Work

How to Handle Workplace Conflicts

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When dealing with conflict in the workplace, the most important rule for handling it is dealing with it head-on. If a company ignores conflict among coworkers, it can snowball into something bigger and eventually cause problems for more than just the parties initially involved. There are a few easy ways to deal with conflict and stop it before it even becomes an issue. If ignored, there’s the potential for people quitting, lawsuits, and even workplace violence.

Open Door Policy

When leadership has an open door policy in place, people are more inclined to come to them with problems. Upper management must set aside time for all employees to go to them with any conflict they may be dealing with. This way, employees know they have an outlet for when they need to talk. It’s a way for them to be heard, and it’s a way for them to know that management cares about their happiness and emotional health.

Create Practical Solutions

When two employees can’t seem to get along, management needs to intervene. If conflict isn’t addressed, fights can happen, which creates a more significant issue than what was there in the first place. Employees involved in a conflict need to feel like their voices are being heard. Management shouldn’t just brush off concerns even if they may seem trivial at the time. If a solution can’t be found, management may need to consider different shifts or workspaces for involved parties.

Address Rumors to Avoid Future Problems

Rumors will inevitably pop up in the workplace. How a company deals with those rumors says everything about them. Rumors are a substantial contributing factor to workplace conflicts and even workplace violence. That’s why it’s important that employees have someone they can ask about rumors and someone they can go to should a rumor arise about themselves.

Perhaps the most helpful way to deal with conflict is to stop it before it arises. Companies should have policies in place that deal with bullying, rumors, and other problematic behaviors. By having a zero-tolerance rule, people can come to work feeling safe in the long run. Employees should also know when and where they can find HR. Creating a zero-tolerance policy for bullying is also a great way to keep all employees on the same page and avoid showing favoritism. 

This article was originally published on RobUrbach.com

The Best Exercises After a Full Day of Sitting

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Who would have thought that one of the most demanding aspects of modern life would be something as simple as sitting? With so many people stuck behind a desk all day, it’s easy to fall into the trap of a sedentary lifestyle. This kind of lifestyle leads to long-term problems like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

Fortunately, just 15 minutes a day can be all it takes to reverse the damage done by sitting for prolonged periods. These 3 exercises are proven to help improve posture and get those legs moving.

Planks

A favorite amongst junior high PE teachers everywhere, many hate the plank. However, this ab and core workout is one of the best when it comes to improving posture and building the core muscles.

To do a plank, start by laying on the floor in a straight line. Then prop up the upper body with the elbows and balance on the elbows and toes.

Maintaining a straight back is the most important part of this exercise. Doing so keeps the core muscles engaged and strengthens the back muscles. Try to hold the plank position for 30 seconds.

Half-Kneeling Hip Flexor Stretch

Sitting has a profound effect on the hips, and stretching them out is important after a long day in the office chair. Employing this stretch is a great way to effectively limber up those aching hips.

Start by putting one knee under the hip and one foot on the ground. Both knees should be at 90 degrees. Engage the abs and flex the glutes while slowly lunging forward. Focus on maintaining a straight-backed posture and don’t push too far forward. The stretch should be immediately felt in the hips.

Squats

Many are familiar with squats. They’re one of the most common workouts and a hallmark of strength-building routines. However, one doesn’t need to load up the barbell to reap the benefits of performing squats.

Body-weight squats recruit the core and most of the leg’s major muscles. This leads to stronger legs overall and improved posture, while also providing the hip extension necessary after a day of sitting.

Squats are simple but highly effective. Just keep the back straight and focus on form.

This article was originally published on RobUrbach.com

Strengthening Communication Among Remote Teams

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Remote teams are a reality for many companies with the rise of the internet and technology. However, remote working can present challenges to communication that in-person work does not have to deal with. Here are some tips on strengthening communication among remote teams.

Create a Company-wide Communication Policy

The most successful remote teams are the ones that have a clear understanding of how to communicate with each other. A company-wide communication policy ensures everyone has a shared understanding of the expectations for communicating, both internally and externally. In addition, there should be an established crisis plan detailing who communicates with whom during emergencies, who oversees those communications, and who makes decisions based on the received information.

Remote teams should have a shared understanding of the company’s culture

Every remote team should have a shared understanding of the company’s culture, even if they’re composed of members from different countries or locations. To do this, a company needs to make sure that the employee values get aligned with the company’s vision and mission statement. Having a shared understanding allows proper communication and fewer misunderstandings.

Create an internal wiki to house

It is important for a business to create an internal wiki and include all necessary information about the company. The remote team will refer to the shared expectations and see how it applies to them directly. This information allows for clarification of the things expected from each position or role. It will also allow for a better understanding of the responsibilities of each member.

Encourage remote employees to attend in-person meetings

Remote employees who attend in-person meetings will understand the company’s culture and allow for more close communication with the managers. It will also make it easier to understand and follow their duties and responsibilities.

If employees have a good relationship among themselves, it will be easier for them to establish connections and relationships. This connection and relationship-building in person give the employee.

One of the best ways to make remote teams feel like they are part of a cohesive team is by providing them with a company-wide communication policy. When remote teams have clear guidelines for communicating with one another, it helps build trust and handle companies’ duties effectively.

