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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Squid Game is a Hit. Here’s Why It’s So Popular

Have you heard of the Netflix TV series, Squid Game? 

If so, I look forward to hearing your opinion about this series. Especially because it examines the conflict among privilege, humanity, and survival.

Here’s a Description of Squid Game

The series revolves around a contest where 456 players in deep financial debt put their lives at risk. And, they play a series of children’s games for the chance to win a ₩45.6 billion prize {south Korean won}. The title of the series draws from a similarly named Korean children’s game.

Social and mental health issues, from gambling addiction to the abuse of social privilege and wealth are part of the equation. 

It’s like watching Hunger Games and Lord of the Flies yet with more brutality, violence, and dark themes. Yikes! 

In Squid Game, the lack of empathy and cruel abuse of power is more difficult to watch than the violence.

Hwang had conceived of the idea based on his own economic struggles early in life as well as the class disparity in South Korea. 

Squid Game was released worldwide on September 17, 2021, to critical acclaim and international attention. Attracting more than 142 million member households during its first four weeks from launch, it is Netflix’s most-watched series to date, surpassing 2020’s Bridgerton.

Why I Decided to Watch Squid Game

squid game
Copyright: loeskieboom

I was warned by my kids that it’s violent, dark, and twisted. They also shared that it could be a series that I’d like because it’s about the survival of the fittest, teams, and the good and ugly sides of humanity. And, it’s about inner conflict – my kids know me. 🙂

I can’t stop watching it. It pulled me in immediately. At this time I’ve only seen 4 out of 9 episodes.

Lessons Learned from the Popular Show

No one knows what’s going on in other people’s lives. Most of the characters are in debt, gamblers, lie to their families, and struggle to survive. 

It’s sad to see. We all know people who suffer from family members who are desperate and make bad decisions. They just can’t get out of their conflict. And, they constantly wait for the BIG horse race to make them rich.

Have You Seen Squid Game?

Please share your opinions if you’ve seen even 1 episode. 

If you decide to watch it after your read this blog, please don’t do this right before you go to bed. It’s so shocking and the violence is even worse than Pulp Fiction.

Next week I will share my thoughts after I finish the series.  I’m thrilled to say that there are only 9 episodes. Something keeps me glued to the screen. When I figure this out, I will let you know.

Let’s Stay Connected

Please share your thoughts about this week’s post. How does it resonate with you?
You can share your thoughts in the comment section or send me a private email HERE.

Until Next Time,

Joyce Weiss, M.A., CSP, CVP
Conflict Resolution and Communication Coach
Queen of Conflict Resolution

P.S. Please share this post on your social media. As a result, other growth-minded people can reduce their high drama and inner stress. We made it easy for you. You have the shareable social media links below. 

P.P.S. I’m the Human Resource Professional’s Partner. I coach emerging leaders, executives, and teams to feel comfortable using their voice without losing their cool – so they feel heard and respected.

P.P.P.S Are you {or your direct reports} ready to explore working with me as your private coach?  It’s easy and fits anyone’s budget and schedule.
Call me at 248.681.5831 or send an email: Joyce@JoyceWeiss.com.

Schedule your complimentary 20 – minute discovery call

 

 

 

 

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A Powerful Reminder to Reduce Drama in Your Life

reduce drama

  • Do you want to reduce drama in your life?
  • Are there people whose high drama wastes your time?
  • Does this affect your stress level at work or home?

Most of us have drama queens or kings who zap our energy. Yet, we forget that we can set boundaries and actually change this reality.

Yearly I do a serious job of spring and fall cleaning. And, my list consists of clothes, clutter in my home or office, and relationships that are toxic.  All of these things reduce drama in my life – Big Time!

You heard me right.  We all have those who constantly complain yet never change anything in their life.  Or, their life is full of such hype it’s exhausting to listen. Life is too short to be around draining people who rain on our parade.

Here’s how I reduce drama and handle my spring and fall cleaning with these people:

  • Make a list of those who drain you.
  • Add people to your list who you want and need to spend more time with. 
  • Who makes you laugh, smile, think, learn, etc?   
  • Compliment those people in your life who you enjoy. 

Remember this the next time you speak to a friend who complains about everything.  In fact, I’m not saying to end the relationship. Set boundaries to protect yourself from this drama king or king. Make sure that you limit visits with this person.

Yes, I do this too.  There are certain people who need to be in my life. And they are HUGE triggers for me. When I’m on the phone with these triggers, I make sure and say that I only have 10 minutes to talk before the next zoom meeting. This really helps.

Life is too short not to be with those who support you and bring joy to your life.   

Please let me know how this photo of drama kings and queens speaks to you in the comment section.

