Category: Article
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Prevention is better than cure!
Prevention is better than cure! Michael* comes to me with some concerns: “Carlo* has been working in my team for several years. He’s always got on very well with his colleagues and produced excellent work. But recently, I’ve noticed that he’s been interacting less with the rest of the team and he’s started not turning
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The importance of being present
The importance of being present Maria* has fallen behind schedule on her project and meets with her supervisor Jan* to keep him informed. But the meeting sadly didn’t live up to her expectations. “To start with, Jan arrived late. I went to his office, but I found the door closed and no-one there to greet
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Networking: a necessary evil?
Networking: a necessary evil? Frédéric* is feeling down in the dumps: “I’ve always been good at my job and my supervisors acknowledge my excellent results. But I feel I’m being passed over in favour of colleagues who are less competent than me, but know who to approach to further their careers. Do we really have
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Dialogue saboteurs and how to outfox them
Dialogue saboteurs and how to outfox them Manuel* has been ill at ease with his supervisor Robert* for several months, but is having difficulty instigating a calm and constructive conversation about it. “Every time I try to start a discussion, I get flustered and feel like he’s manipulating me. I feel powerless; he always gets
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Informal conflict resolution with the help of the Ombud: how does it work?
Informal conflict resolution with the help of the Ombud: how does it work? At CERN, every member of the personnel has the right to formally contest an administrative decision by requesting a review or by making an internal appeal. Anyone who feels that they’re a victim of harassment can initiate proceedings with the Harassment Investigation
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Collective intelligence
Collective intelligence In an oriental fable, six blind men decide to meet an elephant in order to broaden their horizons. The first rubs up against its side and says: “This elephant is like an unmovable wall!” His neighbour feels a tusk and exclaims: “It’s so smooth and pointy; this animal is surely an impressive weapon!”
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Sharing knowledge
Sharing knowledge Barbara* has accepted a new role in a new service, where she hopes to have more opportunities to use her skills as an analyst. But after her first few days on the job, she’s already disillusioned, because the procedures and spreadsheets she’s taken over from her predecessor are much more complicated than she
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Bonding with colleagues can help break situations of deadlock
Bonding with colleagues can help break situations of deadlock Paul* came to see me because he’s not getting along with his colleague: “Ben* is the coordinator of the project I’m working on, but he’s doing it without really consulting any other members of the working group. He seems to work on the project from his
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All the best for the new year!
All the best for the new year! As 2019 gets under way, I’d like to take the opportunity to wish you a year full of good things: … a lot of listening: both listening to others and being listened to yourselves; … understanding: may you and your colleagues have the courage to express yourselves openly
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Be kind to yourself!
Be kind to yourself! Tomas* has spent the whole day in meetings with his industrial partners, discussing highly sensitive matters that have required him to be very diplomatic. He’s had to rein in his desire to say what he really thinks and put all his energy into arguing his case in the negotiations. On returning