Dear Crucial Skills, How can I address a situation where I’m taking on extra responsibilities without recognition or fair pay, and my supervisor dismisses my concerns? Signed,At a Loss Dear At a Loss, I’ve lived in Utah most of my life and so have always had a love for mountains. I would walk out the …

What are some ways I can train myself to be a better listener and create a safe space for those around me?

Dear Crucial Skills, I’m a structural engineer with six years of experience, and I recently joined a smaller firm where I’m one of only two engineers. At my previous firms, I was encouraged to contribute to improving well-established systems and processes. At this new firm, many practices feel outdated, but I’m unsure how to share …

How do I deal with a teenager who went on a date without my consent and didn’t come home until the next day? Attempts to talk with her haven’t worked, and I’ve also learned that she smokes. I want her to make better choices and know I’m a safe person to talk to, but I’m struggling to have a productive conversation or influence her behavior. What’s the best way to approach this?

My introverted daughter tends to avoid social interactions by giving people the silent treatment. Recently she’s been doing this with our housemate. How can I help her develop healthier ways of managing social relations?

I received a job offer from a company that recruited me, but compensation wasn’t discussed until the offer arrived—and it matched my current salary, despite the new role being in a much higher-cost city. When I asked HR about it, the response was aggressive (“If you don’t want it, we’ll bring someone else”). I ended the conversation by saying I’d think about it, but I’m unhappy with both the compensation and how HR handled the discussion. I still want the job and see it as a smart career move. Should I raise this with the hiring manager, and how should I approach that conversation, given that I’ve been told HR controls the budget?