21 Mar

Workplace Conflict Management Resolution – How to Resolve?

Posted by admin, under Anger Management

Conflict management in the workplace develops the harmonious relationship among employees. To manage the conflict, first step is to identify different conflicts a person has experienced. Then identify appropriate ways to resolve a conflict and practice the conflict management steps to resolve a conflict. Conflict management involves conversation, discussion and practice of conflict resolution skills. The employees should have training and/or the skills in business communication, boldness, and anger management. These skills are necessary to resolving any conflict.

Conflict resolution is a hard skill to master. It is important to stress to the employees the importance of using “outs” when their skills are not helping resolve the conflict. The “outs” include leaving the area, approving to disagree, and getting a third party involved to help in the conflict resolution. Discuss with employees different conflicts they have been facing in day to day activities. Have they talked about how to resolve it? Talk about the positives and negatives about how they resolved the conflict. Positive ways can consist of trying to know the other person’s point of view, compromising, talking about it, etc. Negative ways include yelling, refusing to modify, change or compromise, refusing to work out the conflict, etc. Instruct the following steps to resolve the conflict.

Control employee’s emotions and use recreation techniques. Take yourself out of the conflict situation. Express your feelings positively to create harmony. If there is a conflict, try to identify the root cause. Who is responsible for conflict? If it is needed, take time away from the person to think about the conflict and prepare a good strategy to resolve as soon as possible. Ask the employees if they have time to talk. This will cause a communication between them and most of the cases communications resolve the conflicts. Discuss your feeling. Tell the person why you are reacting like you are (i.e., you have not paid your incentives of the sales for the last three months). Listen carefully completely and allow the person to respond.

Discuss with the person different options for resolving the conflict. Continue to discuss peacefully. If the conflict can not be resolved and/or you are getting irritated, inform the person that you need to go away and you would like to talk about it afterward. Do not give up, wait for some time and try again. I hope in this article you have read the basics of conflict management and few good steps to resolve it.

Copyright © Nick Mutt, All Rights Reserved. If you want to use this article on your website or in your ezine, make all the urls (links) active.

Read information on Effective Business Communication and how to write business massages to your client. Know about ERP Implementation Best Practices and more on enterprise resource planning. Read comprehensive list of Most Profitable Web Businesses to start your own Internet business.

Nick Mutt is an active writer and blogger on health related topics. He has published many ebooks on natural health.

No Comments | Tags: , , , ,
15 Mar

The High Costs Of Anger In The Workplace

Posted by admin, under Anger Management

Leroy was a superstar in the Real Estate business, producing three times the monthly business of his nearest coworker. He was a driven, highly competitive young man who saw his manager as getting in the way of even higher production.

Tension turned to irritability. Yelling and shouting followed. On the day he was fired, he shoved his manager in front of alarmed coworkers who reported his behavior to HR. Anger management classes were required, along with a one month interim, before reinstatement would be considered.

As this case example illustrates, workplace anger is costly to the employee the company, and coworkers. Studies show that up to 42% of employee time is spent engaging in or trying to resolve conflict. This results in wasted employee time, mistakes, stress, lower morale, hampered performance, and reduced profits and or service.

In fact, in 1993 the national Safe Workplace Institute released a study showing that workplace violence costs $4.2 billion ech year, estimating over 111,000 violent incidents. Further, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, about 500,000 victims of violent crime in the workplace lose an estimated 1.8 million workdays each year.

Clearly, poorly handled anger, frustration and resentment sabotage business productivity.
Was Leroy justified in his anger? What skills or tools should he learn to prevent future episodes? What could management have done to better handle the situation?

TOOL #1-RESPOND INSTEAD OF REACT
Using the tool of “respond instead of react,” Leroy can clearly learn to control his behavior and communicate needs in a socially acceptable manner without disruptions to work and morale. The issue here is not if he was justified in being angry; it is how to best deal with normal angry feelings. A key ingredient to managing anger is learning to change “self-talk”—that internal dialog that creates or intensify angry feelings.

From a management perspective, proper anger management skills can enhance conflict resolution, promote personal growth in the employee, reduce employee stress and promote increased workplace harmony.

