Joyce Weiss

I work with organizations and individuals who want to kick conflict and chaos to the curb - Queen of Conflict Resolution and Communication Coach

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A Motivational Quote About Courage and Confidence

 

Joyce Weiss | Career Coach| motivational quote

#motivationalquote
#eleanorroosevelt
#confidenceandcourage

I just saw this powerful quote recently.  It reminded me that we all need encouragement at times.

I find a great motivation is finding books on topics that I don’t usually read. It’s amazing that the protagonist or message give me solutions to challenges that I’m facing.  A friend of mine just loaned me a book on the first Navy SEAL.  I’m in awe of the bravery and courage that these brave warriors portray every day.

Think of books or movies that would be a good source for your own inspiration.

One of the reasons that I send these motivational images is that clients have asked me to do so since they like the positive messages appearing in their email.  Hey, we need to do the best we can to stay positive in this challenging world of ours!

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

  • Where do you go to get encouragement?
  • How do you face your fears?
  • Is there an area in your life where you need that nudge to overcome a fear or complete a goal?

I want to hear from you

Add a comment to my blog what you do when you need encouragement.  What books have helped you?
You will receive a response from me because I enjoy connecting with my readers! 🙂  You are always welcome to send me a private email (Joyce@JoyceWeiss.com) with concerns that you are experiencing at work.

Please share this and any article that speaks to you or your company

Loyal readers like you help us find more people who could benefit from these posts. Help us help them reduce conflict and improve leadership skills and quality of life.

 

This is Joyce Weiss
Corporate Communication Strategist and Career Coach

Have a great week.

Until next time, Remember…”You Get What You Tolerate!”

 

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Toolbox Alert #3: A Code of Conduct Really Works!

This post is the 3rd article of a series called Creating Your Own Code of Conduct.

Toolbox Alert #1 covered the following topics:

  • The importance of a Code of Conduct
  • Challenges you may face while creating the Code of Conduct
  • An important reality check about the Code of Conduct

You will find the link to Toolbox Alert#1 HERE

Toolbox Alert #2 covered the following topics:

  • Knowing the priorities of the Code of Conduct
  • The Code of Conduct is the police officer
  • What to do when someone breaks the Code of Conduct

You will find the link to Toolbox Alert #2 HERE

This week’s article will cover the following topics:

  • Examples to get you started to create a Code of Conduct
  • Joyce’s thoughts about creating a Code of Conduct

Examples to get you started to create a Code of Conduct

The following are examples of ideas created by clients during past training sessions: code of conduct | career coach | improve meetings

  • Eating before meetings in order to focus on important issues
  • Total engagement of the entire team – no silence
  • Talkative team members sticking to the point
  • Finger pointing and blaming will not be tolerated
  • Sidebars won’t happen during meetings in order for everyone to listen to the speaker
  • Company values will be followed.  If there is a breach of the code, we need to confront others
  • Treat people how you want to be treated
  • Bullying will not be tolerated
  • Harassment will be addressed especially with sexual orientation, minorities, women, and new team members
  • Discipline will be consistent with all leaders

Joyce’s thoughts about creating a Code of Conduct

  • Everyone has to agree to the Code of Conduct or it will not work. code of conduct
  • When there is a breach the person needs to be called out.
  • We need to ask,  Is what you are doing aligned with our values? 
  • Retaliation is never part of the code.  People need to feel safe in order to respectfully tell team members when
    they break the code.
  • The entire team needs to create the Code of Conduct

I want to hear from you

Add a comment to my blog on how you created a code of conduct in your workplace. You will receive a response from me because I enjoy connecting with my readers! 🙂  You are always welcome to send me a private email with concerns that you are experiencing at work.

Please share this and any article that speaks to you or your company.

Loyal readers like you help us find more people who could benefit from these posts. Help us help them reduce conflict and improve leadership skills and quality of life.

This is Joyce Weiss
Corporate Communications Strategist and Career Coach

Have a great week.

Until next time, Remember…”You Get What You Tolerate!”

