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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New Facts About Stress and Inner Conflict

Suicide is a tragic experience whether in your personal life or in hearing about the recent news of celebrities,  Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain.  After watching a segment on CBS’s Sunday Morning called, “A life cut short:  trying to understand suicide”, that aired on June 10, 2018, I decided to share some facts of suicide, stress and inner conflict with you.

New Facts about Stress, Suicide, and Inner Conflict facts about stress

Suicide Prevention Lifeline (SPL) quotes the following:

  • 12 ½ million people think about suicide
  • 2000 teens kill themselves every year
  • SPL answer 2 million calls
  • SPL saves numerous lives daily

The suicide prevention hotline is 1-800-273-8255.

More Facts about Stress and Inner Conflict facts about stress

  • There are more suicides than car accidents
  • There are twice as many suicides than murders
  • Suicides are up 25% since 1999
  • 2000 teenagers commit suicide yearly

More Facts about Stress and Suicides 

  • Suicides are not spontaneous
  • Suicides don’t happen abruptly
  • 90% of people who commit suicide have a pre-existing mental disorder – whether diagnosed or not
  • Most people who commit suicide have been thinking about it for a long time

Fallacies about Suicide

I’ve spoken to numerous mental health professionals who agree that the three statements below are wrong.

Suicide is easy.
It may look easy, but the suicide victim had inner stress and demons that they may have hidden from loved ones for a long time.

Suicide is selfish.
It may look like a selfish act at first when they leave loved ones to suffer – especially children.  Again, the
demons take over.

Suicide is unstoppable.
Suicide isn’t stoppable for all cases, but there are startling instances that show how asking the right questions and going to suicide prevention groups have saved lives.

Thoughts about Inner Conflict from Joyce

The definition of despair means the complete loss or absence of hope.

Suicide victims feel like they have no other option.  Relatives and friends may feel guilty that they never saw it coming.  That is because the suicide victim doesn’t want others to see the extent of their despair.

Mental health professionals recommend that relatives and friends need to ask the following question to loved ones who are in such despair:  Are you thinking of suicide?   They tell us that this one question “could” bring the problem into the open for some victims.

The question we need to answer ourselves is:  – when does the suicide victim reach a threshold that they are compelled to take their life?  Many times, suicide happens after an event occurs in their life.  Suicide victims have a pre-existing condition and don’t act spontaneously – even though it may look that way at first.

I have learned some new approaches with loved ones who have a mental illness; for example, I give them flowers when they return from a stay in a mental facility.  Loved ones tell me how much they appreciate the flowers or books.  Each time I have given gifts the conversations are about how mental health patients are NOT treated like they have a disease.  It is sad to hear these comments.  It is their truth.  I feel that there is still a stigma for people who suffer from mental illness of any kind.  We need to treat them with the same care, respect, and love as we do with those who have a physical illness.  Neither illness can be helped.  It could be in their DNA.

Read more here about my article on “An Internal Fight Within All of Us.”

I want to hear from you

Add a comment to my blog on your experience with loved ones who suffer from mental illness.    What stories or techniques have you used that helped them with their inner stress?  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 or home.

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

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

 

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Controlling Stress: Go From Fear to In-Gear

This week’s blog is taken from my book-Take the Ride of Your Life:  Shift Gears for More Balance, Growth, and Joy.  Chapter 1 is called-Controlling Stress-Go From Fear to In-Gear:  I’m Afraid to Take Off the Training Wheels. The story below is one of my favorites when I work with clients who are going through hard times. controlling stress

Long ago in a faraway land, brutal warlords ravaged the countryside. They took over the villages, ruining the lives of the farmers who lived there. There was one farmer who still had some land. He also had a son and he owned a horse.

Every evening the neighbors gathered to console each other. They looked at the farmer with envy and said, “You have such good luck. Everything good happens to you.” The farmer simply shrugged his shoulders, and said, “Good luck, bad luck, who knows?”

One day the farmer’s horse ran off and disappeared. That same day, the warlords rode into the village and killed all the other farmers’ horses. The neighbors looked at the farmer and said, “You have such good luck.” The farmer replied, “Good luck, bad luck, who knows?”

A few days later the farmer’s horse returned. His son was happy to see the horse. He jumped up on the horse’s back and galloped off for a ride. Suddenly, the horse tripped over a rock. The son fell off the horse and broke his leg.

The warlords soon returned and demanded the villagers’ able-bodied sons for a battle. As the sons were marched away, the villagers looked at the farmer and said, “You have such good luck. Your son was of no use to the warriors and his broken leg. ” The farmer shrugged his shoulders and said, “Good luck, bad luck, who knows?”

Let’s Get Real About Controlling Stress

You can either be like the farmer or his neighbors. The farmer realizes that things happen in life. We can’t label them good or bad right away. We have to give life a chance. The neighbors, on the other hand, are too ready to take on the role of victim. No matter what happens, they feel they are on the losing end of any situation and that there is nothing they can do about it. They don’t know how to “look” for other perspectives, other ways of seeing and living.

