Social

The society and culture play important role in the development of personality. Among
the factors which influence the personality— the influence of home atmosphere is very
crucial. Parental behavior will have greater impact on children.

Parental attitude towards children, pattern of care like over protection, over
indulgence, rejection, negligence, encouragement, discouragement, their attitude
towards life, relationship with friends and relatives all will affect the development.
Number of children in a family, order of birth, peer group, school atmosphere also
influences personality development.

ADLER’S THEORY OF STRIVING FOR SUPERIORITY:

Alfred Adler was the follower of Freud, but opposed his views and established his own
school of thought called Individual Psychology. Adler stressed on the social, rather than
biological determinants of personality and on the upward drive of the self. In his view
the prime source of man’s motivation is the innate striving for superiority by
attaining perfection.

According to Adler, every child will suffer from some weakness which results in
development of inferiority. But every child will try to compensate one weakness through
some other ability. For example, a bodily handicapped child may work hard and get
a rank in the examination.

An ugly looking girl may gain social recognition by becoming a famous singer.
Inferiority feelings are thus essential requirements of psychological growth. Adler
thought that under optimal circumstances of development, striving for superiority
take socially constructive forms having to do with co-operative relationships with
people, identification with the group and efforts to bring about the ideal society.

KAREN HORNEY AND BASIC ANXIETY:

Karen Horney concentrates mainly on ‘Basic anxiety’ as a prime concept to
understand human personality. Basic anxiety according to Horney—stems from anything
that causes insecurity in the child, especially in relation to his/her parents.

That is being dominated by parents, being inconsistently treated, being given too
much or too little responsibility, being treated with coldness or indifferences, being
involved in parental conflicts and so on.

The child tries to cope with this anxiety by various adjective and largely irrational
acts. But if the anxieties are intense and prolonged, it develops neurotic behavior and
requires treatment. Horney stresses that the main cause of basic anxiety and other
personality problems is the social and culturally induced disturbances in the child’s
developmental experiences.
SULLIVAN AND INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS:
Harry Stack Sullivan describes personality as the relatively enduring pattern of
recurrent interpersonal situations which characterize a human life. According to him
there is no personality apart from its relations with other people; all that is distinctly
human is a product of social interactions from birth onwards and every individual is
motivated towards achieving social and interpersonal security.

Therefore, according to Sullivan the study of personality is really the study of the
whole interpersonal situation and not an isolated individual.

ERICKSON AND PSYCHOSOCIAL CRISIS:

Erik Erickson’s theory is known as Ego psychology. According to Erickson, as the
individual progresses through his developmental stages, meets with psychosocial
crises peculiar to each stage. It is psychosocial because, society has developed
social institutions specific to each stage in an attempt to mold and socialize the
individual as he progresses through these stages.

In Erickson’s scheme, there are eight psychosocial stages extending through the life
span from infancy to old age. Each stage will experience certain conflicts called crises.

Among all the crises the ‘search for identity’ during adolescence is most
powerful motive. Erickson also states that the individual develops a healthy
personality by mastering inner and outer crises with positive solutions to life’s problems.

According to Article 2 Section 3 of the Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers

In the interest of the State and of the Filipino people as much as of his own,
every teacher shall be physically, mentally and morally fit.

A teacher is a facilitator of learning and of the development of the youth; he

shall, therefore, render the best service by providing an environment conducive to
such learning and growth. – It is therefore our duty to dress properly and look good
when coming to class.

HOW TO BE A PROFESSIONAL TEACHER

Being a professional means conducting yourself according to the highest standards,

giving your best effort inside and outside the classroom, and building relationships
based on mutual respect. To become a teacher, aim to be a good one; and if you
want to be a good teacher, make sure to act like a professional.

Method 1. Looking and Acting Like a True Professional

 1. Project a neat and clean look with your clothes
and styling. You may have more flexibility in your
attire than previous generations of teachers—a
male teacher may not be expected to wear a
jacket and tie, for instance. No matter the
dress code (or lack thereof) at your school,
though, focus on maintaining a professional look.
Come to work looking the part of a teacher, not
trying to dress like your students.
 Your clothing doesn’t have to be stuffy and
buttoned-up, but aim for modest, clean, wrinkle- and damage-free clothes.
 You might pair skirt or slacks with a blouse or sweater, for instance, or wear
slacks and a collared shirt with either a sweater or a jacket and perhaps a tie.
 When it comes to personal grooming, try not to look like you just rolled out of bed
or like you’re heading out to a club.

