Managing Conflict as a Leader

One of the most said things in sales training is "Seek pleasure, and avoid pain". This is what the seller is trying to do when they get into the mindset of a prospect. People want to know that what they are getting is going to resolve something painful, or maybe even bring them pleasure when the conflict is fixed.

This is no different when you are in a leadership position. IF you are workign on something like Boston resumes you will probably want to highlight your ability to solve conflicts as Boston is surely a place where conflicts will arise due to the bustling peoplke int he area. So why is it important?

Most people prefer to avoid conflict. Leaders don't enjoy it either, but effective ones know that too much is at stake to ignore conflict. Poorly managed, it can lead to a number of out-of-pocket expenses. Addressed skillfully, conflict can actually improve creativity and decision-making. more

American Immigration Policies Hurting Technology Industry?

George Will, of the Washington Post, brought up an odd issue this week. The idea that immigration policy in the United States is stiffling our dominance in technology. As we lose manufacturing of our products like an lcd mount to foreign factories who produce at lower costs, we may also be chasing away some of the brightest minds that have graduated from our universities as well.

Geroge Will says that policy makers should look into this ASAP. That we are losing some of the brightest minds of the world just because we aren't allowing them to stay. Seems astounding considering that we tend to cater to uneducated, and manual labor immigrants doesn't it?

As soon as U.S. institutions of higher education have awarded you a PhD, equipping you to add vast value to the economy, get out. Go home. Or to Europe, which is responding to America's folly with "blue cards" to expedite acceptance of the immigrants America is spurning.

Two-thirds of doctoral candidates in science and engineering in U.S. universities are foreign-born. But only 140,000 employment-based green cards are available annually, and 1 million educated professionals are waiting -- often five or more years -- for cards. Congress could quickly add a zero to the number available, thereby boosting the U.S. economy and complicating matters for America's competitors.

This is a great article. It talks about Obama and McCain as well and unlike most articles that complain about these things, Will actually gives some suggestions as to what wuould work.