 

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Toolbox Alert #2: A Code of Conduct Improves the Team

Last week was the first in a 3 part series on the importance of creating a Code of Conduct.  Read last week’s article on How a Code of Conduct Reinforces Accountability HERE.  The main concepts are that everyone in the organization needs to create the Code of Conduct and adhere to each agreed rule.  If someone breaks the code the entire team is responsible to address this issue with the person who breaks the Code of Conduct.

This week’s article will cover the following topics:

  • Knowing the priorities of the Code of Conduct
  • The Code of Conduct is the police officer
  • What to do when YOU break the Code of Conduct?

Knowing the priorities of the Code of Conduct

1.  The code and mission come first code of conduct
2.  The needs of the team come second
3.  The needs of the individual come third –
it’s not all about you!

It takes a while to get everyone on the page about these 3 priorities.  This is where the pedal meets the metal by making sure that everyone feels empowered to have the tough conversation with those who break the Code of Conduct.

The Code of Conduct is the police officer

The conversation below is one that a client used with a colleague.
“This is not about me attacking you.  This is about following the code.  We all agreed upon the code.  I’m uncomfortable doing this, yet I need to speak to you since it will benefit all of us.  It’s not about being mean or blaming you.  It’s about sticking to what we decided to do.”

How do you think this conversation went for my client?  The good news is that it went very well.  Both parties did not judge or criticize in a negative way.  If your Code of Conduct is done right, the results will be extremely beneficial.  If people start arguing, you know that you need to have more discussions with the entire team.

Discuss what the benefit will be for the person and the team.  Thank the person for listening.  Give a compliment when the person improves his or her behavior.

What to do when YOU break the Code of Conduct?

  • Take a deep breathcode of conduct
  • Don’t take it personally
  • Acknowledge the person
  • Listen without interrupting
  • If you made a mistake admit it
  • Ask the person how to make it right

Owning our mistakes could even be part of your Code of Conduct! 🙂

Let’s get real about the Code of Conduct

Please listen to me on this one!  It takes time to make the Code of Conduct work.  There will be naysayers on your team.  There may be bullies who feel they can ignore the code.  This is where leadership matters.  Everyone on the team needs to feel free to communicate with anyone who breaks the Code of Conduct –  not just leadership.

Next week I will include what my clients have included in their Code of Conduct.

I want to hear from you

Add a comment to my blog on how you have made a Code of Conduct work in your company.  How did you address team members when they broke the Code of Conduct?  You will receive a response from me because I enjoy connecting with my readers! 🙂  You are always welcome to send me a private email HERE with concerns that you are experiencing at work.

I will send a copy of my 2nd book – Full Speed Ahead:  Become Driven by Change to the first 3 readers who send me a comment or email.

Please share this and any article that speaks to you or your company

Loyal readers like you help us find more people who could benefit from these posts. Help us help them reduce conflict and improve leadership skills and quality of life.

Read the first article in the series on The Importance of a Code of Conduct HERE.

 

This is Joyce Weiss
Corporate Communication Strategist and Career Coach

Have a great week.

Until next time, Remember…”You Get What You Tolerate!”

 

 

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Toolbox Alert! A Code of Conduct Reinforces Accountability

Lately, I have been asked to help clients create a code of conduct for their companies.  It’s easy to do during a 1 1/2 hour training.  The results are impressive because people discuss expectations and ideas from everyone on the team.  People feel heard after the code of conduct is created – unless the code is not followed by everyone and lack of trust exists in the company.

This article will cover the following topics:

  • Why the code of conduct is an important tool
  • Challenges while you create the code of conduct
  • A reality check about the code of conduct

Why is the Code of Conduct Important?

code of conductThe code is an important tool to use because accountability becomes a reality.  You probably have created a mission, values that represent your company, and a vision.  The code is a valuable addition because it is how your colleagues communicate and act.

  • The code of conduct is a powerful set of rules that govern the internal behavior of any team.
  • The code is created by everyone on the team – from top to bottom.
  • Each team member is personally responsible and accountable for his or her behavior.

