Workplace Conflict Resolution

Meet with the antagonists together. Let each briefly summarize their point of view, without comment or interruption by the other party. This should be a short discussion so that all parties are clear about the disagreement and conflicting views. Intervene if either employee attacks the other employee. This is not acceptable.

Ask each participant to describe specific actions they’d like to see the other party take that would resolve the differences. Three or four suggestions work well. An example is, “I’d like Mary to send the report to me by Thursday at 1 p.m. so I can complete my assignment by my due date of Friday at noon.” A second example is, “I would like to have responsibility for all of the business development and follow-up with that client.

If the situation needs further exploration, use a process I’ve adapted from Stephen Covey in which you ask each participant to additionally identify what the other employee can do more of, less of, stop and start.

All participants discuss and commit to making the changes necessary to resolve the conflict. Commit to noticing that the other person has made a change, no matter how small. Commit to treating each other with dignity and respect. It is okay to have reasonable disagreements over issues and plans; it is never okay to have personality conflicts that affect the workplace.

Let the antagonists know that you will not choose sides, that it is impossible for a person external to the conflict to know the truth of the matter. You expect the individuals to resolve the conflicts proactively as adults. If they are unwilling to do so, you will be forced to take disciplinary action that can lead to dismissal for both parties.

Finally, assure both parties that you have every faith in their ability to resolve their differences and get on with their successful contributions within your shared organization. Set a time to review progress.

Actions to Avoid in Conflict Resolution

Do not avoid the conflict, hoping it will go away. Trust me. It won't. Even if the conflict appears to have been superficially put to rest, it will rear its ugly head whenever stress increases or a new disagreement occurs. An unresolved conflict or interpersonal disagreement festers just under the surface in your work environment.

Do not meet separately with people in conflict. If you allow each individual to tell their story to you, you risk polarizing their positions. The person in conflict has a vested interest in making himself or herself “right” if you place yourself in the position of judge and jury. The sole goal of the employee, in this situation, is to convince you of the merits of their case.

Do not believe, for even a moment, the only people who are affected by the conflict are the participants. Everyone in your office and every employee with whom the conflicting employees interact, is affected by the stress. People feel as if they are walking on egg shells in the presence of the antagonists. This contributes to the creation of a hostile work environment for other employees. In worst case scenarios, your organization members take sides and your organization is divided.

Resume Writing Tips: Getting the Right Job

As you consider entering into the market in search of your first job (or if you have decided to take the plunge and switch jobs), you need a powerful resume to open doors for you in your job search. In order for you to be in a position to build an effective and meaningful resume, we offer to you this selection of resume writing tips.

By following these tips on writing a resume, you will be in a far better position to start your job search on the proper foot. These tips on resume writing have been tested and proven effective in all the time.

Because of the importance of crafting an ideal resume, we strongly suggest that you take the time to review and consider these tips for writing a resume before you begin your process of building or writing your resume.

 Be honest in your resume.
Unfortunately, when it comes to writing a resume, this particular pointer on our list or resumes writing tips is perhaps the most important. In this day and age, when it does come to resume writing tips, this tip often times is overlooked or ignored. You need to keep in mind that in this high tech age, false information on a resume can be detected easily.

List your educational background.
Another important pointer on resume writing tips list is that you should list out your educational background within your resume. Include institutions from which you obtained a degree, any special certifications that you may have received and any other noteworthy educational or training achievements.

List your work experience.
Make certain that you provide a thorough listing of your prior employment experiences. When it comes to tips on resume writing, this is a very important - indeed, crucial- element of any resume,you also want to make certain that there are no unexplained gaps in your employment history.

Make sure you include special skills.
Another tip for writing resume is that you should make certain that you include and list any special skills that you do have. For example, if you are talented with computers on one level or another, you will want to make certain that you list out these special skills on your resume.

Keep your contact information current.
When it comes to tips on resume writing one of the most common mistakes that people make is found in fact, that they do not maintain current contact information on their resumes. As surprising as that sounds, people will move or change their phone numbers and they will not make appropriate changes on their resumes.

 Include both a telephone number and an email address.
Another tip focuses on the necessity of including both a telephone number and an email address on your resume. Some potential employers in this day and age prefer contacting people via telephone while others rely exclusively on the Internet and email to deal with job applicants.

Do not list references.
In considering tips on writing a resume, it is important that you not -- repeat, not -- include your references on your resume. You should include a phrase such as "References Furnished upon Request." But, again, do not include a listing of your references.

