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If you never have conflict in your life, don’t read this post!
Click the photo for more information or to register for this event! Whether it’s working remotely or struggling to home-school your...

Amy Castro
Apr 5, 20212 min read


Stop Avoiding Conflict and Start Handling It Like a Grown Up
We’ve all come across people who seem to love conflict. They seek it out, jump into it even if it has nothing to do with them, and start...

Amy Castro
Feb 3, 20203 min read


The #1 Way to Avoid Misunderstandings and Conflict: Perception Checking
Most of the conflict I have experienced in my life, both firsthand and secondhand, has not been the result of factual disagreement, but...

Amy Castro
Jun 10, 20193 min read


What you don’t know about your conflict style could crush your organization (and your career)
One of the things I’ve noticed about the organizations I’ve served in more than 20 years in business, is that the organization’s...

Amy Castro
Aug 23, 20173 min read


7 Phrases to Avoid if You Don’t Want Customers Getting Fired Up
When it comes to the words you choose, they can either be water or gasoline on the customer’s smoldering emotions. If you’d like to be a...

Amy Castro
Feb 22, 20173 min read


9 Conversations You Should Never Start at Family Holiday Gatherings
This week, I’m combining my regular “Monday Motivation for Performance Communicators,” with my blog because with Thanksgiving just a few...

Amy Castro
Nov 20, 20163 min read


Conflict Resolution Achieved: With Just Three Simple Questions
This week’s blog post is a guest post about conflict resolution by Rob Pennington, Ph.D. Dr. Rob is an educational psychologist who...

Amy Castro
Oct 12, 20164 min read
You’re Right: The Two Most Powerful Words That Can Ever Come Out of Your Mouth
Think about the last time you tried to get a refund at a store, get an extension on a deadline, or even asked a child why he didn’t...

Amy Castro
Sep 12, 20162 min read


What Conflict and Cancer Have in Common
Many of the responses I heard surprised me. There was a lot of advice to “wait and see what happens,” “let it go,” and “rise above.” The...

Amy Castro
Apr 20, 20162 min read


Five Do's and Don'ts for Coping with Holiday Stress
The holiday season is upon us and even though it’s relatively early, you might already be feeling stressed out, worried, and wishing it...

Amy Castro
Dec 8, 20154 min read


8 Tips for Conquering Conflict
We’ve all come across people who seem to love conflict. They seek it out, jump into it even if it has nothing to do with them, and start...

Amy Castro
Nov 5, 20153 min read


9 Reasons Why You Should Apologize Now
Last week I wrote a post with advice on how to offer a sincere apology. Since then, I’ve had several readers contact me complaining, not...

Amy Castro
Oct 7, 20153 min read


Customer Service: 5 Ways to Cool Things Down When Customers Heat Up
When customers are unhappy, they’re generally not on their best behavior. Unfortunately, no matter how much customers “push your buttons”...

Amy Castro
Sep 9, 20154 min read


8 Reasons Your Organization Needs Standard Operating Procedures
Would you fly on a plane knowing that the maintenance crew and pilots were “sort of” trained, didn’t use checklists, and were allowed to...

Amy Castro
Aug 11, 20153 min read


Difficult Conversations: 7 Questions to Ask Before Opening Your Mouth
Let’s face it. There are some conversations that nobody really wants to have– from confronting an employee at work to talking to a...

Amy Castro
Aug 5, 20152 min read


Avoid Electronic Communication Regret: Read This Before You Hit SEND
Your heart is pounding. Your thoughts are racing. You’re in a total panic. Why? You have Electronic Communication Regret, commonly known...

Amy Castro
Jul 8, 20154 min read


It’s Time to Declare Your Independence
With Independence Day just two days away, I’ve been thinking a lot about the things that hold us back in life and keep us from being...

Amy Castro
Jul 2, 20151 min read


Six Lessons Learned From Kittens
Although they’re often a lot of work, caring for them is very rewarding, quite entertaining, and surprisingly educational. Here are some...

Amy Castro
May 20, 20152 min read


4 Easy Steps for Expressing Your Emotions Appropriately
When you were a child and were angry, upset, hurt, or frustrated, you probably didn’t have the words to express your emotions. It’s a...

Amy Castro
Jan 28, 20144 min read


5 Communication Tips for Surviving Thanksgiving and Other Holiday Gatherings
Thanksgiving is the kick-off to the holiday season. It’s often the first chance for family and friends to gather in large groups and...

Amy Castro
Nov 26, 20133 min read
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