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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Use Be Direct with Respect® to Reduce Conflict in the Workplace

Be Direct with Respect® Strategies

You can now go to the next level in your career development after reading this article by taking Joyce’s newest on line course which includes a coaching session on the phone.  You have the opportunity to work with Joyce on an issue that you learned about yourself during the course. Look for details about this exciting offer below the article.

Strategy 1: Eliminate Ambiguity

By being Direct With Respect®, you’ll always begin with positive statements and get right to the point. If your conversation is to point out and correct negative behaviors, describe the person’s actions, not their personality. Use language that makes an impact, yet decreases defensiveness. One good way to do this is by using “I” statements rather than “you” statements. Also, use factual descriptions instead of judgments or exaggerations.

Strategy 2: Gain the ability to be direct and truthful

When should you be direct and speak up? As soon as you reasonably can. If you wait too long, you may forget what you needed to say, which can leave a nasty residue of resentment that can explode at the wrong time ­ or at the wrong person. While it’s difficult to know precisely when to speak up, it’s equally challenging to know when to let something drop. To gain perspective, imagine how important the incident will be in six months. If you think it will still be important, then say something immediately. If it would sound a little silly in six months, then let it drop.

Remember, though, telling the truth isn’t a license to dump your negative feelings on others.

Strategy 3: Develop positive self-talk strategies that propel your career

Once you realize you’re giving negative messages, make a conscious effort to stop and say something positive instead. Stop focusing on what you feel you don’t do well and congratulate yourself for all your strong points. Also, strive to seek out other positive people so you can support each other. Challenge yourself to break away from negative people who are only holding you down. The more positive you are, the more confident you’ll be at being Direct with Respect®. In return, others will feel more confident about your abilities, thus leading to more future success.

Be Direct with Respect® is a new way of thinking and communicating for those who are used to holding things inside. Once you implement Be Direct with Respect®, you’ll find that being direct and truthful will make you self-confident and earn you the respect you deserve. Even more important, as the concept of Be Direct with Respect® takes hold in your company, your employees will communicate better and build stronger relationships with co-workers and customers alike. Before you know it, morale will be up, profits will soar, and your company will be ready to make its mark on the business world.

Check out how you can go deeper and learn more ideas on how you can communicate with impact with
Joyce’s On Demand Course.
Like my client  Lori did after she took the course.

“Things are really going well here since people started taking the Be Direct with Respect®:  Communicate with Impact Course.
We continue to see great progress within our management team which is beginning to flow down to the staff.  I had a meeting with one of my managers this moring and she commented again on your program and how well it impacted her.”
Lori Verbrugge, Human Resource Director, Midwest Financial Credit Union

Click the link below so can get ready for radical communication improvement!
Be Direct with Respect®:  Communicate with Impact On Demand Course

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Until our next visit, Remember…
You Get What You Tolerate!

Joyce Weiss, M.A., CSP
Conflict Resolution Consultant & Accountability Coach

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Stress Facts: Is Your Enthusiasm For Work Flickering Out? Reignite the Flame!

Are your coworkers under so much pressure they’re erupting like volcanoes? Do you see people around you turning into pessimists? Are they waiting for the overwhelming situations to just go away?

Burnout is a general erosion of the spirit. It occurs when its victims have been worn out physically and emotionally as a result of long term stress … However, burnout is also a time for deep reflection to make major changes.
or the overwhelming situations to just go away?

10 TIPS TO KEEP THE FLAME BURNING

It took us a long time to form these negative habits, so it may take some time to make life changing choices. These ideas will take you back to the basics. Find the one idea that “speaks to you” and take some action. Are you ready?

1. Find a hobby.

Talk to people who have achieved balance in their lives and find out what activities they’ve added to enrich their lives. What activities have you wanted to experience? Now is the time to discover them – not when you retire.

2. Take a class for fun in order to add something different to your life.

A benefit from taking a new class is that you will meet people who have the same interests as you. If you are thinking that you don’t have the time, ask yourself…”If not now, then when?”

3. Volunteer for a cause that means something to you.

I hear many success stories of people finding new opportunities after they give their time and attention to others. Studies show that people tend to be happier when they help others.

4. Eat right and exercise.

Do these for the right reasons. Find a nutritionist or health coach who will support you to make behavioral changes that are stopping you from feeling as good as you can. It usually takes only a few sessions.

5. Rest.

I don’t mean hide. Your body may need some extra time to heal. So take the time, just don’t use it as an excuse to stay away from others.

6. Concentrate on what is in front of your nose.

If you’re taking a walk, notice what’s in front of you. If you’re at home, notice the person you’re talking to. Do your best to turn off your self talk about work.

7. Suggest holding team meetings to discuss what everyone in the organization can do together.

Are teams working together or waiting for the stress to go away?

The new norm is doing more with less. Strategize fresh ideas on how the team can work better than ever before.

8. Learn how to be authentic and share your thoughts with others.

This tip is a real burnout buster. People who are straightforward experience less stress. Instead of wasting hours during the night thinking of what you should have said to someone, just do it. Be Direct with Respect® is a skill that is well worth learning!