TOOL #2-STRESS MANAGEMENT
Leroy was clearly under a great deal of stress, much of which was self-imposed. Stress often triggers anger responses. Learning to effective deal with stress can help prevent anger outbursts, as well as reducing employee “burnout” and hampered performance. Managers should be alert to stressed employees and recommend help, before things get out of hand. In many companies, HR or EAP (employee assistance professionals) can provide you with resources and referrals.

TOOL #3- EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
Popularized by psychologist Daniel Goleman, much research shows that increasing “EQ” is correlated with emotional control and increased workplace effectiveness.

What is “EQ” exactly? According to Goleman, it is “the capacity for recognizing our own feelings and those of others, for motivating ourselves, and for managing emotions well in ourselves and in our relationships.”

Fortunately, skills to improve your emotional intelligence can be learned by both employees and management. The benefit is increased understanding of yourself and others which directly relates to increased productivity and workplace harmony.

TOOL #4- ASSERTIVE COMMUNICATION Communication problems frequently lead to misunderstandings, conflicts with coworkers and hurt feelings which may hamper concentration and work performance.

Assertiveness is not aggression, but a way to communicate so that others clearly understand your needs, concerns, and feelings. It starts with the familiar advice to use “I” statements instead of “you” statements which can sound accusatory, and may lead to defensiveness instead of cooperation.

Other communication improvements include acknowledging the concerns and feelings of others in your interaction with them. And, being more sensitive to what others are saying to you “beneath the surface.”

TOOL #6-ACCEPTANCE
While sometimes workplace anger is manifest in “exploding,” other times it is born of grievances held by employees over any number of workplace issues. Much research shows that learning to accept and let go of the wrongs done to you can release your anger and resentment. This, in turn, may improve your health, and help you focus on your job instead of your negative feelings.

Is “acceptance” easy? Of course not. Nor does it mean that you think that whatever happened to you was right, or that you have to like the offending person. What it does mean is “letting go” of the negative feelings you now experience when you remember a negative experience or you encounter the offending person, so that it no longer affects you.

Dr Tony Fiore is a licensed psychologist and anger management trainer. His company, The Anger Coach provides classes, products and resources for adults, couples,the workplace, and professionals. He can be reached at 714-771-0378.


Related Blogs

No Comments | Tags: , , ,
10 Mar

Stress Management in the Workplace: My Tips

Posted by admin, under Stress Management

We all need stress management in the workplace. Everyone experiences stress at work. Here are some techniques you can use to make eliminate your work stress.

You see, work has its many stressors. It could be your boss, or a colleague. Maybe it’s just the stress of getting up everyday.

Whatever it is, you can use some of these tips to help you “de-stress” work and make it a little more enjoyable.

Stress Management in the Workplace

First of all, be nice to your colleagues.

I know you’ve heard “being nice” is good for productivity, but here is why it’s good for managing stress at work.

When you’re nice to your boss and your co-workers, they’ll have a better relationship with you. You’ll get along better. You’ll help each other.

Also, you will feel a lot more comfortable being around because you’re in regular communication with them. There’s no “ice to break”. So how is this a good thing?

Well, you will stress less about work because no one is looking down on you. If you don’t communicate well, people will look down on you, and it will be harder to work.

What does that mean for you? More stress at work. So be nice to be stress free.

Maintain a happy and positive mood

Why? You’re mood is like a disease. It’s contagious; other people “catch it”. So, if you are in a happy mood, others will see that and reflect off of it.

They will be more comfortable to approach you. They will feel good to be around you. They’ll like you. Being liked is definitely a stress killer, isn’t it?

Teamwork Rules!

If you work together as a team, everyone is happy. Your boss, your colleagues, and you of course. Why?

Teamwork brings everyone together and helps you communicate better. It puts you in a happy and positive mood. Sound familiar?

Teamwork jumpstarts the other two tips for stress management. A true “stress-killing machine” I would say!

Well, we’ve come to an end. Use these three tips at work. Why? Not only will it relieve your stress, it’ll make you love your job!

People are entering the workforce like never before. Of course, that brings in more stress. You don’t have to worry, as long as you have these tips by your side.

Oh, and one last thing. Why don’t you teach your colleagues about these tips? They need it as much as you do!

We all know that when your colleagues are joyful, so is the work environment. That means a stress-free workplace for you!

