Consider two bosses:

Boss A is reserved, rarely gives praise, demands that people meet production and quality standards, has increasingly high expectations, and gets rid of people who cannot do the job. Boss A will tell you in words of one syllable if there is a problem with your performance. Boss A does not suffer fools gladly but, if you are performing well, you'll be left alone.

Boss B is friendly, gives lots of praise, is flexible on production and vague on quality standards, has comfortable expectations, and rarely fires poor performers. Boss B dislikes confrontation and expects you to read the indirect signals of displeasure if there is a problem with your performance. While Boss B will never make you uneasy, there is a lot of management by crisis.

Everyone's always pounding into job candidates' heads that first impressions during a job interview are critical. Are they really? I've interviewed people before and often changed my first impressions of them (either positively or negatively) once they started answering questions. Surely, I'm not the only one who won't let a candidate's wimpy handshake, terrific smile, ugly tie, nervous hiccups, or tailored suit completely cloud my judgment about his/her ability to do the job! Is it possible that most of that first impression advice out there is bogus?

Here's the thing with a first impression: You only get one shot at it. (Sorry—old, lame cliché.) Absolutely, I think a bad first impression can be overcome. It's just that it's easier if you don't have one to overcome in the first place.

Is there a positive change you want to make in your life? Maybe a new career, or improved sales skills, or getting more organized? Have you bought books on the subject already?

Here's a radical self-help idea. DON'T BUY ANOTHER ONE. At least not yet.

How many half-read, marginally implemented personal growth books do you have on your bookshelf? You had the best of intentions when you bought them, but somehow the wisdom in the words never quite made it into your real world.

I got some blowback from last week's post on laughter as a weapon against sexual harassment.

Some commenters thought that Working Girl was advising "laughing off" sexual harassment. Others concluded that WG proposes laughter as the one and only response to all forms of sexual harassment. She does not, on both counts, and is sorry to anyone who thought so.

Laughter is a tool you might choose to try if your situation meets two criteria: (1) it fits the level of the crime, and (2) you are the snarky type of person who can carry it off. (Ridicule and scorn are powerful weapons. Why deprive ourselves of them?)

1. Overperform. If you are simply doing the job you were hired for, that might not be enough. These days you have to not only do that job but do it exceptionally well. I mean, not just exceptionally well...more like, no-one-has-ever-done-this-job-like-this-before well.

2. Timing Is Everything. It always seems to happen that someone will ask for a raise at exactly the wrong moment. The company has a poor sales month or quarter—a bad time. Your boss is under the gun for a big new project from his boss—a bad time. It's like the girl who gets grounded and the very next day asks to go to her first overnight party—bad timing.

It's always baffling to me how many people don't realize when they're in danger of being fired, even when the signs are all there. When it finally happens, they're stunned and seem never to have seen it coming. So here are five signs that your job might be in danger:

1. Your boss tells you. With the exception of one horrible mistake, every time I've fired someone, I've warned them ahead of time that that's what would happen if their performance didn't improve—and sometimes people are shocked anyway. If your boss tells you your job is on the line, she's not kidding.

What is a sure way to make enemies and damage your career?

Fail to coordinate with people.

A common charge that is tucked within allegations of insensitivity is that the offender has dropped others on their head. That seldom comes from excessive communication. Here's how this problem arises:

1. You make a commitment, change your mind, and then don't tell those who are relying on your original words that you've flipped. You may have had noble reasons for the shift, but that probably won't erase the embarrassment felt by those who relied upon your word.