Stay Connected with Me

Please add a comment to this blog on how you deal with those drama kings or queens on your team or in your life. 

  • What stories or expressions help you?
  • What boundaries 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 with concerns that you are experiencing at work. I’m your communication coach. And, I’m here to help you reduce drama NOW!

 Until next time,

Joyce Weiss, M.A., CSP, CVP
Communication Coach
Queen of Conflict Resolution

Have a great week.

Remember, YOU Get What YOU Tolerate!

Find your voice with Joyce!
Send me an email if you want to grab your complimentary cool booklet on “19 Surefire Ways to Bring More Joy & Harmony Into Your Life.”

PS Communication Coaching is like riding a bike. Shift Gears from coasting to owning the road!

 

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Yes We Can Change FEAR Into Action!

Fear into action

 

Hello,  DEAR Kick Conflict to the Curb Weekly Update Readers!

I just thought about the power of this quote on changing fear into action.  I use this quote when clients want to improve their communication skills and relationships both at work and home.

Most of us don’t have the skills on how to successfully have that tough conversation.  It’s always a risk! Always! There is no guarantee that it will go well.
I always say that it’s worth the risk.  Our confidence level improves the more success we have with those difficult people or conversations.

It’s all about changing our mindset.  Not easy to do – and so necessary to change fear into action. We all need coaches or a support system to help us when we are stuck. Future blog posts will cover the 5 strategies in my Weiss Communication Success Plan – a significant cornerstone of our virtual course; Kick Conflict to the Curb.

If you want more information on the powerful communication strategies, all you have to do is search for past articles on the following related topics:

  • Conflict Resolution
  • The GAP-Your Safe Place
  • Making Conversations Safe
  • Triggers
  • Be Direct with Respect
  • Verbal Aikido

Let’s Stay Connected!

  • When have you changed fear into action?
  • Was it easy or hard for you?
  • How did this experience change you in a positive way?

I’ve shared my story about changing my fear of deep water into action by taking snorkeling lessons in a pool – Hey small steps, folks. 🙂 The action is that I took a trip to Bora Bora and you couldn’t get me out of the South Pacific because I loved the experience.  If I could overcome this lifelong fear, you can too.

What are some of your fears that you would like to overcome? Those of you who share either in the comment section below or send me an email will receive a new video (that I have not posted yet) about using props to engage your virtual meetings. It’s short and contains tips to liven up your virtual meetings.

Hey, Dear Readers, I’m here for you when you have questions about your own communication or relationship “challenges.” Feel free to send me an email. Full disclosure here: I don’t charge anything when people send me questions or comments via email. Staying connected is what it’s all about for me.

Have a Great Week!

Joyce Weiss, M.A., CSP, CVP
Master Coach
Queen of Conflict Resolution

P.S. Career Advancement is like riding a bike: Shift Gears from coasting to owning the road!

P.P.S. Check out more motivational quotes in the search section for more inspiration.

 

 

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A Fascinating Study on the Power of Negativity in the Workplace

Gale Research conducted a study on the Power of Negativity in the Workplace.The survey only consists of two questions.

Would you rather:
1.  Accept a $10,000 pay raise knowing that you would be working with a negative person?
2. Keep your current salary and not work with a negative person?

The video below will give you the results.

https://vimeo.com/493119924

Results from the survey: The Power of Negativity in the Workplace

25% of those surveyed would accept the $10,000 pay increase knowing that they would be working with a negative person.
74% of those surveyed would stay at their current salary and work with a negative person.

Were you surprised? Clients share how much stress they experience at work because of only one complainer on their team.  It takes a few sessions to create an action plan on how to deal with the complainer. At times we can try several strategies and nothing seems to work. That’s when we have to ask ourselves what else we need to do. The answer is usually changing our mindset. Not easy. But necessary.

I’ve included a link at the end of this post to an article on THE GAP – a safe place to go before you open your mouth. This is a great strategy to use when you need to remind yourself that the negative person is not attacking you, they are negative because of their situation. At times we personalize things a bit too much – not a judgment, just being real here. 🙂

Step into the GAP and remind yourself that you can do the following;

  • Walk away
  • Say something safe
  • Speak your truth

How Can We Use the Study of The Power of Negativity to Our Advantage? 

I’m hearing about so much stress and drama going on these days at work. We need to discover why great employees are leaving your company. They may not tell you that they found another job because of a negative colleague or leader at your company. Most people keep their reasons internally because they don’t want to open up a can of worms.

Think about the cost of retraining someone new and the loss of experience. One of the best ways to reduce negativity in the workplace is to make sure that everyone feels heard. Ask more questions, including all levels of your workforce in key decisions. Speaking to your negative person is something that leaders need to do in order to reduce the toxic environment from appearing. They need to be made aware that negativity, gossip, silence, or bullying are not acceptable in your workplace.