Look at the my Communicate with Impact! online course to stay connected with Joyce and get great results.

9. Discover the necessity of positive humor at work and at home.

Positive humor lightens the stress of impossible tasks. Humor’s not a luxury in our lives anymore, it’s become a necessity.

10. Discover what values are important to you.

The qualities you consider most significant will have a tremendous impact on your life.

Which ones need immediate attention? Could it be personal solitude, creativity, family, social welfare, freedom, or independence? Balance is the key to re-igniting your energy.

REIGNITE YOUR ENERGY!

Abraham Lincoln said, “People are just about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

Burnout is a time for us to look within ourselves and find what is missing in our lives. With some introspection and change, we can rekindle our vitality and move on to more exciting times. And one last thing… make sure to enjoy the journey!

Check out the link below if you want to go deeper in your own life to gain the control that you deserve.
You will hear Joyce being interviewed on how to gain control and new facts about stress.
Click on this link to discover more information with the Stress Facts podcast

 

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Let us hear your thoughts in the comment section below.
Feel free to share these tips with your team-Just be sure to give Joyce credit when you share or publish.
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Until next time, Remember…

“You Get What You Tolerate!”
Joyce Weiss, M.A., CSP
Conflict Resolution Consultant & Accountability Coach

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New Facts About Stress: Make the Most From a Job That You May Not Like

Admit it… you may not like your job. You might come home every evening after a long day and spend the next few hours complaining to anyone who’ll listen about how miserable your workplace is and how you’d love to quit – if only you had enough money set aside to do so.

But let’s also face today’s economic reality. Jobs are hard to find, and any job that pays is one you have to keep. So if your work situation is less than ideal and you want a way to love what you do without changing your job, here are some suggestions to help.

1. Show optimism and a positive outlook at all times.

How can you be optimistic when you dislike your job? Remember that at least you have a job. You’re paying your bills and providing for your family. You’re not part of the newest unemployment statistic. Find something positive to focus on to remind yourself of how life would be if you didn’t have any job at all. In order to stay positive, strive for excellence, not because you have to, but because you want to.

2. Learn from setbacks and convert challenges into success.

Many people feel that they have “bad luck” at work. Everything that can go wrong seems to happen to them, and they then like to talk about these negative experiences, which only makes them even more depressed. But when something goes wrong, rather than dwell on the setback, find out what you can learn from the experience so you can be successful next time.

3. Do whatever it takes to get the job done.

If you don’t like the job and don’t want to do it, then the job won’t get done at all. It’ll be hanging over your head like a dark rain cloud, so you might as well do it anyway. Also, if you don’t get the job done, someone else will, and then you’ll get the pink slip. If you feel that you can’t do whatever it takes to get the job done because of a lack of resources and your hands are tied, then untie your own hands. What could you do differently given your existing resources? There’s always a second right answer.

4. Be eager to share ideas with leaders and colleagues.

You can’t work in a vacuum. You need to talk with others and collaborate in order to expand your thinking and gain new perspective. And you never know… someone may say something that makes you realize your job isn’t so bad after all.

5. Look for ways to constantly grow.

We are all a work in progress. And growth and learning is something that we must initiate; we can’t expect others to do it for us. Additionally, lifelong learning will make you more competitive in the marketplace. So when the economy rebounds and you can find that new job you want, you’ll have the skills and mindset to make it happen.

Check out Full Speed Ahead: Become Driven by Change
which is a life coaching book
to help you deal with life’s stresses.

“A Straight forward, engaging and down to earth book for those desiring improvement in the quality and direction of their lives.”
Anthony Robbins, Author Awaken the Giant Within and Unlimited Power

“Joyce Weiss in Full Speed Ahead challenges the reader to deal with change on a personal and professional level as a way to maximize opportunity.  The book starts with charging your life’s battery with positive attitude and brakes with a discussion of goal-setting and prioritizing.  Each chapter has helpful worksheets that drive Weiss’ points home.  Chapter 7, covering creativity, was a personal
favorite because it identifies the mental roadblocks to creatvity and shows how on can detour around them.

Jim Pawlak, Book Reviewer for The Detroit News

Check out Full Speed Ahead: Become Driven by Change

 

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Let us hear your thoughts in the comment section below.
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Until next time, Remember…

“You Get What You Tolerate!”
Joyce Weiss, M.A., CSP
Conflict Resolution Consultant & Accountability Coach

 

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Do You Want to Turn Negative Situations Around to Reduce Conflict in the Workplace?

If you answered, “yes,” then this article is for you.

When a conflict in the workplace occurs, many people believe they can’t say or do anything to fix it. Whatever happens is always the other person’s problem (or fault), and if they just lay low they can escape any repercussions.

In reality, nothing could be further from the truth.

Everyone in the organization can and should take ownership of situations – not just the managers or leaders. Turning a blind eye to things or hoping for situations to resolve on their own will only lead to frustration. Here’s how to handle both internal and external negative situations and turn them around to reduce conflict in the workplace.

