Star employees can still be jerks, you might be a scarier boss than you think, and more top insights

What’s happening in the world of work: The Saturday edition of the Daily Rundown highlights the business trends, perspectives, and hot topics you need to know to work smarter. Read on and join the conversation. 

A performance review with a ‘no jerks’ policy: Traditional performance reviews tend to focus on individual achievements. That approach can easily obscure key details, like that your star performer is a terrible colleague. That’s why software firm Atlassian blew up its review system and developed one that places equal emphasis on three key elements: an employee’s contribution to a company’s culture, how they help their coworkers and, finally, how they perform as an individual. The approach sends a clear message: That how you work is just as, if not more, important than the results you deliver. ? Here’s what people are saying. 

Managers, you’re scarier than you realise: Two-thirds of employees claim they never or rarely appear frightening to junior co-workers, according to a survey from Hult International Business School. There’s just one problem: That’s not the case, at all, Hult leadership researchers Megan Reitz and John Higgins have found. Unintentionally discouraging employees from speaking truth to power can yield catastrophic consequences (See under: Boeing, VW, etc.). There’s hope, though. Managers can watch their facial expressions and the words they use. One person’s thoughtful face is another’s enraged. And friendly, off-the-cuff suggestions aren’t that, when they come from a boss. ? Here’s what people are saying. 

You Asked: “I have more than 25 years of experience in social work, bereavement counseling and volunteer coordination. The past three years I have worked for a large hospice. Our office was shut down last week. I find myself looking for work at 63-and-a-half years old. I've only had one interview after responding to numerous job ads. I'd appreciate any advice on how to more positively proceed with my job search.” — Indiana-based social worker

• “First, congratulations on snagging even one interview from cold applications. While ageism is a pernicious reality, most of us – of any age – get jobs through people we know, particularly current and former colleagues. So whenever you apply for a job, check on LinkedIn to see if you – or your contacts – have connections who can recommend you. And network. Reconnect with prior colleagues on LinkedIn, other social media channels, and in person, to let folks know you’re looking. Finally, a little hope: Know that you have vital skills in today’s market and that more employers are beginning to see age-diversity as a good thing.” – Marci Alboher, vice president at Encore.org (More from Marci Alboher on encore careers.)
• “I’d start by asking yourself: What would you like your next chapter to look like? What would you like to specialise in? When you’ve decided, use the network you’ve likely built over your career including former co-workers, bosses, and friendships you’ve built during your career – then reach out to them and explain you’re available as that specialist and ask if they know of any openings. For example, you might want to train entry level workers on bereavement counselling, or you may want to focus on volunteer coordination exclusively. Your enthusiasm will come through and a few recommendations or guidance are likely to come your way if people can see your engagement. If online application age bias is a concern, flip it. Sometimes age discrimination can work both ways where people want to hire mature workers because of their knowledge and experience.” – Caroline Stokes, executive headhunter, executive coach, and author of the forthcoming book, “Elephants Before Unicorns: Emotionally Intelligent HR strategies to Save Your Company”

Looking for career advice from the pros? Submit your questions in the comments with #YouAsked and we’ll take care of the rest.

When self-help becomes plain unhelpful: The quest for self-improvement can be a noble one (it’s also very big business), but it can go too far, warns JotForm CEO Aytekin Tank, who offers a few words of wisdom to the budding self-helper. Remember, one person’s magical productivity hack is another’s time suck. We are all different, and it pays to experiment with an open mind. Another thing? All that focus on helping ourselves may inadvertently keep us from the purpose of all this improvement: freeing us up to spend quality time, likely with others. So, caveat emptor: self-help can be helpful, when taken in moderation. ? Here’s what people are saying. 

Why time beats money, hands down: Contemplating a major life decision? It pays to prioritise your time over financial gain, according to research from Harvard Business School’s Ashley Whillans. After surveying over 1,000 Canada-based college students before and after graduation, Whillans found that those who valued their time over cash when making career calls led more satisfying, happier lives. These grads didn’t necessarily work fewer hours. The key was that, in making decisions, they focused on pursuing opportunities they found worthwhile for their own sake, rather than a paycheck alone. ? Here’s what people are saying. 

One last idea:  It’s easy to let small annoyances – at work and beyond – snowball into major conflicts, without so much as a word. But Focus Brands’ Kat Cole tells Adam Bryant that, over time, she has learned to address such problems early, and often. 

“I am going to be the person who says something immediately or right away, and I don’t wait for little things to become medium things or big things. And I keep getting rewarded for it.”

What's your take? Join the conversations on today's stories in the comments.

— Scott Olster