Latest news with #Effective
Business Insider
15-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
It's a common workplace problem: Things got heated during a disagreement. Now what?
Last week saw Elon Musk and President Donald Trump go from bromance to breakup. The scale and potential repercussions of the argument between the commander in chief and the world's richest man, who was until recently a special government employee and White House advisor, were much different than those of the average person. But, while the pair's relationship is not analogous to the everyday superior and subordinate, the conflict raises the familiar question: how do you navigate a tense relationship at work? Business Insider spoke with five experts in workplace culture and conflict resolution, from career coaches to behavioral neurologists, to get their best tips. "First things first: to the extent that you can, take a walk around the block, get a cup of coffee, draft an angry email — but don't send it, because you'll probably regret it the next day," Kathryn Landis, an executive coach and New York University professor of marketing and public relations, told Business Insider. Then, as soon as you've cooled down, set a time on the calender to talk face-to-face. Letting a workplace conflict fester is a common mistake, Marlo Lyons, a career coach, told BI. "That creates awkwardness, it creates distance, and it's never going to end well, so you just have to ask for a quick one-on-one," Lyons said. "It doesn't have to be a long, drawn-out conversation, but you really want to show that you respect the relationship by having that conversation sooner than later." Don't pretend there's not a problem Once you've started the conversation, it's important to avoid "the tendency to over-apologize because you're understandably anxious about your job," negotiation expert and senior fellow at Harvard Law School Robert Bordone told Business Insider. But, while you want to cool things off, you should still try to " manage up" and speak your mind about what's bothering you, each of the experts agreed. "The danger in just saying mea culpa is you might get out of the situation, but you're in something that's unhealthy — and from your boss's perspective, they don't even know how unhappy you are because you never told them," Bordone said. "Then you're setting up a longer-term bad pattern that doesn't serve you, the boss, or the organization's interest." Ryan Leak, an executive coach and the author of "How to Work With Complicated People: Strategies for Effective Collaboration with (Nearly) Anyone," suggested rehearsing a few phrases to overcome the tension. The first is practicing some intellectual humility and acknowledging out loud, "I could be wrong," Leak said. "When you subscribe to the 'I could be wrong' mantra, what you're saying is, 'Hey, I've got a story in my head that I fully believe, but I'm also going to make space for your story, because I realized that my story feels very true to me, but at the same time, it's only one side of story,'" Leak said. You want to strike a collaborative tone and "focus on the 'in-group' element," said behavioral neurologist Joel Salinas, because you're both on the same team. Bordone, the Harvard negotiation expert, and Salinas are coauthors of the book "Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement Without Giving Up or Giving In." Salinas added that it's also important to show that you're interested in learning from the experience to do better in the future and that you want to work on a resolution together. Leak suggested making that desire explicit with the phrase "I want us to have a thriving working relationship." "It's OK to be a little bit vulnerable and say, 'Hey, let's have this really awkward conversation that I've been ignoring for a very long time, because I do want to have a thriving working relationship with you. And so, how do we move forward with that?'" Leak said. From there, you can lay out what bothered you in the initial conflict and what you need from the relationship, Leak added. From there, let it go — or plan for your exit While the initial conversation may be challenging, the really difficult part comes next, said career coach Lyons. You've got to try to let it go. "You've got to start that conversation, but then you need to continue the relationship without harping on it," Lyons said. "You don't want to harp on it in every one-on-one. You're trying to reconnect with them, reconnect with the mission, reconnect with what the performance expectations are." Just because you've cleared the air doesn't mean this time there won't be tension in the future. So when you find yourself getting riled up again, try to take your emotions out of it and turn your boss's bad habits into a game. "If you know the other person is going to come back at you with some kind of dig or loaded comment, turn it into a game," Landis, the NYU professor, said. "Try to count how many digs it takes for her to say something nice. Make it a game and it becomes less personal." Of course, if it gets to that point, you should probably also brush up your résumé — and always stay networking, Landis added. Going scorched earth may feel good in the short term, but depending on your industry, you may need that person later, so think long-term when planning your exit, and try to keep your composure even if you find the differences irreconcilable. At the end of the day, remember conflicts are "very natural" and some disagreement is inevitable in any relationship, said Salinas.
