You think your work life would run smoothly if you get along with your coworkers. However, if they’re feuding with each other, you could wind up caught in the middle.
 
Maybe an office romance has turned sour or two junior account executives are competing for one promotion. Maybe 40 hours of togetherness each week is just too much for personalities that are basically incompatible.
 
Whatever the causes, office conflicts often create stress and lower productivity.
 
How do you decide whether to intervene or keep your distance? Take a look at these suggestions for navigating a common workplace dilemma.
 
Tips for Intervening with Feuding Coworkers 
You may need to take action if the battles are interfering with your ability to do your job. In some cases, you may also feel like you can help to restore harmony even if it’s not part of your job description.
 
Try these techniques to help resolve these situations: 

1. Stay neutral. Refuse to choose sides even if you’re friendlier with one of the parties involved. In fact, that may be a valid reason to work harder at overcoming any bias so you can interact effectively with both colleagues.
   
   
2. Listen. Demonstrate your willingness to listen to different points of view. Giving each party an opportunity to vent can be constructive as long as you watch out for any signs that it’s developing into chronic complaining.
   
   
3. Explain the impact. Your coworkers may be so caught up in their struggles that they fail to realize how they’re affecting the rest of the office. Letting them know how others feel could motivate them to settle their differences.
   
   
4. Collaborate on solutions. Unsolicited advice can be tricky. Ask your coworkers if they want your suggestions. Offer to help them brainstorm their own options for how they can turn the situation around.
   
   
5. Follow up. To create lasting peace, keep your eyes on the situation. Previous differences may spring back up in different forms.

 
Tips for Keeping Your Distance from Feuding Coworkers 
On the other hand, you may prefer to watch drama on TV instead of dealing with it in the next cubicle. As long as you’re not in a supervisory position, you have alternatives to playing peacekeeper.
 
Consider these ideas: 

1. Document activities. Office conflicts can muddle communications and pull you in different directions. Be sure to create a paper trail and keep others informed of your activities, so you’re less likely to be held responsible for events beyond your control.
   
   
2. Consult your colleagues. If you’re confused about what to do, try to talk with someone you trust. There may be others who share your concerns, and you’ll benefit from putting your heads together.
   
   
3. Avoid gossip. Naturally, discussing your coworkers can be a sensitive subject. Ask yourself if what you’re saying is true and helpful.
   
   
4. Approach a third party. If the office is becoming seriously divided, you may need to report the matter to your boss or to HR. If so, stick to the facts and make it clear that you’re eager to do your part to make positive changes.
   
   
5. Encourage morale. While some differences are more difficult to reconcile than others, building team spirit can heal minor riffs and prevent others from developing. Propose activities that bring the company together, like group volunteer projects and occasional parties.
   
   
6. Learn from experience. Keep in mind that conflict can be beneficial in the long run. Coworkers who learn to overcome their differences may form stronger bonds than those who haven’t faced any significant challenges. Conflicts can also teach us more about ourselves and clarify our values.

 
Office squabbles may sometimes be inevitable, but you can maintain healthy boundaries. If you'd like some guidance incorporating a healthy workplace culture to avoid disputes then why not book in your one on one Free consultation to find out what our services can do for you.

As the number of people visiting your website increases, you want to convert those people as clients.  Below are five tried and true methods of converting those who peruse into those who pay.
1. Demonstrate how your product is ideal. The idea is to convince your visitor that they do not need to continue looking at other sites; your site has it all, and your product is exactly what they need. 

• : The goal is to show your visitors that they need you.  Make your visitors feel like you are addressing them and not just bragging about yourself.  For example, instead of listing testimonials, try describing various situations and how you helped the client. You want the client to recognize him/herself in the scenarios. 

 
2. Utilize home page sign ups.The more convenient your contact information, the more likely your visitors are to actually use it.  Many people only view a site once, so grab their attention early on and start the relationship right away.
 
Remember: Many people are wary of new relationships, even if it is a simple web presence.  By circulating a weekly or monthly newsletter/ezine, you can maintain contact without seeming overly pushy. 
 
3. Immediate gratification goes a long way.Give your visitors something they can use immediately.  Whether this is a free gift incentive, a fantastic Top 10 List, or downloadable forms, provide every visitor with a takeaway resource. 
 
Remember: Don’t forget to put your name on these documents!  Publicizing yourself, your site, and your product is vital.  Every pdf or downloadable document your visitors print is one more piece of advertising.
 
