Conflict within a team is inevitable, but it doesn’t always have to be debilitating. In fact, handling conflict constructively can actually strengthen a team, fostering development and trust.

When problems arise, it's easy for people to display some less than desirable behaviors. As unpleasant as they may be, they are a natural reaction to dealing with stress. When trying to recognize conflict in the workplace, it is helpful to be aware of some of the most common stress behaviors. These include: 1) becoming uncomfortable and withdrawing from the situation, 2) rapidly trying to come up with a solution to fix the problem, even if it is not in the best interest of the team, 3) finding someone to blame. If these types of behaviors are left unchecked within a team for too long, it could eventually become damaging to productivity. 

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Let’s face it—the search for a new job can be tough!  I was just recently hired on as the Marketing Specialist at Birkman, and I can honestly say getting here was a very humbling journey.  Over the course of five months, I applied to countless jobs that I knew I was more than qualified for, but ended up only hearing back from a handful.

With so much pressure on just landing the face-to-face interaction with a potential employer, it is crucial to find a way to stand out from the rest of the candidates during an interview.

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Achieving C-suite rank in your career may mean you’re at the top of your game—it doesn’t mean the game ends there. As TechNet CEO Rey Ramsey said, “Leadership is a journey, not a destination.” Highly effective leaders should always strive to continue to learn, improve, and grow.

Being responsible for the direction and growth of an organization is a major undertaking, and as a leader, the culture of the company is set by you. Aiming for personal excellence and professional development can inspire employees to do the same—yielding further developed talent and a greater outcome for your company's performance. In this article, I'll review some of the ways that I stay engaged with personal growth and pushing myself to new heights. 

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