Dated February 09, 2005
What is the best way to resolve disputes with your co-workers? How can you effectively handle conflict at workplace?
Nitin
Adoni
Getting along well with your co-workers can be the hardest thing to do sometimes. Think about how you feel when people disagree in your presence, or when you are confronted. Do you withdraw from conflict? Do you deny the issue, or try to rationalise away the feelings with facts? Perhaps you're someone who always gives in just to end the argument, or you feel you need to force your opinion on others. Whatever your attitude, you need to understand it before you can be effective in dealing with conflict. Your attitude could be the reason behind it. Take a good, honest look at yourself and if you don't like what you see, then it's time you modified your behaviour. Concentrate on resolving work- related issues rather than personal feuds.
Whether you know it or not, your workplace has its own `conflict personality.' Some people just smile and pretend conflict doesn't exist. Others may allow the "bullies" to take control while leaving others to quietly stew, or plot revenge. Still others resolve disputes by pulling rank or "going by the book," ignoring the personalities and realities of the situation. Very few workplaces recognise conflict as inevitable but manageable. People can usually reach an equitable agreement and prevent escalation if they deal with conflict directly and honestly.
If you are ever asked about a possible conflict with a colleague, the best answer is to tell the interviewer about the dispute and how you resolved it. You could also mention how you could work together productively after the episode.
Remember that employers are sick of dealing with employee conflicts and they want a mature person who can resolve conflict on his own without taking it to the boss.
Many experts advise you to include work experience on your résumé to prove that you can do what is required, but what if you're an entry-level candidate and don't have any experience?
Radhika
Raipur
If you have no actual job experience, you need to think in terms of what else you've done that will prove to a prospective employer that you are a suitable candidate. Part of convincing an employer that you're worth hiring is to show creativity, confidence and initiative. Determine the skills needed for the job you seek (study the ad or job description) and identify everything you've done to demonstrate those skills.
The skills you've used that match the skills the employer seeks are called transferable or applicable skills, and they do not have to come from work experience. Experience is experience; it doesn't matter if it's unpaid experience.
If you have never done any paid work and haven't any experience in the field you're trying to enter, think harder about what kind of life experience you've had, and play those up. A functional résumé where you show skill sets instead of specific job duties will work best for you.
Among the skills most valued by employers are the ability to learn quickly, teamwork skills, problem-solving talents, leadership, drive, initiative, ambition and communication skills. How have you demonstrated these skills throughout your college activities?
Think about all the skills you have used in those areas that might relate, if only peripherally, to the job duties you might be taking on.
I wish to make a career shift. How do I go about doing that?
Anjana
Kerala
Making a career change can be a major life transition. You need to be clear about what you want to do. Be careful and use foresight while choosing your next career move - what industry you want to work in, what kind of culture you'd like and what benefits you are looking for. Research the company where you wish to work.
To make a career switch you should identify the skills and experience you've gained in your current field that are transferable to their new one.
Make a list of your general (e.g. management, organisation) and technical skills (e.g. specific software skills, other industry-specific skills). List all your transferable skills and also your preferred skill set.
On a piece of paper, write down skills acquired during education and skills acquired at your workplace. Match up the two lists. Seeing these connections in writing should help in interviews, writing cover letters and résumés. In interviews, help your prospective employers connect the dots.
Identify the key competencies required to be successful in your new field of interest. Talk to others in the line of work you wish to pursue — ask them to list the key competencies that enable them to be successful. Match these against your list.
If there are skills you don't have, ask how you might need to build them. You would probably also like to know what the costs and benefits are in changing your career. Once you've weighed the pros and cons, spend some time in reflection and retrospection.
When you know the answers to these questions, a clear choice should emerge, and you should be armed with the information that will help you find work in your new field. Having a list of your strengths and transferable skills, and a clear understanding of how this new field better suits your lifestyle, interests, etc. can also help you present yourself in a compelling way to a prospective employer.
What is the difference between sales and marketing?
Padmanebhan
Chennai
Many of us are under the impression that selling and marketing are the same - they aren't. Marketing is a much more broader concept and includes all of the following:
Discovering what product, service or idea customers want.
Producing a product with the appropriate features and quality.
Pricing the product correctly.
Promoting the product - spreading the word why customers should buy it.
Selling the product, and delivering the same to the customer.
Selling is one activity of the entire marketing process.
Selling is the act of persuading or influencing a customer to buy (actually exchange something of value for) a product or service. Marketing activities support sales efforts. In fact, they are usually the most significant force in stimulating sales. Often, marketing activities (like the production of marketing materials and catchy packaging) must occur before a sale can be made; they sometimes follow the sale as well, to pave the way for future sales and referrals.
How do I boost my self-esteem?
Sowmya
Nagpur
Self-esteem is very important for your physical, psychological and spiritual health.
Enhancing self-esteem is another passage to personal growth and change. Life begins to take on a greater path as we open up and appreciate ourselves. As we value and love ourselves, we gain an acceptance of others. Here are some tips that can help:
Make positive statements to yourself. Repeat them constantly and your mind will act on them. Work at feeling good about yourself and become more self-reliant.
Build your confidence by picturing yourself accomplishing something you have always wanted to do. Close your eyes and see every detail of how you would behave, how you feel about achieving it and how others respond to it.
Write down your feelings and thoughts about situations and determine how you could make them better by looking at them in a different way. You will learn more about yourself and how you react to certain situations so you can stop and turn them around.
Learn to be optimistic. Think about all the good points that can be made about the situation and realize that any situation can be turned around easily to a positive one if your willing to try.
Establish goals based on what you can realistically achieve. Take it one step at a time and look at a problem as a learning experience. Perfectionism is not necessary and invites stress and failure. Avoid it!
Rely on your own opinions of self and not what others think. Base your life goals on your values and not on those of others. You are the only person who can say what is right for you.
Loosen up; don't take things so seriously or personally. Try to see humour in everything. Your perspective will completely change if you look at things from a serious and humorous point of view.
When you notice you are having doubts or judging yourself, tell yourself, you can do it! You have the power to control your inner critic; don't allow it to control you.
Take at least 30 minutes a day for yourself. Use it to read, take a walk, meditate or pamper yourself. You will be better prepared to deal with problems and find solutions.
Try and calm yourself towards the end of the day, remember the last time you really laughed. Try to get that same feeling by imagining that it's happening right now.
The FAQ column deals with career concerns addressed to The C&K Management LTD. PO Box 2178, Secunderabad 500003 or emailed to faqs@cnkonline.com
Nitin
Adoni
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