CONFLICT RESOLUTION

In many cases, conflict in the workplace just seems to be a fact of life. We've all seen situations where different people with different goals and needs have come into conflict. And we've all seen the often-intense personal animosity that can result.

The fact that conflict exists, however, is not necessarily a bad thing: As long as it is resolved effectively, it can lead to personal and professional growth.

In many cases, effective conflict resolution can make the difference between positive and negative outcomes.

The good news is that by resolving conflict successfully, you can solve many of the problems that it has brought to the surface, as well as getting benefits that you might not at first expect:

• Increased understanding: The discussion needed to resolve conflict expands people's awareness of the situation, giving them an insight into how they can achieve their own goals without undermining those of other people.
• Increased group cohesion: When conflict is resolved effectively, team members can develop stronger mutual respect, and a renewed faith in their ability to work together.
• Improved self-knowledge: Conflict pushes individuals to examine their goals in close detail , helping them understand the things that are most important to them, sharpening their focus, and enhancing their effectiveness.

However, if conflict is not handled effectively, the results can be damaging. Conflicting goals can quickly turn into personal dislike. Teamwork breaks down. Talent is wasted as people disengage from their work. And it's easy to end up in a vicious downward spiral of negativity and recrimination.

If you're to keep your team or organization working effectively, you need to stop this downward spiral as soon as you can.  http://www.mindtools.com.

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS

InterperPersonal communication skills are a collection of processes we use to interact with other people, and they are an important component of the relationship building process. These skills include transmitting coherent language in both oral and verbal form, reading written language produced by others, and listening to others when they are transmitting information orally. These are the primary levers of interpersonal communication, and the ability to excel at one or all dictates an individuals adeptness at interpersonal communication. These skills are developed and improved over time and, despite considerable academic research, are typically hard skills to perfect. By communicating with others we share information and learn about other people, particularly how they themselves communicate, which is assimilated into how we ourselves communicate inter-personally with others. Interpersonal communication takes place all the time: when a shopper is speaking to a store cashier, when a manager reviews a subordinates performance, or when a salesman cold calls a client. In this day and age it is incredibly hard to avoid interpersonal communication, and thus despite the work required, there is significant benefit to improving ones skills.

Often the purpose of personal communication is to convey a message and establish a connection between sender and receiver. This allows us to learn something about someone else, which consequently enhances our interaction with them in the future. One of the keys to effective interpersonal communication is trying to relate to the people you are interacting with; share something at a basic level. This sharing of interaction allows us to fulfill a need for inclusion in a social community, a need to demonstrate control over cognitive function, and a for affection and attention.

There are many examples of interpersonal communication skills, and many examples of subset-skills within those. Developing and leveraging these skills often takes training, practice, and patience;

• Disclosing something personal about ourselves to those around us builds trust and develops social intimacy.
• Active listening is a key skill that includes paying attention to information being relayed to you, asking lots of questions, and monitoring your physical communication such as eye contact and fidgeting. Show enthusiasm in your demeanor and speech. This type of empathetic listening demonstrates interest in another persons point of view and establishes a connection.
• Providing constructive criticism without being overly critical. Demonstrate patience with someone whom you may differ in opinion with.
• Interpersonal communication often involves receiving and providing feedback, as well as handling confrontation, and where necessary, conflict. In some cases you may be subjected to complaint about a third-party, which you must remain objective.
• Skillfully find a balance between not being pushy but not being a pushover: a manageable level of assertiveness.
• Be cognizant of physical communication ticks: hunched shoulders, fidgeting, hair-twirling.

The communication between fellow human beings can be incredibly complex which makes being an effective interpersonal communicator that much harder for the average person. Of course there are benefits to building effective interpersonal communication skills, and these benefits are typically a two-way street: what benefits you can probably benefit the person or people you’re interacting with. By communicating with people around us we experience stronger personal growth and develop important social skills. We learn to understand the context of communication and the meanings connected to how things are said. Furthermore, interpersonal communication allows us to develop a personal identity and self-image. Developing these skills allows someone to be a more successful delegator and leader; transmitting clear instructions while commanding the respect and buy-in of followers.

There are several downsides to not developing effective interpersonal communication skills. When communication is misunderstood or improperly conveyed it can cause considerable harm. It is important to remember that interpersonal communication is not reversible, and that we can not take back things we say or imply. Relationships can often be repaired but not without considerable time and effort.

