Monthly Archive for February, 2010

Turning Conflict into Productivity at the Workplace

I recently overheard a work oriented conflict at the spa the other day. The coordinator of the spa was telling the owner that there was a conflict because the employees felt like it was unfair that they had to attend a meeting at the spa on a day it was normally closed.

The owner immediately got defensive and said, “Well, they are going to have to come whether they want to or not.”

As a business owner myself, I know that it’s sometimes difficult when someone does not agree with your plans or your ideas. Sometimes it’s just simply that a particular person doesn’t see the vision you have for your business. But when things are forced upon people, they usually show resistance. Let’s face it…no one like to be told what to do.

I thought about a possible solution. If the owner and the coordinator sat down with each employee and allowed them to give input, they would probably feel more included and want to be more productive. It might seem that this technique is putting all of the power in the hands of the employees. But it’s not. It’s creating a productive work environment where everyone is happy and everyone wants to participate because they felt included.

Published on Monday February 22, 2010 in On the Job. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Recognizing the Opportunity

I think by now I’ve lost track of how many inches of snow has fallen in South Jersey…LOL!

I realize that I could easily choose to complain about cabin fever, having nothing to do, and the tree branches I hear collapsing onto my roof. But I can’t complain because the time off has given me an opportunity to relax and focus on projects in which I’m really passionate about. I’ve gotten a lot of work done on my novel and worked on some business ideas I’d been thinking of putting together for the longest time. I’ve rested my mind and organized my paperwork for school. I am truly grateful!

Published on Thursday February 11, 2010 in On the Job and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: .

The Responsibility Factor

Often times teachers will say their students need to be more responsible. Many students will say that it’s their teacher’s responsibility to make sure that they pass the class. Who’s really responsible?

You are!

Whether you are a teacher or a student, your own responsibility lies within you.

One of my students came into class today without anything – without the textbook, without a pen or pencil, and without any paper or notebook. I asked him, “Where are your things?” He looked at me curiously and said, “At home….”

Just as my blood pressure began to rise over a student coming to class unprepared, I changed my perspective and my reaction. I said,” Well, just like it’s my responsibility to be prepared to teach you, it’s your responsibility to be prepared to learn. It’s like a pact we made when you signed up for the class. So, I’m going to be standing up here doing what I do, and hopefully you can take action right now to be as prepared as you possibly can with the resources around you.”

He said, “What resources? I didn’t bring anything.”

I said, “There are 19 other students in this classroom right now. What items do they have that you don’t have right now?”

He said, “They have everything I don’t have.”

I said, “Okay, so who might be able to help you get what you need?”

Then the lightbulb turned on in his head. He smiled. He asked the girl next to him for paper and a pen. Then he asked her if she could share her book. He raised his hand to answer every question I asked throughout the class period. And he was very eager to pay attention and participate in the discussion.

With both of us fulfilling our end of our own responsibility, learning happened for both of us. He learned his responsibility, and I learned not to let my blood pressure rise in a situation that seemed incomprehensible at the time.

Published on Monday February 1, 2010 in College Success and On the Job. 0 Comments Tags: , , .