2. Behave professionally in public. Students

and the community at large will see you as a
teacher even when you’re not working, so
make sure you represent your school and
profession well in your daily life. Be
someone who others can respect no matter
the situation.

 To name an extreme example, getting

into drunken brawls on your free time will
cause community members to lose respect
not only for you, but perhaps also for the
profession at large.
 Don’t bad-mouth the school.

3. Maintain professionalism on social media. Social media can be a great way for
you to connect with students, parents, and colleagues,
but it can also be a gateway to unprofessional or
even inappropriate behavior. You should keep your
personal and professional social media profiles
separate, and keep stringent privacy settings for
each.

 As a general rule of thumb, don’t say

anything on social media that you wouldn’t say in the
classroom.
 Resist the temptation to get overly chatty or to
overshare on social media. Retain a degree of
professional distance in your dealings with students and others in your capacity as
a teacher.
 Don't post photos of your students on social media without their consent and
their parent or guardian's consent.
 Check if your school has social media guidelines or policies in place.
4. Prepare thoroughly for each day of teaching.
Check your planner the evening before and get
ready for the following day. Professional
teachers plan thoroughly for every lesson and
class. Then, they stick to their work program
and assessment schedule.

 This ensures that syllabus content is covered,

and also the necessary skills for their students'
longer- term success in their specific subject or
learning area.

A professional teacher’s workday doesn’t end with the school bell at the end of the
day, and it always starts before the morning bell the next day.

5. Come to work on time every day. A professional teacher understands the need to
start the day well, every day. The first impression you make each morning sets the
tone for the rest of the day.

 Arrive early enough that you have time to get all your papers and lesson plans in
order, and so you can get yourself mentally prepared to start the day right.

6. Follow the procedures and the protocols expected at your school. True
professionals, in any field, embrace the corporate identity and values, and
model these for the clients. In the case of a teacher, that means being a “team
player” with your fellow teachers and the school administration, and projecting this
shared focus to your students.

 Even if you have doubts or differences of opinion with the corporate identity or
procedures at your school, don’t let this bleed into your teaching.

7. Don’t miss deadlines or fall behind on your grading. Professionals keep their work
up to date and plan ahead. If you’re always pushing deadlines back or making
promises you can’t keep, you’ll lose respect in the eyes of your students and peers.

 When it comes to grading, a 3-day rule of thumb is a good starting point for
shorter assignments and non-essay tests. For longer assignments, stick to a
2-week turnaround. If you take too long to hand back tests and so on, the
students may lose interest in the task and their results by the time you return their
work.

8. Embrace change and give new methods a chance. Don’t be a doomsayer and
throw cold water on new ideas or suggestions for positive change.
Instead of vocalizing negative thoughts like "That will never work at this school,"
respectfully note any concerns you may have but show your willingness to try out
something different.

 Don’t immediately discount suggestions or new ideas from students as well. Let
them know that their opinions and perspectives are valued.
9. Seek new subject knowledge to share with your students. Take continuing
education courses to keep yourself mentally stimulated. Your renewed
enthusiasm for your subject will be rewarded by increased student
interest and enthusiasm for the subject itself.
 A true professional--as a teacher or in any other career--never
stops learning.
 Also make sure you keep abreast of education policy and legislation.
10. Be passionate, positive, and enthusiastic about your work. Never act like
it’s a chore to be in the classroom, even if it feels that way from time to
time. Instead, project positivity and enthusiasm for your students.
 If you need a positivity boost yourself, take some time each morning
or between classes to remind yourself why you got into teaching and
what you get out of it.
 Retain this positive enthusiasm beyond the classroom as well. For
instance, a professional teacher will not create negativity in a staff room
or engage in mindless gossip.

11.Attend professional development courses to gain new skills. Professional

teachers are constantly learning and sharing what they know. Learn about the
latest pedagogical theories and practices, as well as the tools of the trade. Be
open to trying new ideas to help your students learn and thrive.

 Just as you learn from other teachers, they can learn from you. Share what you
learn from your experiences and classes with other teachers, especially those on
your team.

Method 2 - Running a Classroom Like a Pro

1. Take charge of your classroom. Respect your students, and demand the same
respect from them. Clearly lay out your rules for classroom behavior, and
enforce them consistently. Don’t shout or lose your cool—remain calm and
collected, and be clear on what needs to happen. When necessary, involve the
school administration for serious discipline issues.

