Desert Messenger

November 4, 2020 www.DesertMessenger.com 21 RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER Thank you! (StatePoint) Among mask man- dates, social distancing, outspoken political views and personal chal- lenges from the COVID-19 pan- demic, there is a heightened risk for public spaces turning into places of confl ict. According to experts at the Cri- sis Prevention Institute (CPI), the global leader in de-escalation train- ing for over 40 years, mentally pre- paring and practicing responses can best ensure non-confrontational experiences. Potential challenging situations could include disagree- ments over mask requirements or social distancing, family gatherings, shopping lines, acclimating to more densely populated work environ- ments or navigating political dis- cussions. "Having trained teachers, nurses and others who interact with the public, and being a social worker myself, I know the immense need for de-escalation training in the workplace and in everyday life," says Amber Belle, a global CPI trainer. "Learning confl ict-preven- tion techniques can help ensure you have positive experiences in your community." CPI has identifi ed probable areas of confl ict and how to best mitigate tension. They recommend embrac- ing four simple techniques to pre- vent and reduce confl ict: 1. Avoid judgment. Understand that everyone has different life experi- ences and may be overwhelmed with struggles and anxiety from things you know nothing about. Lis- ten and focus on the feelings behind the message. 2. Don't take it personally. Another person's behavior is not about you. You are likely not the true target of someone's behavior. Tell yourself, "This may not be about the two of us; it may be about other issues in their life." Or repeat to yourself, "I'm going to be respectful. I'm go- ing to be respectful." 3. Control your reactions. You can't control another person's behavior, but you can control how you react. Avoid using facial expressions, ges- tures and language that could make another person feel anxious or de- fensive. 4. Be prepared if you have to en- gage. Have a plan to acknowledge and redirect. Here are some things you could potentially say: • "Yeah. This year has been diffi cult on everyone." Tips to avoid crisis and conflict PHOTO SOURCE: (�) Y��������A����� / �S���� ��� G���� I����� P��� (StatePoint) If you've been working remotely for months, you're likely long overdue for a home offi ce upgrade. Having the right tools can make working from home easier and less stressful. Here are a few small tweaks and es- sentials to consider: • Scene change: Is your home "of- fi ce" actually the kitchen table or a couch? Keep a healthy boundary between your personal and profes- sional life with a visual cue that indicates when the work day has started and when it's ended. That cue could be the strategic use of a room divider to hide personal items and keep you focused. Or, it could be as simple as plopping a desk lamp onto the kitchen table Home office essentials to streamline your work week during work hours to give the sur- face a professional, task-oriented feel. • Number crunching: Make num- ber crunching and recordkeeping easy with a printing calculator. With Cost/Sell/Margin functional- ity as well as the ability to check and correct up to 150 steps and print after correction, Casio's HR-170RC is a versatile choice. Printing two lines per second with two-color printing, you can quickly produce paper records of your work for more organized fi les. With its small footprint, plus calendar and clock functionality, it can help you streamline your desk for a clut- ter-free, fashionable workspace. • Caffeine fi x: Now that your cup of joe is being enjoyed at home most mornings, consider upgrading your coffee maker to fi t your tastes and your demanding schedule. If you miss the latte or cappuccino you used to grab on your morning commute, it may be time to replace your standard drip machine with a full-fl edged cappuccino and café latte maker. Or, consider going high-tech. New coffee maker mod- els employing smart technology let you brew from bed using just your phone for a guaranteed caffeine fi x by your early morning call. • Get the full picture: If you were accustomed to a full-sized desktop monitor at work, but have working on a laptop at home, you may fi nd you are more productive by adding an external monitor to your home offi ce setup. With it looking more likely that remote working situations are here to stay, it's time to make your home offi ce work for you. • "I can understand where you're coming from." • "We'll all be glad to have this pan- demic behind us." Over four decades, CPI has trained more than 15 million individuals in its techniques, spanning many industries and professions, espe- cially health care and education. CPI tracks violent incidents in the industries it trains, and data shows that de-escalation skills, when used correctly, can quickly decrease vio- lence regardless of the industry. For more de-escalation tips and information on de-escalation, visit www.crisisprevention.com. During a particularly tense time in our nation's history, having a few techniques at the ready can help you avoid confl ict wherever you are.

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