How to Manage conflict in the workplace

How to Manage conflict in the workplace by Amber Rolfe Unfortunately, you won’t always get along with everyone you work with…Workplaces are often full of different personalities and viewpoints. So it’s only natural to butt heads every now and again â€" whether it’s that you disagree on how to carry out a task, there’s been a miscommunication, or you simply have a clash of personalities. But it’s how you manage it that really matters.To make sure workplace conflict isn’t affecting your productivity (not to mention your workplace wellbeing), here are our top tips on managing conflict at work:  Acknowledge the problem Never assume the problem will go away on its own.Sure, it might seem easier to drown out the noise with your favourite Spotify playlist and/or pretend you’re ‘too busy to deal with it’ â€" but neither are lasting solutions.In fact, the problem will only come back to haunt you in the long run (most commonly in the form of a passive aggressive email or an unnecessary remark). It could a lso be affecting productivity, especially if it’s acting as a roadblock for a task you’re working on simultaneously.Instead, actively acknowledge the conflict and determine the reasons for it. Is it that you’re disagreeing on how you should approach a task? Is it as a result of being overworked? Or is there a personality clash?Whatever the problem, understanding why it’s causing a conflict is the first step to resolving it.How to: Deal with work problems professionallyBe emotionally intelligent Let’s face it, nobody’s perfect.And in the midst of an argument, debate, or any other kind of conflict, it can be all too easy to act out of anger or frustration. But not only are these feelings unlikely to represent a rational outlook on the situation, voicing them could also make things worse. Especially if the issue turns out to be a simple misunderstanding.So how do you avoid lashing out, and potentially saying something you don’t mean?Firstly, figure out exactly how you’r e feeling and why you’re feeling it before you express it. Whether you’re angry, upset, confused, or anything else, understanding the main cause of these feelings will help to determine the root of the problem â€" and ultimately, how you can resolve it.Once you’ve figured this out, you’ll be far more likely to speak logically and rationally when confronting your colleague or manager about the conflict.Five reasons you’re unhappy at workDon’t make it personal The worst thing you can do is attack the person instead of the problem.Assuming someone’s personality is the root of the problem might be something you do on impulse, but in reality, you should be talking about their behaviour and actions; and how they’re affecting you and the situation.Because whilst you might be disagreeing on this particular topic or issue â€" that doesn’t make either of you a bad person. You just have different views.For example, being accused of being ‘a horrible person’ is far more li kely to cause offence (and defensiveness) than simply stating what they did to make you feel wronged or hurt (e.g. ‘I didn’t like the way you took charge of that meeting’).This way, you’ll be able to keep your relationships intact, whilst fully communicating what you both feel has caused the conflict.How to: Deal with awkward situations at workHow to: Take criticism at workConfront the conflict OK, so you’re aware of the problem. Now it’s time to face it.Discussing conflict can be difficult, especially if you’re not a fan of confrontation. However, it’s absolutely vital that you and the other person (or people) are on the same page when it comes to how you view the problem, and how you want to approach it.So arrange a time where you can both speak freely (in private) â€" ideally face-to-face (although over email may sometimes be appropriate).As a guideline, try and ensure that you:Express what’s bothering you in a neutral and non-accusing wayAsk questions to unders tand the root of the problemListen to their perspective without interrupting or answering backTake responsibility for your part in the conflict, and apologise if necessaryYou might be surprised at how clear a resolution becomes once the problem is out in the open, and both parties have their chance to say how they feel.How to: Speak confidently at workHow to: Deal with difficult staffDevise a solution Once you both agree that a problem exists, and realise that it needs to be solved, you’ll be able to come up with a mutually viable solution.You may also find that once you work together instead of against each other, there are a number of other aspects of the situation that you have similar views on.When coming up with a resolution, try and cover the below steps:Express what you’d each like to change (e.g. ‘I’d like to be given credit for my work on X’)Come up with a realistic plan that you both agree on (which may involve compromises)Discuss how you can follow through on yo ur plan (e.g. catch up weekly to discuss progress)Finally, if none of the above works out and you’re still having difficulty working with a certain colleague, it might be a good idea to involve a member of HR as an unbiased mediator in your problem solving.Because sometimes, something as simple as getting an outside perspective could be enough to resolve the situation is a fair manner.And if all else fails? Try your best not to carry the conflict on. Agreeing to disagree might seem like nobody wins â€" but it could be the safest way to keep your professionalism in-tact.How to: Deal with bullying in the workplace    Still searching for your perfect position? View all available jobs nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with ou r privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Life At Work Workplace culture