 Your job isn’t to be your students’ friend or the most-liked teacher. You are
a mentor who is there to impart knowledge and model professional behavior.

2. Put safety first. Remember that, as a professional teacher, you are offering a
service to the students and the school community. You are duty-bound to take your
"in loco parentis" role seriously. Explain why certain rules are in place and follow all
institutional risk management procedures.
 Whether you’re teaching a gym class or in the chemistry lab, clearly lay out the
safety rules and hold everyone to them at all times. Don’t waver in a misguided
attempt to appear more likeable or “cool.”

3.Make excellence your goal. Constantly provide benchmarks for improvement for
your students. Give praise when it is due, and compassionate yet constructive
feedback when it’s needed. Encourage and support those who need help, and
find creative ways to assist them to improve their grades.

 Create an environment in which everyone (including you) is expected to do their

best, is praised when they do so, and is supported when they fall short of
excellence.

4.Take pride in the process and products of your teaching. Make sure your lessons,
notes, and handouts are professionally presented—that is, neat, clear, easy-to-
follow, and without simple errors or typos. Take a moment to consider how
you’d grade your own efforts—if they’d be anything other than passing with flying
colors, increase your effort.

 A professional teacher should never feel like they ought to re-do a piece of work
because its presentation is shoddy.

5. Take responsibility for your student's results. In the end, it’s up to your students
to put in the work and effort to get their best grades. As a professional teacher,
though, you should accept that the grades your students achieve are, at least in
part, a reflection on you. Accept that there is room for improvement on both
sides—the students’ and yours.

 Don’t just throw up your hands and say that a student’s poor grades are
because they’re lazy or don’t care about the material. Take it as a personal
challenge to find ways to engage them in the subject.

6. Simplify your lessons to focus on the key components. Good teachers make
it easy to understand complicated things. Use examples, models, pictures,
hands-on activities, real-life connections, and so on. Find ways for your students to
relate to the material.

 However, “simple” doesn’t mean “too easy” or “created without care.” Whittling
down complex topics into simpler lessons is a challenge that takes time and
effort to master.
 Pick the brains of fellow teachers who you respect for their ability to bring focus
and simplicity to their teaching.

7. Keep your students’ attention through enthusiasm and self-awareness. You

shouldn’t expect your students to be excited about learning something if you don’t
seem excited to be teaching it. Let your passion shine through in the classroom,
and some of it will rub off on your students.
  With this enthusiasm, explain to your students why the knowledge you convey
is important, and how they can apply what they learn in their daily lives. Then
they are more likely to remember what you teach.

Method 3 -Connecting with Students, Parents, and Colleagues

1.Inspire others’ trust right from the start. Create a good first impression from day one
of the academic year. Be prepared, enthusiastic, and serious about success.

 Be someone who students, parents, colleagues, and administrators can believe

in.
 If you’ve made a poor impression on someone for some reason, work hard to
change it.

2.Treat your students with respect. Don't personalize issues with students.

 Never yell at your students or shame them in front of their peers.

Instead, encourage them to take part in setting your classroom norms, which
include respect for all.
 Leave their family, background, religion, behavior, and personal circumstances
out of public disciplinary processes and discussions.

3. Model respectful behavior for your students. Your students can learn a lot about
what you expect from them by watching you. Always show a respectful attitude
toward students, fellow staff members, your school, your subject, and yourself.
They will pick up on your respectful attitude, making it easy to gain their respect.

 Use a calm, respectful tone when addressing students and staff.

 If you teach multiple classes, don't complain about one class to another.
Your students talk to each other, so students in the other class will find out.

4.Take an interest in every child. The better you get to know your students, the
more influence you will have on their attitude towards learning, and on their
lives in general. Don’t play favorites or deem anyone beyond helping—your job
as a professional is to teach everyone in the class.

 Make sure you don’t forget about the students in the middle—that is, the ones
who don’t wow you with their successes or frustrate you with their lack of interest.
 Remember that your job is to connect with each student as a mentor, though.
You don’t need to, and shouldn’t try to, become their friend.

5. Maintain confidentiality. A professional teacher will use students' personal

information to help them achieve their potential. Confidential information will not be
disclosed as gossip, or used as a weapon against a student. Likewise, non-
classroom
 information, like the content of staff meetings, should be treated in the strictest of
confidence.

 You could end up in legal trouble or lose your teaching license for disclosing
confidential information.
 However, also make sure you know when you are mandated by law to
disclose confidential information. For instance, if you are told or suspect that
a child is being abused, you may be legally required to report this to the
authorities.

