Below is the interview that I recently took with Dr. Marie Waung, Associate Professor at University of Michigan-Dearborn. She offers many great ideas from her research. I hope that she will be a guest another time for you to learn from her valuable information. … [Continue reading]
How Effective Are You At Setting Boundaries At Work?
This week’s question…
How do I avoid time-wasting interruptions from others? This is a question that comes up frequently in my programs. People often ask me, “Joyce how do I set boundaries so I can stop interruptions and do the work that I want and need to do?”
Many of my clients have difficulty setting limits with others and speaking up for themselves. Their time is not their own because they are continually being interrupted. They may have a difficult time saying “NO” to the request or demands of others.
We waste a lot of time when we don’t set boundaries when they interrupt us.
International Communications Research (ICR) in New York surveyed over 1000 people on how many minutes per day they are interrupted with things they don’t want to do. This did not include time spent on line or E-Mail. Over 42% of those surveyed said they spend 100 minutes or more every day on interruptions. This comes out to the following:
• 100 minutes per day
• 11 2/3 hours per week
• 26 days per year
And that’s a five week vacation!
While you can’t make up for lost time, you CAN have more time to do what you WANT to do…starting today!
Here’s the SECRET to realizing this dream of having more time to do what you want. Be Direct with Respect® is a skill that will show you how to stop interruptions at work in order to do your priority tasks. It is the art of telling others that you can’t take care of their needs without sounding like a selfish person. It allows you to do what you need and WANT to do and gain respect from others at the same time.
To some, “Can I have five minutes of your time?” really means, “Can I steal more than five minutes of your time?” Energy vampires who ask this question can suck the lifeblood out of you! They are people who interrupt you and complain constantly. Be Direct with Respect® is about those moments which are stolen from you. Stolen moments are when you want to take care of specific tasks and one person or another interrupts you and won’t let you get back to your priorities.
Here is one thing to keep in mind to take back control
CLICK HERE to watch my short video on the Power Talk Formula.
So, how about you?
Where would you like to improve your ability to stay in control of your time?
How well are you able to execute the one skill that you have to manage your time effectively with others?
How do you manage interruptions at work? What would be possible if you tolerated fewer interruptions at work?
I want to hear from you!
CLICK HERE to send me your questions or concerns. I enjoy hearing from my readers plus they get their questions answered.
Take my simple quiz and get a snapshot of your strengths and opportunities of improvement.
CLICK HERE to take the easy and fun Communicate with Impact Quiz. You will get your results immediately and learn more about setting boundaries to be more effective at work and in your life. Sound good? Here’s the LINK.
Interested in more resources to take charge of your work experience?
Check out my Communicate with Impact Master E-Course. It’s a great way to learn the Power Talk Formula very fast without having to go anywhere. You can learn at your own pace from anywhere.
Want to share or use this Article in Your Newsletter or on Your Website?
Of course! You are welcome to print this, and any other articles we send, if you use the following byline:
A recognized expert on Resolving Conflict in the Workplace, Joyce Weiss, M.A., CSP is an author, communication strategist, and a Certified Speaking Professional. To book Joyce to speak at your event or company call: 800.713.1926 or email: Joyce@JoyceWeiss.com
Visit her website at ConflictInTheWorkplace.com to sign up for your own FREE video series and Communicate with Impact Weekly to Resolve Conflict in the Workplace.
Until next time,
This is Joyce Weiss, Communication Strategist
I help people become top level leaders who get GREAT results.
How do I do this?
I teach them to tackle the tough conversations with bullies and negative people to build employee engagement, accountability, and rock star performance…
The Result? My clients resolve their conflict and they get a better night’s sleep!
Feel free to call me (800.713.1926) concerning your own team/executive retreats, workshops, on line professional growth coaching, and keynote speeches.
Remember…You Get What YOU Tolerate!
See YOU Next Week.
CLICK HERE to take the easy and fun Communicate with Impact Quiz. You will get your results immediately. You will discover how your communication is impacting your success at work. Sound good? Here’s the LINK.
CLICK HERE to find out how you can start setting boundaries immediately!
Computer/Internet Addiction Causes and Effects
As you know I share articles from colleagues from time to time. This article written by Mel Bellfield is extremely interesting. Many of us are addicted to the computers and the internet and WE KNOW IT! But what to do?
Check out how your communication skills may be impacting your success at work at the end of the article.
Computer Addiction – A Worrying New Problem
As we all know, computers and the internet have transformed the way in which we live and work. In many cases, this transformation has been for the better. It is a rare business indeed which could conduct itself without the aid of computers nowadays! However, the internet can also be a source of problems within the workplace. Browsing the internet during ‘downtime’ or even during work time can become problematic, productivity-wise, and measures like restricting the use of certain websites are likely to cause conflict between managers and workforce.
