Building Better Communication in the Workplace

Misunderstandings can happen in all aspects as mostly due to the fact we all communicate as different as we intemperate the communication. In the workplace, this can have a large impact with your relationships with fellow co-workers, management and customers and can largely impact one's career.

In business, successful communication can prevent employee retention, allow for an environment for creativity, resolve conflict in the workplace, and improve corporate image. Dr. Noelle Nelson, clinical psychologists and author of Make More Money by Making Your Employees Happy, stated "when employees feel that the company takes their interest to heart, then the employees will take company interest to heart."

Just like a business needs transparency in communication with its customers and employees, so does those in the workplace. This can be done by simply being more approachable. By actively reaching out to fellow associates, being available to communicate and making people feel comfortable in your presence allows individuals to approach with a concern or issue they may have. Being approachable shows people they can trust you and are free to share what is on their mind. In doing so, opportunities arise to give critical feedback or allow a connection to grow into a collaboration or mentoring which allows further growth. As Scott Ginsberg notes, "those who get noticed get remembered; and those who get remembered get business."  It is a good rule of thumb to keep a positive intent point of view as you may never know when your contact can be an essential key to your success.

Today we have a new caveat which hinders our ability to easily communicate: virtual telecommuting. In an environment where you do not physically see your co-workers on a daily basis, can often lead to difficulty in communicating. Sebastian Bailey wrote a great article for Forbes Magazine where he addresses the 5 Killers of Virtual Working and how to overcome them. With the lack of face-to-face interactions, he noted that communication quantity is vital and necessary for success. With the lack of social interaction the associates would have in the office but lack in the virtual environment, there needs to be a "social" interaction to create team unity. Bailey notes that lack of trust in fellow associates, but says the remedy for this is in the role of the leadership. He suggests leadership bring awareness to each member's contribution and success. In the book The Moral Animal: Why We Are The Way We Are: The New Science of Evolutionary Psychology, biologists believe that we are hardwired to distrust everyone but our own family members.

One of the biggest flaws in the virtual telecommuting team is their lack of face-to-face connection. With this "out of sight, out of mind" mentality, one can often forget there is a person behind the email or IM communication. By dehumanizing the act, we disconnect with the idea there is a person at the other end of the line. Susan Pinker, author of The Village Effect notes the lack of social contact is hindering our ability to build strong business relationships. She says "In a short evolutionary time we have changed from group-living primates skilled at reading each other's every gesture and intention, to a solitary species; each one of us preoccupied with our own screen." So, how do we solve this? According to Pinker, we have a few options: 

• Take frequent breaks to socialize.
• Encourage your company to create workspaces and social spaces that allow people to gather and share ideas.
• For remote workers, join a hub, or communal workspace, where interaction with others and sharing ideas is encouraged.
•  Create your own opportunities for social interaction - such as a book club or a working group - to discuss the latest trends in your industry. 
• Invite a colleague out for coffee.

While these are encouraging, there is still a deficit on this associates who are not located within the same cities, much less time zones of their counterparts. This is where video communication comes in. Bringing video into the workplace is a great way to improve communication. According to scientists, watching a person talk helps to simulate our senses, focuses our attention, and create strong, relatable connections. In the next few years, video-based communication will become a huge tool in the workforce, and mobile smart phones will be the primary viewing device for all related video content.

In the workplace, communication has a large impact on our relationships with fellow co-workers, management and customers and can largely impact one's career. By adapting new skills and techniques, we can bridge the gaps. With the advancement of technology, using video resources might be the next tool we utilize to keep the wheels of business turning.

What a Pixar Movie Teaches About Emotional Intelligence- and How to Use It to Build Better Relationships

Most solid relationships are built upon two pillars of thought: Understanding and/or Appreciation & Trust. We can achieve these pillars in a few different ways. We can listen actively, showing interest and concern in their ideas. We can make others feel comfortable in sharing, thus allowing the person to feel at ease in opening up and being vulnerable.  Once someone feels comfortable sharing, they feel appreciated another is open to their ideas and thoughts.  By being open and honest with one another in a team environment, it allows each member to work in unity to solve problems and issues that may arise together in a more cohesive manner.