Best Resume Words For You

Best Resume Words For YouWhen you are writing a resume, you need to consider how important the resume words are. While it is all well and good to know your achievements, they do not tell the reader much. The words you use should speak volumes about you. You must understand what your resume needs to say.Do you want to have a fun resume? Then choose a slogan that describes you best. What is your personality like? How do you feel when you smile? These are questions you should ask yourself when you are writing your resume. It will also be useful when you meet the recruiters who are reviewing your resume.There are so many resume terms and phrases. Some people want their resume to be one word and this is fine but sometimes you need more than one word for a resume. If you do this, you must learn to use all the words and acronyms that apply to you. The recruiters who review your resume will probably wonder why you chose all those lengthy words.You must remember that each resume is unique and it has its own purpose. To give a more cohesive feel to your resume, you should break your resume down into individual sections. This will allow the recruiter to focus on each section to determine what they need to know about you.Make sure the words you choose are right for your resume. There are different writing styles that each resume requires. For example, if you are working on an academic paper, use a formal style. You do not want to be seen as a slacker by choosing informal words for your resume. Be sure to learn the rules of the resume writing style so you can write professional resumes.Personality is important for your resume and you should include the things that matter to you. Your personality is important to them because they will be judging you as a person. Your resume is your selling point and you will be judged on it.If you have used a resume writing service before, then you probably have seen resumes with words like 'Makeover'Reboot'. These words are usually used in combination with other words that are not as important as your resume words. It is very important to have a professional writer for your resume because you do not want to get things wrong.You can choose to include a personal message. However, remember that the recruiters for your employer will see this message first. They are looking for an interesting message and not something you wrote on your own.

