New Technologies Indicate Dangerous Crimes are Moving to Middle-Class Neighborhoods
Law enforcement agencies are using geographical information systems to predict crime hotspots. They have discovered some startling facts using these new systems, including the stark reality that meth labs are slowly making their way into more and more middle-class neighborhoods. 
One of my mantras throughout my 18-year career as a violence prevention expert is, "A crime can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere."
We all need the skills necessary to instinctively act safe, powerful and in control whether it's leaving work late in an urban area, or coming home to a gated community.
Contact me today to talk about my Savvy Street Smarts Program which can be customized for women, business travelers, front desk personnel, college students, healthcare professionals or HR/Risk Control Professionals. (623) 242-8797 or carol@violence-free.com.
GPS Shoe Helps Track Seniors with Alzheimer’s
Talk about Savvy Street Smarts! For $300 you can buy the peace of mind that your loved one suffering from Alzheimer's is safe. That's a steal in my book! The brilliant people at Aetrex have created GPS-enabled shoes to keep track of dementia-suffering seniors. The shoes can be programmed to create a “geofence,” which sends an alert to a family member or friend if the person strays outside a specified area.
Email me at carol@violence-free.com to learn more about our customized Savvy Street Smarts Programs.
By now most of you have seen the picture of President Obama and Governor Jan Brewer taken in Arizona last week. Following this encounter, the Arizona Governor said on TV “I was trying to be gracious!” The picture sure tells a different story, doesn’t it?
I think most of us would agree that it doesn’t appear that Governor Brewer was being gracious. Take politics out of it and judge the picture just on what you see. Most of us do not like having a finger pointed at us, much less have one pointed in our face. I certainly am not privy to the conversation that the President and the Governor were having, but I am very clear that the Governor was not being gracious.
Non-verbal communication conveys very strong messages and can get us into real trouble, especially when we are attempting to de-escalate an angry person. Most times we focus on verbal communication and reason to calm the other person down. If you find yourself in that position and discover that nothing that you say is working, consider what your body language is telling the other person.
We all interpret non-verbal communication a little differently. Our life experience, our belief system and our judgments collectively help us interpret both words and body language. So, we never know what is going to trigger the other person’s hostility. Our best bet is to be flexible both verbally and non-verbally.
If you are uncomfortable with conflict the chances are high that you will show this non-verbally. Here are a few non-verbal communication tips to help you when faced with an angry person:
1. Develop a neutral stance so your weight is evenly distributed over your feet at hip distance. Stand at least two feet away from the person that you are attempting to de-escalate. This neutral stance will give you a stronger presence.
2. If you are nervous or uncomfortable, push down on the balls of your feet. It is almost like you are pushing the adrenaline out of your body. This will help you to stop shaking.
3. Attempt to look the person in the eye even if you are uncomfortable with this. Most people who are nervous or afraid of conflict look down or away.
If you are comfortable with conflict and have a knack for de-escalation you may be seen as the aggressor. If you are aggressive in the way you de-escalate conflict, here are a few tips to follow:
1. Avoid pointing your finger and ensure that your hands are empty.
2. Avoid smiling as it may be seen as mockery or condescending behavior.
3. Be at the same eye level. If you are taller, avoid towering over someone, instead invite them to sit.
4. Ensure that your posture is upright and relaxed. Uptight or overly erect posture can be seen as extreme or commanding.
5. Relax your facial muscles as much as possible and look into the other person's eyes no more than 85% of the time. Constant, continual eye contact can escalate the situation.
The person who is angry wants to be heard. They will not begin to de-escalate until they feel that they are being heard. So make sure that what you say both verbally and non-verbally demonstrates that you are listening and engaged. We don’t know exactly what will tick them off and escalate the situation, so be flexible and if one thing doesn’t work then shift your body language which will change the result.
More and more human resources directors, safety and security professionals, and CEO's are spending their time on workplace conflict resolution and managing difficult or angry employees. Workplace conflicts should never be swept under the rug. If you are the supervisor or manager and have employees that are involved in a personality conflict, coach them to resolve their own situation and if that doesn't work step in! You have a responsibility to the other employees to get control of this situation.