Let’s Stay Connected

Please share your thoughts on the negativity survey and content of this article. Tell us about your experience working with a negative person and how you did or did not resolve the situation.
Send me a private email HERE if you have a question about your own stress at work or even at home. I will answer your email immediately. Let’s get the conversation started. 🙂

I added an article below if you want to read more about THE GAP – how to get into a safe place before you open your mouth.

Here’s an article about THE GAP. Enjoy and let me know what “speaks’ to you.

Until Next Time,
Have a great week!

Joyce Weiss, M.A., CSP, CVP
The Queen of Conflict Resolution

P.S. Remember to grab your personalized FREE Communication Assessment to see how your communication impacts your success at work.
Visit Kick Conflict to the Curb to get started. 

 

 

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Find out Why Respect is So Important to Me. Are You Finally Ready to Get the Respect YOU Deserve?

As a Master Coach I hear the struggles of clients who experience bullies, poor performance, gossip, clicks, low morale, direct reports with no people skills, miscommunications, can I stop now? 🙂

After taking 4 courses on how to create and present engaging online programs, I decided to create a new online class that is rocking my clients. The video will give you information about our online course: Kick Conflict to the Curb that starts September 15th. The beginning of the video shares a “lesson” on verbal aikido – a strategic communication tool to help you gain control when others push you.

Take out the popcorn and enjoy it. Make sure and check out my story below on why getting respect is so important to me. You’ll get an inside look about your Master Coach.

https://vimeo.com/450928167

Here’s my story on why respect is important to me.

A TV host found me online through my trademark, “Be Direct with Respect®.” He asked me to appear on his show, sharing why respect is so important to me. For once, I, the communication strategist, couldn’t think of a thing to say. Suddenly, I remembered a turning point I’d buried years before.

At 21, fresh out of college and a brand new teacher, I moved out on my own. While my parents had imbued me with a belief in hard work and persistence, I was still a free spirit with my self-esteem intact. Or so I thought. Then I met Jerry.

After a one-year courtship, we married. Then we argued—just like any couple. The problem was that Jerry is a talented attorney. Each time we disagreed, I felt like we were in court. Since I had no training in argumentation, I was no match. My outlook had always been positive and focused on fairness, but that situation was neither positive nor fair. I didn’t have a clue how to stand up for myself. After several months, all my energy was gone and I felt invisible and voiceless —as if I’d been zapped by the Dementors from Harry Potter. I didn’t want to leave him but I couldn’t continue as we were.

Instead, I became a woman on a mission. Assertiveness was my Holy Grail. Somehow, I would make my husband behave. However, reading The Dance of Anger by Harriet Lerner really opened my eyes. Dr. Lerner points out that when one person in a relationship changes the steps of a dance, the other follows. It became so clear! All that time, I had been trying to fix Jerry, and nothing had ever changed except my frustration level. Now I realized I had to alter the steps of the dance. It was me who needed to change. I’d have to take a risk and have a tough conversation the next time we disagreed.

The argument that broke this passive pattern involved my decision to go back to school and pursue a career in counseling and coaching. I was thrilled, and of course, I thought Jerry would be as delighted as I was. I couldn’t wait to share my new ideas with Mr. Lawyer. Imagine my shock when Jerry told me that it would be a waste of time. He wanted me to go into sales since he knew how focused and hardworking I was.

At that moment, the old Joyce disappeared. I kept calm, drew in a breath, and took a huge risk. “I am frustrated when I share my excitement about becoming a counselor because my ideas are discounted.” I had done it—I’d changed the dance steps! Jerry was surprised by my direct statement but realized I respected him and was not sarcastic. Most importantly, I’d respected myself by standing up for what was important to me.

That one conversation changed our entire relationship. It took many more books and months of coaching for both of us to change our steps, but it worked. We are still happily married. Of course, we still disagree, but now we interact as equals and there is no winning or losing. When people ask why I specialize in conflict management, I tell them that I married a lawyer. They laugh and think that I’m joking. You know the rest of my story.

What did you think of my story about respect? Can you relate?

I’d love to hear from you. Why is respect important to you? What’s your story?
Please send me a private email if you have a question about your conflict challenges. I will get back to you because connecting with my clients is #1 plus its so much fun to get to know each other better. You can always call my cell; 248.310.6998.

There’s more! Click HERE for our Kick Conflict to the Curb landing page which describes the new online course in detail. Feel free to contact me to see if the class is right for you or your team.
I’d love to save you a seat!

Have a GREAT week,
Joyce Weiss, M.A., CSP
Queen of Conflict Resolution

 

Contact Joyce

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