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I started interning at an independent record label last November and am enjoying myself tremendously. I'm passionate about the industry and devoted to this position. However, I'm quick to acquire new skills and feel that I've already mastered the tasks that I've been allocated and am raring for more. There's plenty to do in the office but each team is quite territorial over their duties and they don't seem to want me more involved. What do you think I should do?

You need to try and find out why people are being territorial, because it may be that they are not convinced that you have the skills to do the job. Confidence is a great thing, but it sounds as if you think you can take over the world. That certainly isn't a criticism, but you need to consider what you can and can't do. Tell these people: "I would like to help, do you think I can do the job? Do you think I've got the skills to help you out?" Surely if you can make their lives easier, wouldn't that be better for everyone? Generally, people want help.

However, I think this is a two-way deal. An intern should think carefully about choosing the workplace they go into. They should completely commit, and the workplace needs to ensure it gives them the experience they need to further their careers. If it doesn't happen, I would question why they're taking on an intern. Interns have been exploited in the past. If a workplace is simply using cheap labour, getting the intern to photocopy things, then it's not actually keeping its end of the bargain. If I'm an intern, I want to develop my career, which will require being used, pushed and nurtured. I don't want to feel that I'm there because I'm cheap or free.

I'm the MD of a small, close-knit company. Embarrassingly, I drank too much at our office party and insisted that all seven female members of staff danced with me. Some took it in good spirit, but I'm told that others found the experience quite stressful. I'm worried that there is now an unpleasant atmosphere in the office. Any advice?

This fear may be partly in your head. You obviously feel that you did something inappropriate, but it might be that there isn't as much of an awkward atmosphere as you think. Sometimes it's appropriate not to discuss things simply because they aren't that big a deal. However, if you judge that there's a problem — particularly if it appears to be getting worse — then you need to tackle it. Think about your own motivations: why did you do it? Drink is never a good excuse. I would like to think it was just because it was a Christmas party, and therefore why not? If you dance with one, then you should dance with everybody. And if that's the case, you should say that, and in a very informal way. Say: "I probably put you under pressure to dance with me at the party and I hope you're all right with that." You can judge from their response. My view on something like this is generally, it was at a party and if you tackle it in a quite light-hearted way it can be helpful. Otherwise if you do it too formally, it can be turned into something it wasn't. and then become an issue. Ask yourself: am I embarrassed about it? Am I causing the atmosphere? Is it better to just ignore it and not do it again? Or, is it getting worse and are there individuals I need to talk to? But again, find a gentle way of doing it. That's the trouble with drink: you lose perspective and judgement, and you read scenarios in a different way.

Deborah Meaden is author of Common Sense Rules (Random House, £7.99). Read more advice from Deborah Meaden.

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