6. Consult parents and welcome their involvement. Include parents in

the educational process and encourage their support of the school's disciplinary
processes and procedures. Be polite and calm when dealing with parents. Remind
them that every discussion about the child needs to be undertaken with the child's
best interests at heart.

 You can’t force parents to get involved in their child’s education, but you can
be as welcoming as possible. At the same time, be patient with parents who are
perhaps too involved, and try to nudge them in the right direction.

7. Support your colleagues and school management. Show that you’re a “team
player” by prioritizing the needs of the institution as a whole. Remember that you
are one person in a group of professionals who should, ideally, share a common
goal and vision.

 There will inevitably be differences of opinion, of course, and relations between

teachers and administrators can get particularly frosty during contract
negotiations.
 However, don’t lose sight of the fact that your focus should be on the well-being
of the school and its students.

Working Rights and Safety

According to Section 3, Article 13 of the 1987 Phil. Constitution

 The State shall afford full protection to labor, local and overseas, organized
and unorganized, and promote full employment and equality of employment
opportunities for all.

 It shall guarantee the rights of all workers to self-organization, collective

bargaining and negotiations, and peaceful concerted activities, including the
right to strike in accordance with law. They shall be entitled to security of
tenure, humane conditions of work, and a living wage. They shall also
participate in policy and decision-making processes affecting their rights and
benefits as may be provided by law.
  The State shall promote the principle of shared responsibility between workers
and employers and the preferential use of voluntary modes in settling
disputes, including conciliation, and shall enforce their mutual compliance
therewith to foster industrial peace.

 The State shall regulate the relations between workers and employers,
recognizing the right of labor to its just share in the fruits of production and
the right of enterprises to reasonable returns to investments, and to expansion
and growth.

Time and Stress Management

Myths About Stress and Time Management

Myth #1: All stress is bad. No, there's good and bad stress. Good stress is
excitement, thrills, etc. The goal is to recognize personal signs of bad stress
and deal with them.

Myth #2: Planning my time just takes more time. Actually, research shows
the opposite.

Myth #3: I get more done in more time when I wisely use caffeine, sugar,
alcohol or nicotine. Wrong! Research shows that the body always has to
"come down" and when it does, you can't always be very effective then after
the boost.

Myth #4: A time management problem means that there's not enough time
to get done what needs to get done. No, a time management problem is
not using your time to your fullest advantage, to get done what you want
done.

Myth #5: The busier I am, the better I'm using my time. Look out! You may only be
doing what's urgent, and not what's important.

Myth #6: I feel very harried, busy, so I must have a time management problem.
Not necessarily. You should verify that you have a time management
problem. This requires knowing what you really want to get done and if it
is getting done or not.

Myth #7: I feel OK, so I must not be stressed. In reality, many adults don't even
know when they're really stressed out until their bodies tell them so. They miss
the early warning signs from their body, for example, headaches, still backs,
twitches, etc.

Major Causes of Workplace Stress

1. Not knowing what you want or if you're getting it - poor planning.

 2. The feeling that there's too much to do. One can have this feeling even
if there's hardly anything to do at all.
3. Not enjoying your job. This can be caused by lots of things, for example,
not knowing what you want, not eating well, etc. However, most people
always blame their jobs.
4. Conflicting demands on the job.
5. Insufficient resources to do the job.
6. Not feeling appreciated.

Biggest Time Wasters

1. Interruptions. There will always be interruptions. It's how they're handled that
wastes time.
2. Hopelessness. People "give in", "numb out" and "march through the day".
3. Poor delegation skills. This involves not sharing work with others.

Common Symptoms of Poor Stress and Time Management

1. Irritability. Fellow workers notice this first.

2. Fatigue. How many adults even notice this?
3. Difficulty concentrating. You often don't need to just to get through
the day!
4. Forgetfulness. You can't remember what you did all day, what you ate
yesterday.
5. Loss of sleep. This affects everything else!
6. Physical disorders, for example, headaches, rashes, tics, cramps, etc.
7. At worst, withdrawal and depression.