How to recognize poor executive function

How to recognize poor executive function Executive function means being able to see the big picture and sort through details to arrive at a good decision. You probably have met more than a few people with very poor executive function. This person is probably very smart but seemingly incompetent in one areaoften at work, or in daily life skills, or both. Executive function disorder is common among people with Asperger Syndrome. I have terrible executive function. Sometimes I make decisions that are so bad that I look like Im being ridiculous on purpose. Its simply unbelievable to many people that I could make such incompetent decisions. But in the moment, I cant see it. To be sure, I can see it in other people. When Im coaching others I can tell within five minutes if Im dealing with someone with poor executive function. Many times I have said, The crux of your career problems is that you have an executive function problem. And after the person does a bit of searching on Google, they thank me over and over again for helping them understand why their life felt like it was falling apart and they couldnt stop it. My inability to get proper ID is an example of executive function problems. I can tell you thisI know it intellectually. But still, if I had this story to do all over again, Im not sure I would have done anything better except maybe pay someone to help me sooner. Executive function is the biggest problem I have and the hardest problem to make other people understand. But maybe this post will help you understand the full extent of an executive function gap. In 2008 I took more than 50 flights within the US. With no photo ID. You’d be surprised how easy that is to do. Los Angeles has so many people coming through with no photo ID that there are 40 people on staff to check people with no ID. At O’Hare they called a special phone number and then gave me the choice of three street names and I had to pick the one I had never lived on. In LaGuardia I lied. They asked what happened to my ID and I said I lost it. They asked why I didn’t get a new ID. I said I just lost it last week. I only lied because I thought I’d sound like a crazy person for not having any ID for more than a year. The truth is that I didn’t replace the lost ID because I couldn’t. I tried. Since I changed my name, my birth certificate no longer works as ID. I need two more pieces of paper to show who I am and people don’t like that. So getting ID started to be a fuss. I realized that my social security card no longer worked. I needed to change the name on it. But I didn’t. I threw it out. I didn’t know that just because it no longer officially works doesn’t mean you should throw it out. Is there a word that is the opposite of hoarder? That’s me. I got used to using my passport as my ID. But while living in Madison, I lost my passport during a trip. People told me not to take my passport everywhere. But I had toit was my only ID. That is bad, because in Madison you need a driver’s license. Because you have to drive. You need a lot of stuff to get a driver’s license. You need a state-issued ID. You need a picture ID. You need a social security card. You need all that. But every time I went to the DMV to try to get a license I wouldn’t really get all that list of stuff. I’d get some of it. I’d sort of try to get the stuff but I couldn’t do it. It turns out the first offense for driving without a license is a $200 fine.  That seemed okay. I got that fine in about two months of driving. So I went back to the DMV. But now I had an unpaid ticket, and you cant pay the ticket at the DMV. Then I got another moving violation and my license got suspended. But you cannot live in Wisconsin and not drive. So I drove. I tried to drive only a little bit. And I told myself I would get my license as soon as the suspension was over. I got pulled over again at 3am when I was coming back from a business trip. I was driving down the middle of the road. On the line. They had me step out of the car to take a drunk driving test. The said put your right hand on your nose. I got the wrong hand. I told them I don’t know my left and right. They ignored me. They told me to lift my left leg, and they pointed to my left leg so I’d get it right. I lifted it really high, almost to my shoulder, because I can, because of yoga, and I wanted to impress them with my sobriety. They told me I need to follow directions if I’m going to pass the test. I walked in a straight line. They told me they were shocked, but I passed. Still, they impounded my car because I was driving on a suspension and they drove me home in the police car. I had my friend pick up my car. And then I drove it. In hindsight, there were better alternatives than that. But at the time I didn’t see any. Just as my suspension ended, I got pulled over. The policeman said to me, “Do you know why you got pulled over?” I said, “No.” He said, “Your tags are expired.” I was shocked. I didn’t think people really kept track of their tags. He said, “Can I see your license?” I started crying. The kids said, from the back seat, “Are you in trouble? Are you going to jail? Did you break the law?” I asked the policeman if I could get out of the car and talk to him because I didn’t want my kids to hear. He said okay. I explained that I didn’t have a license. I told him I’ve been trying to get one but I couldn’t and then I got it suspended and I said please don’t make it so it’s suspended again. I’ll never get a license. He gave the kids stickers and coloring books while he made calls on his radio and wrote tickets in his car. He ticketed me for the tags but not the license. I went back to get a license and I couldn’t do it. I didn’t have the right combination of name and address to match everything. I had changed my name and where I live so often that nothing matched. I went home discouraged. I started thinking like a felon. I was scared of the police.   I noticed them all the time. Sometimes I’d get so nervous driving behind a police car that I’d make a turn, just to get away. Youre probably wondering what the Farmer was doing through all of this. He was having a complete shit fit. He was trying to understand why I couldn’t get a license. He was trying to tell me that I needed to take the rules seriously. He was telling me that I was going to ruin his life and the kids’ lives if I didn’t get a license. To his credit he was always really nice about it. He knows me well. He knows that it is probably true that I cannot navigate bureaucracy by myself. Slowly, I started taking steps to get my license. I hired someone to help me. I was making progress. I had a Wisconsin State ID and a social security card. And I was gearing up to the take the written exam. To give you and idea of how hard it is for me to take a standardized test, when I took the GRE I scored in the 17th percentile. I think that’s where people score when English is not their firstor secondlanguage. My son sat next to me while I surreptitiously popped a Xanax and started the test. The DMV person told my son he had to sit farther away from me. There are a lot of questions that I’ve studied for. For example, I know that if you hit a deer and you do not take it, the next driver can take the deer home for himself. I pass the written test. The Farmer and Jeanenne have a mini-celebration. Jeanenne drives me to the DMV in Darlington to take the road test.   I wait too long at intersections but they still pass me. Then they let me take six photos until I get one I like. And Jeanenne says, “It’s amazing that even when you are trying to follow the rules and be like everyone else, you still get people to make exceptions for you. “ But look. It’s a good picture:

How Much Growth is Healthy When is Maintenance Better - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How Much Growth is Healthy When is Maintenance Better - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career We’re a society that’s obsessed with change and growth, and in many ways that’s a great thing.  When a person challenges himself to learn new skills, acquire new positive behaviors, adjust to transitions, assume new responsibilities, he typically becomes broader, more productive and emotionally mature. While this is true for most people, it’s also true that a person needs to know his own limits. When a person pushes himself beyond his limits, works too many hours, fails to take care of his health, ignores the relationships in his personal life, the repercussions can be devastating. It’s important to tune into oneself and know when it’s time to take a break or to simply slow down. We’ve all seen athletes who drop out of their sport altogether after too many years of over taxing their bodies; executives who’ve lost their moral compass from too much focus on getting ahead; and friends who pushed themselves so hard at work that they compromised their personal relationships and/or their physical and mental health. Serious burnout is a very real after effect when a person goes too far in expecting himself to constantly be in a state of progress. The wise person can tune into his own emotional state and know when he needs to say no and when he needs to pull back or take a vacation. My suggestion to those who are drawn to push too hard is to consider another path; the path of maintenance. During this period one needs to say to oneself that more growth isn’t better! Assume the mindset that taking on new responsibilities, new friends, new hobbies new growth strategies may be good for a future time but isnt what I need now.   Recognize and respect your limits and boundaries and learn to feel good about what you’ve accomplished thus far.   Celebrate your accomplishments and enjoy this state for a while. Healthy maintenance requires discipline; taking time to process what you’re doing well and what areas you need to focus on in order to improve necessitates taking time for oneself. Allowing one’s mind and body to pause from a rigorous active state is a struggle for many people in our fast paced society. There’s no wonder that yoga and meditation are popular pursuits among busy professionals; as people yearn for some down time and quiet space to reflect on ones life.  This time out from moving ahead allows a person the opportunity to make adjustments in one’s personal and work life in order to become happier. The growth addicts automatically shun maintenance mode and view it as a rationalization for slowing down one’s growth. Don’t let these types inhibit you from appreciating this stage; and relish in knowing that by embracing the maintenance stage you may re-energize yourself for your next period of growth.   But for now, if you are feeling overwhelmed, stress-out or resentful for working too much, just focus on holding on to where you are and find time to rejuvenate yourself For those who are realists and truly want to sustain their growth overtime, knowing one’s limits is essential for achieving long-term growth. Staying in the same place is not as easy as it sounds as one can fall backwards in this state (imagine climbing a ladder its not so easy to stay still on a rung); it requires a desire to not fall back into a previous, possibly less evolved, emotional place. When a person makes a conscious effort to stay on track (intentionally avoiding a fall) and refraining from the impulse to push forward, this requires discipline and energy. The amount of growth and change that’s good for people varies from person to person.   The important idea is to tune into oneself and become intellectually honest with how your drive for growth, change and advancement is affecting you and those around you? If you see signs of increased anxiety, wanting to withdraw socially, sadness, tensions in your personal life or making more mistakes than you usually would, you might consider that it’s time to implement and take pride in embracing the maintenance mode.

Writing An International Resume

Writing An International ResumeWhen writing an international resume, some countries have special terminology. While writing in English, do not forget to use the correct terminology. The language used will vary between countries.For example, if a student has been working in a doctor's office in Mexico and obtained her medical degree in Canada, she should list it as a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree in Canada. Some countries will not allow people to use the Americanisms such as PhD or MA. However, people with advanced degrees may use such terms to indicate their degree. To use the term PhD, it must be stated.The United States does not require students to have official passports. However, the majority of US citizens will carry one at all times. It is not an official document, but is recognized as having sufficient validity for travel. Many people choose to keep their international student records in their US universities. Others may choose to file them with the immigration office of the country they are studying in.All student visas are considered an application for study or work authorization. Students are responsible for the responsibility of reporting the expiration date of their visa. If a student takes a course in another country and wants to go back to the US for their university work, they must apply for a student visa. To apply for a student visa, the student must meet the criteria set by the appropriate consulate of the country they wish to study in. If they fail to apply in time, they will be turned away from the country.During their first semester, students will usually be required to complete an orientation session to help them know what they are required to do if they are denied a student visa. However, they can still stay in the country if they submit an application for a student visa. Also, students must apply for a visa before they enter the country.Upon being granted a student visa, the student will have permission to remain in the country for five years after graduation. The student must then wait at least one year before applying for a visa extension. This period can be extended upon the student's request.A student visa is not a legal status, but it is a privilege that allow the student to live and work in the country. It is also used as a means of helping to support their studies.To write an international resume, it is important to pay attention to the language and terminology. Not only does it make it easier for others to read, but it also makes the resume more professional.

Action Words In Resume Writing

Action Words In Resume WritingAction words are words used to fill a gap or set the scene of a particular situation. They may be words like 'Follow the directions,' 'Follow the directions carefully,' or 'Follow the directions carefully.' These are the words that indicate that something should be done, rather than an actual instruction or command.Action words can really be more important in resume writing than in most other types of writing. When writing an essay for school, school is not always going to be at the top of your list of priorities. When writing a job application for example, it is likely that you are more interested in getting hired than learning all about how to write a great resume.Actions are going to be far more important than words because they tell the reader what is to happen rather than what is already happening. This is why students are more apt to remember what they were taught and read about in class and read on a test.Another way to use action words is to make sure the details are correct. Most people know that even the best-written resume is not going to be complete without grammar and spelling errors. Using action words in your resume can help ensure that these are kept to a minimum. This will help give you a more professional look.The words should be free of any spelling mistakes and they should be unique. You should be able to tell right away if your resume contains the same action words as someone else's. Doing this will ensure that you are not stealing anyone's thunder.You should also make sure that the action words you use are specific and concrete. Any proper nouns that you use in your resume should be precise. You should not put action words like 'Company 'Biz' in your resume, only use 'Company 'Biz' when you're referring to the companies. If you use 'company' without specifying what company you are talking about, it is likely that your resume will be disqualified.You should always strive to include action words that are relevan t to the position you are applying for. There is no need to just go out and find words that you think will get you the job, since most likely you have no idea what that job even is. Use words that will match the position that you are applying for.You should be careful to use action words sparingly in your resume, but using them more is a sure way to make a great impression on the people reading it. If you have trouble finding words to use in your resume, you may want to try some free resume writing software online.