4. Create a sense of personal commitment. If you portray yourself as invested, your visitors are more likely to think you are invested in them.  Be direct. Make it personal.  Above all, make it crystal clear that you can help solve their problems.
 
Remember: Position yourself as an invaluable resource and make your contact information accessible and easy to locate.  This brings you one step closer to gaining a new client. 
 
5. Quality is obvious.When it comes to your actual website, you get what you pay for.  While it may seem expensive in the beginning, think about how much money will be generated from a professional website. 
 
Remember: Website maintenance  is extremely involved.  Not only does the content have to be exact, the design, development and usability must be exceptional.  It is usually beneficial to contract with a designer who can transform your product ideas into a credible and professional website. 

At Altitude Business Solutions we are committed to helping as many business owners as we can reach new levels of success.  We do this through our 45 minute phone chat where we find out all about your business and where you want it to be as well as giving you a Success Blueprint so you can take action in your business today.  Yes this service is free book your phone session into our diary now.

7 Tips to Better Workplace Culture | A touchy subject we know, but workplace culture is more important than many think and is the number 1 reason why employees choose to leave a workplace.  Now if an employee takes approximately 200 hours to fully train (that's 100 of their hours and 100 of the trainers) wouldn't it make sense to ensure that your workplace culture is up to scratch to keep those staff around? So, to help you our here is our top 7 tips on improving your workplace culture. ​

1. Communication.  Front and centre where it should be.  Open communication within the company fosters greater success.  This means between peers and between the various levels of the organization.  Clear communication lets staff know where they stand and clears any fears uncertainties and doubts the employees may be having.
2. Respect. Respect is an important part of a workplace culture.  This means respect between peers and between the highest-level employees and the lowest.  Employees that feel disrespected quickly become disgruntled.  The quality and quantity of their work suffers.
3. Inclusivity. Significant separation between the upper level employees and the lower level employees has often been a source of friction.  Establish a corporate culture that includes all employees from the CEO to the person that answers the phones.
4. Employee recognition.  Positive work cultures give employees recognition for their accomplishments above and beyond the norm.  This can take the form of monetary awards, additional days off, lunch with the CEO, or even jut mention in an email or company newsletter.
5. Consistency.  Consistency means it applies to all employees and at all times.  If you're willing to throw out your values during a mini-crisis you don't have a stable culture.  The culture needs to come before everything else, or everyone understands that it's all just smoke and mirrors.
6. Transparency.  This really goes along with communication. Be as transparent as possible.  The old mentality of "You don't need to know anything beyond what you need to know to do your job" is dead and can be detrimental to your business.  Believe it or not your employees can handle the truth.  Even if the company is going through a rough patch, communicating this to your employees can cure their fears and uncertainties and stops office gossip and them making up their own stories.
7. Employee feedback. Ask for and use employee feedback.  You can't be everywhere at once, and you don't know the absolute best way to perform every job in your company.  Your employees know things, and it would be wise to extract this information from them.  Encourage your employees to provide regular feedback on all aspects of the company, this will encourage them to want to communicate more regularly and open the lines of communication.  You want employees that are not afraid to come and talk to you should they have a problem.

How does your workplace stack up?  Do you need to make some adjustments? Workplace culture has a huge effect on the bottom line of your business, small changes can make all the difference.  We hope these tips have helped you out.

7 Networking Conversation Starters | ​Although reading has many obvious benefits, do you realize it can help you sharpen your conversational skills, too? If you feel anxious about attending a Networking event where you don't know anyone, reading can bring you greater confidence.
 
Try these strategies for yout next networking event

1. Scan the headlines. When reading your morning newspaper, look over the headlines and titles first. Whether you get the paper delivered to your house or read the local news online, look over all the article headings. Upon finding a subject that appeals to you, read the article. What do you think about it? Is there anything the article left out? Do you trust the reporting?
2. Read articles and books that interest you. If you already find the subject matter fascinating, you'll be more likely to remember it once you read it. It just makes good sense to hone in on information or stories that you find fascinating to share in conversations.
3. Take note of topics that are currently trending. Popular and current subjects give you a good idea of what people are talking about. If you read those types of news articles, you'll definitely have something of interest to share with others.
4. Read a variety of material. A great way to start a verbal exchange with someone is to mention a book you've read lately. Books from the top 10 lists of bookstores and publishers make great fodder for conversation, regardless of whether they're fiction or non-fiction.
   
