By admin, on June 11th, 2011  Choose your professional battles wisely In Part 1, we talked about the importance of asking questions and sticking to the facts when it comes to assessing workplace conflicts. Today, we’re wondering, how do conflicts arise?
Common sources of conflict
It can be helpful to ask yourself some simple questions to assess the source of the conflict:
- Is someone doing something they are NOT supposed to do?
- Is someone NOT doing something they are supposed to be doing?
These types of problems are a bit more obvious because they are slightly more “objective.” For example, if you were supposed to receive a particular set of data in order to complete a report and you didn’t get the data, it’s clear where the problem lies. In this sort of situation, being direct and factual is usually the best approach.
- Is there a procedure, system, or approach that is not functioning optimally?
- Is there an organizational or departmental policy with which you disagree?
- Is there a colleague’s behavior that is disruptive?
These situations can be more challenging to address so we’ll take a closer look at each of them in future posts.
Weighing the costs
I guess another way of saying “weigh the costs” would be “choose your battles.” Perhaps in an ideal world, all conflicts and disagreements would be resolved immediately without any ill will or negative ramifications. Unfortunately, this rarely happens, and you may need to weigh which conflicts are worth addressing. For example, perhaps a client shows up five minutes late for every appointment. Depending on the situation and organizational policies, this may not warrant any action or it may require confrontation. Weigh each situation carefully.
What about you?
Is there a common source of disagreement where you work? What types of conflicts would you just walk away from and which absolutely require a confrontation?
The Professional You series offers tips and suggestions for college students transitioning to their first professional position, whether an internship or full time job.
By admin, on June 9th, 2011  I’ll be honest, as I began writing this post, I really struggled! It became evident that a single post was not going to suffice, so I’ll be breaking it into a few parts. Why so much to write? There are so many factors to weigh when it comes to dealing with workplace conflict. Also, conflict, whether it’s with a co-worker, a supervisor, or a customer, is inevitable. Dealing with conflicts, or potential conflicts, can be very challenging. Further, there are differing degrees of severity – some situations might be better described as disagreements or even annoyances, while others can become full-blown battles. I do believe, however, that many workplace conflicts can be dealt with in a manner that avoids escalation.
Ask questions
If you’ve read any of my previous articles, you are probably sensing a theme – asking questions is generally a good rule of thumb! When you are new to a position, it’s wise to familiarize yourself with your company’s or department’s policies for dealing with disputes, conflicts, disagreements, etc. These can differ from place to place, and can depend on the parties involved. For example, policies for how to deal with customer complaints will likely differ from how to deal with a disagreement with a co-worker. So, be sure you are well versed with your whatever policies may be in place. If no policy exists, speak with your supervisor before any conflicts arise to find out how she prefers to deal with them.
Continue reading Professional You – Dealing with workplace conflict, Part 1 »
By admin, on May 23rd, 2011 Guest Author: Margaret Cook
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Margaret Cook is a Camps Director for Rasmussen College at the Tampa/Brandon, FL college campus. She has worked in the field of business operations management for over 30 years. Ms. Cook also has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Miami, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Florida International University. She has managed large-scale operations centers for prestigious companies such as The Walt Disney Company, Capital One, AOL, and Progressive® Insurance.
Website: http://www.rasmussen.edu/locations/florida/tampa-brandon/
An internship is an amazing opportunity to gain on-the-job skills and experience while you’re still in college. But with the array of internship opportunities available – some paid and some unpaid – how do you choose the perfect opportunity for you? Here are the top five things you should look for in an internship.
1. Workplace Environment
Would you like to work in an environment that’s full of energy and fast paced, or would you prefer a more predictable, conservative work atmosphere? Regardless of what type of atmosphere you prefer, your workplace environment should be comfortable and conducive to learning.
You can size up the work environment of a potential internship in a variety of ways. First, check out the company’s website (if there is one). How the company presents itself on the Web could give you clues to the work environment. For example, if the tone of the website is very professional and corporate in nature, you can probably expect the same of the office atmosphere. Also, check for the company’s presence on social networking sites like LinkedIn™, Facebook®, YouTube® and Twitter®. The information presented here also may help you gain a better feel for the nature of the work environment.
The interview is another great time to gather information about the company’s workplace environment. Just as the company is evaluating your skills for a good fit, this is your opportunity to evaluate whether the company’s work environment is right for you. And don’t be afraid to ask questions about the work environment during your interview. Some employers may even be willing to let you speak with an intern or employee to gather more information.
Continue reading Top Five Things You Should Look for In an Internship »
By admin, on April 30th, 2011 Guest Author: Kirrin Coleman is the co-author of Life After Graduation: Your Guide to Success.
Website: http://lifeaftergraduation.com/
The best time to start your career is before you officially enter the workforce. In other words, now. Even if you are a first-year college student, it is not too early to find an internship. Internships are short-term employment assignments during which you receive hands-on training and experience in a career. Some internships last a term, some a summer, and some may last a year or more. Some are paid positions and some are not. Internships can provide an inside view of the fields you find interesting. You’ll learn exactly what the day-to-day work is like, what kinds of skills you’ll need to be successful in the field, and—most importantly—whether or not you like it.
Internships can also give you an edge when it comes time to applying for jobs. Not only will you gain invaluable confidence from the experience, you’ll also have something
to talk about when prospective employers ask you about your “relevant experience.” In fact, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, students with
internships are more likely to be offered a job upon graduation and more likely to be offered a higher salary than their peers who did not do internships.
Continue reading Finding the Best Internship Possible »
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