Here are 3 tips when you encounter a workplace conflict or are having an issue with an employee or co-worker:
1. Focus on the other person's strengths. Remind yourself of the contributions that the other person brings to your company or your team. When things are going badly, we have a tendency to focus on what doesn't work and all of the negatives. Focusing on the positive helps us to at least get back to a neutral space and look at things a little more objectively.
2. Use cooperative communication such as "I've noticed that we seem to have differences. I have some ideas about how we might be able to work together more effectively and I would like to hear your thoughts." Invite them to be a part of the solution and really listen to their ideas. If you are unable to communicate either because you are too angry or the other person is, then walk away gracefully rather than standing your ground and allowing things to escalate.
3. Document all interactions in a neutral manner. It is important to keep track of the confrontations. If you are not able to de-escalate the conflict early on, take the issue to your immediate supervisor or someone in your HR department and have a neutral party mediate the situation.
Call me to talk about Violence Free "Conflict Resolution" and "Managing Angry Customers and Employees" Workshops at (623) 242-8797 or email carol@violence-free.com.
Guest Blog from Timothy Means, Director of Product Management, Metis Secure Solutions
Everyone has a rightful expectation to be safe in the workplace. Even if the job has an element of danger, operating heavy machinery for example, providing a safe place in which to work is an obligation every employer must meet. This includes notifying employees of dangerous events such as workplace violence threats from a co-worker or stranger or severe weather conditions.
New standards such as NFPA 72 and OSHA 1910.165 define how emergency communication systems should function in the workplace. Today, there are more tools for emergency notification that ever before. Yet, many corporations and employers are behind the times when it comes to getting the word out during a crisis. Try using the fire alarm to get people to shelter in place.
The Gold Standard in emergency notification is to get the right message to the right place at the right time. And the best way to meet that Gold Standard is with a precision notification system (PNS)
What is Precision Notification?
Mass notification systems blast out thousands of calls, emails and text messages hoping to cover everyone. This is successful to the degree that:
• People have subscribed to the system. On average, about 40% of students on a college campus subscribe to the mass warning system
• They are in the location of the emergency event.
• Their phone or computer is turned on and they look for the message.
Also messages sent from a mass notification system can take from 5 minutes to over an hour to be received. On the other hand, a precision notification system targets detailed instructions, to specific locations, in seconds.
This is done by activating alerting devices that have been mounted in buildings and outdoors. These warnings take the form of sirens, lights and voice announcements. Therefore, it doesn’t matter who is in the area, they will get the message. This also approach reaches visitors, non-subscribers and those who are hard of hearing and vision impaired.
An effective command center:
One critical component is a central command software platform that integrates systems and shares information. A good precision notification system uses maps and floor plans to make selection of locations fast and intuitive.
Floor plans contain a wealth of information such as the location of:
• Fire extinguishers
• AED devices
• Areas of safe refuge
• Elevators
• Stairwells
• Hazardous materials storage
In placing this information at the fingertips of a security dispatcher, notification and response efforts can be much more effective.
Two-way communications
Because of the communications architecture used in precision notification systems, some systems provide "Request for Help Buttons" which tie directly back to the central command interface. When sent along a local area network (LAN) or wireless mesh network, this return path operates independently of cellular networks and is not affected by the spike in demand of person-to-person communications during emergencies.
Conclusion
A well-developed precision notification command center provides enough information to help reduce notification time, activate and manage multiple systems and assist in efforts to respond more effectively. If you are investigating how to notify in the workplace, be sure to explore the benefits of a precision notification system.
Timothy Means is the Director of Product Management and co-founder of Metis Secure Solutions, the leader in precision notification. Metis Secure’s triple redundant communications architecture ensures that detailed voice announcements are delivered to specific locations in seconds. To learn more about Metis Secure’s precision notification system visit www.metissecure.com
Personality conflicts are the most commonly reported problems in the workplace. More and more organizations of all sizes are investing in "conflict resolution" training, which can help tremendously, but if a clear understanding of the core issues are still not addressed, these issues can last for months, years, or until certain parties leave the organization.
