January 26, 2021 By Joyce Weiss

My Favorite Expressions to Use During Stressful Days

What are some of your favorite expressions?
Do they help you move forward on those days that you need a little nudge?
By now my loyal readers know some of my favorite expressions. 😉

This is one I use during my Kick Conflict to the Curb Virtual Course. It reminds all of us that just thinking of a conflict will not make it disappear. Sometimes we may decide to just let it go. Other times we don’t have a clue how to even start the conversation. Clients learn how to use their voice and NOT be afraid to speak their truth after only a few sessions. This is powerful stuff here!

The expression below is one that I use closing most of my videos that I post on Facebook and LinkedIn.
It’s easy to understand. When clients complain about silence in their meetings, I say, “What have you done about it?” When they answer using the words, “I did nothing”, I say, “You get what you tolerate!” I make my point in only 5 words. So can you! Let me know how you use this expression and what kind of results you get from others.

The quote below from Martin Luther King Jr. is one that speaks my truth.

I live by his words and use this quote in most of my writings, videos, and training. The words are so powerful and truer today than ever before. Remember, I see most of my clients change from being silent and not using their voice to feeling more confident and speaking up. This is music to my ears.

Let’s stay connected!

What are some of your favorite expressions? Those of you who share either in the comment section or send me an email will receive a new video (that I have not posted yet) about using props to engage your virtual meetings. It’s short and contains tips to liven up your virtual meetings.

Hey, Dear Readers, I’m here for you when you have questions about your own communication or relationship “challenges.” Feel free to send me an email. Full disclosure here:
I don’t charge anything when people send me questions or comments via email. Staying connected is what it’s all about for me.

Have a Great Week!

Joyce Weiss, M.A., CSP, CVP
Master Coach
Queen of Conflict Resolution

P.S. Career Advancement is like riding a bike: Shift Gears from coasting to owning the road!

P.P.S. The next 2 blog posts will cover Save IT Communicators and Tell It Communicators.

January 19, 2021 By Joyce Weiss

Got Personal Bias with Your Triggers?

Welcome to Kick Conflict to the Curb Weekly!

Are there certain people who you get along with really well?
Do you know others who push your buttons?
Do you know if your personal bias is getting in the way?

You can take an exercise after you watch the video below that may be revealing about your own personal bias. Take out the popcorn and let’s connect after watching it!

Here’s Your Personal Bias Excercise

Take a piece of paper and draw a vertical line down the middle.

On the left side put the name of someone who you get along with really well.
On the right side write the name of someone who drives you crazy.
Write the characteristics of the names both on the right and left side of your paper.
Look at the left side. Does this person remind you of you? I find that 99% of my clients who have done this exercise recognize that the description is their own characteristics.

Is Your Personal Bias Getting in Your Way?

I suggest that you do this exercise when you meet one of your triggers. I’m serious. This exercise will keep you on track on how you can keep your personal bias under control – especially with those who rub you the wrong way. This person will not be your best friend (I hope!). Knowing that your personal bias is in control may give you the energy to either ignore him or her or decide how you can carefully continue moving forward with the relationship – especially at work when you can’t select whose on your team.

Let’s Stay Connected!

Please share your thoughts about your own personal bias by commenting on the blog or sending me a private message at Joyce@JoyceWeiss.com. This powerful exercise is easy and impactful.
I appreciate every one of my loyal readers! Please share any of the Kick Conflict to the Curb Weekly posts to your friends/colleagues who could benefit from the coaching secrets or videos on resolving conflict.

Have a GREAT Week!
Joyce Weiss, M.A., CSP, CVP
Master Coach

Remember, You Get What YOU Tolerate!

January 11, 2021 By Joyce Weiss

Stop Gossip NOW

Are you tired of all the drama at work?
Do you want to find out how to stop gossip?
Are you ready to transform your department from spreading rumors to an engaging team?

This short video gives you a strategy that will help you make the conversation safe and get great results. At least you will start the conversation and not keep in inside – feeling unheard!

Strategy #1: Stop Gossip Now

Start out the conversation by saying, “I don’t want to…”

For example, “I don’t want to create stress between us.” This statement is a great way of making the conversation safe. You aren’t judging the other person. You just want to start a calm discussion.

Strategy #2: Stop Gossip Now

Once you told the person what you “don’t want”, it’s time to add the 2nd part of the strategy.
continue by saying, “I do want…”.

For example, “I do want to have a necessary conversation about office morale.” This statement is your way of saying, “this isn’t going to continue.

Strategy #3: Stop Gossip Now

Once you express yourself using both “I don’t want…” and “I do want…”, this is how it could sound:

I don’t want to create stress between us.
I do want people to communicate directly with each other when they have an issue with a team member. We are better than this. Our office morale is very important to our team.

That’s it! Making conversations safe is the 3rd step in the WEISS COMMUNICATION SUCCESS PLAN.
I’ve got you covered. You’ll receive all steps in the plan in future articles.

