For a manager, maintaining objectivity can be the hardest part of conflict resolution.
Here are some simple ways to overcome your own personal bias to assess the issue at hand and deal with it most effectively:
1. Use as many sources of data as you can gather and make sure you get all the facts. Focus on root causes rather than peripheral behaviours.
2. Don't take one person's version of the situation as fact, usually two or more perspectives will need to be taken into consideration.
3. Since the majority of workplace conflict stems from miscommunication, engage active listening skills to ensure each fact is completely understood before moving to the next.
4. Some issues have a long gestation period, so remember that the most obvious cause may not be the root cause.
5. Recognize differences between those involved, and isolate any existing prejudices or stereotypes at play.
6. Avoid getting caught up in the blame game. Your objective should be to achieve a mutually beneficial result for all involved.
7. Separate any performance issues from the conflict issue. Acknowledge any bias towards high-performing employees.
8. If you are unable to separate yourself from the issue, seek advice or assistance from a neutral third party.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Innervate Your Team
Top Tips: Three Keys to Innervate Your Team
Q: How can I get my team to follow my lead, rather than just nod in agreement?
A: Your team wants to know why they should follow your lead? Don't tell them; show them, by focusing on the essential, not the merely important. The three keys to innovative leadership, according to G. Michael Maddock and Ralph Louis Viton in a recent BusinessWeek article, are:
1. Focus on the essentials:
Great leaders focus on the essential rather than the important. It's easy to spend your time on the important, but doing so isn't really going to inspire anyone.
2. Stay above the drama:
Recessions/transitions/restructurings are by definition temporary. Understanding that is key to your ability to focus on the desired outcome and the kind of organisation you want to build.
3. Lean into adversity and find opportunities:
Adversity isn't going to end just because the recession does. There will always be a competitor who does the unexpected, or an environmental event you couldn't anticipate. Or, for example, a situation like that financing you were absolutely certain was locked in, suddenly isn't.
Q: How can I get my team to follow my lead, rather than just nod in agreement?
A: Your team wants to know why they should follow your lead? Don't tell them; show them, by focusing on the essential, not the merely important. The three keys to innovative leadership, according to G. Michael Maddock and Ralph Louis Viton in a recent BusinessWeek article, are:
1. Focus on the essentials:
Great leaders focus on the essential rather than the important. It's easy to spend your time on the important, but doing so isn't really going to inspire anyone.
2. Stay above the drama:
Recessions/transitions/restructurings are by definition temporary. Understanding that is key to your ability to focus on the desired outcome and the kind of organisation you want to build.
3. Lean into adversity and find opportunities:
Adversity isn't going to end just because the recession does. There will always be a competitor who does the unexpected, or an environmental event you couldn't anticipate. Or, for example, a situation like that financing you were absolutely certain was locked in, suddenly isn't.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Resume Blunders
From screening job applications to conducting interviews, hiring practices have undergone a dramatic transformation over the past decade. Despite all the changes, common resume blunders continue to plague job search practices at all levels. This article attempts to overcome some of these errors.
#1: It's all about the number of pages
The one-page rule is probably the most common myth about a resume. Candidates, even senior executives, use microscopic fonts, leave off important information, use 0.1 inch margins, and resort to a myriad of unhealthy practices -- all in an attempt to restrict their resume to just one page.
Many well-meaning college counsellors advise their students to be concise and limit their resume to one page. That was important when you were a student with little or no experience, but why subscribe to the same wisdom after rising to the ranks of upper manaegment or a senior executive role?
There is an opposing viewpoint. Some job seekers mistakenly believe that if they can somehow balloon their resumes to four or five pages, they will probably be considered for higher-paying positions. What? Will someone offer me $250,000 simply because my resume is ten pages and redundant to the point of boredom?
Content rules. The quality of experience should influence the length of the resume, not hearsay. If you have held only one job, then don’t try to create a five-page resume, but if your background merits a lengthier resume then don’t use eight point fonts in a desperate attempt to fit everything on one page.
If you are too concerned about the length of your resume, consider creating a one- or two-page resume with additional pages serving as an appendix or addendum.
#2: Make up that degree - no one will know
Lying on a resume is the worst mistake a candidate can make. Even if you pass the background check (very unlikely considering how sophisticated background checks have become), a savvy employer will discover the deception within days, if not sooner.
Apart from the legal ramifications, we live in a professional world that is influenced by social media. At the touch of a button, HR managers across the country can discuss their experiences. Maintaining a good reputation is more important than ever.
