Posts Tagged ‘conflict’
Finding the Good in Conflict
You don’t have to look very far these days to witness conflict. Topics in the news and in our local communities are evidence of many divisive concerns. Opinions range from one extreme to the other. The layers of tension have been building steadily, especially since COVID drastically changed so many of our normal routines. It’s…
Read MoreBad Communication = Toxic Workplace Culture
If you’ve got “bad” communication going on in your organization, it’s not just going to blow over. In fact, communication is one of the keys to a consistently healthy culture. When you replace it with trademarks like harshness, one-sidedness, or even intimidation, the result is a toxic workplace culture. In that kind of environment, it’s…
Read MoreWhy you shouldn’t hide from the heat: how to be cool when handling conflict
So much of the country has been experiencing record heat. Not just for a day or two, but for extended periods. It can wear on you if you aren’t used to it. I grew up in Virginia but after years of milder summers here in New Hampshire, these 90+ degrees days can be stifling. We’ve…
Read MoreSignals of discomfort are often subtle
The walks are off. Grace won’t walk down the street again. Last week she agreed to go four straight days. On Thursday, I could tell the walk had become a chore. She was trying to do what she thought she should do, but I could tell that it’s wasn’t fun for her. In fact, she…
Read MoreFeel like you’re in a fight? Play instead.
I never tire of watching our cats fight. Or play. I’m never really sure which it is. They mostly seem to enjoy the exchanges. There is the occasional snarly meow that has the distinct sound of being extremely annoyed. But the fighting (or playing) continues, on and on and on, it goes. Co-workers can have…
Read MoreKnow what’s behind you, but keep your focus on what’s ahead
Last Friday, I met with a staff of a small organization to review assessment results. It was a fun and rewarding time for me, because everyone was genuinely interested in learning more about themselves and each other. They were filled with probing questions that reflected their interest in looking ahead. instant approval payday They understood…
Read MoreTwo things to do when someone is ignoring you
There are times when I feel that Grace is ignoring me. (And I’m sure she does on occasion.) But mostly I think she just doesn’t always understand what I’m saying. What often looks to me as if she’s ignoring me is very likely a result of her not knowing what I’m saying. When she’s afraid…
Read MoreMove outside your comfort zone — at your own pace
“I’ve always believed that the pure of heart can go unharmed where others fear to tread.” That is a quote from a fellow blogger, Sara. She had written it months ago and at the time, I retyped it and taped it next to my monitor so I could read it often and be reminded of…
Read MoreHandling difficult situations: do you “manage” it or do you have skills to work through it?
When we get into a difficult situation, it’s common to just want the problem to go away. Who wouldn’t? The way we deal with challenging situations is the key to any conflict. For those times when we don’t handle conflict well, it’s most likely because we never learned the skills to know how to navigate…
Read MoreThis is MY space!
One of the things I like the most about observing Grace is how literal her communication is. The same is true with our cats. Their body language tells it all. If we could observe human interactions with that level of objectivity and detachment, I think we’d often behave differently. There are two instances that illustrate…
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