The development of interpersonal communication skills never ceases, and during each and every conversation an individual is forced to analyze the verbal and non-verbal communication. Typically interpersonal communication takes place with the individuals in close proximity, however with new and far-reaching technologies the tenets of interpersonal communication are being tested. These changes require new skill-sets to transmit and maintain effective communication and healthy relationships.  Increasingly individuals are expected to communicate with others through devices and mediums other than face-to-face. With the advent of email, text messaging, and social networking platforms, individuals spend less time speaking to each other in person each year. The role of computer-mediation in interpersonal communication has greatly increased.  http://www.life123.com

TIPS FOR EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATING

Some tips for effective communication

·  Stay Focused: Sometimes it’s tempting to bring up past seemingly related conflicts when dealing with current ones. Unfortunately, this often clouds the issue and makes finding mutual understanding and a solution to the current issue less likely, and makes the whole discussion more taxing and even confusing. Try not to bring up past hurts or other topics. Stay focused on the present, your feelings, understanding one another and finding a solution.

·  Listen Carefully: People often think they’re listening, but are really thinking about what they’re going to say next when the other person stops talking. Truly effective communication goes both ways. While it might be difficult, try really listening to what your partner is saying. Don’t interrupt. Don’t get defensive. Just hear them and reflect back what they’re saying so they know you’ve heard. Then you’ll understand them better and they’ll be more willing to listen to you.

·  Try To See Their Point of View: In a conflict, most of us primarily want to feel heard and understood. We talk a lot about our point of view to get the other person to see things our way. Ironically, if we all do this all the time, there’s little focus on the other person’s point of view, and nobody feels understood. Try to really see the other side, and then you can better explain yours. (If you don't 'get it', ask more questions until you do.) Others will more likely be willing to listen if they feel heard.

·  Respond to Criticism with Empathy: When someone comes at you with criticism, it’s easy to feel that they’re wrong, and get defensive. While criticism is hard to hear, and often exaggerated or colored by the other person’s emotions, it’s important to listen for the other person’s pain and respond with empathy for their feelings. Also, look for what’s true in what they’re saying; that can be valuable information for you.

·  Own What’s Yours: Realize that personal responsibility is a strength, not a weakness. Effective communication involves admitting when you’re wrong. If you both share some responsibility in a conflict (which is usually the case), look for and admit to what’s yours. It diffuses the situation, sets a good example, and shows maturity. It also often inspires the other person to respond in kind, leading you both closer to mutual understanding and a solution.

·  Use “I” Messages: Rather than saying things like, “You really messed up here,” begin statements with “I”, and make them about yourself and your feelings, like, “I feel frustrated when this happens.” It’s less accusatory, sparks less defensiveness, and helps the other person understand your point of view rather than feeling attacked.

·  Look for Compromise Instead of trying to ‘win’ the argument, look for solutions that meet everybody’s needs. Either through compromise, or a new solution that gives you both what you want most, this focus is much more effective than one person getting what they want at the other’s expense. Healthy communication involves finding a resolution that both sides can live with.

·  Take a Time-Out: Sometimes tempers get heated and it’s just too difficult to continue a discussion without it becoming an argument or a fight. If you feel yourself or your partner starting to get too angry to be constructive, or showing some destructive communication patterns, it’s okay to take a break from the discussion until you both cool off. Sometimes good communication means knowing when to take a break.

·  Don’t Give Up: While taking a break from the discussion is sometimes a good idea, always come back to it. If you both approach the situation with a constructive attitude, mutual respect, and a willingness to see the other’s point of view or at least find a solution, you can make progress toward the goal of a resolution to the conflict. Unless it’s time to give up on the relationship, don’t give up on communication.

·  Ask For Help If You Need It: If one or both of you has trouble staying respectful during conflict, or if you’ve tried resolving conflict with your partner on your own and the situation just doesn’t seem to be improving, you might benefit from a few sessions with a therapist. Couples counseling or family therapy can provide help with altercations and teach skills to resolve future conflict. If your partner doesn’t want to go, you can still often benefit from going alone.

http://www.effective-communication.net/

WORKPLACE COMMUNICATIONS

Effective communication in the workplace is an integral component of successful organizations and important driver of productive organizational behavior. Workplace communication is the verbal and non-verbal interaction between individuals connected by a shared internal business relationship. This type of interaction typically takes two forms; internal and external communication. The former type of interaction exists between workplace colleagues such as management and subordinates, or between employees. The latter is the communication between company employees and external stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, retailers, or distributors.