Wise Principles of Good Stress and Time Management

1. Learn your signs for being overstressed or having a time management

problem. Ask your friends about you. Perhaps they can tell you what they
see from you when you're overstressed.
2. Most people feel that they are stressed and/or have a time
management problem. Verify that you really have a problem. What do
you see, hear or feel that leads you to conclude that you have a time or
stress problem?
3. Don't have the illusion that doing more will make you happier. Is it
quantity of time that you want, or quality?
4. Stress and time management problems have many causes and usually
require more than one technique to fix. You don't need a lot of techniques,
usually more than one, but not a lot.
5. One of the major benefits of doing time planning is feeling that you're
in control.
6. Focus on results, not on busyness.
 7. It's the trying that counts - at least as much as doing the perfect technique.

Simple Techniques to Manage Stress

There are lots of things people can do to cut down on stress. Most people
probably even know what they could do. It's not the lack of knowing what to do
in order to cut down stress; it is doing what you know you have to do. The
following techniques are geared to help you do what you know you have to
do.

1. Talk to someone. You don't have to fix the problem, just report it.
2. Notice if any of the muscles in your body are tense. Just noticing that
will often relax the muscle.
3. Ask your boss if you're doing OK. This simple question can make a lot
of difference and verify wrong impressions.
4. Delegate.
5. If you take on a technique to manage stress, tell someone else. They can
help you be accountable to them and yourself.
6. Cut down on caffeine and sweets. Take a walk instead. Tell someone that
you're going to do that.
7. Use basic techniques of planning, problem solving and decision making.
8. Concise guidelines are included in this guidebook. Tell someone that
you're going to use these techniques.
9. Monitor the number of hours that you work in a week. Tell your boss,
family and/or friends how many hours that you are working.
10. Write weekly status reports. Include what you've accomplished last
week and plan to do next week. Include any current issues or
recommendations that you must report to your boss. Give the written status
report to your boss on a weekly basis.
11. "Wash the dishes". Do something you can feel good about.

Simple Techniques to Manage Time

There never seems to be enough time in the roles of management and

supervision. Therefore, the goal of time management should not be to find more
time. The goal is set a reasonable amount of time to spend on these roles
and then use that time wisely.

1. Start with the simple techniques of stress management above.

2. Managing time takes practice. Practice asking yourself this question
throughout the day: "Is this what I want or need to be doing right now?" If
yes, then keep doing it.
3. Find some way to realistically and practically analyze your time.
Logging your time for a week in 15-minute intervals is not that hard and
does not take up that much time. Do it for a week and review your results.
4. Do a "to do" list for your day. Do it at the end of the previous day. Mark
items as "A" and "B" in priority. Set aside two hours right away each day
to do the important "A" items and then do the "B" items in the
afternoon. Let your answering machine take your calls during your "A"
time.
5. At the end of your day, spend five minutes cleaning up your space. Use
this time, too, to organize your space, including your desktop. That'll give
you a clean start for the next day.
6. Learn the difference between "Where can I help?" and "Where am I really
needed?" Experienced leaders learn that the last question is much
more important than the former.
7. Learn the difference between "Do I need to do this now?" and "Do I
need to do this at all?" Experienced leaders learn how to quickly
answer this question when faced with a new task.
8. Delegate. Delegation shows up as a frequent suggestion in this guide
because it is one of the most important skills for a leader to have.
Effective delegation will free up a great deal of time for you.
9. If you are CEO in a corporation, then ask your Board for help. They are
responsible to supervise you, as a CEO. Although the Board should not be
micro-managing you, that is, involved in the day-to-day activities of
the corporation, they still might have some ideas to help you with your
time management. Remember, too, that good time management
comes from good planning, and the Board is responsible to oversee
development of major plans. Thus, the Board may be able to help you
by doing a better themselves in their responsibilities as planners for the
organization.
10. Use a "Do Not Disturb" sign! During the early part of the day, when
you're attending to your important items (your "A" list), hang this sign
on the doorknob outside your door.
11. Sort your mail into categories including "read now", "handle now" and
"read later". You'll quickly get a knack for sorting through your mail.
You'll also notice that much of what you think you need to read later
wasn't really all that important anyway.
12. Read your mail at the same time each day. That way, you'll likely
get to your mail on a regular basis and won't become distracted into any
certain piece of mail that ends up taking too much of your time.
13. Have a place for everything and put everything in its place. That way,
you'll know where to find it when you need it. Another important outcome
is that your people will see that you are somewhat organized, rather
than out of control.
14. Best suggestion for saving time - schedule 10 minutes to do nothing.
That time can be used to just sit and clear your mind. You'll end up
thinking more clearly, resulting in more time in your day. The best
outcome of this practice is that it reminds you that you're not a slave to a
clock - and that if you take 10 minutes out of your day, you and your
organization won't fall apart.
 15. Learn good meeting management skills. Meetings can become a
terrible waste of time.