More desirable is if employees choose of their own accord to use the internet responsibly – but this is becoming harder and harder as our culture becomes more and more saturated with cyberspace. A growing problem is that of ‘computer addiction’, which can cause as many workplace troubles as any other addiction – if not more so.
‘Computer addiction’ or ‘internet addiction’, while known about for years, has only recently made it into the definitive list of mental disorders, the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders.
However, what the manual has to say about it is worrying. According to leading experts in the field, as many as one in every four children may have an internet addiction. This manifests in the same manner as any other addiction – with compulsive seeking out of the internet, a sickly euphoria when on a computer, and even withdrawal when internet access is restricted. In a workplace, it can result in antisocial behavior, in a loss of productivity, in lack of motivation, and in problematic behavior regarding workplace computers. If you suspect that internet addiction may be a problem in your workplace, then you need to act immediately.
Click HERE to Read the Article
I want to hear from you!
CLICK HERE to send me your questions or concerns. I enjoy hearing from my readers plus they get their questions answered. Let me know what topics you want me to write about concerning your own conflict in the workplace “issues.”
Want to share or use this Article in Your Newsletter or on Your Website?
Of course! You are welcome to print this, and any other articles we send, if you use the following byline:
A recognized expert on Resolving Conflict in the Workplace, Joyce Weiss, M.A., CSP is an author, Communication Strategist, and a Certified Speaking Professional. To book Joyce to speak at your event or company call: 800.713.1926 or email: Joyce@JoyceWeiss.com
Visit her website at ConflictInTheWorkplace.com to sign up for your own FREE video series and Communicate with Impact Weekly to Resolve Conflict in the Workplace.
Please CLICK HERE to Leave a Comment or Question
Send me any comments that you may have about this article. Loyal readers like you help us find more people who could benefit from these posts to reduce conflict at the workplace and home. There may be someone in your life who is feeling stressed out…who could benefit from the inspiration and knowledge on improving their working condition or home life. Let them know about the “Communicate with Impact Weekly” so they can sign up for their own weekly articles.
Until next time,
This is Joyce Weiss, Communication Strategist
I help people become top level leaders who get GREAT results.
How do I do this?
I teach them to tackle the tough conversations with bullies and negative people to build employee engagement, accountability, and rock star performance…
The Result? My clients resolve their conflict and they get a better night’s sleep!
Feel free to call me (800.713.1926) concerning your own team/executive retreats, workshops, on line professional growth coaching, and keynote speeches.
Remember…You Get What YOU Tolerate!
See YOU Next Week.
PS Discover how your communications skills impact your success at work. Take the quiz.
www.CommunicationSkillsatWork.com/quiz
Travel Can be Dangerous: Select Compatable Companions
This new series on “Working with Jerks” is really speaking to many of you. I have received more private emails about readers’ nightmares concerning difficult people in their personal and professional life. Let’s see if you can relate with this story. I will be asking you to share your ideas on how you would have handled the situation.
George’s Travel Nightmare
George went on a trip to Arizona with an alleged good friend of his…Jim. George came down with the flu and could not participate in the side trips. George had a high temperature and was upset that he could not partake in the activities. Here comes the DRAMA! Can you guess what Jim said to George? If you guessed that he was sensitive to George’s situation, you are wrong. Each day Jim said, “George you missed such great experiences. I can’t believe that you wasted your time sleeping instead of pushing yourself.” This trip ended a good relationship. George saw another side of Jim. He could not continue being Jim’s friend after Jim showed such insensitivity.
Joyce, What Do You Think?
I spoke to George a few times to make sure that I understood exactly what happened. I asked him if Jim was just sharing his excitement about his experience and missed his friend. George told me that Jim was been insensitive and was not concerned at all. I do realize that there are always 3 sides of every story…George’s side, Jim’s side, and the other side! If I interviewed Jim, I probably would have heard a totally different explanation. We don’t see how others see us. This is usually the largest communication breakdown. George told me that he “should have” spoken to Jim while on the trip. I suggested that he could still have that tough conversation. George does not want to continue the friendship.
I recently went on a vacation with friends and we constantly teased each other about how we don’t see ourselves as others do. Humor worked with us because we all got into the action. No one was singled out like Jim did to George. It’s your turn to share what you would have done in this situation.
What Would You Do If You Were George?
Would you …
Stay silent and not bring this up to Jim?
Become sarcastic and say something like, “You are an insensitive jerk.”Or, would you say, “I don’t want to create stress between us. I do want to clear the air. I was caught off guard when I heard the comments about how much I missed while I had the flu. Those comments didn’t help me one bit. I felt bad enough that I missed all of the excitement.”
