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The Iron Fist Of Dysfunctional Managers (7/19/10)
Lorraine Segal All supervisors and managers need to ensure that employees are getting their work done. But, in many workplaces, especially service oriented ones such as hospitals, schools, and non-profit social service agencies, iron fisted approaches backfire. Rather than improving the productivity and smooth functioning of the organization, they frustrate and burn out the most competent and dedicated workers.
Is It Time To Stop ‘Bullying’? (7/12/10)
Tim Kingsbury I’ve been thinking for a while that the term ‘bullying’ may be becoming less and less useful. We all know it goes on around us, we all know people who have been damaged by it, and the scale of workplace bullying is worrying. To give just one indication of scale, at a recent conference[1] Gill Dix of ACAS said that the ACAS Helpline receives 74,000 calls annually about bullying and harassment.
(7/12/10)
Keith Seat
CVS Caremark is the 200th large employer to join the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC’s) Universal Agreement to Mediate (UAM) program to mediate workplace discrimination disputes. The CVS Caremark agreement is nationwide, while some UAMs are regional. In addition, EEOC district offices have entered into more than 1,500 local agreements to mediate with large employers. Under the EEOC’s UAMs, discrimination complaints filed with the EEOC will be sent to the agency’s mediation unit and to a designated company contact for mediation prior to EEOC investigation or litigation. The EEOC encourages mediation in order to improve the agency’s overall effectiveness, while helping companies and employees reach better outcomes. The EEOC mediation program is one of the largest of its kind, with about 12,000 mediations a year.
OHS online.com (July 5, 2010)
(7/12/10)
Keith Seat
In the fictional, but undoubtedly influential world of NBC’s The Office, a mediator is brought in to resolve a contract dispute between characters Dwight and Angela to produce a child. The mediator apparently determines the legitimacy of the contractual arrangement between the parties who then reach a sexual solution to their conflict that may be unique in real life contract disputes.
Frothy Girlz.com (May 15, 2010)
The Need For In-House Mediation Supervisors (6/28/10)
Lesley Allport At CMP Resolutions we recognise the crucial, complex role of the Mediation Supervisor. Our unique training programme explores the multi functional nature of this position; from supporting mediators to grow and develop through reflection on their experience, to taking organisational responsibility ensuring the delivery of high quality, consistent practice.
"Winning" Workplace Arguments Is Really Just Consensus Building (6/28/10)
Victoria Pynchon In Workplace Negotiating Secrets From Bethenny's Shrink over at Forbes.com, Xavier Amador, the therapist on Bethany Getting Married? gives his "secrets" for "winning" workplace arguments. What Amador suggests (below and at the link) is really just collaborative interest-based negotiation, but his catchy acronym - LEAP - is a good one to remember for all negotiations, whether you're brokering peace in the Middle East or getting your guy to put the toilet seat down. If you read the article, and I highly recommend doing so, you'll see that no one is "winning" any "argument." Rather, people are finding ways to accomodate all of their needs simultaneously.
Are ANTs Causing Conflict at Your Job? (6/21/10)
Lorraine Segal Despite the picture, I’m not talking about conflict and little marching insects, but the other kind of ANTs–Automatic Negative Thoughts–marching inside your head.
Good Conflict/Bad Conflict (6/07/10)
Lorraine Segal Unless you are a conflict resolution specialist, chances are when you hear the word “conflict”, you cringe and think of something horrible that happened at work or out in the world. Negative examples of conflict are everywhere: just turn your TV on to almost any sitcom, talk show, reality show or news program to see people acting out their conflicts in the worst way possible.
The Injury Of Mobbing In The Workplace (5/24/10)
Lorraine Segal Mobbing, although sometimes mischaracterized as workplace conflict, is actually a pernicious and dangerous workplace injury. It isn’t as common as individual bullying, because it tends to occur only to tenured college/school faculty, or to employees in the hospitals, factories, and other workplaces that have strong union or seniority systems. But those of us who have survived a mobbing will never forget it.
The Power Of The Past In Workplace Conflict (5/10/10)
Lorraine Segal Is it more helpful to remember or forget past workplace conflict? The famous line from George Santayana, “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” tells us remembering is crucial. But in the current issue of Conflict Resolution Quarterly, Barbara Tint opined the opposite; that remembering major conflicts makes them persist. In my experience, either can be true in the workplace, depending on how and why we remember.
Workplace Conflict And The Inner Teenager (4/26/10)
Lorraine Segal Ever felt like you or your coworkers or bosses were acting or talking like difficult teenagers? You know what I mean, the sullen shrug, the denial, the endless willingness to argue, the sudden fits of temper? This kind of energy can be challenging and frustrating to deal with, especially when you are supposed to be working with adults.
Chasing Institutional Gratification At Work (4/12/10)
Lorraine Segal We all enjoy recognition from our peers and supervisors, and in an ideal workplace we’d be appreciated for each accomplishment. But, if our only source of work satisfaction is professional awards, we could be setting ourselves up for resentment, conflict, and competition at work that has little or nothing to do with our competence.
Zena Zumeta: Spiritual Side to Mediation - Video (3/19/10)
Zena Zumeta Zena Zumeta speaks to the spiritual dimension of the work she does - how helping people learn how to respectfully and effectively be a part their workplace and family is a sacred task.
The Fun Theory And Workplace Motivation (3/15/10)
Lorraine Segal Can fun be an effective motivator at work? It might, according to a recent psychology study reported by David DiSalvo. In the study, researchers first assessed participants as high or low achievers and then gave them a series of 5 computerized tests. Their computers flashed various achievement-oriented cues for the first 4 tests, and, predictably, the higher achievers performed better.
Q & A With Charles L. Howard (3/08/10)
Jeff Thompson I recently interviewed Charles L. Howard, author of The Organizational Ombudsman. I discussed with Chuck (he let me call him that) different aspects of the book, his motivation and how it can help you- if you are an ombuds, conflict professional, or someone interested in creating an ombuds office for your university or organization.
Good Leaders Are Good Mediators (2/22/10)
Maria Simpson If you work on organizational or employment conflict, you will be very pleased to know that the latest trend in ideas about leadership focuses on the need for excellent conflict resolution skills. This trend is good news not just for mediators, but for all those who work in organizations where the lack of conflict resolution skills was often seen as a sign of strength.
Mother Always Liked You Best—Dysfunctional Family Patterns In The Workplace (2/15/10)
Lorraine Segal If you‘ve ever felt like your managers, co-workers or employees were acting like children, you may be right. For better or worse, many of our habitual patterns of communication and conflict in the workplace come from our families of origin. When people bring these unconscious understandings and roles to work, it is a volatile recipe for conflict, miscommunication, and a negative, poorly functioning organization.
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