#3: Your resume must have an objective
“Seeking a position that will be beneficial and mutually rewarding … and will make use of my experience and education ....” If that is your idea of an objective, don’t bother using one. Every inch of resume space is precious. Don’t waste it on generic information that can be found on almost every other resume. Every word, every character that appears on your resume must position you as the perfect candidate for the job.
In place of objectives, use what many experts call “branding statements” or “headers”. The concept can be explained with the help of an example.
In the case of a clinical researcher, for example, a generic objective would be as follows:
“Seeking a mutually beneficial position that will make use of my 10+ years’ experience in hotel management.”
An improvement would be:
Hotel Manager with Hospitality Degree and 10+ Years’ Professional Excellence
Worked with top two global hotel chains. Leveraged hospitality expertise to manage three multi-billion dollar projects from ground 0 to financial growth.
The generic example does almost nothing to position the candidate but the refined version, in addition to serving as an objective, brings out three to four prominent strengths and an overall value proposition.
Whether you decide to use an objective or a positioning statement, refrain from presenting generic arguments.
#4: Your references must be listed on the resume itself
Normally, a separate page is used as a reference sheet. This not only protects the privacy of your references (imagine posting their contact information on every job board), but also makes the screening professional’s job a little easier.
#5: I can use the same resume for multiple job targets
If your current resume focuses on your hotel housekeeping background, please don’t send the same resume for marketing positions. It is understandable that you may qualify for multiple positions or be interested in pursuing alternate careers. If so, try to create a customized resume for each job target.
When it comes to a resume, never follow the “one size fits all” approach.
#1: It's all about the number of pages
The one-page rule is probably the most common myth about a resume. Candidates, even senior executives, use microscopic fonts, leave off important information, use 0.1 inch margins, and resort to a myriad of unhealthy practices -- all in an attempt to restrict their resume to just one page.
Many well-meaning college counsellors advise their students to be concise and limit their resume to one page. That was important when you were a student with little or no experience, but why subscribe to the same wisdom after rising to the ranks of upper manaegment or a senior executive role?
There is an opposing viewpoint. Some job seekers mistakenly believe that if they can somehow balloon their resumes to four or five pages, they will probably be considered for higher-paying positions. What? Will someone offer me $250,000 simply because my resume is ten pages and redundant to the point of boredom?
Content rules. The quality of experience should influence the length of the resume, not hearsay. If you have held only one job, then don’t try to create a five-page resume, but if your background merits a lengthier resume then don’t use eight point fonts in a desperate attempt to fit everything on one page.
If you are too concerned about the length of your resume, consider creating a one- or two-page resume with additional pages serving as an appendix or addendum.
#2: Make up that degree - no one will know
Lying on a resume is the worst mistake a candidate can make. Even if you pass the background check (very unlikely considering how sophisticated background checks have become), a savvy employer will discover the deception within days, if not sooner.
Apart from the legal ramifications, we live in a professional world that is influenced by social media. At the touch of a button, HR managers across the country can discuss their experiences. Maintaining a good reputation is more important than ever.
#3: Your resume must have an objective
“Seeking a position that will be beneficial and mutually rewarding … and will make use of my experience and education ....” If that is your idea of an objective, don’t bother using one. Every inch of resume space is precious. Don’t waste it on generic information that can be found on almost every other resume. Every word, every character that appears on your resume must position you as the perfect candidate for the job.
In place of objectives, use what many experts call “branding statements” or “headers”. The concept can be explained with the help of an example.
In the case of a clinical researcher, for example, a generic objective would be as follows:
“Seeking a mutually beneficial position that will make use of my 10+ years’ experience in hotel management.”
An improvement would be:
Hotel Manager with Hospitality Degree and 10+ Years’ Professional Excellence
Worked with top two global hotel chains. Leveraged hospitality expertise to manage three multi-billion dollar projects from ground 0 to financial growth.
The generic example does almost nothing to position the candidate but the refined version, in addition to serving as an objective, brings out three to four prominent strengths and an overall value proposition.
Whether you decide to use an objective or a positioning statement, refrain from presenting generic arguments.
#4: Your references must be listed on the resume itself
Normally, a separate page is used as a reference sheet. This not only protects the privacy of your references (imagine posting their contact information on every job board), but also makes the screening professional’s job a little easier.
#5: I can use the same resume for multiple job targets
If your current resume focuses on your hotel housekeeping background, please don’t send the same resume for marketing positions. It is understandable that you may qualify for multiple positions or be interested in pursuing alternate careers. If so, try to create a customized resume for each job target.
When it comes to a resume, never follow the “one size fits all” approach.
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