This is the latest news and information for workers and managers from across the Web universe, brought to you by Monday Morning Manager writer Harvey Schachter. Follow us on Twitter @Globe_Careers or join our Linked In group.
Here are some habits that consultant Art Petty says irk your employees: Finding the problem in everything; never providing praise; struggling to make a decision – any decision; changing direction but failing to tell others that you changed your mind; and making your team members walk on eggshells around you. Management Excellence
Turn complainers into happy campers
That customer who is complaining doesn't want a refund, entrepreneur Seth Godin insists. He or she wants a connection, an apology and some understanding. The customer wants to know why you made him feel stupid or abused, and why it won't happen again. Seth's Blog
Schedule earnings calls early
When you book your next earnings call with analysts, choose early morning. Research by professors Baruch Lev and Elizabeth Demers and graduate student Jing Chen found that calls originating in the late afternoon were more negative and combative than morning ones. Just before lunch was also poor. Harvard Business Review
Don't follow your passion – lead it
Advertising expert Roy H. Williams says that never have successful people told him they followed their passion. Their jobs didn't give them passion – they gave passion to their jobs. So don't follow you passion; let your passion follow you. Monday Morning Memo
Convert PDFs in a snap
PDFBurger.com offers a free converter of PDFs into Microsoft Word, with no software needed to be downloaded and installed. The transfer is carried out on the website and the new document then downloaded. Neat Net Tricks
Harvey Schachter is a Battersea, Ont.-based writer specializing in management issues. He writes Monday Morning Manager and management book reviews for the print edition of Report on Business and an online work-life column Balance. E-mail Harvey Schachter