Positive interactions are critical to successful workplaces. Yet, workplaces are dynamic, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that tension can develop quickly and ruinously.
Managers at all levels, and business owners, seek answers to the following important questions:
What's changing in the workplace and the workforce today?
Are the right issues being addressed?
How can we create more options to solve conflicts?
What's my conflict style, and why is it important?
How should I set and manage expectations?
What happens when disruptive behavior gets out of control?
"THE ESSENTIAL WORKPLACE CONFLICT HANDBOOK: A Quick and Handy Resource for Any Manager, Team Leader, HR Professional, or Anyone Who Wants to Resolve Disputes and Increase Productivity" is the ideal resource for anyone ready to confront conflict at work rather than run from it. Managed correctly, conflict can be a positive source for innovation and creativity.
Of course, everyone is busy, but being accessible to your employees is a management imperative and, in today's 24/7 world, we all stay connected all the time. In order to create a culture where conflict is encouraged and effectively managed, managers have to be approachable.
Increasingly, employees are looking for ways to make their lives simpler, and one of the most valued benefits today is being able to have some flexibility in scheduling work.
Workplace flexibility takes many forms, including:
Part-time or reduced-hours schedules.
Telecommuting from a satellite location, or working from home on specific days or full-time.
Flex-time with core hours where employees choose their start and end-times, but must be present during specific times of the day.
A compressed work week where full-time employees work longer days for part of the week or pay period in exchange for shorter days or an additional day off each week or pay period.
There are many other options for organizations that want to relieve employee stress and reduce workplace conflict situations, but it is important to have policies in place that meet the needs of your workforce.
Here are some self-coaching books for women to get started in shifting gears:
When Doing It All Won't Do: A self-coaching guide for career women. (ebook edition $0.99, Workbook Edition in paperback $13.41)
Women, Know Thyself: The most important knowledge is self-knowledge. (ebook and paperback editions)
Women and Time (ebook and paperback editions)