Candice Gottlieb-Clark
San Fernando Valley Business Journal
Award Nominee
Valley's Top Human Resource Professionals
2009
As a
consultant who works closely with HR professionals I was both surprised and
delighted to be a nominee at the San
Fernando Valley Business Journal's 1st Annual HR Awards Luncheon.
Thank you for this recognition!
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I recently had the honor of presenting with a colleague at the PIHRA
Talent Management Conference. Rae Dawn Hadinger of Sidebar Legal Recruiting, Inc. and I co-presented the topic "Thriving in the Great Recession". Dedicated to the professional choices and decisions that Business owners
and Human Resource professionals make when faced with the issue of down-sizing
and/or restructuring. This presentation offered fresh ideas for keeping your staff sane and functional during times of stress and change.
Bring Us In
Mediating Solutions staff are available for
training, presentations, and corporate retreats on this and similar topics.
Please contact us for information on how we
can be a resource to your organization in 2009.
Mediating Solutions
11684 Ventura Blvd. #239
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 400-5670
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If you find our newsletter to be helpful and informative, please share so that we may be a resource to others as well!
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Q & A with Candice
Q.
Candice, what is the most common issue you see in the workplace?
A. The most common problems I come across in business stem from an
inability or a reluctance to deal with a conflict or problem that has erupted or
is otherwise beginning to surface.
A better question may be, "Why does this happen?"
Reluctance to dealing with a problem is usually caused by some
combination of fear, lack of time, and/or a lack of expertise. When a
conflict occurs, many feel unsure of
what to do, and solving it requires treading into the unknown.
- What
should I say?
- How will the other person react?
- What if things get
worse?
These "unknowns" have a paralyzing affect, causing
those most aware of the problem to ignore it, avoid it, and deny it.
Sadly, the reason I commonly see this problem is
that ignoring the problem is like ignoring cancer - while the problem
may seem
silent, it only gets worse.
If conflict is creating a cancer in your workplace, call
us. We're here to help.
Have your own question?
Send us an email and we'll get back to you with an answer promptly. You may even see your question featured here in an up-coming edition!
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Greetings!
For many of us, maintaining a positive outlook has never seemed harder. With that in mind, this spring newsletter is dedicated to NEW BEGINNINGS.
While no longer the case, April 1st used to mark the start of a New Year -
this changed in 1582 when the Gregorian calendar was introduced changing New
Years Day to January 1st.
Hence the April "fools" who continued to celebrate the New Year in
April.
But with new beginnings it's good to have new ideas! April is also Workplace Conflict Awareness
Month. A month dedicated to addressing
conflict and improving employee relations.
Check out our Tips and Tools section for ideas on basic things you can do to improve workplace relations in your company or office. Similarly, our Top Shelf Ideas focuses on the positive and what you can do to keep staff healthy and productive.
Finally, and on a personal front, April marks a New Beginning for me as well. Being pregnant with my
first child, I am due to bring a baby girl into the world this month. I am filled with joy, apprehension, and of
course anticipation. I look forward to
the growth and depth that such a life experience will bring, and to finding
balance as I continue to pursue my dreams both personally and professionally. To NEW BEGINNINGS!
Candice
Gottlieb-Clark
President,
Mediating Solutions
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Make a Positive ChangeTop Shelf Ideas that Affect the Bottom Line
As many of you
know, the "Top Shelf" column has maintained a regular focus on issues
of Managing staff through an economic crisis, layoffs and
downsizing. Fortune Magazine has just published a similar piece
- Layoffs Cost More Than You Think. Their
article reiterates the comments and advice noted in our past three quarterly
newsletters - and brings to light once again the issue of cost-cutting vs. cost
management.
If you are adjusting to this reality, and looking ahead to keep those on-board
engaged and happy, this edition of TOP SHELF is for you! Below are
three positive changes you can make to keep your staff healthy and
productive.
Get them Involved
Keeping staff
motivated and inspired takes more than a paycheck, it means getting them
connected on a deeper level. Bring staff on board by sharing the long and
short term goals of the company, as well as any immediate challenges you
face. Let your team know that you want their input and involvement in
reaching the goals and managing the challenges. Set parameters for the
input you hope they will have (i.e. ideas vs. complaints), as well as for how
the company will respond to the suggestions it receives (i.e. acknowledging or
rewarding proposals).
Fix the Problems
If you have a
problem, especially a "people problem" - fix it. Show your
employees they matter, and that you want them to feel safe and secure at
work. This may seem obvious, but problems are often ignored. The
expectation that others will "figure it out themselves" leaves the
problem untouched and unresolved, ultimately creating a cancer that continues
to fester and grow. Keep in mind that "people problems" occur
at ALL levels within the company from the top executive on down. And the
larger the domino, the bigger the effect.
Stay Ahead of the Game
Continue to
provide training and/or leadership development. In slow times businesses
tend to roll-back on expenses, only to play catch up later. If you know
the need exists, don't play this game of cat and mouse. Instead use this
slow time to your advantage by enhancing the assets you already have.
Some consultants and trainers may have "recession specials" or
offer more for less right now - take advantage of the opportunity to stay ahead
of the game.
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Link to Blog ________________________________________________
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Tips and Tools
5 Steps toward Fostering
Positive Workplace Relations
With our focus on
"New Beginnings", and in light of April
being Workplace Conflict Awareness Month, we'd like to draw your attention to
the importance of cohesive workplace relations and teamwork.
Below are 5 things you can do to foster
positive workplace relations on teams and among co-workers.
1.
Encourage Socialization - Research shows that 60-80% of all difficulties in
organizations stems from strained relations. With that we know that workplace
associations are the single biggest factor in determining effectiveness and productivity
at work. Create an environment that fosters positive relations,
and the healthy atmosphere will circulate back into the company. To put
it simply, you will find that a happy employee is a more productive and loyal employee.
2.
Value Proximity - Working closely with someone
should be considered in both the literal and figurative forms. Staff and teams who work in direct proximity
to one another will communicate more frequently and more openly. This builds trust, rapport, and aids in
teamwork and productivity.
3.
Manage People, Not Paperwork - A managers most
important role is to engage his/her staff and help them to accomplish more by supporting
their efforts, addressing their needs, and being involved in their success. A manager who is committed to his/her team
makes them stronger and more cohesive.
4.
Discuss Discord - Conflict is a natural
occurrence and is best addressed early on.
Avoiding discussion or interfering with efforts to work it out will
cause the conflict to grow and those involved to become further
entrenched. Instead encourage discussion
and open communication between those at the heart of the issue. Creating understanding builds relationships -
regardless of whether or not full agreement is reached.
5.
Recognize
and Reward - By focusing on the oft-ignored positive behaviors you can build strength
of both the individual and the team.
Have those achieving the most success discuss and describe how they
accomplished their goals and feats. Sharing
and discussion provides for mentoring of new skills and may create some healthy
competition as well.
For more help in building a productive and cohesive team -
please contact us for a free preliminary consultation.
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Thank you for reading our Newsletter!
If you have any comments or questions, or if we can
assist you in any way, please contact us.
Mediating Solutions
11684 Ventura Blvd. #239
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 400-5670 |
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