We all struggle with the new code word—team—but what does it mean? How can you be an effective team member when it seems no one else knows either?

Many of us have been in situations where we are supposed to be a team member but the team isn’t working. What can you do personally? Here are some ideas:

Why develop skill in managing up? They’re the ones who should be managing us better! They get paid more! And further, who wants to be a “suck-up”?

One of the most valuable skills you can have is being able to manage those you report to.

So how do we best do that? Here are a few ideas:

Lately I've been immersing myself in the percussion music of Spanish composer and performer Nacho Arimany. He's featured in the new brain training tool I am almost (but not quite) ready to offer my clients called InTime. From Advanced Brain Technologies, with whom Nacho collaborated to create this tool.

By Diane Wilson from Viewpoints in the Wednesday Journal.

We all know someone who went through an event like a car accident, military tour, or sports injury and never seems quite the same. They often turn inward and make their world very small, withdrawing from friends and family. Life feels too complicated, and their self-esteem takes a beating. They look at life from the outside, wondering if they will ever feel normal again. They see doctor after doctor who can't tell them what's wrong.

Whether we’re employed or job-seeking, there may be times when we wonder if we’re sabotaging our own progress. We try so hard to do well but insidious little things seem to work against us.

And before we know it, we’ve somehow short-circuited what we were trying to achieve.  We lose our keys, forget to bring the resume, or miss a deadline. It’s like having a tail that knocks over things behind us; we turn around to see the disturbing results—too late.

Now tell the truth, have you ever: Read your e-mail while the person on the other end of the phone thought you were listening exclusively to him? Mulled over your lunch break activities while your boss was explaining your next assignment? Drawn a complete blank on what your co-worker just passionately told you about her day?