January 2009 E-bulletin
FEATURE
ARTICLE
Conflict in the Workplace
RELATED
RESOURCES
Resolving Conflict
TIPS
& TOOLS
5 Step Process for Resolving Conflict
SPECIAL
EVENTS
Executive Director Leadership Group – Accepting Registrations
Seminar: Preparing for the Annual Audit
MAVA/VM Event: Engaging High Skilled Volunteers
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Accepting Nominations for the 26th Annual Volunteer Awards
Warning to Charities - No Lending CRA Registration Number
New Report on HR issues Facing Not for Profits
2009 National CED Conference - Winnipeg
Introducing the new Community Outreach Coordinator - Erik Butenschon
FEATURE
ARTICLE
Conflict in the Workplace
Written by Tracy Douglass, Community Outreach Coordinator
Change, turnover, poor economy, unpredictable funding, diverse cultures, different generations, different approaches: all these conditions that are out of your control contribute to the potential for conflict.
Conflict is all around us and happens all the time. Conflict itself is not a bad thing – it’s how we handle it that may have bad results. Handled well, the organization welcomes differences and uses disagreements to become creative and arrive at better decisions.
Poorly handled conflicts create a work environment that discourages discussions or information sharing. People become isolated, cliques form, and behaviour becomes extreme.
Managing conflict involves developing and using key skills such as listening, questioning, reflective response, and coaching. All of these skills allow you to understand each other’s perspectives and share information. For most people these skills are not easy and must be consciously learned and practiced.
Volunteer Manitoba is offering three workshops that will help you learn some of these skills:
How Can Our Board Work Together? – click here…
Coaching Conflict Solutions for Generations at Work – click here…
Introduction to Non-Profit Staff Supervision – click here…
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RELATED
RESOURCES
Resolving Conflict
Resources from Volunteer Manitoba's Resource Library:
(to borrow any of these resources contact our Resource Coordinator, 477-5180, vmresource@mts.net)
Change: Meet It and Greet It (Trudy Seita & Susan Waechter) – A guide for managing transitions in the non-profit environment.
Constructive Conflict (Elaine Yarbrough) – An exploration of the conflict resolution process (communication, finding the real issues, reaching good agreements) to achieve constructive conflict.
Ironing It Out (Charles P. Lickson) – A guide to seven steps to resolving conflict. Full of examples, exercises, and tools.
Managing Change at Work (Cynthia D. Scott & Dennis T. Jaffe) – Practical resource to learn how to manage, introduce, implement and communicate change.
Working With You is Killing Me (Katherine Crowley & Kathi Elster) – Realistic guide full of quizzes, examples, and strategies to help you develop emotional skills and learn how to identify and handle relationships at work.
Websites:
www.change-management.net - Resources and tools to learn about leading and managing change.
http://www.spconsultants.org/articles/mcampbell.htm - An article “Ten Keys to Successfully Coaching Employees”
www.mindtools.com - Select “Leadership” or “Communication Skills” to read access tools and articles on resolving conflict.
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TIPS
& TOOLS
5 Step Process for Resolving Conflict
Excerpts from Volunteer Manitoba's "Volunteer Management Introduction" manual
Here is a 5-step process for resolving conflict: IHEAR
1. Identify – State your identification of the conflict openly to the other person. Use an objective tone of voice and wording. “I believe we have two different goals in this situation. Let’s talk about it.”
2. Hear – After you have introduced the conflict, invite the other person to speak first. This builds trust and you earn the right to be listened to in return.
3. Express Yourself – Now it’s your turn. In this process of exchanging perspectives, you may find the other person becomes less of an opponent and more of a partner in solving the problem.
4. Act Together – Once everyone understands each other’s perspectives and has all the information, you work together to discover and implement a solution.
5. Review – Be sure to get together again to evaluate and re-negotiate if things have changed.
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SPECIAL
EVENTS
Executive Director Leadership Group – Registration Starting
Volunteer Manitoba provides senior leaders the opportunity to participate in an Executive Director Leadership Group.
The group meets 4 times over the course of 2 months beginning in March. The 2009 schedule and registration forms are now available: click here...
Preparing for the Annual Audit
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Volunteer Manitoba Training Room
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Having audited financial statements is key to showing accountability to your funders, clients, and the public. It’s a large and necessary expense but one that can be controlled with some preparation before the auditor arrives. Learn what steps you can take to shorten the time your auditor spends on your books.
To download the registration form – click here…
Engaging High Skilled Volunteers - a MAVA/VM Event!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Clarion Hotel (Near Polo Park) - Lower Level
9:00am – 3:30pm
Cheryl Humphrey, a facilitator, consultant and employee in the nonprofit sector from Calgary, will share key learnings from a research project on the topic conducted by Volunteer Calgary in parthership with the United Way and a community funder. Cheryl was a lead writer for the second edition of the Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement and has been involved in a number of successful initiatives at the local, provincial and national level with the sector.
To download the registration form – click here…
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Accepting Nominations for the 26th Annual Volunteer Awards
The deadline for nominations is Friday, February 27, 2009 (Deadline for Premier's Award if February 20). Over 30 Awards are presented in the following categories: Lieutenant Governor's Make a Difference Award; Golden Hand Award for Media; HSBC Bank Canada Business Award; Investors Group Arts & Culture Award for Volunteer Excellence; Mayor's Volunteer Service Award; RBC Financial Group Local Hero Award; Premier's Volunteer Service Award; Volunteer Manitoba Award for Outstanding Community Leadership. Do download an application, please visit the following link: http://volunteermanitoba.ca/newsite/nomination_forms.htm.
Warning to Charities - No Lending CRA Registration Number
Under no circumstances should a registered charity lend its registration number to another organization for receipting purposes. A charity that lends its registration number risks losing its charitable registration. For more information about receipting visit:
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/chrts/prtng/rcpts/menu-eng.html
New Report on HR issues Facing Not for Profits
The Calgary HR Initiative released a new report on nonprofit human resources entitled The Myths and Realities of the Workforce Crunch in Non-Profits. For more information, and to download the full report, visit: www.calgarycvo.org.
2009 National CED Conference - Winnipeg
Mark your calendars for Canada's premier community economic development event. Join over 400 participants for three days of learning and celebration in downtown Winnipeg!
June 3 – 6, 2009, University of Winnipeg. For more details visit: www.ccednet-rcdec.ca
Introducing the new Community Outreach Coordinator - Erik Butenschon
Volunteer Manitoba would like to announce the addition of one member to its team.
Erik Butenschon is the new Community Outreach Coordinator, taking over from Tracy Douglass. Erik brings a background in local and international non-profit work, and has a strong interest in community and international development.
A graduate of the University of Winnipeg, Erik was previously on the Klinic Community Health team. With time spent working for non-government organizations in Thailand, Guatemala and Malaysia, and English teaching stints in South Korea and Taiwan, Erik is looking forward to making a long-term contribution to his home province of Manitoba through Volunteer Manitoba!
