Once upon a time…

Or (for those like me), a long time ago in a galaxy far far away….

As a child, you will recall that's how many stories would begin. Fairytales and stories seemed to always follow a similar plot of conflict between good and evil. It's no wonder that we carry these same archetypes into adulthood – into our homes and the workplace. But unfortunately, in real life, there is no "happily ever after" when this plot plays out in our organizations. The conflict triangle I'm going to discuss results in low productivity, employee turnover, and lack of trust. But, if we can each take part in rewriting the story in our workplace, we will learn to see conflict differently and find constructive ways to approach it.

So, what is the conflict triangle? 

 Most children's stories consist of three main types of characters: the victim (a "damsel in distress" or an innocent child), the villain (a witch, giant or dragon), and the hero...

Is your organization's culture positive? Is it cut-throat?

Organizational culture is often treated as an afterthought. Either you have a good one or a bad one naturally, right? Wrong. Like any key relationships (i.e. marriage, parenting) the best ones don't just evolve organically -- they require intentionality.  Yet, as critical as it is, the culture of organizations is rarely prioritized. I have to remind leaders that it's every bit as important and malleable as your business strategy or your core product/service. If you want a workforce that's motivated and empowered, you need to view your culture as a key business driver. Here’s how you can do that:

Encourage your team to socially connect at work

Positive social connections at work result in less mental and physical illness, faster learning, and better performance on the job. Some basic approaches to improving the social dynamics in your workplace include:

• volunteering together to help others
• ...

The world needs both followers and leaders. But I often get asked by those aspiring to attain roles in leadership, "how can I prepare myself for my next leadership role?"

Depending on your situation, getting into a leadership position might not be that difficult. Becoming a good leader, however, takes time and experience. This article can’t replicate that time and experience, but it can help to get you started.

Know The Requirements For The Next Promotion
The first step to getting a leadership position is finding a job with good upward mobility and keeping an eye out for opportunities. Some jobs only let you move so high without different experience or higher education.

Once you take a job, knowing the next step up and what the requirements are can help you to work toward that next step up by showing that you have the required skills or learning the required skills. Becoming a part time or online student to get any required or preferred degrees can help too.

Let The Boss Know...