7 Steps to Defuse Workplace tension

Scenario 1: Jeff and Mary co-workers in a company that allows employees to set your own hours. Jeff usually saunters into the office around 10 am, while Maria was there promptly at 9 am Jeff She often took care of customers since his arrest. He rationalized that everything was OK because he was held to 6 until But "time." Clients usually stop calling at 5 pm Maria angry with Jeff and becomes irritable and frustrated him. He took a day-to-day interactions and sometimes even in staff meetings. Obviously, their conflict is the problem.

Scenario 2: Allen and Leo the same manager. In almost every staff meeting, they argue. They try to cut each other off, they criticize each comment, and they waste time that could be devoted to critical business issues.

In both situations, the conflict resulted in a waste of time, energy and productivity. Are business situations like this are rare? Or this kind of conflict exclusive to large companies?

Hardly. Conflicts throughout the United States, and it happens in every office in a different class and almost every employee.

So what's the conflict?

If you ask the average person, the response can range from negative situations into intense dislike for others. At the same time, others may define it as anger, distrust, antagonism or simply something they want. It's all negative scenes, and I found them too tight.

I recommend unnecessary conflict characterized only as a negative. In fact, it could be neutral or even positive. Conflicts can only be defined as tension.

Tension can be good, bad or neutral. Just because two people disagree does not mean that their disagreement is negative or toxic, it's just a difference of opinion. However, left unaddressed and left to rot or grow, neutral tension can become negative and possibly harmful. Then everyone, including the organization suffers.

Whatever definition is used, we can agree that most people do not like conflict. In fact, they go out of their way to avoid it. In many cases, people will see the conflict in terms of arguments, anger, offensive or shouting. And no one wants a situation. Consequently, when conflict arises, most people avoid it or pretend does not exist. However, it is true, and that could cause problems.

So how should you handle conflict in your workplace?

It addresses itself. When conflicts arise, you should raise this issue with the parties involved. You want to emphasize the need for employees to meet that need. At that time, could you explain the negative feelings and thoughts easily with the right way can actually make them positive and productive.

Listen to both sides. Talking with each party separately to get their views on what the tension is all about. Be sure to include emotional information, discuss specific facts or events that caused or inflamed the situation.

Take the Second Party (All) Together. Allow them to share their version of events or issues. Typically, this step will cause problems or the fact that the other party was not aware of.

Search for Common Ground. This is very important, because often each piece has some concerns other parties may agree to, and that will be the foundation that allows you to bridge the gap that separates the parties involved.

Encourage involvement. By working together, everyone should want to give a little. This step may take a while because the edges are firmly entrenched in their own perspective or version of what should happen to resolve the issue. When this is done, everyone will feel a little better.

Deal with negative feelings. Feelings and thoughts that arise during the conflict that works. Unless it happens to the satisfaction of all, the problem may be gone for now, but hard feelings or thoughts persist, then repeated conflicts may occur.

Be Positive. Resolve to resolve conflicts in the future in a positive way. The model, of course, similar to how resolved.

Based on the experience of the employees just practicing, they now have to have the skills and processes in place to turn a negative into a positive conflict that drives their tension ahead to future problems.