The benefits of effective communication in the workplace exist for both individuals and the organization. In most cases the individual experiences soft less tangible benefits, such as;

• A happier, less-frustrating workplace experience.
• Frees up employees to focus on other more productive activities.
• An increase in satisfaction from workplace activities and workplace relationships.
• An increase in productivity can lead to an increase in pay, promotion, and prestige

For the organization the benefits are often more tangible and measurable;

• Effective communication channels in the workplace ensure that project requirements and employee expectations are properly relayed.
• Good communication ensures that management can focus on other more important tasks.
• Effective external communication can lead to greater customer loyalty and retention, which only can positive impact the bottom line.
• Reduce micromanaging and time spent with suppliers, which further frees up time resources that can be focused on more productive functions.

Besides being frustrating for those individuals involved, ineffective workplace communication has a number of negative consequences for both the individual and the organization. Often there are misunderstandings between workplace colleagues, which can lead to arguments and relationship damage that rarely can be repaired. This ultimately leads to wasted management hours spent rebuilding relationships and micromanaging interoffice communication. The management team is left being reactive as opposed to proactive due to differences resulting from poor communication. This inadequate interaction results in a reduction in employee performance as well as employee satisfaction. This often leads to excessive employee changeover which can leave the company in an untenable situation.

Organizations and there stakeholders must often work together to ensure that effective communication in the workplace is achieved.
The Role of the Organization

• Develop, implement, and test effective communication channels such as codified processes for complaints, criticisms, and grievances, or open door policies between management and subordinates. These codified channels must be differentiated where appropriate depending on the level of the communication: organization wide, departmental, team, or one-on-one.
• Standardized templates are a device often employed to ensure effective communication between the business and external stakeholders.
• Ensure that passive checks and balances are in place to ensure stakeholders are communicating in an adequate manner.
• A private one-on-one performance review process.
• Organizations can conduct employee surveys or pay consultants to conduct studies to evaluate the effectiveness of workplace communication within the organization. This is often referred to as a Communication Assessment and it can be a very useful tool.

The Role of the Individual Employee

• Individual employees must buy in to an organizational communication philosophy and culture, and commit to the time and effort it takes to instill effective communication in the workplace.
• Employees must demonstrate active listening when interacting with colleagues and external associates.
• Paying attention when spoken to and asking on-point, non-derivative questions during group meetings. Employees should always consider taking notes when needed.
• Respecting the opinion and point of view of others; taking the time to learn and understand another opinion before passing judgment.

The nature of effective communication in the workplace has experienced considerable change over the past 10 years. More and more each year workplace colleagues are communicating via email or internal text messaging systems. For instance, a number of major banks are now utilizing an internal ‘chat messaging’ system that connects employees via a designated employee number. The end result of these changes is that associates who formerly communicated in person are now running their businesses less and less in person. This transition and change has occurred in other areas of conducting business also, such as interaction with both customers and suppliers. These changes have lead to a breakdown in workplace relationships as the world has known them and company’s that have successfully navigated this upheaval have emerged with increased efficiency and competitiveness.  http://www.mindtools.com

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know there is an art to communication? The art of communication allows us to share emotionally, and interact socially, giving communication a wide range of creative uses as an art form. Communication is, first and foremost, an interaction between or among human beings. Ultimately the foundational elements of communication are to successfully exchange messages and have useful dialog.

In developed societies virtually everyone is connected in some way that did not exist just decades ago. Indeed, given the right resources, the capability now exists to connect almost any two points on the face of the planet. Uniting the worlds of art and technology sparks innovation across boundaries through creative thought and a collaborative enterprise. To design the world with people in mind, you have to marry art and science using communication technology as the foundational medium when building the technologies and experiences that increasingly shape and connect our lives.

From the time we are infants we begin communicating and it is imperative to teach the art and importance of communication as we grow. With communication skills, we have the ability to relate to each other emotionally, socially and professionally. Exchanging messages has been so successful in fact, we have been able to accomplish many things, such as finding cures for illness, land a human being on the moon, build phenomenal skyscrapers, fly to any part of the world and the list goes on.

Communication is your door to financial wealth, loving relationships, and all that is good in life. Communication is the most talked about and least understood area of human behavior. Our ability to communicate in so many modes is unique to humans on earth. Effective communication is rarely taught and even more rarely learned in our society. What follows is an outline of a few of the many keys to mastering the art of communication. Superior communication skills are unquestionably vital to living a life by your own design.