Article Directory :: Self-Improvement/Motivation Articles Finding Time: Utilize Time Conflicts with Coworkers as Strategic Opportunities By Paula Eder Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 25Mar2008 Word count: 418 Viewed: 204 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site Finding time is challenging under any circumstance! It's especially difficult when you work with someone who relates to time quite differently than you. You may find little common ground between how the two of you view punctuality, planning, and procrastination. However, you can turn this to your advantage. Approaching conflicting outlooks proactively can enhance cooperation and productivity in ways that will surprise you. Furthermore, you can carry these skills into every area of your life. Cultivating these skills will improve communication and open up fresh options with friends, family and anyone else you need to coordinate schedules with. How can you benefit by making the most of conflicting time styles? Opportunity #1: Clarify what's of prime importance to you. Pare it down and negotiate for it. The strength you build makes you more resilient and decisive. Opportunity #2: Attune yourself to others' varying approaches to time use. Genuinely accepting individual differences in time styles will benefit you in four ways: First, accepting that others won't change for you spares you the frustration of repetitive and fruitless efforts to control others. Second, when people notice you are not trying to change them, they feel more relaxed and receptive. Third, when your colleagues feel respected, they are increasingly likely to negotiate successfully with you. Fourth, effective compromising increases flexibility and clarifies lines of power and responsibility. Different time styles often reflect different priorities. Explore how this can work to your mutual advantage. For example, one of you might accept added responsibility if you can make your own hours. The other might hold down the fort 9:00 - 5:00 in return for not taking work home. Opportunity #3: Commit to creativity. Thinking outside the box carries negotiations beyond rigid power struggles. For every problem, there is a resolution that honors the integrity and needs of each person. Opportunity #4: Present the challenge in terms of shared goals. Keep the focus on the rewards you and your colleagues will enjoy. This stimulates cooperation. Opportunity #5: Invite others to contribute ideas. The more invested everyone is in the problem-solving process, the more dedicated they will be to making it work. Negotiating different approaches to time use will challenge each of you to grow. Rather than framing needed changes as a sacrifice, consider the benefits of identifying and honoring the baseline needs of everyone. You will develop vitality and confidence to encounter challenging conditions in ways that improve morale, promote effectiveness and save you time. What is your next step to find more time? Paula Eder, Ph.D., The Time Finder, has guided individuals and organizations to effectively align values with their time choices for 35+ years. For free weekly time tips & an award-winning monthly Ezine, visit http://www.findingtime.net/ezine.html EasyPublish™ this article - publishers click here More articles by Paula Eder

Free Report! Ten Essential Secrets Of Article Marketing ... Grab Your Free Copy Now: We respect your privacy. Need Content? Regular Top Quality Content for your Blog, Ezine or Website ... Delivered Direct, For Free! Click For Details Arts & Entertainment Automotive Business - General Computers & Technology Finance & Investment Food & Drink Health & Fitness Home & Family Internet Marketing/Online Business Legal Pets & Animals Politics & Government Reference & Education Religion & Faith Self-Improvement/Motivation Social Sports & Recreation Travel & Leisure Writing & Speaking

More self-improvement articles:

• Are You An Immortal? (Mary Gabrielle)
  Do Immortals exist? Could you carry the seeds of a special spiritual lineage making you one of these "Immortals" among us? Recognizing your true origins could greatly impact the future of all mankind. This article explores some questions to ask yourself and shares a portion of Mary Gabrielle's personal experiences as they pertain to her visions about The Immortals Project.

• Tap Into Creative Flow Through Humor (Valery Satterwhite)
  Childhood is often referred to as a carefree and playful time enjoyed without a thought of responsibility. However, a more accurate look at the average youth experience reveals that children experience quite a bit of emotional and sometimes physical pain. Through humor, you can get your blood flowing, your heart beating and step back into the rhythm and flow that is the essence of the playful creative spirit.

• The Essential Self Esteem Boost (Jed McCall)
  Looking at the problems a lack of confidence can bring into your life. Building up self esteem step by step, investigating some of the reasons for these issues and how to resolve them.

• Don't Wait Until You Have the Perfect Plan, Take Immediate Action Now. (Loren Fogelman)
  Have you ever felt so strongly about something that you were willing to do anything in order to reach your goal? Even though there were barriers, you knew this was right for you and nothing was going to stop you. Obstacles you previously avoided were now challenges you were ready to take on and overcome. You had a "do anything" attitude.

• How to Create a Little "Me" Time (Tony Hall)
  From time to time you should take the chance to focus on you and your life. Having clear and definite goals is great but you must always be sure that they are taking you in the right direction. So it's good to be able to take time to reflect and following some simple steps will help you.

• What Can Entrepreneurs Learn From Confucius? (Brenda Campbell)
  The teachings of Confucius have endured for centuries and remain influential in the thought and lives of many Asian people and other cultures around the world. I wonder what relevance the words of Confucius have to entrepreneurs in today's world of immediate gratification, liberal morals and values and access to endless streams of information? Here is some of what Confucius had to say.

• Well-Grounded Faith is Alive and Well Today (Dave Smart)
  In India, middle-class citizens flock to the Char Dham Yatra, a pilgrimage to four Hindu temples in the Himalayas. The spiritual appeal of this demanding journey seems to relate to the spirits of place that these temples are situated at. The closeness of Hinduism to spirits of place is common to Native American and other tribal religions, and all these respond to a human need to grounding to specific places in the world.

• How to have a New Year free of stress (Elsabe Smit)
  We make New Year's resolutions because we want to reduce the stress we experience. The result is more stress, because we place unreasonable demands on ourselves. The solution is to deal with the cause of any stress, learn valuable lessons and take charge of your life.

• During The Job Interview Tips (Neil Morrical)
  During The Job Interview Tips and free resume builder resources from CareerRush.

• 7 Tips For Improving Your Phone Skills (Susanne Gaddis)
  Great phone skills are like any other communication behavior. They can be learned and practiced. Knowing this, here are some tips to take your phone skills at work from good to great.