Micro-Apartments in Big Cities: A Trend Formation

Imagine waking up in an apartment 15-by-15-foot that still manages everything you need. Bed crumbling walls, and a breakfast table extends from the rear of the bed after it was hidden. Instead of cabinets, a corner finding overhead suspended from the ceiling. Company coming? Get stools that stack like nesting dolls in an apartment ottoman.Micro-, in some cases smaller than a college dorm room, is a plant in North American cities as urban planners trial a new type of housing to accommodate the growing number of single professional, students , and adults. Single-person households made up 26.7 percent of the U.S. total in 2010, compared with 17.6 percent in 1970, according to Census Bureau data. In urban areas, the proportion is often higher: In New York, nearly 33 percent. Boîtes And it's not just for singles. The idea is to become more efficient and ultimately to offer cheaper rent. To drive change, some waiving city zoning regulations to allow construction of smaller dwellings in selected sites. In November, San Francisco reduced the minimum requirement for a pilot project of 220 square meters, from 290, to two efficiency units. In Boston, where most homes have at least 450 sq ft, the city has approved 300 new units as small as 375 sq ft. With the blessing of the local government, a developer in Vancouver in 2011 to convert a single room occupancy hotel in 30 "micro-lofts" in below 300 sq ft Seattle and Chicago have the green light micro-apartments. "In the future, this trend will continue," said Avi Friedman, a professor and director of the Home Affordable Research Group at McGill University School of Architecture. An increasing number of people choosing to live alone or do not have children, he said. Among these groups, many are choosing on the outskirts of the city to reduce reliance on cars and commute time cut. "Many people are aware that there is a lot of value to the town," he said says.Friedman calling for new modes of micro-habitat "Europeanization" of North America. In the UK the average is only 915 square meters. In the U.S. the average new single-family home is 2480 square meters. The National Association of Home Builders expects to shrink 2152 square feet 2015.Small perpetrator has strong roots in Japan, where land is scarce. "It's just the way things have always been done," said Azby Brown, an architect and author of The Very Small Home: Japanese Ideas for Living Well in Limited Space. Three hundred square feet may seem strict, but assume that the history of Japanese families living in row houses are equipped with 100 square meters of housing and communal areas were great. After World War II, Japan's home grown, though not much by American standards. In the late 1980s the average Japanese house-sized 900 square feet. Tight quarters require ingenuity and compromise. Think Japanese futon or under-the-counter refrigerator, features European apartment. Murphy bed gets a sleek makeover with a mock-up of micro-apartments-on exhibits at the Museum of the City of New York. Room 325 square meters, designed by New York architect Amie Gross, also featuring tables with wheels that can be hidden under the kitchen table and a flat screen TV that slides along the rails became attached to the built-in shelves. Visual tricks such as high ceilings and materials for different floor space feel roomier.The event, titled "Making Room: New Housing Models for New York," shows some entries from a design competition sponsored by the New York Department of Housing Preservation and developed. The winning team, consisting of the Monadnock Building, Actors Fund Housing Development and nArchitects, secured permission to build a 10-story building in Manhattan are made of steel prefabricated modules. Some of the 55 units as small as 250 square feet. "The hope is that with more supply should help affordability of apartment types, so that children or adults are able to live closer to the center and back and forth for the time being," said Mimi Hoang, co-founder of nArchitects. Even small properties are not cheap, at least not in the per square foot. In San Francisco, where two of the project, the rent will range from $ 1,200 to $ 1,500 per month. In New York, the 20-odd units for low-and middle-tenants will start from $ 939. Ted Smith, an architect in San Diego, said the single is a better breakfast by the studio efficiency suites residence with communal areas for cooking, dining, and entertainment. "The market does not like some of the motel rooms to live in," he said. "There has to be cool, hip build love all and go, 'Man, small units outstanding,' not 'I think I can put it up.'" The bottom line: Developers of micro-apartments targeting urban professionals living alone. Quarters may be small, but not rents.

get to B-School? Do not pack Career Cover

A guest post from Matt Symonds, chief editor MBA50.com, a site dedicated to leading business schools around the world. He is also director of Acceptance Fortuna and co-author of Getting Admission MBA ABC 'Edge.Matt SymondsWhen comes to career planning, I spent most of my early years teens hope to score the winning goal in the cup final for Manchester United, or turn the game around for England cricket field. When I finally accepted the fact that all this is possible, I tried to pre-study internship at a law firm, but not clear cut. Starting my own business came later, but no business plan or exit strategy I do not think I even have to write any number on the back envelope.So I always look at the business school and MBA, in particular, as a good opportunity to discover your true calling professional. I know that business schools can expect a specific post-MBA career goals at the point of application, not when you graduate. However, the idea of ​​sharing one or two individuals from all levels of professional life, cultural background, and personal ambition seems tailor-made for the discovery of ideas and design the career path for the next 10 years or so. Added to that, the business school kingdoms lay spread assessment and training can help you determine your professional way of new map.I struck a conversation with the dean of one of Europe's top schools, HEC Paris, bernard Garrette, and descriptions of the students he saw fall into two categories Different career "Hunter" and hunters "explorers." with something that is really mapped out before they arrive on campus, single-mindedly to make a career in investment banking or strategy consulting. They were quick to the network in their chosen field, doing interviews with the target company for an internship or field work, and use the MBA to develop the knowledge and skills to deliver it straight explorer school.The if not self-aware enough to recognize their talent and potential , but the business school experience to consider a different career path, think of business activities, and try their hand at a variety of classes and activities.With 16-month program, estimates explorers Garrette HEC Paris has more than Huntsman, and gives examples of Minneapolis based graduate Katherine Ainsworth, who holds an MBA in Paris before working in advertising sales Apostle Hollywood. Tired of the corporate ladder, and are keen to embrace other cultures, Ainsworth used the study to develop a jewelry business now, two years after she finished school, attracting a global client base. Along the way he took the financial toolbox, using input from fellow students to develop new channels of communication, and get the story straight on luxury brand management from the CEO of Givenchy (LVMH). Ainsworth has a lot of experience of MBA doing job he dreamed would be possible, though perhaps not the work he hoped to do. A poster child for explorers.So my message this week went to Hunter. Business schools have the power to completely change the expectations of individual careers, even thought they know exactly what they want to do. Hunting for a job at McKinsey, Morgan Stanley (MS), or Google (GOOG) is an understandable goal, but the MBA is a golden opportunity to explore other options, and to see if your call is in another place. And, it predicts the job market, even if you're set on a particular discipline or sector, have a Plan B is a good idea.Perhaps one of the best things you can do in business school mind.Join open discussion in Bloomberg Businessweek Business Schools Forum, please visit our on Facebook, and follow on Twitter @ BWbschools.