The Sun
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Malaysia calls for urgent reforms of UN peacekeeping operations
BERLIN: Malaysia has called for bold and forward-looking reforms in the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping operations to ensure greater effectiveness and safety of personnel in the face of increasingly complex global challenges. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said that peacekeepers today face emerging challenges, adding that the dynamic geopolitical landscape underscores the importance of continued evolution in UN Peacekeeping. He said that in that context, Malaysia believes two key shifts are essential to advancing meaningful reform. 'Firstly, equipping our peacekeepers with technologically advanced equipment and weaponry is paramount. The strategic integration of cutting-edge technology into peacekeeping operations serves as a powerful deterrent against hostile entities. 'This integration will significantly enhance our forces' capability to respond swiftly and effectively to emerging threats in peacekeeping missions. A technologically empowered peacekeeping force not only projects strength and moral authority but also reinforces the collective resolve to uphold peace and security,' he said. Mohamed Khaled said this during his intervention for High-Level Session II - Peacekeeping Reform: More Effective and Safer Peacekeeping during the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 forum, held here today. He added that the UN must emphasise capacity-building more because, as a longstanding troop-contributing country, Malaysia strongly believes in the critical importance of training, particularly in areas that enhance interoperability, facilitate knowledge-sharing, and improve peacekeepers' overall safety and effectiveness. 'As missions grow more complex, it is imperative that we invest in training programmes that not only develop core operational competencies but also prepare personnel to integrate and utilise advanced technologies effectively. 'At the same time, we must ensure that our institutional frameworks and policies evolve in tandem with these technological developments. This includes revising operational doctrines, updating standard operating procedures, and establishing clear guidelines for the ethical and responsible use of emerging technologies,' he said. Mohamed Khaled emphasised that peacekeeping reform lies at the intersection of technology, training, and policy. 'By equipping our peacekeepers with modern tools, investing in comprehensive capacity-building, and ensuring our institutional frameworks remain agile and responsive, we can build a force that is not only operationally ready and effective but also guided by strong values and a deep sense of responsibility,' he said. The biannual forum brings together the country's top leaders and officials who support the security mission under the UN. Mohamed Khaled took the opportunity to voice his views and renew the country's commitment to supporting the global security effort.
Telegraph
04-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
AI-authored books about ADHD ‘for sale on Amazon'
Amazon has been accused of allowing AI-authored books about ADHD to be sold on its platform. The online marketplace has been targeted by those looking to sell cheap-to-publish books written by artificial intelligence, which can include unhelpful or dangerous misinformation. Chatbots now appear to be writing books about the condition, according to The Guardian. a US company that detects content produced by AI, analysed samples from eight books obtained by The Guardian. The firm then awarded a rating of 100 per cent to each of the samples for its AI detection score, effectively confirming it was highly confident that the books were written by a chatbot. Texts highlighted by the newspaper as being suspected AI-authored reads include Navigating ADHD in Men: Thriving with a Late Diagnosis and Men with Adult ADHD: Highly Effective Techniques for Mastering Focus, Time Management and Overcoming Anxiety. Robot-written texts It comes after AI were accused of copying a Holocaust survivor's memoir last week. Other robot-written texts have included mushroom-foraging books, travel guides and weight-loss recipe books. Michael Cook, a computer science researcher at King's College London, told The Guardian that it was 'frustrating and depressing to see AI-authored books increasingly popping up on digital marketplaces' particularly on health and medical topics, which could result in misdiagnosis or worsen conditions. Yet he added that Amazon's business model incentivised this kind of practice as it made 'money every time' shoppers purchased books, regardless of whether the work was 'trustworthy or not'. An Amazon spokesman told The Guardian: 'We have content guidelines governing which books can be listed for sale and we have proactive and reactive methods that help us detect content that violates our guidelines, whether AI-generated or not. We invest significant time and resources to ensure our guidelines are followed and remove books that do not adhere to those guidelines. 'We continue to enhance our protections against non-compliant content and our process and guidelines will keep evolving as we see changes in publishing.' Threat to creative industries High-profile artists have repeatedly warned of the threat AI poses to the UK's creative industries. More than 1,000 artists have urged ministers to abandon plans to allow their work to be used in the training of AI models. Last month, Abba's Bjorn Ulvaeus joined the row over government plans to water down copyright laws for the benefit of big tech companies. Speaking to The Times, the Swedish star said: 'Copyright is the oxygen which creators and the creative economy depend on for their existence and survival. 'They cannot be sacrificed. Unfortunately, there is an alternative and, in my opinion, more dangerous view, driven by profit-seeking tech companies. That view favours a weaker rights framework and broad exceptions to copyright.'