Challenges Creating the Code of Conduct

code of conductThe following questions need to be answered by the entire team:

  • How should we handle this behavior when there is a breach in the code?
  • How do we have the conversation when others break the code?
  • What words do we use when others break the code?

The main idea is to align everyone’s behavior to the company’s values, mission, and vision.

An Important Reality Check About the Code of Conduct

  • The team will not be happy all of the time.
  • Confrontation is part of the code.
  • At times team members will be put on the spot.
  • The code will protect everyone from abuse if bold honesty, accountability, and support exist.

You will receive more information on how you can set up a Code of Conduct next week in part 2.  Part 3 will have examples of Codes of Conduct from my clients.

I want to hear from you

Add a comment to my blog on how a code of conduct works in your company. What benefits have you seen?  You will receive a response from me because I enjoy connecting with my readers! 🙂  You are always welcome to send me a private email HERE with concerns that you are experiencing at work.

Please share this and any article that speaks to you or your company

Loyal readers like you help us find more people who could benefit from these posts. Help us help them reduce conflict and improve leadership skills and quality of life.

Learn how I can leverage my 30+ years of leadership consulting and coaching experience to help your organization build a positive culture HERE.

 

This is Joyce Weiss
Corporate Communication Strategist and Career Coach

Have a great week.

Until next time, Remember…”You Get What You Tolerate!”

 

 

 

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8 Words to Change Your Conversation with Complainers

Do you have complainers in your life who suck your energy by moaning about the same things?
Do you want to learn how to control these conversations?

How I stopped being so nice with complainers

Maya Angelou – American poet said, “Being kind doesn’t mean one has to be a mat.”

Her words spoke to me years ago.  I remember a turning point when I listened to friends who continually complained about aspects of their life.  Before I attained my Masters in Counseling my friends complained and I listened.  Nothing changed.  They didn’t alter their stories and repeatedly talked about their boss, colleagues or family members.

Eight powerful words to use with complainers

complainersI learned a phrase from a professor that made all the difference in these communications.  Are you ready to hear what these words are?

What are you going to do about it?

Some complainers will stop their whining and others won’t

I started to ask them, “What are you going to do about it?”  I was sincere and did my best not to sound judgmental.

It’s interesting to recall that some of my friends stopped calling me.  They didn’t like the new Joyce.  They are probably still complaining unless someone was able to help them see that these comments kept them stuck in the land of “poor me.”

On the flip side, many of my friends appreciated the magical eight-word phrase.  They started owning their situations and coming up with plans how they could move forward.

A real conversation with a complainer

complainers; negativity in the workplace | improving communicationA friend was having a difficult time at work and kept on grumbling how unfair her boss was by asking her to do things that were not in her job description.  I said, “I’m sorry to hear that you are having a tough time at work.  I’ll be glad to help you brainstorm how to find a new job or how to speak with your boss.  I’m not willing to listen to you rehash how unfair life is for you.  That’s not helping you move forward.”

She needed to hear these words.  She was ready to stop complaining.  She decided to start looking for different job opportunities where her skills would match her job.

I want to hear from you

Add a comment to my blog on how you have stopped complainers from moaning all the time.  What stories or expressions do you use? You will receive a response from me because I enjoy connecting with my readers! 🙂  You are always welcome to send me a private email HERE with concerns that you are experiencing at work.

Please share this and any article that speaks to you or your company

Loyal readers like you help us find more people who could benefit from these posts.  Help us help them reduce conflict and improve leadership skills and quality of life.

Learn how my online coaching course – Communication Skills at Work will help you skyrocket your career.  Please check out the link HERE to watch a short video and read an article about the 1st week of the course.

This is Joyce Weiss

Corporate Communication Strategist and Career Coach

Have a great week.

Until next time, Remember…”You Get What You Tolerate!”

 

Contact Joyce

Email: joyce@joyceweiss.com
Phone: 248-681-5831