Here’s your chance to catch up on (and discuss) the issues that have mattered most to our readers, from colleagues’ odd behavior and American labor unions to management philosophies and job interviews.

In case you missed them in our biweekly e-newsletters, below are IMT’s five most-read articles so far this year, plus a few we think are particularly worth checking out. Here’s your chance to catch up on (and discuss) the issues that have mattered most to our readers, from colleagues’ odd behavior and American labor unions to management philosophies and job interviews.

READER FAVORITES

Weirdest Office Habits
Work can bring out the stranger side of human behavior. People often develop odd habits to help them think through difficult problems, cope with work-related stress or relax during downtime. While some idiosyncrasies may annoy one’s coworkers, certain odd habits can actually improve performance. In fact, some of the world’s greatest thinkers have also had some of the most eccentric work routines.

What Americans Think of Labor Unions
Recent labor battles in states around the U.S. have brought the role of public-sector unions in a 21st-century workforce sharply into focus. How have Americans’ attitudes about unions shifted over the years?

5 Ways to Mind Your e-Manners at Work
While technology is widely embraced by professionals today, significant discrepancies exist between its intended use and its application in the workplace. Simply put, some coworkers have no tech etiquette.

Management Fads That Don’t Work
Every few years, a new management philosophy sweeps the business world. How can managers distinguish between a passing fad and a lasting methodology?

Talk Your Way into a Job
Speaking deliberately, asking the right questions, listening to the interviewer and controlling your body language are among the key ways to communicate in a more engaging manner and nail a job interview.

STAFF PICKS

Highlights: A History of NASA’s Shuttle Program
NASA’s soon-to-be-retired space shuttle has conducted more than 130 missions over a 30-year period, setting many records for human space exploration. Let’s look back at three decades of shuttle flights.

How (and Why) to Grade Your Suppliers
Having reliable suppliers is critical for running a successful business. Learn what constitutes a healthy, profitable relationship with your suppliers and how to evaluate them.

Building Blocks for the 21st Century Leader
What can we do about our current leadership crisis? One place to start is a 2010 study that identified 42 core practices — some behavioral, some cognitive — distilled into six categories, or “leadership zones.”

5 Home Projects You Can Do Yourself
Working on DIY projects can be as rewarding as the result. Here are a few projects you can do around the house without breaking too much of a sweat (or the bank).

How to Network (Even if You Hate Networking)
Are you an introvert? Does the thought of making small talk or “working the room” make you cringe? For people who dread networking, consider these guiding principles and techniques.

Image credit: iStockPhoto/mrPliskin