7 Tips For Finding Opportunity In Conflict

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This week’s blog comes from:

Dale Carnegie Training Newsletter

By Anita Zinsmeister, President — anita.zinsmeister@dalecarnegie.com
Dale Carnegie® Training of Central & Southern New Jersey 

When someone creates a conflict at work, don’t always think of it as a problem.  Sometimes conflict leads to good outcomes, such as an improved process or greater efficiency.  Keeping this in mind can help you to look at conflict in a better light.

People are occasionally not on the same page at an organization so when conflicts breaks out, consider this an opportunity to take a more creative approach.  To help you and your team make this happen, we have listed seven tips below.
 
7 Tips For Finding Opportunity In Conflict
 
1.  Attack The Problem, Not The PeopleThe problem needs fixing, not the people.   Yes, it’s possible your team will need new skills, knowledge or information to effectively implement your solution.   But always remember that as a manager, you must keep your focus on the issue.  Attacking your staff will help no one.
 
2.  Don’t Go It Alone Even when you are an expert in the relevant area, it can be very helpful to involve your coworkers in the process.  Sometimes you just need another pair of eyes on the problem in order to come up with a solution.
 
3.  Don’t Settle Look for a fresh approach, a new angle or a unique perspective.  Do not settle for the way it has always been done.  If the traditional solution was good enough, the problem should have gone away.

4.  Give Yourself Some Time Off – When you are stuck, get away from the problem, take a walk, forget about it and come back later.  A fresh mind is always preferable to a tired, frustrated mind.  In fact, a break may be all you need.

 
5.  Involve A Third PartyEven if you follow Tip #2, consider going a step further; get someone who is not involved to offer his or her input.   Ask a friend in another department or even a customer to help you clearly define and assess the problem.

6.  Listen To Your Gut – Intuition is perfectly acceptable in problem-solving given you: (1) clearly understand the problem and the potential cause, (2) have been in a similar situation before and (3) possess data, information and research that support your intuitive solution.  If the above three criteria are met, then go with your intuition. 

  
7.  Sometimes Not Making A Decision Is Actually A Decision – Though it may be difficult to swallow, sometimes the best solution is to do nothing.   As managers, we are prone to want to do something, to take action.   Realize that, on occasion, taking action will only cause more problems.  In those cases, it’s best to wait.
 
Executive Summary: Conflict can be difficult and messy to deal with, particularly in the workplace.  The thought of ignoring it can be tempting.  However, by dealing with conflict head-on, the parties involved can open up opportunities for growth.  So don’t give in to the temptation to avoid conflict.  Instead, follow these tips and watch your workplace — and your staff — thrive. 

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Take the next step after job rejection

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From the Courier-Post on Jan. 17, 2016 and CareerBuilder’s Deanna Hartley.

Here are some tips for getting back on your feet after a rejection:

  • Don’t take it personally
  • Maintain a positive attitude
  • Turn your weakness into a strength
  • Think, reflect and talk it out
  • Don’t give up on the employer that rejected you

To learn how you can brand yourself, check out Larry Litwin’s books via www.larrylitwin.com. All have gotten outstanding reviews.

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Tips to Succeed:Online resources can improve writing

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This is Tip No. 8 in Larry Litwin’s “More ABCs of Strategic Communication: available on www dot larrylitwin dot com.

Writing well is more than just knowing the basics. A well-written letter, proposal or brochure could make or break a sale. If you are not the best writer, the Internet offers many resources for helping create well-crafted materials. These Web sites can help you with business or personal writing.

• www.onelook.com – An online resource where you can search almost 1,000 dictionaries.

• www.bartleby.com/100 – A listing of familiar quotations so youcan find just the right phrase for the “write” occasion.

• www.c2.com/cgi/wiki?Chicago Manual Of Style – The online home of the “Chicago Manual of Style” answers frequently asked questions about style.

• thesaurus.com – The online version of Roget’s New Millennium Thesaurus helps you locate the right word for the idea you’re trying to express.

Source: Andrea C.Carrero – Word Technologies Inc.,Cherry Hill,N.J.- 856-428-0925

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Tips to Succeed:A user-friendly Web site

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This is Tip No. 9 in Larry Litwin’s “More ABCs of Strategic Communication: available on www dot larrylitwin dot com.

So many people flock to the Web that if your Web site is not user-friendly you may be sending potential clients elsewhere.

Here are some hints to assure your Web site is right for business:

• Can visitors find information easily?

• Is the navigation clear and consistent throughout the site?

• Can visitors easily find your contact information?

• Do the pages load quickly on a standard modem connection?Many users still have dial-up service.

• Are the most important elements of your site visible without scrolling up and down or side to side on computer monitors set to the 600 X 800 resolution size?

• Does the site look good and work with Netscape® and Internet Explorer® browsers?

• Can the visitor identify what your business does or what products you sell? Research is clear, frustrated visitors leave difficult to navigate sites and may not return.

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Tips to Succeed: Be a team player

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This is Tip No. 6 in Larry Litwin’s “More ABCs of Strategic Communication: available on www dot larrylitwin dot com.

When interviewing for a position,it is always important to talk about the success you’ve achieved with the help of others.This discussion will inevitably lead to how you’ve also helped others achieve their goals.Companies like to hire people they can counton to work well with others.You are trying to fit into an already existing puzzle.You need to prove that you are willing to help others succeed and are willing to take advice and assistance from your new co-workers.

Steven Malloy – Career Counselor – University of Colorado

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