WORKING TOGETHER

Benefits of Teamwork in the Workplace

1. Fosters Creativity and Learning

 Creativity thrives when people work together on a team. Brainstorming
ideas as a group prevents stale viewpoints that often come out of working
solo. Combining unique perspectives from each team member creates
more effective selling solutions.

 What you have learned from your individual experiences is entirely

different from your coworkers. Thus, teamwork also maximizes shared
knowledge in the workplace and helps you learn new skills you can use for
the rest of your career.

 Collaborating on a project creates an enthusiasm for learning that solitary

work usually lacks. Being able to share discoveries with the rest of your
team excites employees and fosters both individual and team knowledge.

2. Blends Complementary Strengths

 Working together lets employees build on the talents of their teammates.
While your strength may be creative thinking, a coworker might shine
in organization and planning. Do not hesitate to share your abilities with
the team.

 Often, a team works well together because team members rely on

each other to bring individual talents to the table. By observing the
process behind these skills, you can learn how to combine your gifts
and become a stronger team.

 Every time you see your coworkers utilize a different approach in sales,
you have a chance to adjust or improve your methods.

3. Builds Trust
 Relying on other people builds trust, and teamwork establishes strong
relationships with coworkers. Despite occasional disagreements, an
effective team enjoys working together and shares a strong bond.
When
 you put your trust in a coworker, you are establishing the foundation of
a relationship that can endure minor conflicts.

 Trusting your teammates also provides a feeling of safety that allows ideas
to emerge. It helps employees open up and encourage each other.
Open communication is key when working on a team and produces
effective solutions in difficult group projects.

 Without trust, a team crumbles and cannot succeed on assigned projects.

Great teams build each other up and strengthen individual members to
create a cohesive group. By working together, employees learn that wins
and losses affect everyone on the team. Teamwork necessitates
confidence in each other’s distinct abilities.

4. Teaches Conflict Resolution Skills

 Conflicts inevitably happen when you put together a group of unique
people. Employees come from varied backgrounds and have different
work styles and habits. While these unique viewpoints create the most
successful work, they can also generate resentment that quickly turns into
conflict.

 When conflict arises in teamwork situations, employees are forced to

resolve the conflicts themselves instead of turning to management.
Learning conflict resolution firsthand is a skill that employees can use
to become efficient managers down the road.

5. Promotes a Wider Sense of Ownership

 Team projects encourage employees to feel proud of their
contributions. Tackling obstacles and creating notable work together
makes team members feel fulfilled. Working toward achieving
company goals allows employees to feel connected to the company.
This builds loyalty, leading to a higher level of job satisfaction among
employees.

 Teamwork is not just helpful for employees. It benefits the employer in

the long run as well. Employees that connect directly with their workplace
are more likely to stay with the company. While employees leaving their
jobs often cite a lacking salary, another common complaint is that their
contributions do not seem to matter. Teamwork allows people to
engage with the company and add to the bigger picture.

6. Encourages Healthy Risk-Taking

Unity is strength - teamwork
concept
 An employee working on a project alone will probably not want to stick
their neck out for an off-the-wall idea. If the project fails when working
solo,
 that employee takes the full brunt of the blame. While you may not get
full credit for a successful team project, working with other people spreads
out the responsibility for a failed assignment.

 Working as a team allows team members to take more risks, as they have
the support of the entire group to fall back on in case of failure.
Conversely, sharing success as a team is a bonding experience. Once a
team succeeds together, their brainstorming sessions will produce
revolutionary ideas without hesitation. In many cases, the riskiest idea
turns out to be the best idea. Teamwork allows employees the freedom to
think outside the box.

 There may be no “I” in team, but teamwork can still benefit employees on
a personal level. Do not allow competitive natures to get in the way of
personal growth in the workplace. Instead, understand how to resolve
conflicts and trust teammates to contribute their best ideas. Learn from
your team members and build on each other’s skills to create more
impressive results in the workplace.

8 Critical Steps to Creating Empathy in the Workplace

1. Rethink How You Listen

 When your coworkers come to you with questions and concerns, how well
are you listening?

 Here’s some food for thought: most employees don’t actually listen to
what their colleagues have to say. Claiming to be a “good listener”
simply isn’t enough in a world where 30% of employees feel their
opinions don’t matter.