Emotional Intelligence, or EI, can be defined as “the capacity of individuals to recognize their own, and other people’s emotions, to discriminate between different feelings and label them appropriately, and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior.”

Emotional Intelligence allows us to recognize and be in control of our emotions and therefore we are better capable to handle all relationships in a compassionate and wise manner. As we harness our emotions, we are able to apply them to problem-solving. A strong EI helps us understanding the emotions of others, and we can also manage these emotions by channeling them to cheer up or calm others in a difficult situation. We can even prioritize our emotions, which will help us better determine the actions we will take.

So, what does this have to do with Pixar? In 2015, Pixar released their movie Inside Out to the world, an animated film to immerse us in the mind, studying memories, human emotions and how they evolve during adolescence. Pixar worked directly with scientists, neurologists, psychologists and other experts to better understand how the mind works. In Pixar’s Inside Out we learn emotions drive our thinking and behavior.  And each behavior has a long-term effect on who we are and where our decisions take us.

While Pixar’s Inside Out is truly meant to be a children’s classic, it is not without its valuable lessons which teach us about EI. We learn 4 main valuable lessons:

• Respond- Not React. When we react to a situation with the most immediate emotion we feel, it may lead us to making decisions we eventually regret. By responding with something simple as "Let me get back to you on this." without an emotional reaction, we allow ourselves time for perspective. Why was our original emotion anger, or fear? When we realize what 'pushes our buttons' we are better capable of understanding why our initial reaction may not have been the best.
• Breakdown before the Breakthrough. We have all failed. It isn't until we fail that we learn the most about oneself. These moments are the key to learning about ourselves and our emotions. 
• Dare to Dream. The times we have failed or just 'missed the mark' are not for us to dwell on. We use these setbacks to gain experience. Each time we learn something new, it allows us one step closer to the success in the future we desire. 
• Empathy. We all need human connection. It is vital to our survival; we are a social species. However, it is not just the need to have people around, but the need to understand others as well as have others understand us. It is what makes us unique. Compassion, understanding and being inquisitive of others allows us to be more interconnected as a species. 

So, how do we adapt the lessons from this adolescent movie into everyday life and in everyday use. We can do a few minor changes in our behaviors to allow these changes:

1. Put out a Welcome Mat. Oftentimes we forget we can indirectly close others out. Keeping our work areas as 'always open' allows others to feel comfortable to approach us with ideas or concerns. Even in a telecommuting environment, utilizing IM programs in "available" mode allows others to feel at ease when sending direct messages.
2. Keep Communication Open. Lines of communication are often lost in translation. Pay attention to your tone of voice and body language. Your message may get lost when your body language conveys a different message than you are presenting.
3. Follow-up with People. Have an e-mail sent to you by a fellow colleague but haven't had time to respond? Keeping the communication active allows others to not wait on you for follow-up, keeping an even flow of ideas flowing.
4. Respect Others' Time. We all are very busy and do not always have time to follow-up on every minor detail. By only putting pertinent people in correspondence allows others to not get unnecessary e-mails which they may not need to be involved in the decision-making process. Learning about e-mail etiquette can help overcome obstacles.
5. Staying Connected. In this day and age, we often forget we have lives outside of the office, especially during busy season. By utilizing "small talk", we show others we are caring and concerned for their lives outside of the office.
6. Being aware of the "out of sight, out of mind" mentality. As we become more technology-centered, we lose our human connection. When we "fly off the handle" or speak to someone in a less-than-kind manner, we tend to forget each person we speak to has feeling and emotions just as we do. Just because you do not work with someone in person, does not mean you are not dealing with a person who is like yourself.