Let’s Stay Connected

Can you see how powerful this strategy is for your business and life? I suggest that you use this plan at least daily for a week to feel comfortable with it. Implementation is the name of the game.

What questions do you have on your own communication challenges? Send me a comment directly in this post or send me an email; Joyce@JoyceWeiss.com and I will get back to you and address your concern.

Until next week,
Joyce Weiss, M.A., CSP, CVP
Queen of Conflict Resolution

P.S. If you haven’t grabbed your FREE and personalized communication assessment, go to
KickConflictToTheCurb.com for your own copy. We can even set up a FREE laser focused 30-minute coaching call. You are on my advocate or blog list and I take care of loyal readers – BIG TIME!

January 5, 2021 By Joyce Weiss

A Fascinating Study on the Power of Negativity in the Workplace

Gale Research conducted a study on the Power of Negativity in the Workplace.The survey only consists of two questions.

Would you rather:
1. Accept a $10,000 pay raise knowing that you would be working with a negative person?
2. Keep your current salary and not work with a negative person?

The video below will give you the results.

Results from the survey: The Power of Negativity in the Workplace

25% of those surveyed would accept the $10,000 pay increase knowing that they would be working with a negative person.
74% of those surveyed would stay at their current salary and work with a negative person.

Were you surprised? Clients share how much stress they experience at work because of only one complainer on their team. It takes a few sessions to create an action plan on how to deal with the complainer. At times we can try several strategies and nothing seems to work. That’s when we have to ask ourselves what else we need to do. The answer is usually changing our mindset. Not easy. But necessary.

I’ve included a link at the end of this post to an article on THE GAP – a safe place to go before you open your mouth. This is a great strategy to use when you need to remind yourself that the negative person is not attacking you, they are negative because of their situation. At times we personalize things a bit too much – not a judgment, just being real here. 🙂

Step into the GAP and remind yourself that you can do the following;

Walk away
Say something safe
Speak your truth

How Can We Use the Study of The Power of Negativity to Our Advantage?

I’m hearing about so much stress and drama going on these days at work. We need to discover why great employees are leaving your company. They may not tell you that they found another job because of a negative colleague or leader at your company. Most people keep their reasons internally because they don’t want to open up a can of worms.

Think about the cost of retraining someone new and the loss of experience. One of the best ways to reduce negativity in the workplace is to make sure that everyone feels heard. Ask more questions, including all levels of your workforce in key decisions. Speaking to your negative person is something that leaders need to do in order to reduce the toxic environment from appearing. They need to be made aware that negativity, gossip, silence, or bullying are not acceptable in your workplace.

Let’s Stay Connected

Please share your thoughts on the negativity survey and content of this article. Tell us about your experience working with a negative person and how you did or did not resolve the situation.
Send me a private email HERE if you have a question about your own stress at work or even at home. I will answer your email immediately. Let’s get the conversation started. 🙂

I added an article below if you want to read more about THE GAP – how to get into a safe place before you open your mouth.

Here’s an article about THE GAP. Enjoy and let me know what “speaks’ to you.

Until Next Time,
Have a great week!

Joyce Weiss, M.A., CSP, CVP
The Queen of Conflict Resolution

P.S. Remember to grab your personalized FREE Communication Assessment to see how your communication impacts your success at work.
Visit Kick Conflict to the Curb to get started.

December 29, 2020 By Joyce Weiss

A Happy New Year Greeting from Joyce Weiss

This is the time of the year when we reflect on our lives and set new goals for 2021.

My message to you has one theme: Thanks for making my career so meaningful and rewarding!

We may have worked together on mutual projects or you’re a loyal reader – knowing that you’ve trusted me either as your coach or working with your team, means the world to me. As we all move forward to 2021, let’s think of how we’ve changed because of the pandemic.

Some of you are experiencing tremendous loss and I’m so sorry for you and your family.

We all know the stages of grief from Kubler-Ross:

Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance

A journalist whose loved one died called the Kubler-Ross family and asked if they could add another stage to the grieving process. They listened and agreed with the journalist. The new stage is MEANING. When we grieve, the last phase used to be acceptance.

MEANING is so powerful. We can all ask ourselves what meaning has all of this loss (death, jobs, not seeing friends or family during the holidays) impacted all of us? We can think of the meaning of someone’s life and even of the pandemic.

Some of you are doing well and coping just fine. Others are not as lucky. My wish to you and your family is to appreciate your loved ones and to move forward to a hopeful 2021.

Cicero said, ‘Where there is life, there is hope.”

Thanks again and wishing you and yours a healthy and happy 2021.

Warmly, Joyce Weiss
Master Coach
Queen of Conflict Resolution

P. S. Please hit reply and let me know how you are doing and what’s going on in your life! By now I think you know that I care and support you – BIG TIME!

P.P.S. This is a great time of the year to find out how your communication skills impact your success at work or at home. Grab your FREE Communication Assessment at Kick Conflict to the Curb HERE