- What problems does Angela appear to have right now, and what problem-solving strategies might Angela use to approach her problems?
The problem Angela appears to have right now is she is overwhelmed and stressed at work, and it is following her home. Angela also started going to school, which is (or can be), a huge stressor all by itself. It really does not help that the person she brought in to help take the stress from her is making her work life harder. She is also developing some unhealthy habits to cope with stress, which in turn will affect her health. Angela should practice some self-care as opposed to self-destruction.
The problem-solving skills I would suggest using to approach her problem are taking a step back, calming herself, and being open to having a much-needed conversation with everyone around her. “Successful problem-solving in the workplace takes the same tools as it does in every other place: respect, kindness, and honesty (Post, 2010).” I would suggest she implements respect, kindness, and honesty while practicing active listening and doing some team-building exercises. If nothing else, it can boost morale and ultimately boost production.
- What are some conflict-resolution strategies Angela could implement to resolve her issues?
Some conflict-resolution strategies Angela could implement to resolve her issues with the employees’ making errors and shipping delays, is approach the employees with some humility. Get down to the root of the issues. They are people just like her with their own stressors. The issue may be the employees are rushing through orders to meet a deadline and making silly mistakes. They can hire a few extra people to help take the load from the other employees or stretch the deadline.
To reach a resolution with her supervisor she should sit down with him and “use this sentence to open up discussion: “I feel (emotion) when (action or words said) because (unexpected result) (Woodfill, 2009).” It is super important, when having a conversation to resolve conflict, that you do not place blame on people. Using “I feel” can help you appropriately express how you are feeling and how certain actions are affecting you without pointing the finger. People are much more receptive when they do not feel attacked.
To reach a resolution at home I would suggest Angela sit down and just let her family know what is going on. Be open and honest with her partner and child. It is way easier said than done but Angela needs to leave work life at work and home life at home. She works to live, not lives to work. I would suggest they schedule out some family time once or twice a week where they can reconnect as a family or at least as a couple.
- What assumptions is Angela making about her new supervisor?
The assumptions Angela’s making about her new supervisor are that he does not respect her, and he is constantly telling her how to do her job. I feel like she thinks he is trying to undermine her when, in fact, he may just be trying to make suggestions to help make the job easier for her. I know I can be stubborn and set in my ways and that makes it hard for me to be receptive to other ideas. I do not usually feel undermined, but I can understand why someone would. I strongly believe respect is earned and not given. The new supervisor could feel like Angela does not respect him; therefore, he is not going to give the respect back. Especially after Angela lost her temper at the meeting.
- What role (if any) might communication (or miscommunication) play in this scenario?
Miscommunication and communication are playing a role in this scenario. Angela may not be communicating properly and that leads to miscommunication. Not only that but, more than likely, she is not listening to people effectively. Angela is incredibly frustrated. For me, it is so easy to get stuck in my own head. When that happens, nobody can tell me anything. Also, when I am angry or stressed out, I have a tough time expressing exactly what I am trying to say. I have to walk away from the situation, calm down and think about what I am going to say next. I usually write it down so I can be clear and concise. That helps me from saying something I would regret.
- What suggestions can you give Angela for managing her stress?
Some suggestions I would give Angela for managing her stress are, if she can afford it, taking some time off work to reset and relax. I would also suggest Angela started doing some daily self-care. For example, running or meditating. Meditation is the practice of an extended state of contemplation for achieving calm, psychological balance, and well-being (Longe, 2022).” I would recommend she meditates in the morning to start her day off right and after work so she can leave work at work and enjoy her family. Running can help get some anger and stress out while increasing her energy levels. The last thing I would suggest is making sure that she starts eating well again. It is so important to properly nourish your body. It will help boost her energy, keep her brain from getting “foggy,” and she will start to sleep better. It may also be a good idea for Angela to seek professional help from a counselor or therapist if she continues to have a hard time managing her stress on her own. They will be able to give her some coping mechanisms to help her in a situation where she would normally lose her temper.
Meditation. (2022). In J. L. Longe (Ed.), The Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology (4th ed., Vol. 2, pp. 774-778). Gale. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX8273700515/HWRC?u=lirn55593&sid=bookmark-HWRC&xid=d68c21f2Links to an external site.
Post, P. (2010, April). Taking care of business: how to handle tricky issues on the job. Good Housekeeping, 250(4), 143+. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A224775997/PPVC?u=lirn55593&sid=bookmark-PPVC&xid=215ae896Links to an external site.
Woodfill, W. (2009). Conflict Resolution: Thinking It Through. School Library Journal, 55(10), 55. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A209901912/PPVC?u=lirn55593&sid=bookmark-PPVC&xid=23ed16ecLinks to an external site.