Nikhil Bhaskar is happy to provide visitors with stress relief tips and techniques to help them with their stress problems. These techniques are easy-to-use and practical, and they can be used anytime. You can learn how to manage work stress, for instance. Not only will these tips help you relieve stress, but they’ll also help you live a happier life. Please visit Stress Relief For You.


Related Blogs

No Comments | Tags: , , ,
09 Mar

Stress Management And Perfectionism in the Workplace

Posted by admin, under Stress Management

I came across this article by Stephanie Goddard that I want to share with you. It discusses a problem that is so common in the workplace and is one that often sabotages our stress management and ability to work in a stress reduced manner. Perfectionism is a mindset that creates stress so what can we do about it in a world that expects the most of us each and every day?

Perfectionism and work stress always go hand-and-hand.

Perfection can be a standard to shoot for, but becomes unhealthy when it is the only standard accepted. Some people take the goal of perfection too far…and there is a price to pay.

True perfectionists are never satisfied. Chronic or daily attempts to achieve perfection are driven by feelings of inferiority and self-hatred. This not only impacts the person and their health, it seriously damages the morale of their co-workers as well as our ability to strengthen our stress management capability.

Perfectionism has not received enough attention in the workplace, in my opinion. It can be one of the most destructive traits to both the individual and to others’ motivation and worker self-esteem. It is the leading cause of procrastination, which is ironic, as the tendency to procrastinate creates even more self-loathing and the cycle continues. I have seen few personality traits as problematic as the need for perfection. If you would like to improve your stress management ability in this areas let’s first make sure if you are indeed a perfectionist.

Are you a perfectionist?

• Do you find yourself becoming frustrated because you feel that you aren’t as far along as others?

• Do you feel others (even loved ones) are always assessing you? From your clothing choice to your word choice…that you are regularly being scrutinized by the people in your life?

• Do you criticize yourself even when you are learning something new?

• Do you expect yourself to do everything well at all times?

• Do you find yourself taking part in activities in which you have little interest to gain approval?

• Do you find that when you do something that satisfies you, it is short-lived (for example, the next day you are back to trying to accomplish perfection again?)

• Have you been told by the people around you that you focus on the problems in life and, even if everything is okay, you find something that bothers you?

• With most tasks, do you feel that there is a “right” way and a “wrong” way to do them and you are uncomfortable with alternative ways of getting them done?

If you answered “yes” to more than a couple of these, it is most likely that your stress management will be adversely affected. I would suggest starting to work on your need for perfection. Perfection can be achieved…it just can’t be the standard for everyday performance. I can honestly think of fewer reasons for work stress—and ultimately hating your job—then demanding perfection from others or having it demanded upon you on a daily basis.

It’s really that simple.

Perfectionism Repaired

It is time to start improving your stress management but when you set perfection as the standard for all of your objectives, you are being unnecessarily harsh on yourself and will derail your stress management capability. You deny yourself the reality that you can only become better when you are allowed to try new things, take risks, and make mistakes. The necessity of self-acceptance becomes impossible and this lack of acceptance is used as a barometer for others’ performance as well.

If you are deeply ingrained in the perfectionist mindset, then this information is probably being discounted by you as you read this. I urge you to just notice the possibility that you may be causing yourself unnecessary wear and tear by striving to achieve a standard that no one but you insists on.

Read the following suggestions that will help in your stress management and select one to keep in mind for the following week:

• Remember that you have a distinct and unique contribution. Stop comparing yourself to others.

• Develop your own style and preferences instead of following another person’s way.

• Stop analysing every interaction/conversation you have with important others.

• Accept the fact that sometimes you will make poor decisions and that you will learn from them.

Research shows that people who take risks and create new and exciting progress will make, on average, two big mistakes a year. Those who stay in their comfort zone and never try anything new? They will make two big mistakes a year. Why not achieve and stretch and get excited about something instead of staying in the rut of autopilot, albeit perfectly handled?

Remember: perfection is not possible for humans! So take another view that will help you become more at ease and boost your stress management and emotional wellbeing.

InnerCents specialised in stress management, leadership training and executive coaching.


Related Blogs

No Comments | Tags: , , ,
08 Mar

Workplace Stress Management

Posted by admin, under Stress Management

Managing workplace stress is the same as managing driving stress or parenting stress or marital stress, since stress is a physiology which happens inside me after my Central Nervous System responds to a perception/thought I have about the external world.