We can accept the things that happen to us without labeling them good or bad, lucky or unlucky. Losing a job, for example, may seem bad at the time. New and exciting opportunities, however, can arise from this circumstance. It can turn out for the best — if you maintain a positive attitude. It’s not what happens that shapes us; it’s how we react to it.

Controlling Stress:  Do you have a PO approach to life? controlling stress

I’m not just talking about attitude or a positive outlook, but rather an action, the courage to “pedal on” when stressful things happen. In bicycle terms, it means taking off the training wheels and facing your fear. It’s
what helps you really get rolling whether you think you’re ready or not.

When I hear somebody sigh, “Life is hard,” I am always tempted to ask, “Compared to what?” Human experience would lose something very important if there were no roadblocks to overcome.

The journey would not be half so wonderful if there were no steep hills to climb or the thrill of the wind in your face as you cruise down the other side.
Still, it is tough to stay upbeat in these chaotic times. That’s why “pedaling on” is a necessary survival skill.

I want to hear from you

Add a comment to my blog on how you control stress. What stories or expressions help you get through stressful times? 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.

Here’s a special offer to my readers Controlling Stress| Joyce Weiss | Workplace Bullying | Conflict in the Workplace | Team Building | Executive Coaching | Career Coach | Personal Life Coach | Professional Development Workshops

Buy a copy of Take the Ride of Your Life and I’ll send you a 2nd book with my compliments to give to a friend or colleague for free.  You will receive 2 autographed copies.  I will write, “A gift to you from ____” on the free copy.  Sound good?  Visit my shopping cart and send me an email with your friend’s name.  I will send both copies to you for only $19.95

You can also call me at 800.713.1926 to place your order.

This is Joyce Weiss
Corporate Communication Strategist and Career Coach

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

 

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Life Coaching Strategies: Falling Down Isn’t the Problem

Would you like to learn life coaching strategies the next time you make a mistake or feel stuck in your life?  If so, you are in the right place.  Life is fraught with uncertainty. No matter how hard we try to avoid the potholes, there’s always another obstacle looming on the horizon.

I just coined this quote, Resolving Conflict is just like riding a bike:  Shift gears to successfully navigate life’s potholes, ruts, and obstacles. 

How we recover from our personal and professional mistakes makes all the difference in the world. This article contains information from my second book, Take the Ride of Your Life!  You will find useful tools for making that graceful recovery.

Life Coaching Strategies # 1:  Look at those old patterns life coaching strategies

The obvious mistakes are easy to correct … it’s what we don’t see that causes the most damage. Have you ever noticed certain situations keep popping up? And some problems just get worse?

Start observing your rituals. This will help you decide which patterns are working and which ones are keeping you down.

Life Coaching Strategies #2:  Get some positive feedback

The most valuable and underused tool we have is input from our true friends. Who else can you trust when you’re stuck in a rut?

It’s difficult to recognize our own shortcomings, but a trustworthy friend can gently introduce areas for improvement. Open yourself to hearing what they have to say, and drop the defense mechanisms!

With your eyes newly opened, look for new ways of dealing with habitual mistakes, write down an action plan, and see how it works.

Life Coaching Strategies #3:  Forgive yourself

Our inner voices can be merciless! Forgive yourself. Quit carrying the guilt and shame around like a heavy suitcase. Torturing yourself with past failures helps you achieve … nothing.

Blame is another reason we don’t always get over our mistakes. We blame others for our mistakes, thinking this will shrink our guilt.

Once you get beyond guilt and blame, you can start enjoying the ride.

If you want to gain more tips on new facts about stress, check out the link for your own copy of the
life coaching book, Take The Ride of Your Life! 

I want to hear from you

Send me your questions or comments here on what you do to overcome your mistakes.
You will receive a response from me because I enjoy connecting with my loyal readers! 🙂

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 their quality of life.

Learn how I can leverage my 30+ years of leadership consulting and coaching experience to help your organization address life coaching strategies here.

This is Joyce Weiss
Corporate Communication Strategist and Career Coach

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

 

 

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Why Conflict in The Workplace Research Matters: Part One

Do you compare your conflict in the workplace with colleagues or family members?
Would you like to find out what keeps your peers up at night?
Do you want to be a fly on the wall when I interview clients about their stress?

If so, the next few articles are for you.  They contain information I gathered from recent workshops on Resolving Conflict in the Workplace.  Let me know your specific stress so I can write about topics that fit your needs.

Conflict in the Workplace for Individual Employees

I asked the following questions to individual employees:

  • What do you need to improve your quality of life and working conditions?
  • What are frustrations that you experience?
  • How would you rate your level of being heard at meetings?
  • How does the company address conflict in the workplace?

These are some of their answers:

  • Spend more time with my family.
  • We are doing way too much and the quality is suffering.
  • I’m not heard at meetings.
  • I tried to share ideas and was shut down so I just sit there.

