The Most Important Skills

You Must Learn

In Order to Learn How to Have Fewer Conflicts at Work

Learn How to Have Fewer Conflicts at Work

Pick Your Battles

When working in close quarters with people on a daily basis, it is easy for things to start to irritate us. Don't jump on the attack for every little thing.

Q: How can you create a happy working environment when working in close quarters with your co-workers without encountering conflicts?

A: Here are some tools and techniques to help you work closely with your co-workers without getting on each others nerves.

ü  Take a break:  If things are getting tense in the office consider taking a walk outside your place of work.  While walking clear your thoughts and focus on positive thoughts.  Walking is considered as exercise and exercise relieves stress.

ü  Clear your thoughts:  Take your mind off of the people and issues that are irritating you and causing you stress.  You can accomplish this by clearing your mind of the problem and taking a few deep breathes.  Breathing through the mouth and out through the nose helps the body relax.  It will also help you to focus and think more clearly, so you handle the issues in the office in more productive manner. 

ü  Reach out for advice:   Always be open to words of wisdom.  Other people’s advice can be beneficial.  Different people think from a different perspective and many times their advice will open your eyes to solutions that you would have never have thought of by yourself. 

ü  Reach out for professional help:  If the situations in your office are really irritating you then look for non-profit organizations or support groups to help you.  Many organizations offer expert human resources or support groups that can help you deal with your working environment better.  Sometimes companies will even offer workshops to help co-workers deal with stressful situations in the workplace.

ü  Past, present and future:  Remember, you cannot change the past.  What’s done is done.  Focus on now and figure out what you can do to make things better in your office so tomorrow will be a better day and your future at work will be a pleasant one.

 Kids

Young children often have trouble understanding the perspectives of others. Helping them to understand the feelings of those around them will help them grow into more compassionate human beings.

Q: How can adults help children understand the perspective of other adults and children around them causing them to become compassionate individuals when they grow up?

ü  A: Role reversal is a good way to make children understand how others feel.  Ask them, “if you were in that situation how would you feel?”  Let them stop and think for a moment by visualizing themselves in a specific situation.  This will enable them to realize things they did not understand beforehand.  They will also develop the skills to connect with their inner emotions causing them to become more compassionate toward others. 

ü  Support groups are anther good way of helping children understand how other adults and children think and feel.  Nowadays, many local afterschool programs run programs like these. 

ü  Create your own group: You yourself can even gather a group of parents and kids at your home or a public facility.  Be the leader and bring up certain situations to the children.  Let each child describe how that situation makes them feel.  This will help children express their inner emotions and it will help the other children understand how certain situations affect the lives of others.  In result, many children will stop displaying negative behavior or negative words because they will understand how it makes others feel when negative behavior is exhibited.  Overall, this will help kids develop compassion toward others that will probably stay with them their entire lives and the parents will learn a thing or two about their children they probably didn’t know beforehand. Everyone wins!

The New Mom's Return to Work

Maternity leave can't last forever, and eventually most moms find themselves having to leave their babies to go back to work. Emotions can be overwhelming, but there are ways to help control them.

Q: How do you cope with the emotional struggle of leaving your child after maternity leave is over?

A: Going back to work after maternity leave is a difficult task.  Words cannot even describe the emotional attachment you feel to your child, especially after the baby is first born.  The worries, of being away from your child, the emotional detachment of having to leave your child with a stranger, and the cost of daycare are just a few obstacles you have to tackle.    After being home with your child for so many months work becomes like a distant memory.  Getting back in the routine can be very difficult and emotionally distressful.   Here are some tools and techniques to deal with the emotional struggles of becoming a mom and having to go back to work after maternity leave.

ü  Don’t feel guilty:  Remember guilt is your worst enemy.  Let go of any guilty feeling.  Remember you are doing what’s best for you and your family.

ü  Talk to your boss. You might want to ask your boss about getting flexible hours, telecommuting or working part time.  This might help lessen the emotional burden and ease you back into the routine of things.

ü  Set a return-to-work date. Try to go back to work later in the week instead of on Monday. That'll make your first week back to work a short one.

What to Look for in a Day Care Center

Deciding who will care for your child while you're at work is one of the most difficult decisions that a parent can make. When looking into day care centers, you should look for certain things right

Q:  What are the most important things a parent should look for when choosing a daycare for their child? 

ü  A: Find a reliable child care or nanny: Before you go back to work research all local daycares or interview nanny’s you may want to consider caring for your child.  Nanny’s can cost just as much as a daycare and sometimes less than a daycare.  You may want to look into both and decide which one suits your needs better.

ü  You need to choose a daycare or nanny that makes you feel comfortable. Look for a safe, inspiring environment that you feel comfortable.    

ü  Make sure caregivers are qualified and have experience in childcare. Don’t be afraid to ask to see their qualifications.  Remember this is your child and you’re paying them.  They are not paying you.  You deserve the best!

ü   Ask your baby's doctor, friends, neighbors and co-workers for recommendations. Ask for referrals.  See what everyone says and who they are using.  Usually when you hear a lot of positive reviews it means the place is a good one.

ü  Always trust your instincts when interviewing potential caregivers.  Your instincts are always the best choice.

Competition in the Work Place and Good Sportsmanship

Knowing how to lose gracefully and win modestly are not just important for kid's sports. When competition arises in the work place be sure to follow the rules of good sportsmanship.

Q: How do you display good sportsmanship in the workplace?

A: Here are some important tools and techniques to use to help you display good sportsmanship in the office.

ü  Rule 1: Be supportive of your co-worker by giving encouragement and showing an interest in his or her project.  Be supportive even if you really don’t want too.  You’ll look like the better person and you’ll stand up on top.  Co-workers remember these moments especially your bosses!  It also gives you character and people trust and rely more on people with character.

ü  Rule 2: Step up to the plate and become interested in participating in office competitions:  Bosses view go getters as great leaders, so make sure you participate in office competitions.

ü  Rule 3: Be a mentor:   Be a positive role model by displaying good sportsmanship all the time.  You’ll get noticed by the big honcho’s and people in the office will look up to you more and value your opinion. Remember, positive reinforcement makes a happy office and when people are happy they work harder.