Conflict can be Healthy

Most people avoid conflict, including in the workplace.  When conflict is approached in a positive way, conflict may spark innovation, trust and engagement.  Struggling with others through the conflict to reach acceptable solutions is referred to as “compassionate accountability”.

Conflict:

  • Doesn’t need to be destructive
  • Should be leveraged rather than managed or controlled
  • Can be handled with compassion

In order to promote healthy conflict managers should strive to:

  • Be more open: Empathize with others.  Understand their motives, emotions and responses.  Try asking, “How are you doing with this transition?” instead of “How did that make you feel?”  Take time to listen and validate the other person’s feelings.
  • Be more resourceful: Ask for the other person’s ideas before sharing your own.  If you disagree, respect the others’ intentions.
  • Be persistent: See things through with integrity and respect.  Make your expectations clear.  Hold yourself and others accountable.  Be sure to acknowledge when you make mistakes, and try to make it right.

Keep in mind conflict is always emotional.  We need to create a safe place for people to talk about and pursue their emotional motives and assist with developing strategies for healthy resolutions.

HR Magazine “Battle On” Dori Meinert, May 2017

Stay Positive

From time to time, we might struggle with negativity in the work place. Steve Gilliland, speaker and author of “Hide Your Goat” addresses ways to stay positive when negativity surrounds you.  Maybe your mom or dad once told you, don’t let them ‘get your goat’, what does that really mean? We all come from different backgrounds and have different experiences that make up our personalities in and outside of the work place. Gilliland addresses a variety of strategies to eliminate how other push our buttons, or get the best of us. Here are a few tips we might all try to start with a positive attitude that will help us through the day.

Take your daily vitamins – literally and otherwise

Find something that brings joy to your life. Is that spending time with your family, friends, gardening, exercising, attending a concert, a hobby or something else? Make sure you schedule it to ensure you actually have time to do it!

Take a big gulp and swallow your pride

It’s hard for us at times to admit we were wrong. That just might be the best option, at times if that is truly the case.

Laughter is the best medicine

How many times do you laugh at work? How many times do you laugh when you are with your family and friends? Try to find something to lighten the day and have a laugh, hopefully it will make you feel better.

You’re responsible for you

It’s our responsibility to feed our own goat with positivity and the right diet.  Make sure we are balancing our work and life so we can enjoy both.

We have a tough job, don’t let people ‘get your goat’, stay positive and ‘Hide Your Goat’!

Written by Julie Townsend

New Gun Laws in Ohio

The gun laws in Ohio have expanded the rights of gun owners to carry weapons in the state.  This includes allowing gun owners to carry weapons at the workplace.  People with valid concealed – handgun licenses may now bring their firearms onto employers’ parking lots (subject to certain conditions), even though this may have previously been banned by employers.  Don’t worry, the legislation provides Ohio businesses immunity from civil action for injuries, death, or other damages related to their gun policies, https://hr.osu.edu/public/documents/policy/policy705.pdf.

HR Magazine, “Ohio:  Gun Owners Gain New Rights”, May 2017

The importance of punctuation

When writing letters, email, or any business related document, punctuation is very important.  $10 million is the amount an employer paid as a result of a missing comma in a Maine wage and hour statute.  Due to the missing punctuation mark ambiguity was created about the meaning of the last term in a list of exempt activities.  This shows, punctuation is important:  Some people find inspiration in cooking their families and their dogs.  Others find inspiration in cooking, their families and their dogs.

HR Magazine “Pricey Punctuation Problem” Allen Smith, J.D., May 2017