Resolve Conflict In 6 Easy Steps The Bedrol Method

Writen by Tristan Loo

The principles of Negotiation can work for you in any situation, but often people ask me, "Well, its often a fact that conflict happens unexpectedly. What if I don't have time to prepare? Can negotiation skills be used on the spur of the moment?" The answer is YES. The principles of Street Negotiation were created and battle-tested on the streets and it's power lies in its ability to be used to resolve any conflict anytime. Conflict can be resolved in six easy to learn steps, acronymed as BEDROL(TM). That is: Back-up plan, Emotional control, Defusing their anger, Reframing, Options, and Letting them choose their fate.

Step 1--Back Up Plan.

Having a back-up plan before you step into a conflict is absolutely crucial. Police officers sometimes are so accustom to having people do as they say, they become complacent and fail to have a plan B ready in case the person doesn't want to comply. An unfortuanate number of police officers have been killed in the line of duty because they didn't know what to do once the subject refused to comply with their demands. Their lack of a back-up plan made them freeze up, giving the suspect enough time to overpower them. By having a plan B in your pocket prior to dealing with any conflict, you can remain confident that you can still move forward even if your negotiation fails. Remember that your plan B is your best solution that you can come up with on your own without having to talk with your counterpart. For the hostage negotiator, this could mean using the tactical team to take control by force. For two angry neighbors, this could mean going to court. Your plan B gives you the confidence to deal with your counterpart and the ability to move forward, whether you reach an agreement with them or not.

Step 2--Emotional Control

Your anger is the biggest challege towards resolving the conflict peacefully. You need to control your anger by separating the person from the problem. Have pity on the person for attacking you because their real anger lies in the problem, not with you. View the situation rationally without allowing anger into the equation. You always have to remember that if you react with anger—then you've lost the battle.

Step 3--Defusing their anger

The other obstacle to overcome is your counterpart's anger and frustration. These emotions are blinding them from seeing things rationally. Their primary focus is that they were wronged and now they want retribution—often from you. Think of their emotions like a pressure cooker on a stovetop. There are two ways of releasing the pressure: (1) you can pop the lid and the have the contents explode out of the pot from the sudden change in pressure, or (2) you can engage the pressure-release valve and slowly let that steam pressure out of the cooker which will enable you to open the lid without injury. The same is true for an angry person. You want to hit their pressure release switch by using active listening skills. Listen and acknowledge this concerns. Engage them in empathetic responses by trying to walk around in their shoes. Paraphrase back to them what they told you in your own words. You will see a dramatic difference in their level of hostility as they get to vent their anger.

Step 4--Reframing

Now comes the time when you must reframe their position into interests. Do this by first reframing them from an enemy into a partner. Then reframe all their personal attacks on you back on the problem. Then finally, uncover their interests behind their demands with nonconfrontational questions.

Step 5--Options

Discuss options with them and get them involved in the process of thinking about possibilities for a solution. You might have to present some various options that they have available to them. Strive for a cooperative effort to find mutually-satisfying options that will benefit both parties.

Step 6--Letting them choose their fate

Empower your counterpart with the choice to make their own fate. Don't back them into a corner by telling them what to do. Human beings need control over their own life, otherwise they feel threatened. Let them pick the option that you both have discussed. If they still fail to comply at this point then ask them what the possible consequences are if no agreement can be made. As a last resort, use your back-up plan as an alternative to the negotiation.

Tristan Loo is an experienced negotiator and an expert in conflict resolution. He uses his law enforcement experience to train others in the prinicples of defusing conflict and reaching agreements. Visit his website at http://www.streetnegotiation.com

Barter And Its Benefits

Writen by Peter Viliamu

What is Barter?
Barter involves 2 parties. Each party wants to trade with each other and instead of exchanging cash for products or services, the exchange is carried out with products or services that each possesses. That is, there is a trade of a product or service that someone has, in return for another product or service the other party has.

Barter traces its origins back to ancient times, because as we all know, money as a form of exchange only came into being in history well after barter had been practiced for 100's of years. It was found that using money or coins as a medium of exchange was a lot easier to handle than exchanging products or services.

Barter can basically apply to almost any business that has products or services, because if they have something they can sell and exchange for money, then they can sell in exchange for products. Simply defined, therefore, barter is the exchange of goods and services without the involvement of cash.

Most of us, when young, engaged in barter, even if we didn't know we were doing so. For example, if you have ever traded your comics with a friend in exchange for his baseball bat or rugby ball, then you have engaged in the practice of barter. If you have helped your neighbour paint her fence in exchange for her cooking you a chocolate cake, or if the gentleman across the road helped you repair your car in exchange for borrowing your lawn mower, then you have been involved in the art of bartering.

The Art of Bartering
Some large companies have been engaged in barter for many years. It is something your business should consider because it has many benefits and can produce increased sales and conserve cash in some situations. As already explained, we have all bartered in some form or another, but it's only recently that the industry of barter has come into its own.

With the new technology available to businesses now, computers can track barter transactions and inventory and this has helped to expand the growth of this form of trading. In fact, now there is such a term as the "barter economy", as quite distinct from the "cash economy".

We have now grown what are known as "barter exchanges". These are groups that create markets for traders to function and come together to barter. Barter exchanges have also assisted in fuelling the huge growth of this industry. Today the barter industry is a billion dollar industry many times over and has become a very successful method in assisting in the growth of companies and facilitating trade without the use of cash.

There is no doubt that barter is big business and it's getting bigger year by year.

Why should you Barter at all?
The main reason businesses use barter is to conserve cash resources. As cash is the lifeblood of a business, any strategies to conserve this are welcomed with open arms. However, barter is more than saving cash; it is a method of marketing your goods and services and carrying on normally where products and services are exchanged, except cash dollars are replaced by barter dollars.