Do not overkill … keep your resume short.
Unfortunately, one of the tips for writing resume that oftentimes is overlooked is the need to keep a resume at an appropriate length. People oftentimes drone on and on and prepare unduly long resumes. Oftentimes a potential employer simply will not read or review a resume that comes into the office with too many pages.

 Don’t use unusual colour paper or ink.
One of the tips for writing resume that you should always bear in mind is that you should not use any unusually colour paper or ink on your resume. Truly, white paper and black print is the best. In some instances, it might be acceptable to move to a light gray paper and a dark blue ink. However, when all is said and done, when it comes to tips for writing resume, you are best served by sticking with white paper and black ink.

Make certain your spelling and grammar are correct.
In considering resume writing tips, don’t make yet another common mistake that frequently is made when it comes to a resume. Do not submit a resume that contains spelling or grammatical errors. Nothing will prevent you from obtaining an interview for a job than submitting a resume that contains spelling errors, grammatical problems or typos. As one of our tips for writing resume, you are advised that it is imperative for you to proof your resume and then proof it again. Indeed, have someone else proof your resume as well.

In summary, you need to remember that your resume is your calling card. With a well prepared resume, a resume that follows these tips on resume writing, you will have a far better chance of getting the job you seek.

-      Gyanam Foundation

BE PATIENT

This is a true story which happened in the States. A man came out of his home to admire his new truck. To his puzzlement, his three-year-old son was happily hammering dents into the shiny paint of the truck. The man ran to his son, knocked him away, hammered the little boy's hands into pulp as punishment. When the father calmed down, he rushed his son to the hospital.

Although the doctor tried desperately to save the crushed bones, he finally had to amputate the fingers from both the boy's hands. When the boy woke up from the surgery & saw his bandaged stubs, he innocently said, "Daddy, I'm sorry about your truck." Then he asked, "but when are my fingers going to grow back?" The father went home & committed suicide.

Think about this story the next time someone steps on your feet or u wish to take revenge. Think first before u lose your patience with someone u love. Trucks can be repaired.. Broken bones & hurt feelings often can't. Too often we fail to recognize the difference between the person and the performance. We forget that forgiveness is greater than revenge.

People make mistakes. We are allowed to make mistakes. But the actions we take while in a rage will haunt us forever.



"Good Life starts only when you stop wanting a better One"



" Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away "

50 Job Tips that Work: Resume qualities that will land you an interview

It’s a tough job market out there. It’s not uncommon for hundreds of resumes to flood a company for just one position. This means that it’s a buyer’s market for employers and you’ll need to bring your A-Game to stand out from the crowd. 

Every day we work with employers and recruiters to find and hire serious job seekers. One advantage for you is that we’ve been able to compile the best tips from top companies and recruiters.

Here are 50 of the top job search tips and strategies that we’ve uncovered –

Preparation

1. Do Your Homework: Always research the organization prior to interviewing. Knowing some of the company’s successes and accolades, such as awards and charitable actions, shows that you have done your homework.
2. Have a Focused Plan: Create a list of companies that you will systematically contact. Prioritize companies that are a close match to your experience and skills.
3. Schedule Networking: Treat networking like a job. Fill your calendar with events and follow-up regularly.
4. Arrive 10 Minutes Before the Interview: Arriving early relieves the stress of possibly being late and demonstrates that you are responsible and dependable.
5. Professional Email: Don’t use your “party email” for follow-up. Get an email address that is simple and professional.
6. Get Business Cards: Make a point of asking for your contact’s business card. This will ensure that you have correct titles and spelling for follow-up.
7. Stay Updated: Set up Google Alerts for each of your top employment prospects. Review the latest news before your interview.
8. Practice you’re Writing Skills: All professional positions require excellent writing skills. Take the time to upgrade yours.
9. Customize Your Resume: Take the extra step of customizing your resume to fit the industry. Simple, generic resumes fail to catch the eye of hiring managers.
10. Proofread 3x: Make sure that you do not have any grammatical errors on your resume.
11. Bring Copies of Your Resume: Don’t assume that everyone will have copies of your resume. Make sure you bring a few extra, “clean” copies with you.
12. Streamline Your List of Pertinent Experience: Older (seasoned) professionals should list approximately 15 years of relevant experience. This will streamline your resume and focus attention on your best experience.
13. Use Active Verbs: Strong active verb usage adds “punch and power” to your resume.
14. Be Careful with Acronyms and Jargon: Make sure that any acronyms are spelled out to avoid confusion. Try to eliminate jargon unless you are 100% sure your interviewer will understand the reference.
15. Send Your Resume in the Right File Format: Pay attention to the guidelines for sending in your resume. Failing to comply with file format standards can hurt your chances for an interview.
16. Make Your Resume More Reader-Friendly: Research shows that employers take from 2.5 to 20 seconds to scan a resume. Use bullet-points and bolded titles to make it easy for them to focus on the highlights.
17. Axe Weak “Responsibilities” Words from Your Resume: Delete phrases like “duties included,” “responsibilities included,” or “responsible for” from your resume. Your resume should communicate accomplishments, not your last job description.

