The art of a heartfelt apology

If you’ve been stuck mostly at home with one or more family members over the past year, chances are you’ve gotten on one another’s nerves occasionally. When you’re under a lot of stress, it’s not uncommon say something unkind, or even to lash out in anger to someone you care about. And we all make … Read more

Forgiveness: Letting go of grudges and bitterness

Who hasn’t been hurt by the actions or words of another? Perhaps a parent constantly criticized you growing up, a colleague sabotaged a project or your partner had an affair. Or maybe you’ve had a traumatic experience, such as being physically or emotionally abused by someone close to you. These wounds can leave lasting feelings … Read more

How to deal with people who talk too much

Have you ever been in the Stand-Up Meeting That Time Forgot? That is, a five-minute meeting that seemed to stretch to 15, 20 even 30 minutes—all because of a person or persons on your team who wouldn’t stop talking? How do you deal with people who talk too much? When we think of conflict resolution, … Read more

Equanimity: The Holy Grail of Calmness & Grace?

What Is Equanimity? The word “equanimity” comes from the combination of two Latin terms: aequus, meaning “even, level” and animus, meaning “mind” or “spirit.” Equanimity is characterized by the ability to remain calm, composed, open, and non-reactive in the face of challenging or distressing situations. Luckily, equanimity is not just a psychological trait with which … Read more

The Neuroscience of Trust

Companies are twisting themselves into knots to empower and challenge their employees. They’re anxious about the sad state of engagement, and rightly so, given the value they’re losing. Consider Gallup’s meta-analysis of decades’ worth of data: It shows that high engagement—defined largely as having a strong connection with one’s work and colleagues, feeling like a real contributor, and enjoying … Read more

How to Navigate Difficult Conversations

We can’t avoid difficult conversations altogether, but we can navigate them more adeptly by learning to listen and communicate mindfully. The difference between ordinary conversations and challenging ones is a bit like the difference between canoeing on open water and running rapids. Both involve paddling with balance, but the stakes are much higher and the … Read more

Unconscious Bias: thinking without thinking

  Introduction An individual makes countless decisions in a day without even being aware of them. The solutions to various problems can be influenced by unconscious biases. It refers to a situation which we are unaware of and which happens beyond our control. Interestingly, it happens involuntarily and is triggered by our instinct. These instincts … Read more

The secret to conflict resolution

The task of resolving employee disputes often falls to HR. We talk to a conflict resolution expert about mistakes to avoid when resolving workplace confrontations How can HR can approach office confrontations without upsetting others or escalating an issue further? By avoiding making these common conflict resolution mistakes, according to corporate training facilitator Phil Schibeci. … Read more

Conflict resolution in the workplace at its finest

Learn what’s essential in resolving workplace conflict. In any organization, conflict is inevitable and should never be ignored. However, before taking any steps to resolve it, it’s essential to know its causes and effects first. What are the major causes of workplace conflict? Here are the things that trigger conflict among employees, according to the … Read more