Here is an example I use in my domestic violence classes. Imagine buying the winning lottery ticket, and saying to yourself, “The state has cheated me, it is not enough!”

That thought will trigger a stress hormone filled body, when most people would fill their bodies with eustress hormones, maybe even joy.

If I were hunting for my next meal, and suddenly a saber tooth tiger leaps toward me, I need to have a tremendously fast response time (perhaps four times faster than I can blink my eyes) in order to save my life, because a saber tooth tiger has greater physical assets than I do. Faster, stronger, meaner, ect.

In the olden days, if I and my teammates either got away from the saber tooth tiger or killed it, then we would rest and clear the neurotransmitters and hormones of the stress response from our body.

So we see the stress response was not meant to be turned on continually to help me produce more widgets, which is how we use it today, the stress response was meant to supply a burst of survival energy, and then I rested.

John Gottman,Ph.D. in his marital workshop describes how detrimental this burst of stress hormones, which he calls diffuse physiological arousal, (DPA) can be when it gets cued in marital conflict.

The same detriment happens when DPA gets cued at work. I perceive a facial expression, or a tone of voice, from a co-worker, customer, a superior, and how many of us have made ourselves really angry over an e-mail, by interpreting those flashing pixels on the computer screen as about our talents and resources or the lack thereof?

A very important aspect of workplace stress management is to understand that my stress response will happen very fast, and it will be in response to non-verbal communication, facial expressions, a tone of voice, a gesture, and the physiology in my body happens so fast that I may be flooded with adrenalin and cortisol faster than I can create words, so workplace stress management has to happen just as fast, or as close to that fast as I can manage.

(Ever heard of Paul Ekman,Ph.D.? Ekman says that we can respond to a look of contempt, even a very subtle look of contempt, in 1/25th second, which is about 2 and 1/2 times as fast as I can blink my eyes. Those of you who parent have seen this in yourselves when your kids look at you like as if you were really unintelligent).

I use the analogy in my anger management and domestic violence classes that your inner physiology needs to be managed heart beat by heart beat, because if your heart stops, there is no need to worry about workplace stress management anymore is there?

Is it possible to manage your physiology that effectively?

Yes it is, and the cheapest tool is deep breathing. If you have ever watched a newborn breath, they breath all the way into their belly, making it move up and down, which keeps their interior chemistry DHEA based rather than adrenalin based, broadly speaking.

If we train ourselves to remember deep breathing frequently, we will be able to cue up that response as frequently as our computer monitors need us to, and we will actually open our higher perceptual centers for excellent brainstorming.

If we forget our deep breathing, in about 1/25th second, I will be throwing my computer, and if throwing my computer monitor does not burn up my stress hormones, then I may throw my neighbors computer monitor, and so on.

Workplace Stress Management Back-up Tool….

If I forget my deep breathing, and decide to keep my stress physiology going for awhile, is there a back-up tool that I and the folks around me can use to relax?

Try heart rate variability biofeedback, which is an easily learned biofeedback process that feels good.

In fact, everyone at your workplace could learn heart rate variability biofeedback and everyone could conceivably get on the same heart beat and stay there, which would sure change the nature of the work place, could it not?

Heartmath is based on recent discoveries about the heart’s own affiliative and cooperative nervous system.

Not too long ago, no one knew the heart had its own nervous system, nor did anyone know that the heart and a coherent heart beat could impact the brain in my head so powerfully.

But a coherent heart beat which I can learn to cue on any give heart beat does keep every cell in my body, and any body doing heart rate variability biofeedback on the same ‘beat”, and a dazzling kind of team work emerges.

In fact, the team or workplace heart beat begins to take on a life of its own, and folks start to smile a lot more, absenteeism lowers, resignations slow, customer service ratings go up, and staff Doctor visits slow.

Anyone ready for a coherent New Year?

Michael S. Logan is a brain fitness expert, a counselor, a student of Chi Gong, and licensed one on one HeartMath provider. I enjoy the spiritual, the mythological, and psychological, and I am a late life father to Shane, 10, and Hannah Marie, 4, whose brains are so amazing. http://www.askmikethecounselor2.com


Related Blogs

No Comments | Tags: , ,
« Previous Page