Selling Yourself To A Potential Employer

Selling Yourself To A Potential Employer Selling Yourself To A Potential Employer In many ways, a job interview is akin to a salesperson presenting to a buyer. First, if you were in sales you would spent some time researching your potential client. Next, you would analyze their needs a sales person and were about to sell a product to a customer you would do some homework or research These steps would help you convince potential clients that your product was the best choice to so that you could convince your customers that you had the best product to fill their needs. This same process can be a powerful tool in your interview toolbox because you should sell yourself like a product. What do you have to offer (as a product) to the customer (the employer)? What do you have that will fill their needs (the requirements of the job)? What can you bring that is unique or added value to the position/company? (that sets you apart from the pack)? Let’s begin with what you offer. Find opportunities to present key qualities throughout the interview. For example, when interviewing for a position that requires “strong organizational skills” you’ll need stories that demonstrate these abilities. Preferably, descriptions that show how your abilities have positively impacted your team, department, or employer. Anyone can say that they have “strong organizational skills,” but not everyone can give specific examples of a time when they had a success using those skills. Don’t tell them â€" sell them â€" with examples of your success. Before you go to a job interview, evaluate the employer’s needs and how you (as the product) can fill those needs. Study the job description for the “must haves” and the “nice to haves.” Make sure you have stories to back up your claims for the skills and experience that are that the employer considers essential. Read the job description between the lines. What would it take to do this job? If for instance, there is a statement such as, “Position will require frequent collaboration and interaction on all levels of staff and management,” you can gather that “strong interpersonal” and “communication” skills will be needed to do this job. Make sure you can provide examples of those abilities as well. Finally, to complete the sale you’ll need to let the employer know that you can “fit in” and be a “team player.” Being able to do the job is only part of the equation. Employers want to know that you will be a good addition to the team. Don’t dismiss your personal traits in your sales “pitch” preparation. Follow companies on social media to get a feel for their culture. Ask questions of anyone with inside information. Identify traits that align with the company culture. If the company is laid back and you love working under pressure, this may not be the place for you. Make sure to show your willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done. Be excited and enthusiastic. Go in with a good attitude. These things may be the difference between you and an equally qualified candidate getting the job offer. Take time to prepare for your job interview. Focus on the idea of selling YOU to the employer. By the time, you leave the interview the employer should have a strong sense of what you offer and why they need to hire you. They will be sold on why you are the best person to fill their needs. P.S. Be sure you dont make these interview mistakes.

Social networking advice for job seekers and business owners -

Social networking advice for job seekers and business owners - One ironic thing about writing my book, Social Networking for Career Success, is the more writing I did for the book, the more difficult it was to put together a blog. I didnt want to share the same information I was writing in the book, and my inspirations for blogs were running low. Now that Im promoting the book, Ive been concentrating my efforts on trying to highlight contributors and blogging on the books website! Here are some recent blog posts Ive added to the books blog. I hope youll click through and take a look! How to use social networking for your business Highlighting contributors Tasti-D-Lite (@tastidlite) and Pizzeria Venti (@pvatl), this post reminds readers of key considerations when thinking about using social media to grow a business How to use job boards to prepare your social networking strategy This post highlights Chris Russell (@chrisrussell) and Susan P. Joyce (@jobhuntorg), experts on job boards and online job hunting. While job boards arent generally considered social media sites, they are an important part of many job seekers strategies, so I tapped my network of experts for advice for you. Also, learn how to use job boards to help you research and prepare your pitch. Chris interviewed me for a podcast on the topic of social media for job seekers. You can listen to the podcast by visiting the link HERE. Twitter helps grow your reputation This features my friend Hannah Morgan (@careersherpa), who noted, Twitter, more than any other social media tool, enabled me to establish a recognizable presence and brand online. I highly recommend that everyone even job seekers and business owners who do not have an interest in blogging experiment with Twitter. I agree with Hannah I love how Twitter helped me connect and become friends with many colleagues and contacts. Its an amazing resource for job seekers and business owners, which is why I devote three chapters to it in my book! photo by birgerking