Each year, I recap the top search terms, top posts for the year and all time on Elephants at Work. Why? It tells me a lot about the trends of what’s important to you. If career search, losing your job, loving your job or boss is important, it tells me what to focus on for the coming year.

The terms you use to are direct clues about what’s important and what you are struggling with. Often those terms help me figure out what to write because I understand the trends. Here are the top twenty terms for this year:

  1. the five dysfunctions of a team
  2. inflated ego
  3. career progression
  4. examples of tenacity
  5. reducing turnover
  6. ways to recognize employees
  7. how to deal with a bully boss
  8. norman schwarzkopf leadership
  9. trip to abilene
  10. how to reduce turnover  213
  11. cliques at work
  12. when someone hurts you
  13. engineer career path
  14. elephants at work
  15. example of tenacity
  16. termination paperwork
  17. list of assessments
  18. anger in the workplace
  19. wimpy boss
  20. thanking a boss

I also find it interesting to see what the top 12 posts were for the year. The first two posts about being fired or terminated bring in the top readership each year. In fact, one of them was cited in a legal case where I was contacted to be an expert witness.

  1. Do I have to sign my termination or separation agreement?
  2. Interviewing or Job Applications: What do I say if I was fired?
  3. Do you ask your boss to be a job reference?
  4. Company or boss demands unethical behavior
  5. How to Evaluate Career Progression within a Company
  6. The HBDI Question Series: Part 1
  7. Norman Schwartzkopf’s 14 Rules on Leadership
  8. Best Approach to Thanking the Boss
  9. The Best Rejection Letter I Have Received: A Great Feedback Example
  10. HBDI Question Series: Part 2
  11. 11 Things to do or expect when contesting your unemployment claim denial
  12. Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument Question Series: Part 3

Finally, I like to see how Elephants at Work is evolving over time, so a glimpse at the top all time posts gives me insight into the long-term trends. The top two posts have secured their spots by being read over three times more than any other post.

  1. Do I have to sign my termination or separation agreement?
  2. Interviewing or Job Applications: What do I say if I was fired?
  3. Company or boss demands unethical behavior
  4. Norman Schwartzkopf’s 14 Rules on Leadership
  5. Best Approach to Thanking the Boss
  6. Do you ask your boss to be a job reference?
  7. How to Evaluate Career Progression within a Company
  8. The HBDI Question Series: Part 1
  9. Critical thinking skills – Important, potentially life changing
  10. Twenty Ways to Recognize Your Employees
  11. Tenacity – More Than A Leadership Quality
  12. 10 Keys for Reducing Turnover

I hope you join us for another year at Elephants at Work. I welcome comments and drop me a line if you have something interesting to share.