Posts Tagged ‘family business’
Small Business Disputes
Small business disputes have a huge impact. In any organisation, disagreements and personality clashes cause problems. In her article on the cost of conflict, Andra Picincu lists 4 major issues: decreased productivity, loss of revenue, low morale and poor communication. Other negative effects are increased absenteeism, staff resignation and mental health issues. However, when conflict…
Read MoreWon’t Pay or Can’t Pay?
People who won’t pay cause small business owners more hassle than any other issue. Years ago, my husband and I owned a quick print business. I hadn’t realised how much chasing payment impacted my life until I overheard my daughter (6) and a friend playing shops: “Now we’ll just close the shop and then I will…
Read MoreRestore Relationships: Conflict First Aid 3
When things go wrong and people get hurt, medical first aid is essential. The same is true for conflict first aid. The aims of medical first aid are to preserve life, prevent harm and promote recovery. The aims of conflict first aid are to protect what is important, prevent harm and restore relationships.In my last…
Read MoreOnline Mediation: Can a computer bring peace?
Are you quietly seething at what a colleague or loved one said? Have you suppressed your anger and irritation for so long that you feel ready to explode? Are relationships at work brittle? Do you feel like you’re walking on eggshells? Online mediation might be the solution, particularly if you work remotely, or are…
Read MoreStarting a Sensitive Discussion–Some Hints
No one likes to be the one starting a sensitive discussion. We’ve all been there..everyone thinks someone should say something, anybody could, but no one does….and then it all goes wrong. That’s why these situations are described as “the elephant in the room” –it’s too big to talk about and if no one says anything,…
Read MoreGiving Bad News in a Good Way
We all like to be liked and thought of as kind people, so resist giving bad news or negative feedback. We tend to put it off, sugar coat it or do the infamous “feedback sandwich.” (Adam Grant on why the feedback sandwich doesn’t work) Most of these tactics actually make it worse. So we avoid talking…
Read MoreWalking on Eggshells?
Some of us spend our lives worrying about what others think, some of us couldn’t care. Most of us are somewhere in the middle. We care about what the important people in our lives think about us. Sometimes, suddenly, whatever we say seems to be the wrong thing. We feel like we are walking on eggshells, frightened of breaking our…
Read MoreEmpty Jug Syndrome: Burnout
Fred had the beginning of burnout: exhausted, ill and demotivated. “I’ve worked so hard for so long. I know it’s for a good cause, but I just can’t give any more. I’ve gone beyond stress. I just feel empty.” Fred had been dumped in at the deep end 2 years earlier. He single-handedly turned a…
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