Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas, New Year and whatever holiday you may celebrate!

This is a great time of the year to reflect on what you need and want to do to make your life as positive as possible.
Some people tell me that they need to cut back watching as much tv as they do so they can read more.  Others want to start exercising more and eating less sugar. We all have certain aspects of our life that we can improve.

I saw Michelle Obama’s quote and thought it was a great message to end the year.

 #motivationalquote
#MichelleObama
#takingcareofyourself

I bike ride during the Michigan spring, summer, and fall almost daily and miss being on my bike during the winter. My son heard me complain about this dilemma and suggested that I take my bike downstairs and put it on a trainer.  This great idea allows me to use my bike during all 4 seasons.  Some of you may wonder why I don’t use a recumbent bike.  The reason is that I LOVE my bike.  That’s it.  End of story.  🙂  Plus I walk as much as I can outside because I’m one of those human beings who happens to like cold weather!

What do you want or need to change to put yourself on top of your to-do list?
Please write your answer on the blog or send me an email HERE.

Hope your holidays are just like you want them to be!  See you next year.

Warmly,  Joyce Weiss, M.A., CSP
Communication Strategist and Career Coach

 

 

 

#favoritequote
#orangeisthenewblack

I enjoy watching Orange is the New Black because of the characters and the inmates’ stories.  This quote screamed out to me when I heard the character Tastee say this strong message to her cellmate.

A relative recently asked me, “Joyce,  why do you put so much time into your career?”  Believe me, it was not out of concern.  She was sarcastic and judgmental!  I said, “I’m working hard not to judge me.  I wish you’d do the same.”  She backed off immediately.  I said it gently even though I wanted to be sarcastic myself.  Hey, I teach this stuff and better communicate directly and in a respectful way.

How can you use this quote with colleagues or relatives?  It’s a good one to store for future reference. 🙂

Send me an email HERE if you have your own method of stopping people who judge you.

Share if you agree with Tastee’s words.

 

This is Joyce Weiss
Communications, Career and Coaching Expert

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

PS Thanks to Lauren Stewart who creates these motivational posters for me.  Let me know if you want me to share more of them with you.

 

 

 

Is there a coworker or family member who constantly does the following:

• Brags about his or her superiority?
• Exaggerates his or her achievements?
• Fails to notice others in the room?

If so, this article is just for you! 🙂 It consists of information about a challenging difficult personality disorder – The Narcissist.

Difficult Personality Disorder:  Description 

Narcissists: 

• Have an inflated sense of their own importance and a deep need for admiration
• Expect others to go along with their ideas and plans
• Violate the boundaries of others
• Feel rage with any kind of feedback

Difficult Personality Disorder:  The Most Important Characteristic of Narcissists

Behind their mask of ultra-self-confidence lays fragile self-esteem vulnerable to the slightest criticism.  For this reason alone, it’s tough to have a 2-way conversation.  Giving them feedback is like dealing with a spoiled 2-year old.

Difficult Personality Disorder:  Coping Guidelines 

Recognize when you are with someone who repeatedly evokes shame and anger.  Try not to personalize since they do this to others.  Think of the Narcissist as a 2-year old on the inside.  This may stop you from having unrealistic expectations about your relationship with them.

Plan ahead how to set boundaries since they excel at the control game.  I  walk away from a one-sided conversation by saying, “There’s Bob, I need to discuss something with him before he leaves the meeting.”  Those of you who know me realize that I usually don’t recommend skirting the issue.  It’s a different situation with narcissists.  Setting boundaries and doing your best not to get tangled in their me/me web are two strategies that are hard to do – yet they are necessary to keep your sanity.  🙂

Difficult Personality Disorder:  Let’s Get Real

Narcissists are frustrating.  I have known a few in my life.  This is why I started doing research about them.  My clients discuss how these selfish people do their best to make others feel inadequate and powerless.  You probably won’t change them.  Awareness will not change the reality but it changes your perspective.  Knowing more about narcissists gives you information that you can use to protect yourself and do your best not to be with them.  I will include how I protect myself from narcissists in a future article.