 Actively listening to your coworkers requires effort, plain and simple. As a

support-based employee, each email, ticket or face-to-face conversation
with your colleagues deserves your full attention. Understand that your
time spent in the workplace is just as valuable as theirs is and better
listening means solving their problems in a timely manner.

 Assuming that the majority of employees feel they lack the proper
resources to work effectively, those in support roles are the ones to take
up the reigns and figure out what their coworkers need to be successful.

 For example, a ticketing system that ensures that your coworkers’ issues
get directed to the proper people is a solid start. Detailed
questionnaires and surveys likewise take the legwork out of figuring out
your colleagues’ issues and provide you with actionable know-how
before initiating a full-blown conversation.
  Another vital aspect of being a better listener is making yourself as
available as possible. From emails to Slack and beyond, you should
advertise that you’re open to questions and concerns and won’t shy away
from them.

 As an added bonus, listening carefully to your coworkers can clue you

in toward how you can help out your office in the future.

 Perhaps you have an influx of questions about a new software or policy

that seems to be tripping up your colleagues. The source of their
frustration may cause you to rethink how you implement a new launch or
policy next time, illustrating how individual empathy in the workplace can
be a net positive for your company at large.

2. Master the Art of Asking Questions

 Exercising empathy for coworkers means not only being a good listener
but also asking the right questions to get to the root of your
colleagues’ problems.

 When you ask thoughtful questions of your coworkers, you’re basically

saying, “Okay, I hear you. What can I do to help? How are we going to
take care of this?”

 Questions asked of your employees should be specific rather a blanket,

one-size-fits-all response. Workers deserve to have their concerns heard
and understood.

 That said, sometimes the wants of our workers aren’t always clear. In the
case that someone sends you a vague or otherwise confusing query,
here’s a quick script you can use to help get to the core of their problem
ASAP:

Hi [Name],

Thanks so much for reaching out. Based on your last message, I just wanted
to quickly clarify your issue so we can get it sorted as soon as possible. Any
additional details you could provide about [problem] would be greatly
appreciated.

3. Walk in Your Coworkers’ Shoes

 To paraphrase the classic quote from To Kill a Mockingbird, you never
really get to know a person until you walk around in their shoes. In the
workplace, this means approaching your coworkers’ concerns with an open
mind.
  Don’t forget the roles and responsibilities in your office that are worlds
away from your own. Unless you’ve shadowed your coworkers or have
worked in their position, you may have little to no grasp on what their
day-to-day duties look like in action. The average week for someone in
the marketing or accounting department may very well look like night and
day versus IT or HR.

 Think that you have a lot on your plate? Your coworkers probably feel the
same way. Burnout impacts 40% of employees regardless of department.
If a coworker sounds irritated or otherwise annoyed while
communicating with you, just remember the last time that you had a
rough day.

 In the case that someone is particularly upset or frustrated, the following

email script can help diffuse the situation:

Hi [Name],

I just wanted to let you know that I understand your frustration and want to
do everything in my power to help. If it’d be more convenient for you, we
could also discuss this in-person or over-the-phone to get the ball rolling. The
more I know about [problem], the quicker we can get it sorted. Thanks!

4. Avoid Making Assumptions

 On a related note, give your coworkers the benefit of the doubt before
passing judgment on their behavior in the office.

 Let’s say a new hire is having trouble adhering to a particular policy.

You could assume that they’re being negligent or otherwise aloof, but
chances are they’re simply adjusting to a new way of thinking. Both
adopting and breaking away from workplace rituals takes time and you
should respect that.

 This goes without saying, but don’t automatically assume the worst of
people. Maybe that coworker who’s become increasingly needy is
having a tough time at home. Perhaps the person who randomly blew
up at you during a support call totaled their car two days ago.

 Workplace stress comes in all shapes and sizes. Practicing patience

with your coworkers is key to demonstrating empathy in the workplace.

5. Learn How to Prioritize Problems

 When it comes to giving your coworkers a hand, not all problems are
created equal.
  Again, empathy requires you truly listen to your employees and their
concerns. Taking a blanket “first come, first served” approach to problem-
solving isn’t exactly compassionate or personal.

 For example, addressing a coworker who’s dealing with malfunctioning

equipment or a potential security breach is more pressing than some who
has a program that occasionally runs slowly. Taking care of the most
urgent matters first shows that you understand the gravity of your
coworkers’ situations as you offer a hand.

6. Don’t Keep Your Coworkers at Arm’s Length

 According to TINY pulse, coworkers are the number one aspect of
workplaces that drive employees to like their jobs.