Too often these conflicts go unresolved because people concentrate on the personality of the opposing person rather than focusing on the issues - which doesn't ever allow anything to ever get resolved. This then escalates to create a toxic work environment for all employees - rather they are in the inner circle of the conflict or not.
In any relationship, both people influence the other’s behavior. In personality conflicts both parties bear some responsibility for where “things are at.” A conflict at work bears many of the same issues as a domestic conflict: Both parties are desperate to be right, and neither wants to back down when they truly believe they are in the right. It's like looking through 2 different kaleidoscopes at the same image - the description of what is being looked at is going to be polar opposite and there is no mediation that will change those views.
Although we can’t control or change the personality of the other person, we certainly can control our own emotions and change the way we react to the other person. Workplace conflicts can rip teams apart, destroy moral and quality of life. This is the first 3 of 7 steps I will be sharing over the month on how to de-escalate or resolve a workplace conflict:
1. Avoid discussing the issue with other colleagues. Many people who are involved in personality conflicts recruit allies among their co-workers. This can create polarization among co-workers and it escalates the situation. While you are passionately upset about this, others are not and most often co-workers are uncomfortable and sometimes frightened over the situation. This behavior is disruptive to the organization and makes it more difficult to fix the situation. FOCUS on what you can do to make things better!
2. Never respond immediately to the person who is irking you. They know how to push your buttons and they have done so over a period of time. By not responding immediately you give yourself some time to think through your response. This pause may cause the other person to think that you are "backing down" and they will begin to de-escalate. Don't view "backing down" and taking time to analyze the situation as a weakness - it's actually the mature path to take.
3. Look in the mirror! How are you contributing to this situation? What role are you playing in the escalation of things? The key is to focus on what you can do differently! What can you do to make things better? If you can figure out your role in the dynamic you’ll learn something important about yourself and you will be able to de-escalate the conflict.
Dealing properly with a workplace conflict means being honest, mature and considering the greater good of your workplace over your own issues. Don't drag outside parties, take time to think before reacting, and honestly analyze how you are contributing to the conflict. If you follow these 3 initial steps, your conflict will be a thing of the past and all parties will be able to move forward towards productivity and a positive work environment.
Call or email me today to talk about Violence Free "Workplace Conflict Resolution" and "Managing Angry Employees and Co-Workers" Programs at (623) 242-8797 or carol@violence-free.com.
Whether you are a savvy international business traveler, or only take the occasional family trip overseas, you know that travel can often lead to problems.
While crimes of theft and robbery are common around the world, natural disasters, bomb threats and terrorism are becoming more frequent. Criminals are opportunists and take advantage of travelers who appear confused, lost or in some cases ‘wealthy.” Being prepared prior to a trip and while on the road is essential.
The US Department of State has created a free App called "Smart Traveler." It is one of the best travel tools I have seen in years…and it’s free! The "Smart Traveler" App has travel warnings and alerts for countries around the world. At your finger tips you can gain access to embassy addresses and phone numbers, entry and exit requirements, and safety and security tips for countries around the globe.
Download the App here:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/smart-traveler/id442693988?mt=8
Call me to talk about my Corporate Travel Safety Programs - perfect for conferences corporate meetings filled with professionals who are on the go! (623) 242-8797
Stay safe and happy travels!
Are you dreading one more holiday with your extended family? You already know that your Mom is going to badger you about why you aren’t married yet? Or, that your mother in-law will treat you like you aren’t good enough for her son? Or maybe it’s Uncle Bill and his awful comments because he has had too much to drink. Everyone has their family issues and conflict stories….you aren't alone.
Here are a few tips to get through the holidays without engaging in arguments and conflict.
1. Be Prepared for Some Conflict
If you usually have conflict when you get together with your family, it's a good idea to be prepared for it. Approach the situation with a sense of realism. If your mother always criticizes your appearance or your sister is argumentative, don't expect them to change their habits. Prepare yourself ahead of time by teaching yourself to stay NEUTRAL and avoid taking their comments personally.