Internal Situation

An internal situation could be a co-worker who is continually negative and always dragging the team down. Or it could be someone who is lazy and not pulling his or her weight with the team. Unfortunately, most people think dealing with such internal situations is the manager’s job only. But in fact, anyone can take steps to address such issues.

Simply saying something like, “I know things are tight here right now. That’s why we all have to pull together and stay focused,” can help diffuse someone’s negativity. Granted, you can’t expect to step in and be the super-hero who saves the company from negative people, but you can have courage to step up and state the facts in a Direct with Respect® way.

Some people are so used to negative people or a destructive culture that they don’t want to risk turning negativity around. But it’s a risk you have to take. If you don’t – if you chicken out – you’ll pay the price later.

External Situations

The customer receives the wrong product…the client’s project is behind schedule and over budget…the local newspaper has printed some less-than-flattering information about your company. These are all examples of negative external situation.

During such times, it’s easy for people to play the “blame game.” They waste so much time finger-pointing and trying to discover the cause of the problem that they forget the real task at hand – to turn things around.

Whatever happened has happened. You can’t go back in time and change things. So stop focusing on the past. Now is when you – even if you’re not the leader – need to step up, take ownership, and decide to fix the situation – or at least get the company headed in the right direction. So what if it’s not your job. You’re a part of the team, which means you have a stake in the outcome. Therefore, do something now.

Small Steps Yield Big Results

In the end, whether the situation taking place is internal or external, you must have the courage to take action. You can’t wait for someone else to always take the lead. So commit to a decision and an action plan. Stay accountable for delivering against or acting upon that plan. And then focus on doing what’s best for the team – that’s the only way you’ll achieve the results you want.

Check out this article on Reducing Stress in the Workplace

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Until Next Time…This is Joyce Weiss…and remember,

“You Get What You Tolerate!”

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How to Increase Respect in the Workplace and Reduce Stress

Do you want to increase respect in the workplace?

Do you want to re-energize your team?

Do you want to reduce conflict and stress?

If you said “yes” to even one question…please continue reading!

All teams need a wake up call from time to time – an energy boost or an attitude adjustment. How do you know when it’s time for your team to get re-energized? Look at them. Is there energy in the team?  Are they communicating with respect?  Do your teams make time for stress relief exercises? Are people excited about work? Are employees talking to each other? Is there laughter and fun in the air? If you answered “no” to even one of these questions, then it could be time for you to initiate your team for ideas on how to increase respect and reduce stress.  It helps if you are open and will use some of their ideas.

For many companies, it’s the “same old” routine day in and day out. People grudgingly go through the motions of work, but they don’t have their heart into it. There’s so much stress or negativity in the air that you can cut it with a knife. The silence is deafening, and when someone does talk, it’s laced with sarcasm and retaliation…there is an over abundance of conflict in the workplace.

But work doesn’t have to be this way. You can help your team learn new facts about stress so everyone is focused and having fun again. Here’s how.

  • Create a stress relief committee.

Ask for volunteers to head a stress relief committee. Typically the people who want this role are the overly optimistic people who are full of energy anyway, but that’s okay. You need someone to take the lead. Empower the committee to determine when the team needs to do various stress relief exercises and allow them to organize a group break so everyone can recharge.

  • Ask the group for their input.  Ask them the question…What does respect mean?

You can’t mandate what the team “should” do to reduce stress and re-energize. That approach will always backfire because someone (or maybe everyone) will think the activity is “dumb” or a “waste of time.” Therefore, have the stress relief committee find out what each person would like to do to reduce stress and increase respect in the workplace. It could be anything from bringing in a chair masseuse once a month to getting everyone to dance to some upbeat music to having a 15-minute silence break. There are numerous respect activities and I will include a few examples in the next article.  The possibilities are endless so long as you get everyone’s input.

Check out this blog post on New Facts about Stress to Reduce Conflict in the Workplace.

  • Address the nay-sayers.

Invariably you’ll have at least one person who won’t want to go along with the group’s activity. The key to winning this person over is to find out what he or she needs to do to reduce stress. Whatever you do, don’t let the nay-sayer sit out from the designated activity. That will only cause others to look down on him or her and erode the team’s spirit and increase workplace gossip. Instead, say to the person, “As the manager, it’s my job to make sure everyone has some stress relief. Tell me what will help you re-energize.” Listen to what the person says and do that activity next (as long as he or she participates in the current activity).

The Energy to Succeed

Everyone needs a fun break from time to time – an escape from the stresses of work and life. So give your team the opportunity to discuss how to reduce stress to increase respect in the workplace. By doing so, they’ll have the strength and creativity to get more done in less time…and with better results.

Was this helpful?
What is your most pressing issue on your conflict in the workplace?
Let us hear your thoughts in the comment box below.
Feel free to share these tips with your team – Just be sure to give Joyce credit when you share or publish.
Sign up at the RSS feed on the blog site to be included in future blog posts from Joyce on this subject.

For more information, articles and podcasts, visit https://www.joyceweiss.com

Until next time…REMEMBER
YOU GET WHAT YOU TOLERATE!

Joyce Weiss

Contact Joyce

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