 Supporting your coworkers means more than responding to emails and

service requests. Positive workplace relationships make empathy much
easier as you get to know your coworkers as people rather than email
addresses or departments.

 Although you don’t need to be best friends with everyone in the office,
taking some interest in your coworkers beyond a professional capacity is a
major plus.

 Chat it up in the breakroom from time to time. Take those team-

building exercises seriously. Employees are much more likely to work
smoothly with a friendly face versus someone that’s cold or standoffish.

7. Remember That People Have Feelings

 When we’re laser-focused on profits or productivity, it’s easy to lose sight of
how your coworkers feel.

 In a cutthroat, corporate environment, empathy can easily fall to the

wayside. Only 40% of workers feel that somebody at work seems to
care about them as a person. Meanwhile, 31% of employees feel that
those in leadership positions value profits over people.

 Seriously, though: don’t forget that your coworkers are people, too.
Criticism and condescending comments shouldn’t be your go-to
reaction when working with even the most difficult coworkers. Despite our
frustrations and faults, we’re all in this together.

8. Accept That Empathy Doesn’t Happen Overnight

 Your quest for a more empathetic workplace is a marathon, not a sprint.
  Learning how to develop empathy skills such as patience, keen
listening, and asking thoughtful questions takes time. The more you
interact and become comfortable with your team, the easier it becomes to
show them compassion.

 Don’t let one bad experience or toxic coworker wreck your otherwise
positive outlook, either. Consistently showing up and responding to
coworkers’ concerns will ultimately lead to empathy, influence and
respect. Once you’ve kindled positive relationships with your
coworkers, everyone else in the office will be more likely to return the
favor.

 The end results? A connected, compassionate workplace.

Strategies to Resolve Conflict at Work

1. Embrace conflict.
 When conflict arises, don’t avoid it or pretend nothing has happened.
As time goes on, tension will build -- and the conflict only will get worse.
Deal with these uncomfortable issues as soon as possible, before problems
and bad feelings become embedded in everyday work.

 If you notice a conflict between employees, encourage them to find a

way to work it out. If conflict develops between two teams, it's a good
time to improve interdepartmental communication. If you have a conflict
with one of your employees, address it head on and in private.

2. Talk together.
 Set up a time and place so you can talk for an extended span without
outside interruptions.

 When you do meet, each person should have adequate time to say
what he or she believes the other party needs to hear. Don't let any
individual monopolize the conversation or control the topic. Each person
should talk about the disagreements and how he or she feels about the
situation.

 Remember, this is not the time to attack or assign blame. Focus on the
problem, not your opinion of the other person’s character.

3. Listen carefully.
 It's essential to give your complete attention to the person who is talking.
Do not interrupt the other person.
  Make sure you're getting the message he or she intends to send. Rephrase
and repeat back what you've heard to confirm understanding. You
might say something along the lines of, “Let me make sure I understand.
You’re upset about because .”

 Ask clarifying questions if needed. You can request that the other
person repeat a central idea or reword his or her frustrations in a way that
makes sense to you.

 Listening always should be about gaining understanding. Don’t let yourself

become reactionary to the other person's words.

4. Find agreement.
 Your conversation primarily will focus on the disagreements, but resolution
is possible only when you find points of agreement. You should emerge
from the experience with some positives instead of all negatives.

 Shed light on commonalities. Share examples or instances in which

you agree with the other person or can see another point of view. For
example, if you disagree on new sales tactics, you might share what you
liked about the other person’s idea or the motivation to work harder for
the team.

 Looking for agreement demonstrates your willingness to seek out common

ground and build a relationship around those trust elements.

5. Provide guidance.

 If you're in a leadership position, there are times you may need to

mediate work conflict. Don’t take sides, ever. Realize you are there
simply to help your employees work out their problems.

 You might need to guide the conversation. And if hurt feelings run high,
it's likely you'll need to redirect the topic so your employees return to the
real problem. If you're in a position to give advice on next steps, highlight
the positive aspects of the process and suggest related topics or
actions they can work through after the meeting.

6. Be quick to forgive.
 Every conflict needs a clear resolution that acknowledges hurt feelings and
finds a solution that begins to mend them.
Apologize. Tell the other person you're truly sorry for any ill words or actions --
and mean it. You'll also need to forgive the other person. Agreeing solely for the
sake of appearances can lead to grudges that deepen over time, undoing
any progress you've made together.