CLICK HERE to watch a short video on my blog, “Why You Have to Run Away From Negatoids.”
I want to hear from you!
CLICK HERE to send me your thoughts on what you would have done in a similar situation. I enjoy hearing from my readers plus they get their questions answered. Let me know what topics you want me to write about concerning your own communication issues and conflict in the workplace.
Want to share or use this Article in Your Newsletter or on Your Website?
Of course! You are welcome to print this, and any other articles we send, if you use the following byline:
A recognized expert on Resolving Conflict in the Workplace, Joyce Weiss, M.A., CSP is an author, accountability coach, and a Certified Speaking Professional. To book Joyce to speak at your event or company call: 800.713.1926 or email: Joyce@JoyceWeiss.com
Visit her website at ConflictInTheWorkplace.com to sign up for your own FREE video series and Communicate with Impact Weekly to Resolve Conflict in the Workplace.
Please CLICK HERE to Leave a Comment or Question
Send me any comments that you may have about this article. Loyal readers like you help us find more people who could benefit from these posts to reduce conflict at the workplace and home. There may be someone in your life who is feeling stressed out…who could benefit from the inspiration and knowledge on improving their working condition or home life. Let them know about the “Communicate with Impact Weekly” so they can sign up for their own weekly articles.
Until next time,
This is Joyce Weiss, Communication Strategist
I help people become top level leaders who get GREAT results.
How do I do this?
I teach them to tackle the tough conversations with bullies and negative people to build employee engagement, accountability, and rock star performance…
The Result? My clients resolve their conflict and they get a better night’s sleep!
Feel free to call me (800.713.1926) concerning your own team/executive retreats, workshops, on line professional growth coaching, and keynote speeches.
Remember…You Get What YOU Tolerate!
See YOU Next Week.
PS Click HERE to watch a short video on my blog, “Why You Have to Run Away From Negatoids.”
When You Work With a Jerk Story #4
Have you ever worked in an environment that seemed more like high school…with bullies, rolling eyes, gossip mongers, and mean kids? I help my clients turn their toxic environment around and help them feel comfortable during tough conversations. This post describes an email that I received from one of my loyal readers after he read several of the past posts on working with a jerk. I did not make this up! Names were changed to protect the innocent. 🙂
Todd’s Story
Todd is a sales rep for a mid sized firm. He received a promotion for selling the most products in the company for the first quarter. The leaders wrote Todd’s name on a huge recognition board in the lunch room. Can you guess what happened next? If you guessed that someone erased Todd’s name from the board…you are correct! The horrific part is that no one at Todd’s firm addressed this mean spirited act.
What Would You Do if You Were Todd’s Boss?
Click HERE to send me your ideas on what you would do. By now, you can probably predict what I would suggest. The leaders need to call an all employee meeting to address the negative behavior. This cannot be tolerated because the culture needs to be positive and the team needs to support each other. I hear many horror stories on negativity that is allowed in the workplace. Leaders don’t always know how to break this cycle. A negative culture needs to be addressed with either training on communication or conflict.
I Want to Hear From You!
CLICK HERE to send me your questions or concerns. I enjoy hearing from my readers plus they get their questions answered. Let me know what topics you want me to write about concerning your own communication “issues.”
Want to Share or Use This Article in Your Newsletter or on Your Website?
Of course! You are welcome to print this, and any other articles we send, if you use the following byline:
A recognized expert on Resolving Conflict in the Workplace, Joyce Weiss, M.A., CSP is an author, accountability coach, and a Certified Speaking Professional. To book Joyce to speak at your event or company call: 800.713.1926 or email: Joyce@JoyceWeiss.com
Visit her website at ConflictInTheWorkplace.com to sign up for your own FREE video series and Communicate with Impact Weekly to Resolve Conflict in the Workplace.
Please CLICK HERE to Leave a Comment or Question
Send me any comments that you may have about this article. Loyal readers like you help us find more people who could benefit from these posts to reduce conflict at the workplace and home. There may be someone in your life who is feeling stressed out…who could benefit from the inspiration and knowledge on improving their working condition or home life. Let them know about the “Communicate with Impact Weekly” so they can sign up for their own weekly articles.
Until next time,
This is Joyce Weiss, Communication Strategist
I help people become top level leaders who get GREAT results.
How do I do this?
I teach them to tackle the tough conversations with bullies and negative people to build employee engagement, accountability, and rock star performance…
The Result? My clients resolve their conflict and they get a better night’s sleep!
Feel free to call me (800.713.1926) concerning your own team/executive retreats, workshops, on line professional growth coaching, and keynote speeches.
Remember…You Get What YOU Tolerate!
See YOU Next Week.