One of the most valuable lessons we can learn is that our IQ score may never change, but we have the ability to change and increase our EI score.  Paul Mohapel, a professor at San Diego City College, under the MESA program, created a quick EI assessment to see where students ranked on their Emotional Intelligence scores. While his test in not very in-depth, it only has 40 questions, it does allow a basic assessment on where most people can begin learning about their strengths and areas of weakness. Additionally, Psychology Today’s article “How to Increase Your Emotional Intelligence- 6 Essentials” speaks about various ways to improve upon our EI scores daily. So, next time you sit down to watch a Pixar movie, think to yourself, "What can this teach me?"

It is very important to understand that Emotional Intelligence is not the opposite of intelligence, it is not the triumph of heart over head- it is the unique intersection of both. - David Caruso

Dewey Sequence, Dead Fish Theory & Problem-Solving

Undoubtedly by now you have encountered problems where you have had to heavily rely on problem-solving techniques to create a resolution to the issue and move forward with as little disruption as possible. While problem solving is a basic coping skill we all have, it is also a structured approach to addressing the issues at hand which stands in the way of meeting our goals.

One of the most effective approaches to problem-solving is the Dewey Sequence Problem-Solving Strategy. Created and developed by educator John Dewey, the strategy includes six steps to solving a problem one faces. In his book How We Think, Dewey notes this problem-solving technique is “a consecutive order in such a way that each determines the next as its proper outcome, while each in turn leans back on its predecessor…Each term leaves a deposit which is utilizes in the next term.” The Dewey Sequence is comprised of six-steps for problem solving:

• Define The Problem: Dewey noted the ability to identify our problem is our biggest setback. However, in following the Dead Fish Theory, once we are able to accept the problem at hand and its source, we can move forward to deciphering the reasoning behind the problem and begin resolving it.
• Analyze the Problem: Once we have identified the problem, we have to analyze the problem using the 5-why technique. In utilizing the ideas behind a cause-and-effect process, we are able to explore our problem on a deeper level. Keeping with the mentality that nothing is impossible, we are able to acknowledge if there is a problem, there is a solution.
• Determine Criteria For Optimal Solution: In this step, Dewey suggests looking at the costs of the implementation, both short-term and long-term as well as its ability to be implemented or enforced. Additionally, he noted some resolutions can solve one issue and create another. By looking at the cost-effect initially, we are able to prevent new problems from arising.
• Propose Solutions: By brainstorming creative ideas, we are able to better approach our problem in hypothetical terms. When creating alternative solutions, without deep evaluation, we are better capable of looking at the problem in a solution-based mentality. Dewey suggests not spending too much time on options which are not feasible. Instead, trying the same options again from the start using the original version is the best approach. If no solution can be reached, stop and try another option.
• Evaluate & Choose the Best Solution: Once we have analyzed all possible solutions available, one solution would be chosen under scrutiny of three basic questions: 1. Are there any disadvantages of this solution? 2. Do the disadvantages outweigh the advantages? 3. Does the solution conform to the criteria formulated for what is considered successful?
• Implementing the Solution & Testing for Success: Testing the solution thoroughly for side-effects is the main goal in the last step of the process. Starting with the lowest-risk solution and its compatibility with your criteria for the optimal solution can help you gauge its success. If the solution did not completely address the problem, evaluate in what areas it was not successful, so when you go back to implement a different solution you are more knowledgeable in the shortcomings of the solution chosen.

While these problem-solving steps are effective in managing problems, it is important to always allow input from other neutral sources which may give a different approach and vital knowledge not yet noticed or found. Collaboration often leads to finding patterns in problems and by allowing a new approach to the issue, a resolution can be found. However, in many cases of problem-solving, people seek a quick fix to bandage the issue, believing the issue is resolved, only addressing the symptoms, not the problem’s root cause. Using the Dewey Sequence Technique, it can aid in solving the root core issue of problem for the long-term.

How do you go about solving issues in business or in life?

Overcoming Setbacks Using Resilience

Overcoming setbacks is the key to achieving success. In life, as setbacks occur, it is essential to remain determined to overcoming these challenges and use them as a springboard to success. Realizing that setbacks are opportunities to learn from past mistakes and find a lesson in each situation is essential to growth. Our reaction is always our choice.