2. Accept the Reality of Who People Really Are
When dealing with difficult people, don’t attempt to change the other person. You will only get into a power struggle that causes defensiveness and invites criticism. The only person we can change is ourselves so if you display good behavior, others may well follow your lead. Besides, you will also teach the younger generation how to behave in similar situations.
3. Keep Conversations Neutral
Avoid discussing divisive and personal issues, like religion and politics, or other issues that tend to cause conflict. If the other person tries to engage you in a discussion that will probably become an argument, change the subject or leave the room. Change your response to the other person and you will change the dynamic of the relationship.
4. Pick your Battles
When potential conflict appears, we get to decide whether we will "let it go" or whether we need to deal with it immediately. In most instances our emotional side wants to deal with the issue immediately, but I urge you to step back for a few seconds before engaging. Take time to decide if you really need to have this family battle right NOW. If possible have the difficult conversation with a family member at a later time. Abusive behavior should not be tolerated at any time so do your part to keep things from neutral to positive. Should someone become abusive to you, draw boundaries and if it continues then you know it is time to leave no matter what other family members say.
5. Know your limits
It is okay to limit your time around family members who make you want to pull your hair out or upset you so much that you want to scream at them. Know your realistic limits and be sure to stick to them so that they don’t get on your nerves so much that you end up starting conflict. It is okay to only spend 2 or 3 hours with the family rather than a whole day.
You can even set up a signal or keyword with a trusted family member when you need to be “rescued." This can be extremely handy when you are stuck in a conversation with a confrontational or judgmental relative that is hitting all your buttons. Your family member can run interference before the conversation turns ugly.
Establish realistic expectations whether you are hosting the holiday get together or visiting someone else’s home. Be mindful of the family dynamics and be proactive about how you are going to deal with potential issues.
And most important, BE GRATEFUL! Make a list of each family member who will attend and beside their name write down one or two reasons why you are grateful to have them in your life. Gratitude has a positive impact on your emotional health and it reduces stress. Gratitude will create a different mindset and context for your family holiday.
From all of us at Violence Free, we wish you Happy Holidays filled with love and abundance!
Contact me to get a "Workplace Violence" or "Managing Angry Employees and Customers" Training on the calendar in 2012. It will be the best post-holiday gift you can give your employees! Email carol@violence-free.com or call (623) 242-8797.
'Tis the season….for holiday scammers! The busier we get, the more distracted we are, and the more vulnerable we become. Scammers are opportunists who love to catch people off-guard. Here are 7 scams to be aware of this holiday season - share with your friends and family so no one has to "Bah! Humbug!" what should be the happiest time of the year.
1. Fake Charities Scam
Many charities will come knocking, calling or mailing you for donations because people are more generous during the holidays. According to the Federal Trade Commission, many of the calls you get during the holidays are from scam artists. The FTC has a checklist of warning signs to help you steer clear of charity scams. Make an annual charity giving plan and stick to it - making a quick giving decision will often lead to getting scammed.
2. Hotel Front Desk Scam
You just turned in for the night in your hotel room when the phone rings. It's the front desk and they have a problem with the computer. It seems that it lost all of your information, and they need it in order to "close the books" for the day. They ask you to come down to the front desk with your ID and credit card. Since you are cozy in bed and the last thing you want to do is leave the room, you object. That's when the manager says that it should be ok if you just read him the information off your credit card and driver's license.
It's not until the next day when you figure it out. It wasn't the front desk that called you, it was a criminal parked outside the hotel who was watching the rooms and waiting to scam the hotel guests. Always triple-check when giving personal information over the phone - we are sometimes our own worst enemies when it comes to identity theft and credit card fraud.
3. Seasonal Employment Scams
Many retailers take on extra staff to handle the Christmas rush. And since many people are hard-pressed for cash, they are eager to find seasonal jobs. Knowing this, internet-based criminals will send out emails promising non-existent jobs for which you are asked to pay a "commission" or "employment fee." You may see similar ads in newspaper classifieds and even flyers posted around your town.