This article was originally published on RobUrbach.com

Should You Set Big Audacious Fitness Goals, or “BAG?”

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To borrow a concept from American author, speaker, consultant and business management expert Jim Collins, should one set Big Audacious Goals (“BAG”) for personal fitness?  Anyone can set a fitness goal, but what about a transformational Big Audacious Goal?

OK, let’s start by unpacking the pros and cons, first addressing the latter. Cons-you may burnout, get hurt, feel frustrated, become exhausted, and ultimately succumb to self-doubt. It’s true; all of this could happen. But let’s look at the potential pros.

What could happen if you really stretched your goals? Think transformation; a sense of new found confidence, inner strength, improved blood panels, even the ability to lift heavy things you never thought possible, maybe.  The ability to leap tall buildings, probably not.

Let’s talk accountability. I’ll start by going public with my Big Audacious Goals:

  • Run a mile < 6 minutes
  • Swim 400 meters < 6 minutes (500 yards < 6:41)
  • Bike 40k < 60 minutes
  • Strict back squat at 1.5x body weight load for 10 reps
  • Deadlift 2x body weight for 10 reps
  • Clean and Jerk body weight load for 3 reps
  • 20 strict (chin over bar) full range of motion pull-ups

While completing these exercises individually may not be uber “audacious” for me, having the fitness to do all of them within say a 30-day period certainly feels so. More importantly, it drives me towards self-optimization for muscular endurance, aerobic capacity and strength. BAGs give us distinct and clear targets to work towards. For me, that serves as a motivator unlike any other.

The regimen above will not be appropriate for most, but consider what your limits are, and where you can push beyond those perceptions for above average growth, both mentally and physically. Remember, mastery of one’s own vessel is a mission filled with reward.

Accordingly, what is your BAG?

This article was originally published on RobUrbach.com

Leadership Traits Essential for Trust

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Each family, organization, and company needs a leader that can take the group from one level to the next. But, remember that leadership requires trust.

A successful relationship is always dependent upon trusting one another. It is commonly recognized that there is more resistance to change in the workplace when there is no trust between an employee and leadership. In such situations, corporate infighting tends to take the place of collaboration. Uncertainty is everywhere, and stagnation persists as opposed to innovation.

Leadership traits are essential to develop and maintain the level of trust in the workplace, and that helps motivate teams and works positively for almost everyone. The following are a few leadership traits that are essential for trust among team members working alongside one another.

Listen First, Then Conclude

The fundamental rule of communication is to listen to employees. A good leader must listen to his or her team members to know what they think and what they want to share. A successful leader should learn to listen to what employees are saying at all times. A leader must consider what issues are essential for the employees, address them, and provide a satisfactory response.

Leaders Trust Their Employees

To gain trust, one should trust others as well. Someone in a leadership position must show their employees that they trust each and every one of them. A leader who trusts can help their employees be creative and set challenges for themselves that can be helpful for both individuals and the company.

Encouraging Transparency

A good leader will share their ideas with other employees to encourage transparency. They will help their team understand what is needed in order to achieve company goals and individual goals.  Explaining the company’s aims, future vision, and creating a peaceful, engaging environment where everyone can share their views and ideas is essential.

Great leaders should show people that they value their time and ideas presented by them. This will allow trust to build between all team members, ultimately leading to success for everyone involved.

This article was originally published on RobUrbach.com

The Time Management Practice of ‘Time Batching’

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Modern workers are expected to juggle multiple projects and responsibilities every day. Switching between different types of work costs time, brainpower, productivity, and even happiness. Time batching is a method that promotes flexibility in completing a variety of tasks while capitalizing on the momentum by batching similar types of work together.

When people multitask and switch between disparate tasks, they have to shift their goals and activate new job rules. Moving plans is, simply put, deciding to make task A instead of study B. Regulation activating comes after the goal is set when the brain turns on the processes necessary to achieve the new goal. Each time a worker switches between tasks, they lose time and momentum.

The basic idea of time batching is simple—an individual looks at their tasks for the day or week, sorts them into buckets and blocks of time to complete tasks in a specific bucket—the buckets group similar goals together, minimizing the amount of effort spent on rule activating between functions. The time batcher then sets aside time to do each batch of tasks. There isn’t a magic formula for which buckets the time batcher should use or how long their working windows should be. It’s completely customizable from person to person.

Some time batchers find success in dividing their tasks into shallow and deep tasks. Superficial jobs are things like responding to emails or data entry work—things that require less brain power to complete. Deep duties might include creative work or strategic planning—heavier lifts that may require more mental resources.

Another option for batching time is to group tasks by the outcome, not level of effort. For example, one-time butcher’s buckets might look like this.

  • Administrative tasks like managing appointments and tracking time
  • Project communications, including project-related emails and meetings
  • Creative work where the individual comes up with new ideas
  • Strategic work like project planning and goal setting

Everyone’s time batching buckets will look different. The beauty of time batching is that it’s a customizable approach to time management that each individual can tailor to suit their needs. Batching time wisely allows workers to get more done in less time, increasing productivity, happiness, and job satisfaction.

