Some time-honored practices shouldn't be questioned. Like playoff beards. The hook-and-go pass against Uncle Fred at Thanksgiving. Ashley Judd at Kentucky basketball games. These things work and will always work. Other ones -- like blowing on hot soup -- we can't be sure of. We do it because it makes sense in theory, or because we've always done it. But blind faith can lead to wasted time, lost money, even heartache. It always helps to question authority -- and we've found some leading authorities. Let's start with soup.
Blowing on soup to cool it down
YES: It works. Does it look foolish? Maybe, but between exhalations, inform your tablemates that you're merely breaking up the hovering air barrier. This allows the heat to transfer and the liquid to evaporate more quickly, leading to a decrease in temperature, says Sanford A. Klein, Ph.D., a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Now enjoy that minestrone.
And the next time you make soup, be sure you use the freshest produce. Here's how to pick the best vegetables and fruit in your grocery.
Getting back together with an ex
NO: Unless you enjoy rewatching sad movies with bad endings. It's hard for people to change, but easy for them to become nostalgic. There were reasons for the break, and those reasons are waiting to reappear -- typically on a long car ride.
"Most people believe they're growing and learning, but most of that is job skill and not personality change," says Michael McKee, Ph.D., a psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic. Okay, miracles can happen, so if you must releap, stay vigilant, he says. Keep checking in with three places: your heart, head, and gut. If one of them is skeptical, it's a solid signal that you're barreling down a familiar road.
Giving direct, honest feedback to the boss
YES: But there's a time, a place, and a way. It's not like in the movies: You can't interrupt a meeting with your dramatic truth-to-power speech and expect the boss's glare to melt into a grateful smile. But it is a performance, and you should rehearse. A practiced, positive delivery is as important as a spot-on message.
First, convey your motivation: Your comments are meant to help the boss, the clients, and the company, not to make yourself look good. Have the meeting in private when neither of you is rushed; this shows respect for your boss's time and heightens your sincerity. Give a heads-up that feedback is coming, says Steve Shuster, brand leader at W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., whose roster of innovations includes Gore-Tex fabric. Bosses don't like surprises, except maybe finding a misplaced decimal point that saves the quarter.
Be timely and specific, so the problem becomes actionable. Avoid vague complaints. Every so often, ask, "Do you see where I'm coming from?" This prevents rambling, allows your boss to synthesize, forces you to listen, and transforms the session into a productive dialogue that builds trust. Look -- he's smiling!
Keep your boss happy and score a promotion with this six-point plan to ultimate career success.