Apple Plans widespread speculation Watch watch

So is Apple thrive? Honestly? Who knows? I have no doubt that the Apple (AAPL) has been thinking about the watch. And I have little doubt that they even play around with the concept and put some people in here as a test project. Now, according to my colleagues at Bloomberg News Peter Burrows and Adam Satariano, Apple is putting out about 100 people on the project, which may indicate something more serious than a joy. But Apple is not afraid to pull the plug on it, so the future of this product still speculative.Do want to speculate, then? Sure! I mean, I can understand the idea behind the iWatch. In some ways, I can understand more easily than I could Google Glass Project. While taking augmented-reality view of the world is pretty cool T-800 kind of way, you still have to wear glasses. Now, I wear glasses, but not everyone may feel the same witness sluggish adoption of 3D TV, which also requires Eyewear. Watching A, on the other hand, is quiet. Anyone can wear watch.Do wear a watch? Of course not. I carry my iPhone with everywhere.What you think watching from Apple do? More speculation, please.Well, I think the first thing to do is to work together with the iPhone. An iWatch (let's call it that for now), you will need to have excellent battery life, making it standalone computing device does not make sense. It would consume too much power. But as something that has the look and some of the basic inputs and connects wirelessly via Bluetooth to the phone where the real heavy lifting is achieved? That might make it more energy efficient display accessories iPhone.Would in view? I believe it. Given the characteristics of low power technology like AMOLED (Active-Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode for, for those playing along at home) you can create a touchscreen measuring pulse. If you have left a touch, and I do not think Apple, you can go to Route E-Paper (think Amazon (AMZN) lit), which uses much less power. This is the approach taken by the Pebble, independent makers of a Bluetooth-enabled wristwatch that links to your smartphone and display relevant information.But I will be able to make phone calls on it, like Dick, I'm going to cut you off there, if you do not objections. I put a moratorium on references to some yellow-trenchcoated detectives came to the wrist-borne communications device. That said, I do not always think to iWatch or even should have phone capabilities. In a fantasy world I created, iWatch only works in concert with the iPhone. Your phone is a great device to make a call, end to your ear, the other from your mouth. There's even a headphone with a built-in mic for hands-free calling. Why do you want to talk to your wrist? So what he did, if not make a call? Can do many things. With display, iWatch can easily remind you of upcoming appointments or to do items with a tone or vibration. Read incoming text, e-mail, and other messages from your wrist. You can also display turn-by-turn navigation cues, "three blocks" Think of subway stairs into the flow of vehicles on the road, and you hold your wrist to see the arrow pointing to the left, say, as I do not think the function iWatch as a phone, I can see it working with Siri. Holding your wrist to tell Siri to schedule lunch with your friends for tomorrow at 1 makes more sense than holding a full conversation on the phone with iWatch watch.The You can also become quite a competitor in the wearable fitness devices, such as Up jaw , (NKE) Nike FuelBand, Fitbit and Flex. All devices are currently working on an iPhone to collect and analyze data. What if Apple has developed its own service? After all, Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, is a noted fitness fanatic.Isn not Tim Cook on the board of directors of Nike? He believes, that will make things a bit difficult if Apple comes with a device that directly compete with Nike makes.Kind something reminds me of how Eric Schmidt will leave the board when Apple started Android.Bingo.How Google develops we know it did not go the calculator watch? We do not. But why are you holding a calculator watch as a pattern of failure? Since the watch can only say City.That time ticks cruel. True, but harsh. You're right that a multifunction watches checkered past: From the legendary Casio (6952) Databank series Seiko (6724) 's TV viewing positively mad at Microsoft (MSFT) turned out to watch the spot, had many failed attempts to put more than one hours on our wrist. Apple is to succeed where others do not? I can not speculate away.