Setbacks occur in multiple forms. They can be in the form of an unexpected event, such as a company layoff or restructuring, and often derail plans we originally set for ourselves. As these setbacks occur, it is easy to see them as a rejection and can fuel fears of failure. We can approach these setbacks in two ways: internally or externally.  Often times as we internalize our feelings, they continue to thrive in a negative manner, often times becoming the mental block which further fuels negative thoughts on failure. Remember, we all experience bad days and we all go through our share of crisis. However, we have a choice in how we respond. If we choose to panic, we may make decisions we would not have normally chosen under different circumstances. In contrast, as we accept these setbacks as opportunities to thrive, are we able to remain strong in order to achieve our goals. Maintain perspective. The setback may feel overwhelming at the moment; however, it may not make much impact in the long-term.

In order to overcome setbacks, we must look at the obstacle as an opportunity of growth; we are not the victim. When we master our negative emotions, only then can we make the best decision. As a setback occurs, improving our resilience is the key. As the saying goes, “If it doesn’t kill you, it makes you stronger.” This can be achieved in four main ways: recognizing strengths, building good relationships, taking action and nurturing yourself.

• By recognizing strengths, we are able to look at our current situation as a growth opportunity, a chance to take another path towards our success. Making the most of our talents
• As we build good relationships with colleagues, we create a strong support network to fall back on in times of setbacks. People who have stronger connects are more resistant to stress. Treating people with empathy and compassion is the key here, so utilize those EI techniques.
• As we have set SMART goals for ourselves toward our success based on our values, we use the setback to take action toward achieving our long-term goals. By learning from setbacks, are we fully able to grow and stay motivated to succeed past a setback.
• Nurturing yourself is an essential part of the process. Staying positive and strong willed, we are able to move forward and take the risks essential to moving forward.

Focus on being flexible to change is the understanding the first step is not always the most successful one. Realize that things change, and even carefully-made plans may need to be amended or completely changed. Thomas Edison made thousands of prototypes of the incandescent light bulb before he finally got it right. His resilience gave the world some of the most amazing inventions. Resilience is being adaptable to unexpected changes and setbacks. Having the strength and fortitude to overcoming adversity, and to keep moving forward towards our dreams and goals in the life we have always imagined.

SWOT Approach & Why It Is Essential For A Successful Team Environment

A successful team utilizes the SWOT (Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats) approach in problem-solving. When a team is better capable of working in an open environment, ideas flourish and therefore the team is better able to be successful as a unit.

SWOT is a strategic way of problem-solving which utilizes three different schools of thinking:

• Rational - A "pros/cons" look at weighing your options on a decision
• Creative- This process challenge norms by using new and innovative ideas
• Strategic- This is looking at how the solution is directly impacting the "Bigger Picture"

SWOT is using both internal and external environments and their positive and negative reactions as strategic thinking to map out a way of evaluating the situation or problem and how to overcome it. Andrew Schrange CEO of Money Crashers notes, "It allowed me to identify the key areas where my organization was performing at a high level, as well as areas that needed work."

Strengths are utilizing your resources and abilities to help resolving the issue. By addressing the Weaknesses, such as lack of knowledge or self-critical thoughts, one is able to see where the internal problem lie. When the team seeks the Opportunities they have to be successful they can see the Threats, or barriers, to their success and they are better equipped with tacking those shortcomings together as a unit to resolve their long-term issues.

As the team addresses each aspect of the SWOT approach in a non-restrictive environment, they are better able to collaborate ideas in a time when reflection and introspect can occur without restraint. With the ability to be open and honest, team members are open to challenge norms, and creativity for risk-taking ideas can flourish. When these new ideas are brought to other team members, research and analysis can be completed to anticipate failure or success based on the strategy and goal of the team. With this holistic view of an objective, a team is better capable of preventing a "bandage" short-term fix for an overall large issue.

