Tag Archives: conflict

Reality Check: What does respect look like?

Communication is interesting. We come up with ideas—essentially pictures in our minds—that we want to communicate. Then we use words to share those ideas. We tend to assume that everybody understands words the same way. Take the word “respect.” My … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: The People Business

Are you in the “people business”? Almost certainly, the answer is… yes! In their book, Have a Nice Conflict, Scudder, Patterson, and Mitchell assert that everyone is in the people business. There’s nary a line of work where people aren’t … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: So, you’re angry. Who’s in charge?

Anger, like many negative emotions, can ruin your whole day, eh? Depending on the severity, anger can leave a bad taste for weeks, months, or even a whole lifetime. It may be tempting to believe that we can’t control our … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: The Value of Taking the High Road

In this continuing series on helpful values that seldom make the news, this column’s value is “taking the high road.” Does that get the tune for The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond running through your mind? You might express this … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: Fume or Fun?

Some situations seem to call for obvious reactions. However, even when we think there’s only one logical response, there are often many options available for our choosing. How can we figure out which choice is most effective? Doris’s husband, Bob, … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: Working with different people

Workplaces usually focus more on their business—producing products or delivering services—than worrying about how their willing workers are getting along. However, “getting along” at work isn’t just a feel-good concept; it can have a significant impact on productivity. At work, … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: Different people; different strengths

Different people are different. OK, you knew that already. Something else you may know is that there are people who think, believe, and act in ways that can seem baffling. At some point, you will likely find yourself working, interacting, … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: Apologies, Demands, and Power

An apology is often an effective response when someone has been wronged. Yet, there are also unsatisfying apology scenarios where someone—the victim, the offender, or both—walk away feeling, well…unsatisfied. You know something is still not OK, even if you can’t … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: Archie, Meathead, and External Control

If you recognize the title of this column from “All in the Family,” then either you remember the 70s or you have been watching TV reruns! Regardless of whether you loved it or hated it, that TV sitcom has become … Continue reading →

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Reality Check: Hot Buttons

“He pushes my buttons! He knows that I have a temper so he gets me going; then he walks away smirking as if he had nothing to do with it. He does it on purpose to get me into trouble. … Continue reading →

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