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Six Tips to Managing Workplace Conflict

December 4th, 2007 by iDunzo

Ever held a differing opinion from your boss? Boasted dissimilar ideas than your co-worker? Been knocked out by a colleague over a disagreement about a project?

OK, so the last one might be a stretch, but it’s happened before… I’ve seen it. Ka-blam!

Like birth, death, taxes, choice and change, conflict is a constant fact of life. It’s also a fact of the workplace, especially when you deal or interact with people.

Make use of the following tips to resolve conflict at work:

1. Choose your battles

How important is the dispute really? Does it truly affect you, and is it a chronic problem? If it’s a one-time incident or mild transgression, let it pass.

2. Expect conflict

Decide that friction will occasionally emerge in the course of human relationships. Don’t fear it – rather, learn to spot the symptoms early and see opportunity in the resolution.

3. Use neutral language

Avoid judgmental remarks or sweeping generalizations, such as, “You always turn your reports in late.” Use calm, neutral language to describe what is bothering you.

For example: “I get very frustrated when I can’t access your reports because it causes us to miss our deadlines.” Be respectful and sincere, never sarcastic.

4. Practice preventive maintenance

Avoid retreating to the safety of withdrawal, avoidance or the simplistic view that your co-worker is a “bad person,”. These are defense mechanisms that prevent the resolution of conflict.

Try focusing on the problem, not the person. Never attack or put the other person on the defensive. Focus on actions and consequences.

5. Listen actively

Never interrupt the other party. Really listen and try to understand what the other person is saying.

Let him (or her) know you understand by restating or reframing his statement or position, so he knows you have indeed heard him.

6. Get leverage on yourself

When dissent between you and a co-worker appears without resolution, it is time to get leverage. Ask to be held accountable.

This brings your performance evaluation into the equation but without taking away your responsibility for resolving the conflict.

This is hard to do, but remarkable change can happen when you are held to task.

Remember to Fight the Good Fight and if you ever have conflict at work, remember these six tips. They could help save your mind, body and soul. If you feel you still need help navigating workplace conflicts, you could consider taking online negotiation courses from Creighton University.

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Mission Impossible III

May 12th, 2006 by iDunzo

I’ve been trying to catch a movie with a good friend of mine for a long time and today we finally got to see one.

Mission Impossible III was the movie of choice.

I was trying to remember the story from the second Mission Impossible but all I could remember was Tom’s character Ethan Hunt was on vacation climbing rocks when he gets a message via his sun glasses, so I guess the second one didn’t impress me much.

I had heard good and bad reviews about MI3 but for $6.00 (the early admission price) and the chance to hang with a good friend, I jumped at the opportunity, plus I got to eat some good movie theater junk food.

One of the things that people kept telling me about the movie was Tom Cruise runs a lot and that’s a fact. He does run a lot. Run Forest run!

Over all the movie was good and I’d like to see it again. The only issue I had was some of the crap that happens to Ethan Hunt was really hardcore and he just kept on running… hehe… his back should have been broken half a dozen times.

Philip Seymour Hoffman played a great bad guy named Owen Davian. The line from him that sticks in my head (no pun intended)

We’ve implanted an explosive charge in your head

He was very evil indeed but that’s ok. He did get his head smashed in the end. I’d actually like to see that scene again because before you realized what was going on, it was over.

I did notice one editing goof up in the film. During the interrogation scene when blood is running down Ethan Hunt’s nose, the flow is inconsistent. First there is a long stream, then a short one, then a long one again. It seems someone wasn’t watching in the editing room. It happens. I like trying to find goofs in films, so this is just another reason to go watch it again.

In the end, there was a lot of good action, special effects and suspense, plus it had a decent story line and a few cute girls, so if you haven’t seen it yet, go for it. Let me know your thoughts on the movie as well.

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