by Christi Barrett | Conflict
In a perfect world, people in conflict would work things out and emerge stronger. In the real world, conflict can be complicated and take some time to resolve. While we firmly believe that the vast majority of conflicts can come to successful resolution, it takes time...
by Christi Barrett | Communication, Conflict, Teamwork
Nobody’s perfect. That seems like a pretty simple and well-accepted notion. However, when dealing with people at work, you need (or at least want) them to do the right things. The fact that others don’t always do what they “should” can leave...
by Christi Barrett | Conflict
Carla and Timothy were part of the team working on a crucial project. Timothy was tasked with completing all aspects of the design. Unfortunately, he missed a deadline by several days, and Carla was miffed. Truth: People don’t always live up to our expectations....
by Christi Barrett | Communication, Conflict, Crisis
Sheila and Sam have never gotten along well, and when they are assigned to a key project together, neither person is pleased. Minor tensions slowly grow into full-scale battle, and the rest of the team is uncertain about what to do. They encourage Sheila and Sam to...
by Christi Barrett | Conflict, Emotional Intelligence
A wise woman said to me recently, “My goal is to spend more time with Sue Smith (not her real name). She really drives me nuts.” I was surprised, to say the least, as my friend is not one to suffer fools gladly. Noting my astonished reaction, she said,...
by Christi Barrett | Conflict, Emotional Intelligence
My boss never gives me a straight answer. How can I supervise someone who doesn’t want to work hard? I shouldn’t have to do my peer’s job for him. Are simmering frustrations affecting your performance? How we handle irritations (or not), contributes...