   
5. Formulate an opinion. Know your own feelings and ideas regarding a particular subject you read about. Although it's helpful to be able to describe facts from an article, you'll have an even richer conversation if you add in your thoughts, ideas and experiences related to the subject matter.
   
   
6. Inject topics you read about into your conversations. Use the subjects you read about recently to start a verbal exchange. For example, let's say it's Saturday night and you just arrived at a friend's party. You're looking around and notice you don't see many familiar faces. You feel a niggling sense of nervousness while wondering what you'll say to the other partygoers.
7. Sit back and listen to others. Pay attention to conversations going on around you. Someone might mention a subject you just read about.  Ask people what they think about a particular story or character in the book.  Others will contribute thoughts, ideas and reactions to the subject matter that differ greatly from your own. An important part of conversing is listening and allowing reciprocation by the other person.

 
Reading is an effective method of gathering and storing information to talk about at the next social gathering you attend. A person who is well-read can be great entertainment at get-togethers and provide plenty of grist for some titillating conversations.
 
Many business owners ask us where do they find the best networking events.  We highly reccomend joining your local Chamber of Commerce though some feel they are no longer relevant.  We decided to make a short FREE course on the subject to clear up any confustion. CLICK HERE to gain access

13 tips for improving your body language | Believe it or not, most communication is nonverbal. Are you really saying what you think you’re saying? If you often find that people misunderstand you, perhaps your body language is communicating different thoughts than what your voice is saying!
 
Adjusting your body language can strengthen your communications and help you make a better impression in all kinds of social and professional settings. Facial expressions, hand gestures, and posture all communicate certain meanings. When your body language agrees with your words, what you say is much more powerful.
 
Whether you wonder what messages you're sending with your body language or you just want some tips to brush up on your communication skills, here are some techniques you can try.

1. Match up your body and speech. To appear authentic, you want your body language and speech to be consistent. If you're telling someone you enjoyed the date but you're anxiously rubbing your forehead, you'll create some doubts.
2. Mirror others. When people are on the same page, they naturally start mimicking each other's expressions and movements. You can make it easier to connect with people by doing this intentionally. Do this sparingly, though; too much mirroring and your efforts will start to look like a comedy routine.
3. Double check your assumptions. As you become more knowledgeable about nonverbal messages, keep in mind that different causes can produce the same behavior. You may want to use additional cues to discern their real meaning.  For example, if someone is looking around the room while you talk, they may be bored with what you're saying. Or they may be too tired to concentrate on anything. Or maybe they’re especially interested in the interior decorating! Asking them questions can lead you to the correct meaning of their body language.
4. Make eye contact. While there are cultural differences, subtle eye contact is often interpreted as being friendly and honest. Look people in the eye when you’re first introduced. As someone is talking, meet their eye from time to time to show interest, while also looking away for appropriate intervals to avoid staring.
5. Hold your head up. Looking at the ground all the time may give people the impression you’re depressed or trying to avoid them. Keeping your head up enables you to look more approachable.
6. Nod judiciously. Nod your head slightly to let someone know they have your attention and you agree with what they're saying.
7. Smile. A smiling face is your best asset, whether you're at a job interview or trying to resolve a family conflict. Our relationships become more harmonious when we reassure people that we like them. Smiling is a primary way to do this.
8. Work on your hand shake. Palm to palm contact is the most important ingredient in your handshake. Ask a friend for their feedback to ensure your handshake sends the message you want.
9. Control your hand gestures. Hand gestures can reinforce what you're saying and make your presentations more effective. Make your gestures with confidence so you look composed and engaged.
10. Stand straight and relaxed. Good posture has important health and social benefits. Press your navel against your lower back, open your chest and relax your shoulders. You'll come across as open and self assured.
11. Stand straight and relaxed. Good posture has important health and social benefits. Press your navel against your lower back, open your chest and relax your shoulders. You'll come across as open and self assured.
12. Slow down. We can easily get caught up in rushing from one task to the next. Pausing briefly or intentionally slowing down your movements can help you feel more poised.
13. Lean forward. Inclining slightly toward someone is a great way to show that you like them and that you care about what they're saying. Just facing someone while they talk can help. When you're addressing a group, shift positions occasionally.
    
    
    

Body language is an important interpersonal skill. By taking conscious control of your nonverbal communication, you help yourself to feel more confident and you put others at ease.