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
AI-authored books about ADHD ‘for sale on Amazon'
Amazon has been accused of allowing AI-authored books about ADHD to be sold on its platform. The online marketplace has been targeted by those looking to sell cheap-to-publish books written by artificial intelligence, which can include unhelpful or dangerous misinformation. Chatbots now appear to be writing books about the condition, according to The Guardian. a US company that detects content produced by AI, analysed samples from eight books obtained by The Guardian. The firm then awarded a rating of 100 per cent to each of the samples for its AI detection score, effectively confirming it was highly confident that the books were written by a chatbot. Texts highlighted by the newspaper as being suspected AI-authored reads include Navigating ADHD in Men: Thriving with a Late Diagnosis and Men with Adult ADHD: Highly Effective Techniques for Mastering Focus, Time Management and Overcoming Anxiety. It comes after AI were accused of copying a Holocaust survivor's memoir last week. Other robot-written texts have included mushroom-foraging books, travel guides and weight-loss recipe books. Michael Cook, a computer science researcher at King's College London, told The Guardian that it was 'frustrating and depressing to see AI-authored books increasingly popping up on digital marketplaces' particularly on health and medical topics, which could result in misdiagnosis or worsen conditions. Yet he added that Amazon's business model incentivised this kind of practice as it made 'money every time' shoppers purchased books, regardless of whether the work was 'trustworthy or not'. An Amazon spokesman told The Guardian: 'We have content guidelines governing which books can be listed for sale and we have proactive and reactive methods that help us detect content that violates our guidelines, whether AI-generated or not. We invest significant time and resources to ensure our guidelines are followed and remove books that do not adhere to those guidelines. 'We continue to enhance our protections against non-compliant content and our process and guidelines will keep evolving as we see changes in publishing.' High-profile artists have repeatedly warned of the threat AI poses to the UK's creative industries. More than 1,000 artists have urged ministers to abandon plans to allow their work to be used in the training of AI models. Last month, Abba's Bjorn Ulvaeus joined the row over government plans to water down copyright laws for the benefit of big tech companies. Speaking to The Times, the Swedish star said: 'Copyright is the oxygen which creators and the creative economy depend on for their existence and survival. 'They cannot be sacrificed. Unfortunately, there is an alternative and, in my opinion, more dangerous view, driven by profit-seeking tech companies. That view favours a weaker rights framework and broad exceptions to copyright.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Press and Journal
02-05-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
cHeRries Conference in Aberdeen to explore how to make change truly work
Change is an inevitable part of business, but managing it effectively can mean the difference between success and stagnation. At this year's cHeRries Conference, held at Aberdeen's P&J Live, Sarah Beaumont, director of HR at Hunter Adams, will explore this challenge in her session titled Empowering Effective Change. Some Press and Journal online content is funded by outside parties. The revenue from this helps to sustain our independent news gathering. You will always know if you are reading paid-for material as it will be clearly labelled as 'Partnership' on the site and on social media channels. This can take two different forms. This means the content has been paid for and produced by the named advertiser. This means the content has been paid for and approved by the named advertiser but written and edited by our own commercial content team. Her session will focus on HR's critical role in navigating change, particularly in today's climate of continuous economic, political, and legal shifts. 'At the core of every successful transformation is an effective HR function,' Sarah explained. 'HR isn't just about implementing change; it's about aligning people, processes, and strategic goals to ensure a seamless transition.' She noted that many businesses underestimate how ongoing change can create major issues if not managed properly. 'There can be a marked a decline in performance when people are constantly adapting to new systems, structures, or even something as seemingly small as a job title change,' said Sarah. 'If businesses don't manage change properly, they risk disengagement, inefficiency, and ultimately, failure to achieve their objectives.' Her session will delve into the impact of change on employee performance and provide practical steps for businesses to take employees on the journey with them. She'll highlight the importance of clear communication, strategic alignment, and ensuring employees understand the why behind changes, not just the what. Sarah's insights are drawn not only from her years in HR leadership roles but also from hands-on experience leading large-scale transitions. Sarah also spent a year in Spain working with a global B2B travel tech company where she created a global performance management framework whilst navigating a complex three-way acquisition. With a career spanning industries from oil and gas to HR consultancy, she brings a wealth of experience in guiding organisations through transition. Sarah worked at General Electric for seven years before joining Hunter Adams and was at the forefront of change management, working on initiatives like GE's transferable skills programme. That saw her bring talent from industries such as mining, nuclear, and construction into oil and gas. She was also trained in the company's Change Acceleration Programme, an experience that sparked her passion for effective transformation strategies. In her role at Hunter Adams, Sarah leads on all people based initiatives, all of which touch on the change management agenda and support clients at a strategic level providing commercial HR advice. 'It's something I've got a real passion for,' she said. 'We can't stop change from happening. But we can manage how we lead people through it. That's what makes the difference between success and failure.'
