people who don’t admit to what really happened when something goes wrong or a job doesn’t get done. Whether you made a msitake, forgot to do the work, didn’t have the resources, or had a personal problem that was a higher priority, it’s better to be honest. I’d rather have you tell me that you screwed up or need help; we can then work on finding a solution. If you don’t tell me – or if you blame someone else – it will make me distrust you in the future.

The Boss: Mary Jundinger, R.N., D.P.H., dean, Columbia University School of Nursing

Forwarding a string of e-mails (Fwd:Re:Re:Re)

Don’t forward mile-long e-mails that force the reader to enter a black-hole of messages. I get  so frustrated scrolling through countless forwarded e0mails just to find the original message. I end up having to call someone, which cancels out the whole purpose of e-mail as a dumping ground, summarize the message in a few brief sentences.

The Boss: Lizz Starr, vice president of global product development, Aveda

Assuming your boss has  total recall

I manage several different areas, and I’m always juggling various projects at any given time. If you pass me in the hall and mention in a time change for a meeting or a new idea for a proposal, don’t assume that I’ve committed it to memory. Follow up on our conversation in writing.

The Boss: Meredith Wagner, executive vice president, Lifetime Television