Negative Thoughts to Throw Away Right Now for Increased Productivity

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Some thoughts can kill the focus on people and make it difficult for them to complete simple tasks. Some thoughts distract people’s minds making them feel lazy. It is hard to tell that someone is losing focus. Some habits control how people prioritize their work, and thus it is imperative to abandon negative thoughts. To embrace change, people need to examine the beliefs that drive their actions.

By examining thoughts, people can identify outdated stories and beliefs that hold them back. How do stories, views, and thoughts impact our productivity? According to a reputable author, Byron Katie, some thoughts make us feel sick, heavy, overwhelmed, and discouraged, to mention a few. On the contrary, other thoughts make us feel free, encouraged, spacious, and energized to handle our tasks.

According to neuroscientific, some thoughts put us on high alert. They stimulate the amygdala causing the brain to release cortisol—a stress hormone. The hormone is the culprit for sweaty palms and increased heart rate. When we are in this state, our brains are compromised, making it daunting to think critically.

If you are ready to change your beliefs and thoughts, here are common ways to challenge your mind. 

“I don’t have time.”

This thought makes us think that we don’t have time to attend to essential tasks. We tend to lose control over our calendar, resulting in uncompleted tasks. This thought can manifest and make it hard for us to wake up even after an alarm clock goes off. We lose body alertness and eventually wake up feeling exhausted.

“It’s difficult.”

There is an inward voice that keeps telling us it’s challenging to execute a specific task. We should abandon the thought and view every situation as a learning opportunity. This helps us to move out of a fixed view and develop a growth mindset.

“I might…. I should”


Whenever we use this language, we tend to assume that we are not liable for whatever happens. Instead, we should switch to a potent language that puts us squarely in the choice. We should regularly use language such as I will, or I choose to. If possible, we should create a list of negative thoughts that hold us back. We are encouraged to make our own list and change one thought at a time.

Improving Well-Being in the Workplace

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For a long time, work was viewed as something that people weren’t supposed to enjoy or even be at peace with. Management styles focused on the stick, not the carrot. Expressions like, “If it was fun, it wouldn’t be called work,” became popular in the working class. However, in recent years, management level professionals have learned that making the workplace peaceful and inviting can benefit everyone.

Companies have started to find ways to help their workers manage pressures, rather than piling them on. As time goes on, it seems like life gets more complicated and stressful. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic has created questions about the viability of some industries. Social distancing and work from home have become the new norm in others. Long commutes, dire warnings about climate change, and extreme weather have also been pressures in the past few years.

In particular, companies have started to respond to Millennials’ desires for more balance and stability in their lives. Millennials are looking for work-life balance in their jobs. They also want to work for companies with a conscience. This generation has forced big businesses to look carefully at how they make money and what they do with it. In order to attract the best talent, some companies have started to adopt wellness programs. These tend to be holistic in nature. That means they don’t just focus on physical fitness. They take the complete person into account.

There was a surprising result related to the implementation of such wellness programs. Not only did the companies adopting them see a decrease in absenteeism. They also saw an uptick in productivity. Employees were healthier overall. Evidence for this could be seen in the healthcare costs paid by employers. Employers who focused on supporting wellness found that they spent less money on healthcare costs overall.

Some ways that companies have put the focus on wellness include making space for it. This often takes the form of meditation rooms or gardens. Others have torn down traditional hierarchies by removing corner offices altogether. Providing memberships to workout studios and on-site yoga are two common ways to cultivate a mind-body connection and better health overall. Finally, providing more healthful snacks has also paid dividends for many employers.   

3 Steps to Identify and Practice Emotional Intelligence at Work

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Emotional intelligence is often thought of as a soft skill but it may be the most critical one for business success. Like almost all other types of intelligence, emotional intelligence is something you can build and develop over time and may take you far further than skills like coding, math or administration skills. Here are three steps to identifying and practicing emotional intelligence at work.

  1. Learn to understand and recognize what emotional intelligence is

Offices/Zooms are a melting pot of all different types of personalities. However, you will most likely find at least one person that never seems to be involved in major office drama, yet also doesn’t shrink away from confrontation. Not only do they never have any juicy gossip to offer but they also don’t seem to provide much of a willing ear for it either.  They operate above the fray, -these are emotionally intelligent people. Once you identify who they are, you can generally start to learn how they accomplish what they do.

  1. Watch and learn

Listening and paying attention may be the biggest superpowers of emotionally intelligent people. Emotionally intelligent people are savvy students of human behaviors. They have keen situational awareness and understand the importance of timing and validation and know when to build consensus and know when to be decisive. They got this way through observation.

  1. Start applying what you learn to all interactions

Once you start to recognize the many small clues people are constantly dropping about themselves, you may find yourself starting to pick up on them more quickly. The best salespeople and customer service agents are those that genuinely listen to the customer or client to really hear and understand what their unspoken needs are. When you can meet needs they may not even be aware they have, then the sky is the limit for your success. Being emotionally intelligent is, above all else, about knowing things about people that they may not even know about themselves.  Use this knowledge to help others in ways they didn’t even know they needed help.

This article was originally published on RobUrbach.net