Boeing 787: If your plane

(updated throughout with the FAA grounding U.S. 787, and the comments from United Airlines.) 787 new Boeing aircraft that are a bit full at the moment?. It carries a large bundle of lithium batteries that fire hazards are known, broken glass, and U.S. regulators began an investigation to determine what happened. In the middle of the review, the Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday ordered the foundation of US-registered 787, which affects six service to United Airlines (UAL). For passengers, the question that really matters is: the plane to kill you? Short answer: Probably not. You can die in a plane but were receiving the 787 types of management may be safe to fly. Airline pilot and caution, given that the Dreamliner is making headlines again about the day.The answer: a messy situation for Boeing (BA) and for the aviation authority, both of which became certified aircraft is safe after years of development and extensive testing. Flying remains the safest mode of transportation, by a large margin, with your chance to die in a small plane crash. Statistically, you will need to get on a plane random every day for more than 21,000 years before you die in an accident, according to Richard Kebabjian, site running PlaneCrashInfo.com.In Japan, the second largest two airlines based in 787 Wednesday after the pilot dozen All Nippon Airways domestic flight smelled smoke and saw a battery warning. The lithium-ion batteries used in the 787 is drawn close scrutiny after a pack of burning Jan. 7 at the Japan Airlines jet Boston.The FAA said in a statement that the latest events in Japan prompted the decision, which is affect only States as the single U.S. aircraft carrier has received so far. Other countries have airline to fly the 787 may decide to follow the motion of the FAA as a safety precaution. "Before further flight, the operator of US-registered Boeing 787 aircraft must demonstrate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that the batteries are safe and appropriate," the agency said in a U.S. based 787 domestic statement.Chicago and flies between Los Angeles and Tokyo. States spokeswoman Christen David said in an e-mail will include 787 airlines flying other aircraft, "United immediately following Airworthiness Directive and will work closely with the FAA and Boeing's technical studies we have towards restoration of the 787 service. "Eight airlines have their fleets.To 787, Boeing has chosen to keep the response brief and infrequent issue, pending further investigation. "We are aware of this and work with our customers" is the standard response when incidents of 787 new companies emerged. And for journalists, where there's smoke ... Questions naturally arise about something new, and 787 completely new things: carbon fiber composites to make it lighter and more fuel efficient, battery and advanced power systems that power them. After months of testing on the ground and in the air, though, should not this question be answered?

Record Euro Zone Debt Crisis Make Messier

Keynesian solution to the crisis in Europe is government spending to economic growth round. Restoring growth would generate more tax revenue, think, so fiscal pump-priming will eventually pay for itself. But Keynesian debt arrangement makes it difficult to implement. Indebted countries can not spend more for fear of losing the trust of investors.Debt, in short, clear the "wiggle state fiscal room.That 'why EU report now rising government debt in the euro zone single currency hard. Association announced that the government debt to GDP ratio increased from 85.3 percent at end-2010 to 87.2 percent at the end of 2011. According to Bloomberg News, the ratio of 2011 is the highest since the euro was introduced in 1999.What 's double scary if not only recognized the problem of children who see Europe as Greek government debt rose as part of the gross domestic product. Even in the Netherlands, one of the four remaining AAA-rated countries in the euro zone, increasing debt to GDP ratio from 62.9-percent to 65.2 percent, according to the Dutch fans Union.The strong Europe Germany trip saving until now, but they are getting weak in the knees. RTL television reported that Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte resigned after losing the support of Geert Wilders of the Freedom Party in the coalition, following a dispute on an austerity package. "There is a danger that we will see a move to a more radical, less European-friendly policies in the Netherlands," Elisabeth Afseth, an analyst at Investec Bank in London, told Bloomberg quote News.Here's an announcement from the European Union to all Relevant numbers: At the end of 2011, the lowest ratio of government debt to GDP was recorded in Estonia (6.0%), Bulgaria (16.3%), Luxembourg (18.2%), Romania (33.3%), Sweden (38.4%), Lithuania (38.5%), Czech Republic (41.2%), Latvia (42.6%), Slovakia (43.3%) and Denmark (46.5%). Fourteen Member States with government debt ratios higher than 60% of GDP in 2011: Greece (165.3%), Italy (120.1%), Ireland (108.2%), Portugal (107.8%) , Belgium (98.0%), France (85.8%), English (85.7%), Germany (81.2%), Hungary (80.6%), Austria (72.2%), Malta (72.0%), Cyprus (71.6%), Spain (68.5%) and the Netherlands (65.2%).