Interviewing

18. Always Dress for Success: When in doubt, dress business conservative. Don’t take a chance “experimenting” with dress to show off your personality.
19. Make Eye Contact: Seek to make solid eye contact when answering questions. This simple gesture shows that you are confident and decisive.
20. Take Notes: This also shows preparation, organization, and respect for the interviewer. Always come prepared to take great notes.
21. Bring Questions to the Interview: Don’t be afraid to come in with a prepared list of questions.
22. Be Decisive: Know what you want and explain your expectations to your prospective employer.
23. Listen: The old proverb – you have 2 ears and one mouth – is dead on. Make sure you listen as much as you talk. You’ll be surprised by what you’ll learn by asking great questions and listening attentively.
24. Confront Your Weaknesses: Employers usually ask what your “weaknesses” are. Don’t be afraid to admit them and describe how you are working to improve.
25. Practice Makes Perfect: Ask a friend to play the role of an interviewer. Set-up a video to record how you answer questions, Review the video for ways to improve your body language and style.
26. Pronounce Your Interviewer’s Name Correctly: Before the interview, asks the receptionist/secretary to help you with difficult pronunciations. Correctly pronouncing your interviewer’s name will make you stand out from the crowd.
27. Show Interest in the Team: Include several questions about the team you will be joining. Get a clear picture of roles and ask if anyone internally is interviewing for the position.
28. Understand Why the Position Is Vacant: Politely probe why the last person left the position. This question demonstrates your thorough preparation and may uncover any red flags you should follow-up on
29. Keep Standing: More people may be participating in your interview. Avoid awkward seat shuffling by waiting to be directed to your seat.
30. Ask about the Culture: Ask smart and probing questions about the culture and values of the company. This demonstrates that you care and desire to make a positive contribution.

After The Interview

31. Follow-up on Shaky Answers: Note questions that you didn’t have a good answer for in the interview. Follow-up with a clarified answer in your thank you note,
32. The Little Things Count: Always send a follow up email and handwritten note. You’ll be surprised by how many candidates overlook this step.
33. Thank You Notes: Thank you notes are a lost art. Pay extra attention to them and you’ll stand out from the crowd. Consider adding custom graphics to thank you emails or using personalized stationary for written notes.
34. Ask for the Job: Take the initiative. Remember that “fortune favours the bold.” If you feel that the interview went especially well, make it clear that you want to work there. You never know – you might get hired on the spot!

Attitude

35. Treat the Job Search Process like a Job: Schedule your day, set goals and objectives, and make a focused effort every weekday. Remember that the most persistent get hired.
36. Personality Wins: Always make sure to inject a certain balance of humour into your job interview. Your personality is equally important.
37. Sell Yourself: Don’t be shy about your accomplishments and achievements.
38. Stay Positive and Smile: Employers want positive and upbeat team players. Put your attitude on display with a smile and an optimistic outlook.
39. Make a Memorable Impression on Everyone: Shake hands and say thank you to everyone you meet, from the hiring manager to the receptionist.
40. Firm Handshake: You can’t go wrong with delivering a solid handshake. Remember – firm, not bone-crushing.
41. Think Win/Win: Remember that you must solve a problem for the employer to get the position. Know how your unique experience and skills benefits the employer.
42. Stay Patient and Optimistic: The job market is tough right now. The most persistent and optimistic candidates have the best chances of landing a position.

Using Social Media

43. Start a Blog: Blogs are an excellent way to demonstrate your writing skills. Also, use the blog to talk about your hobbies and interests.
44. Clean up Your Social Media Profiles: If you use Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter profiles, make sure you review them to make sure they are professional and ready for employer scrutiny.
45. Make Your Resume Shareable: Online resumes are a great way to demonstrate your technical prowess. Go ahead and include a Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook button to make your resume easy to share.
46. Create a Professional List on Facebook: Set up a specific list of professional contacts to help keep your job search separate from your personal account profiles. This isn’t fool-proof but it will help.
47. Use Facebook Groups for Networking: Search Facebook for relevant professional groups. Get involved and contribute to the group before you start actively networking for job opportunities.
48. Be Proactive on Twitter: Follow the Twitter streams of prospective employers. Many companies also maintain career-specific accounts that could give you advance notice of great opportunities.