Covid. Finals Week. Annual Evaluations. Debt Collectors. Internet Down. Zoom Meetings. Honor Code Violation. Any particular feelings pop up when you read these phrases? Excited to read more of this post? If not, I completely understand. However, I promise I won’t use these phrases again. These words are triggers making many of us feel unsettled, […]
Baffle the Anxious Brain Read More »
I recently facilitated a team building meeting in person for the first time since March 2020. I have worked with groups by facilitating conflict, team building, engaging in change management, facilitating strategic planning and decision making… and on and on… for the past 10 years. I have built a familiarity and comfort working with groups
What is this feeling?! Read More »
@CUDenverOmbuds Melissa Connell shares a personal experience and the skills that can help any workplace in this #Ombuzz blog post. #professionalism #courtesy #collaboration
The Magic of Professionalism, Courtesy & Collaboration Read More »
My friend is a home contractor. Clients once called him and said, “We need you to fix our kitchen cabinets.” During the walk through, my friend identified that the cabinets aren’t the problem. The problem is underneath the floor. If they want to eliminate the issues going forward, they need to address that and the
Why it is Important to Embrace the Mess! Read More »
Stress Resilience. As our office contemplates its annual report and gathers themes to present to the university community, this term cycles through my mind. It is a new term for me. I recently discovered it while reading the New York Times Bestseller, “Lasting Happiness In a Changing World, The Book of Joy” by Dalai Lama
Why do we gather together to remember a loved one when they’ve died? Why do we say vows at a wedding? Why do we give toasts at Thanksgiving? These are all examples of rituals we regularly participate in, often without thinking. They are part of our culture and are a physical representation of the psychological
Want to Improve Your Work Culture? Adopt a Ritual! Read More »
Getting to know Nonviolent Communication, Part 1 As a conflict resolution practitioner, I regularly see people reacting toward, withdrawing from, or attacking others when they feel they are in conflict. Then, when the other person responds either poorly, or not at all, to those tactics, the conflict escalates. It is amazing how ineffective these approaches
Getting What You Want Through Intentional Communication Read More »
In 2018, I headed to Richmond, Virginia and I steeled myself for what would be an exhausting week of an Ombuds conference. All day meetings, evening catch ups, very little sleep. It wasn’t a stretch to predict getting sick each year, right after the conference. Something was different in my schedule this year, though. I
Using Mindfulness to Increase our Resilience Quotient: Needed Now More Than Ever Read More »