I want to hear from you

Add a comment to my blog on the challenges that you experience with a narcissist.  How have you coped with this difficult personality disorder?  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.

Read more articles and listen to podcasts at our Knowledge Base Page Conflict in the Workplace here.

 

This is Joyce Weiss
Corporate Communication Strategist and Career Coach

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

If you want to implement a few new ideas to build your team – YOU are at the right place!  These gems have been tested in my workshops and are easy to use.

In today’s economy, many companies are afraid of creativity.  Some leaders simply want to sustain the organization and don’t want to waste time or money by following an untested new idea.

Employees, too, are fearful of creativity. They know jobs are scarce and don’t want to risk losing theirs because of a backfired creative “brainstorm.”

What these companies and employees need to understand, however, is that organizations need be creative all the time. In fact, the companies and employees who are creative in a down economy will fare much better than those who are afraid to rock the boat.

You may say, “Joyce, I’ve heard all of these gems before.” I would then ask you, “Are you implementing all of these ideas?”  I find that at times we ALL need “gentle reminders” of the basics to move forward.

Remember…YOU get what YOU tolerate! 🙂

If you want to build your team, you must encourage creativity.

The following gems will help overcome any creativity fears.

Build Your Team Gem # 1:  Don’t be afraid of the word creativity

Being creative does not mean coming up with an idea that’s bigger than life or that will go down in the history books as the greatest innovation of all time.  Creativity does not have to be profound. In fact, it’s often the little things that have the greatest impact.

Build Your Team Gem # 2:  Creativity means looking for a second right answer 

Being creative simply means being open to new ideas. It’s about getting the “junk” out of your mind and making space for “what if” thinking: “What if we could”

• Shorten delivery times by 3 days?
• Expand into new markets?
• Cut production costs by 30%?

When you allow yourself to dream about the possibilities, creativity is the natural outcome.

 Build Your Team Gem # 3:  Creativity is about letting go

Status quo is the kiss of death for most organizations. When you’re creative, you have the confidence to let go of old ideas that may have worked in the past but that have no bearing now. You can see the current situation in a new light and can acknowledge that new times call for new ideas.

Build Your Team Gem # 4:  Creativity enables you to learn from mistakes 

Rather than let mistakes reaffirm your belief in doing things “the same old way,” see it as a learning opportunity. Look for new actions that you can take to improve future projects. Also, use your new knowledge to examine what the competition is doing and see how you can tweak it.

 Build Your Team Gem # 5:  Only you can give yourself permission to be creative

No one – not your organization, not your company’s culture, not your boss, and not your co-workers – can hinder your creativity.  Creativity comes from within. Once you give yourself permission to be creative, nothing can stop the ideas from coming.

Let’s Get Real 

This is the time for you to stop the mindset of “We already know this.” Instead ask the question, “Which one of these gems will be the best for our company to become more creative?”  When people are creative, innovation occurs. Teams who are innovative get noticed because of the results they’re able to achieve. If you want to build your team, bring creativity into the mix.  Let go, and allow everyone to open up to the possibilities that exist.  Discuss these 5 Gems with your team and select the ones that fit your specific needs to make some exciting changes.

I want to hear from you

Send me your questions or comments on how you have used creativity to build your team.  You’ll 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.

Read more articles and listen to podcasts at our Team Building Strategies Knowledge Base.

 

This is Joyce Weiss
Corporate Communication Strategist and Career Coach

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

 

 

 

#favorite quote
#Adidas quote

What are your favorite quotes on the word impossible?  What words do you say to yourself when you think something is impossible?

When others tell me something won’t work I say, “Don’t tell me it’s impossible until after I’ve tried it.”  Negative people don’t like this kind of optimism.  It’s so much fun for me to see them shut down after they hear my positive expressions.

Remember, Don’t walk away from negative people-RUN!!