Solutions to Reduce Conflict in the Workplace for Individual Employees

1. Spend more time with family.
Give suggestions to management about what other companies are doing to help employees balance work and home.
Discuss the option of working from home 1-2 days a week.
Find on-line stress management programs.
Bring in a local speaker during lunch and learn programs.

2.  We are doing way too much and the quality suffers.
Give management suggestions on better ways to save time.
Check out the MI LEAN Consortium for resources on productivity.

3.  I’m not heard at meetings.
Let’s start with the obvious-make sure and speak loud enough to be heard.
If possible look at the meeting agenda and think about solutions to company challenges.

4.  I tried to share ideas but was shut down so I just sit there.
The following strategy may work if you have a good working relationship with your boss.
“I don’t want to be insubordinate.  I do want to discuss a concern of mine.
I was embarrassed when my ideas were strongly rejected at the meeting because it seems like some management doesn’t want our feedback.”

Let’s Get Real About Conflict in the Workplace

The comments above are typical of many of my clients.

All levels of an organization share their frustration and they want to resolve this conflict in the workplace.  The challenge arises when there is no trust or employees attempt to convey ideas to their leaders and nothing changes.

Stay tuned.  The next few articles will contain information I gathered about managers and senior level executives.  I promise to cover solutions to many of these frustrations.

Watch my video on Working with a Bad Boss

I want to hear from you

Send me an Email with your questions or comments on your frustrations and conflict in the workplace. You will receive a response from me because I enjoy connecting with my loyal readers!  🙂

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 MORE how Joyce can help your company eliminate destructive conflict in the workplace here.

 

This is Joyce Weiss, Corporate Communication Strategist and Career Coach

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

 

 

 

 

 

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Secrets from a Life Coach to Encourage Work-Life Balance

Do you want to learn 5 secrets from me, your personal life coach to encourage life balance at work?  If so, see if you can relate to these 3 questions.

  • Does your team complain that they have no time for themselves?
  • Is negativity starting to become part of your culture?
  • Is your team walking around like zombies because they are sleep deprived?

We all know that when there is a supportive work atmosphere, the team will be more productive.  Leadership needs to address life balance more so than ever before.  Millennials, Generation X and Baby Boomers all share the same need to make time for themselves after work. This is the new normal.  Companies that address these concerns will become the best and brightest places to work for in their industry.  But what can you do? Try these 5 secrets:

Life Coach Secret #1: Survey people to learn their needs.

Develop a work-life committee to gather information on which flexibility needs your coworkers want and report the findings. Whether they’re dealing with eldercare, childcare or continuing education, you can help give management a better grasp on what the team needs.

Life Coach Secret #2: Take suggestions under advisement.

When people’s personal needs are met, they’re able to concentrate better and be more efficient. Start by asking for one reasonable request – for example, staggering the start and end of workdays. After the company familiarizes itself with flexible schedules, tackle a new need.

Life Coach Secret #3: Make sure desires match positions.

People need to be happy with their work. Do you know someone in accounting who would rather be doing more creative work? Encourage him or her to try a project in that department! The entire company will benefit by having a happier and more productive individual.

Life Coach Secret #4: Recognize signs of burnout.

Do you work with someone who always seems tired, overreacts to minor problems, and has diminishing productivity? Gently broach the subject. He or she may need to schedule a vacation or may need to switch jobs.

Life Coach Secret # 5: Set a good example.

If you occasionally need to take time out of your workday to attend to personal obligations, don’t hide it – you’re actually setting a good example! There will always be projects that compete for your time.  Realize that some personal obligations need to take priority. When your work environment allows people to accomplish both their personal and professional goals, you’ll be rewarded with loyal, happy employees and coworkers … and increased productivity. Start setting yourself apart from the competition today!

I want to hear from you!
CLICK HERE to send me your questions about your work life issues at work.  What does your company do to ensure that employees feel balanced at home while being productive at work?

Until next time,

This is Joyce Weiss, Communication Strategist and Coach

You can gain control in your own life after working with me as your personal life coach.  I will do whatever it takes to help you improve your quality of life.

Feel free to call me (800.713.1926) concerning your own team or professional growth coaching.

Remember…You Get What YOU Tolerate!

See YOU Next Week.

CLICK HERE to review the table of contents and testimonials for your own copy of Take the Ride of Your Life:  Shift Gears for More Balance, Growth, and Joy.  Please call me to discuss special rates when you purchase quantities for incentive or holiday gifts.

 

 

“Terrific stuff Joyce! You are an endless source of Practical ideas and great inspiration for getting everyone involved in turning around potentially negative situations.  The bicycle analogy is something we can all relate to in our own life.  It is truly an inspiring message.” Bill Zehnder, President, Bavarian Inn Restaurant, Frankenmuth, MI  

 

 

 

Contact Joyce

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