To be successful in SWOT, each member of the team collaborates with their own past experiences, mental attitude and individual factors. With each personal barrier a teammate brings to the group, the more difficult success can be achieved using the SWOT approach. Members of the team have to realize barriers prevent success but once a team looks at a barrier as a opportunity for success, they are better capable of turning that barrier into an opportunity for personal growth. Within the SWOT approach, if a team member lacks experience, an opportunity can be created for mentoring with another fellow teammate or a committee can be created to collaborate for teaching a new method or learning opportunity.

As each team member comes together with their ideas and self-awareness, goals can be achieved. Each member of the team can provide insight to a process or challenge the group faces. With each new idea, fellow members are able to ask questions and obtain different views on achieving success on the problem which prevents their success. With innovation flourishing, the team can clarify objectives and prioritize steps to reach their goals. By broadening the range of their innovative ideas through collaboration, they are better capable of tackling their barriers and find solutions to be successful.

Gender Wage Gap & The Evolution of Change

Wage Gap is a big debate not often discussed. Inequality in any form is controversial and often times set to the back burner until a fire is lit to put the issue to the forefront. While many public figures discuss the topics of unequal pay, there is still no sight of a 7% increase for women in the workplace coming to fruition. As this discrimination continues, the economy suffers. Women, who purchase a majority of needs for the family are at a disadvantage and thus the economy is negatively impacted as well. While the government in recent years has made some progress on closing the wage gap, the issue is still a forefront issue not only for our economy but for everyone in the workplace today.

While the wage gap between men and women have closed slightly since the 1970's, there is still a very large gap between the pay for men and women. According to research by the American Association for University Women (AAUW), the wage gap as of 2014 sits at 79 percent. That means for every $1.00 a man will get paid, a woman will only receive $0.79. Their research found that women of color, mothers, and aging women have an increasingly larger pay gap over their male counterparts.

Moreover, they concluded this happens in every occupation and in every industry.  AAUW found that even if all other elements in the equation being equal (prior job history, education, etc.), a man will continue to receive higher pay than his female counterpart. The biggest issues is the fact even with additional education women could go back and receive, it still does not close this wage gap.

Ariane Hegewish and Heidi Hartmann, Ph.D, in The Gender Wage Gap: 2014 found at the current wage gap and slow progression of closing this gap, it will take 45 years for women to have equal pay to men. Most women can agree they do not wish to wait until 2059 to obtain the same equal pay they are deserving as men are currently receiving. The study shows that outright discrimination in pay, hiring, or promotions continue to be a significant feature of working life today.

Not only does the imcome of the woman suffer greatly over time, but so does our own economy. In the January 2014 publishing of IWPR How Equal Pay for Working Women would Reduce Poverty and Grow the American Economy, researchers concluded that if women had equal pay to men, the economy would have produced and additional income of $447.6 billion dollars. Not only would it decrease the amount of those in poverty from 11.0 percent to 4.6 percent, but the income earned would then in turn be used in our economy. There is no secret that women are the primary buyers in the household and marketing firms are catering their ads around the female consumer. But, with women making a significant amount less than men, it becomes increasingly difficult to boost an economy with such a large wage gap.

Family planning and child rearing are a big factor in the wage gap between men and women. The Council of Economic Advisers provided the President of United States a brief in April 2015 titled Gender Pay Gap: Recent Trends and Explanations. In the brief, the council noted in the past, women's pay gaps have been due to the fact women have had to leave the workforce to deal with childbirth and child rearing. They have associated this with their wage "penalty" and noted that women who have delayed family planning by 1 year has increased a woman's wages by 9 percent. However, they noted men continue to increase pay even after their child is born, regardless of age and time of family planning begins. Another study concluded that a lack of paid leave is particularly detrimental to women’s long-term salaries and careers.

The largest factor in wage gap between men and women is regarding discrimination against women based on their race. The Center for American Progress published Women of Color and the Gender Wage Gap in April 2015. The study, researched by Milia Fisher, found women of color experienced having lower paying jobs, fewer hours worked, and dealt with more caregiver burdens than white women. Additionally, the research found that only 35 percent black women, 26 percent of Hispanic women were employed in higher ranking management-related job fields versus 48 percent Asian women and 43 percent white women. In 2014, as a result of the wage gap, White women worked free for 59 days, Black women worked free for 94 days and Hispanic women worked free for 117 days. 