Even if the job exists, you may be conned into working for nothing and given a promise of a generous payment at the end, which never comes.
Never pay for a job. Be wary if it's a "work now, get paid later" job. Check out the employer's credentials by looking them up on numerous internet sites, check them out on social media and ask a lot of questions. And remember: If the job sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
4. Dangerous Holiday Downloads
Anyone with a bit of holiday spirit can appreciate a downloadable dancing elf, Hanukkah jingle or Santa Claus screensaver. But what happens when we click on something more sinister in those spirited online offerings? For starters, we can infect our computers with a dangerous virus, worm or Trojan, which can wreak havoc on an operating system.
What's worse, some holiday-themed downloads can leave you vulnerable to identity theft and fraudulent activity. Don't let that yuletide ring tone destroy your new year. Always be extremely careful about what you install or download from the Internet.
5. Snagging Hot Toys and Gadgets Online
If stores sell out, people turn to the Internet to pick up items, often at sites like Craigslist or eBay, and pay steeper prices. But some sellers take the money and run. The Better Business Bureau advises: Never wire money as a payment. When shopping on Craigslist, look for local sellers and conduct business in person. Bring a friend and meet in a public place to conduct the transaction. When shopping auctions like eBay, research the sellers extensively. Don’t buy if the deal sounds too good to be true (that's turning into a theme here, isn't it?)
When a website offers big ticket items or electronics at prices that are too good to be true (a $20 iPhone 4, really?) be suspicious. There could be hidden costs.
6. Cash Register Scams
If you're a shopper, beware of being short-changed, either intentionally or unintentionally. Both are easy to do in the frantic atmosphere at the cash register at this time of year.
Have a fairly clear idea of the total cost before you go to the register and, if you can't make the right money, know what size of bill you'll use and how much change to expect. Don't move away from the register until you've checked your change and your receipt.
Watch out for the sleight of hand, where the person you're paying switches your high value bill for a lower one and complains you haven't given enough cash, or the cashier doesn't return your credit card.
If you're the cashier, beware of the flimflam, in which the scammer gives you a high-value bill then tries to change it for a smaller one and generally messes around until you lose track of what's going on. With this scam, there's often an accomplice - someone distracting you further.
If you're a cashier, simply don't allow yourself to be pressured or rushed at the register. If you feel yourself getting confused, call a halt and, if necessary, call a supervisor.
7. Counterfeit Merchandise/Items-off-of-a-Truck Scams
This scam involves a roving gang of scammers masquerading as delivery men. They pull a truck into a parking lot, and say that they can sell you something cheap, like speakers or electronics. At best, the goods will be low-quality knockoffs. At worst, you could be receiving stolen goods.
In New York and other major cities, it is common to see street vendors selling fake watches and purses that appear to be high-end, name-brand goods. The modern version of these scams is to sell the merchandise online where the buyer has even less opportunity to inspect it. Beware of items that are priced well below their competitors, and be sure to buy from an authorized retailer.
For more tips to avoid holiday scams, visit the FBI's New E-Scams and Warnings website.
To check and see if a business is legitimate and has a good reputation visit: http://www.bbb.org/us/Find-Business-Reviews/
Workplace Violence always peaks during the holidays because of additional stress at home and at work. Call me to talk about my programs on Workplace Violence and Managing Angry People at (623) 242-8797 or email carol@violence-free.com.
Even today many companies either have a misunderstood policy on workplace violence or no policy at all. We often find that companies give lip service to the idea of having a policy especially if they are a smaller company with only a few employees. Other companies have a workplace violence policy that is very thorough, but complicated and difficult to understand.
Every company needs to have a workplace violence policy, no matter how big or small. It should be a clear policy that is easily read and understood by all employees (make sure you have it translated into the first language of all employees). Having a workplace violence policy minimizes your risk, reduced your liability and most importantly it keeps your people safe.
Email me today at carol@violence-free.com or call (623) 242-8797 to discuss your workplace violence policy – tomorrow may be too late.