Many employees resist conflict resolution for fear it might not work out in their favor! Unfortunately, the fear is based on the belief that conflict resolution is win-lose - that it seeks to discover who is right. The art of conflict resolution, however, is anything but win-lose. Conflict resolution is about producing satisfaction for both parties. Part of what makes conflict resolutions successful is listening to the perspective of the conflict partner and acknowledging it. The other…

Brainstorming is a technique for generating a solution to a problem by using a group of participants who offer any idea without hesitation or regard for its plausibility or likelihood of being effective. Even absurd ideas are not judged. No analysis is made until the end of the session, when all ideas are examined for the most ideal solution. Here's how to improve brainstorming: always record everyone's input, allow no discussion or interruptions during the brainstorming, and be provocative if…

Periodically, everyone experiences work pressures. When working under pressure, you experience a force (often a deadline) that requires you to accomplish more work at a speed that strains your ability to cope. With a faster-moving economy and downsizing, work pressure is more likely. Therefore, employers view employees who manage pressure well as valuable workers. Managing work pressure is a learned skill. Assuming the quantity of work can't be reduced, the dominant success strategy for…