While the government has made some headway in this wage gap discrimination, there is still more work needed to be done in order to close the wage gap. Since the Equal Pay Act of 1963, there has not been a great deal of legislature on the wage gap since the recent bill passed by congress. Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 was a monumental change for women and the progression to close the wage gap. This Act allowed each paycheck to reset the 180-day clock for filing a complaint, making it much more realistic to hold employers who engage in wage discrimination responsible for their action and the subsequent damages they cause. While many male leaders in congress voted against the bill (all being male), it allows women to ensure they are being paid fairly, and hold those companies accountable. If you feel you have been discriminated against, you can also report the discrimination to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. 

Until the discrimination in pay between men and women cease, our economy will continue to suffer. While the government has made some headway in keeping the employers accountable, there is still a long way to go before the wage gap is finally closed. While women still make up over half of the workforce, their work is only minimally paid. Meanwhile, racial discrimination is a continued fight for women of color in addition to wage gap. And, with women being forced to place family planning on hold for their careers and pay, the working industries as we know it are ever changing. Until the wage gap between genders close, these issues will still be a topic of debate.

Healthcare & The Upcoming Presidental Elections

Regardless of political party affiliation you support, healthcare is one of the larger topics covered during each election debate. And, regardless of what candidate you may or may not support, each one has their own stance on healthcare reform and how to change the system by their vision about healthcare. Examining healthcare as a whole can better determine who may be the ideal candidate to choose come the next Presidential election.

Currently, a majority of Americans have been affected by ObamaCare or (Affordable Care Act - ACA) and even more so now have insurance policies as a result of this law, an act pushed by The President of the United States, Barack Obama during his promises during the election time as well as his time in office. Noted The Commonwealth Fund study concluded 6.7 million people enrolled in a healthcare plan through the ACA and reduced their cost-related care problems, such as prescription refills or skipping vital medical testing. The study also found low-income families are being insured but the amount of low-income families without medical insurance is at its lowest level since 2003. While these stats are ever improving and the gaps are closing on those uninsured, there are still issues in healthcare which prove to be large topics of concern.

A rising concern around healthcare is the increasing cost. As companies, like Wellpoint, Inc., who begin mergers reduce the amount of competition in the healthcare field, thus driving costs of medical equipment, prescription drugs and premiums through the roof. With the baby boomer generation aging and the rumor about the Medicare Program being bankrupted by the baby boomer generation, all eyes are on the candidates to see what their plans are for lowering healthcare costs during their terms in office.

One of the biggest and most controversial topics during the debates is over abortion. As a big topic under healthcare, not just under women's health, it becomes a heated topic each election. With issues like support of Planned Parenthood, who during the 2014 election spent just under $1.6 billion on political contributions, they can be a key player in aiding candidates and lobbyist on their campaigns. Each candidate has their own take for supporting or rallying against this medically controversial issue and all have placed their vote in past issues while holding political offices in their own states. Per the 2015 Gallup polls, 51% of Americans believe abortion should be legal under certain circumstances, while 29% are for and 19% are fully against it. Most voters can agree on certain issues like those pertaining to the health of the mother or instances where rape was evident in the conception of the unborn fetus. As specified are not addressed during the debates, it can be difficult to see where each candidate sits on the issues under certain circumstances.

Most Americans want protection by their government against increasing costs; they do not want unexpected charges and outlandish fees from healthcare providers. They want to know if Medicaid will be available to them during their retirement days. And, these voters want answers; they want to know if they have the ability to make a decision on a controversial issue regarding a woman's right to choose. And, the candidate who can be the answer to the voter's needs most, will ultimately win the next election. While other topics of interest have overwhelmed the debates, one topic is always on the list to speak on: Healthcare. And, this upcoming election may be chosen based on what side the candidate is on regarding important healthcare issues. Stay Tuned, America. "Times they are a'changing."