Barter definitely attracts customers and therefore sales the business would normally not have obtained otherwise. This is because a barter oriented business would rather use the barter facility than to outlay cash. This is acceptable, therefore, to all businesses that enjoy the barter system.

Barter generates sales that would not have happened if cash had been required to complete a purchase by the buying company. It's good also because it provides another advantage to a business. Where cash is short, the option of barter can ensure that a sale is not lost and, in fact, can grow sales figures substantially.

It enables expansion because it frees up the company's cash reserves for other needs, as well as reducing holdings of excess stocks. The fact that a business can achieve growth without the need for real cash, makes barter an attractive proposition that needs to be seriously investigated.

Copyright 2005 StartRunGrow
http://www.startrungrow.com

StartRunGrow (http://www.startrungrow.com) is a global online information organization that specializes in creating, developing and marketing business help information specifically with the aim of "making business easier" for entrepreneurs around the world. The StartRunGrow objective is to become a dominant player in the business help arena providing end to end solutions for the millions of small and medium businesses worldwide who continue to struggle daily with the difficulties of starting, running and growing a successful business.

Tips For Getting The Raise You Deserve

Writen by Brad Karsh

Your parents and friends always tell you that you're priceless, but how much does your company think you are worth?

With the improving economy and job market, people have more options in 2006. Companies are offering bigger salaries and better packages to gain and maintain the best employees. In light of this, it may be the perfect time to ask your company for the raise you deserve.

Most companies aren't going to throw more money at you "just because," so it's your job to state your case if you think you deserve more money. Of course, asking for a raise from your boss can be an intimidating task. Here are five tips to help you approach the situation with the proper insight and confidence.

1. Know What You're Worth
The first step is to get the facts and figures to justify your request for more pay. If you do your homework, it's much easier to build a compelling case. Look at websites like Monster.com and Salary.com and research industry journals and professional associations to see what people in your position typically make. Speak with your colleagues and check our recruitment ads in local newspapers and the classifieds. If you realize that a systems analyst in Chicago typically makes between $45,000 and $55,000, and you're only at $40,000 - it's much easier to make your case.

2. Prove You Deserve the Money
You need to walk into a meeting with your boss with documented reasons as to why you deserve a raise. Never try to make a case for a raise on the basis of need. Prove that you deserve the money based on your high performance and your contributions to your employer's goals. The best way to do this is to bring in your accomplishments AND what you plan to do to earn your new salary. If you can say, "I sold 850 contracts last year, and that netted the company and extra $60,000 in profit. I think it only makes sense for me to get a $6,000 raise," it makes your case even stronger. Remember one thing though; your salary is not the only expense that a company has for you. What you make is typically only about 50% of what you cost the company. Things like health costs, office space, and phone lines all add up to tremendous overhead. If you make $50,000 a year, you probably cost your company $100,000 a year! Prove that your value exceeds costs, and you'll be hard to refuse.

3. Talk to the Right Person at the Right Time
Your boss might not be the one who determines whether or not you get a raise. You want to do whatever you can to state your case directly to the decision maker. You can make a great, compelling case to your boss as to why you deserve a raise, but if she's not the decision maker, she may not represent your story the same way you would. A good boss with a good heart can be more effective at getting to the decision maker, but if you don't get along with your boss, you may want to go above or around her. Similarly, you want to talk about a raise at the right time. You want a private meeting - with no other distractions or business to talk about. Ideally, you can do it over lunch or in someone's office.

4. Be Direct, Concise, and Assertive
Too many people beat around the bush or sound too wishy-washy when it comes time to actually ask for the money. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is failing to prepare yourself.

Bad: "Well, I know times are tough, and you probably have a lot of deserving people around here, so I was hoping, if it's possible, that I might be able to get a raise?"

Good: "Phil, as you know I've been a valuable and critical member of our team. Over the past year alone, I've elevated the quality of our news program, eliminated on-air glitches, and even filled in for two employees on maternity leave. I have not received a raise in two years, and based on salary surveys, I'm at the low end of the scale for my position. I think you would agree that I deserve a raise."

As you can see, assertive speech presents a more powerful case.

5. Know your Company
If the goal is to get more money, requesting a raise isn't always the only or even best way to get it done. Some companies have very defined pools of money. Some money is for raises, some for promotions, and even some for "counter offers." Since promotions usually come with more money, requesting a promotion may be even easier than requesting a raise. Sometimes even the thought that you're interviewing can spur a company to give you a raise. A strategically "misplaced" resume or wearing an interview suit to work can do wonders! You need to be cautious with this technique as some companies may see this as a reason to give you a raise, but others may see this as grounds for firin! That's why you need to know your company.

Before having the "money talk," it's also important to evaluate your level of job satisfaction. Consider creative options and other benefits to improve your situation if your salary is non-negotiable. You may want to consider back-up career plans as well. Money isn't always the key to job happiness, so you need to identify the point at which you are willing to walk before you have the conversation with your boss.

Securing a good raise seems tricky, but if you put these five tips into practice, you can handle the negotiation with candor and confidence.

Brad Karsh is president of JobBound, a company specializing in resume writing, interviews, and job preparation to help students and professionals get a great job. Author of Confessions of a Recruiting Director: The Insider's Guide to Landing Your Fist Job (Prentice Hall Press), Brad Karsh is considered the nation's leading job expert. He's been featured on CNN's Paula Zahn Now, CNBC, CNNfn, and quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Fortune, and many others. For even more job search advice, check out http://www.jobbound.com