Two ASME Award Winners Support Student Programs

Two ASME Award Winners Support Student Programs Two ASME Award Winners Support Student Programs Two ASME Award Winners Support Student ProgramsJohn Wall Two ASME award winners - John C. Wall, Sc.D., and Richard H. Lyon, Ph.D. - are doing their part to ensure the future of engineering by donating the honoraria they received with their recent prizes to support programs for ASME student members.Dr. Wall, the recipient of the 2013 Soichiro Honda Medal, has donated the $7,500 portion of his award to the ASME General Scholarship Fund to support future scholarships for ASME student members. The General Scholarship Fund, which is administered by the ASME Foundation, finances approximately $300,000 in scholarships each year.Wall, vice president and chief technical officer of Cummins Inc. in Columbus, Ind., received the Soichiro Honda Medal for outstanding leadership in the research, design, development and production of low-emission, fuel-efficient diesel engines, reflected extensively i n commercial products and for serving as a resource for environmental policy development within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board. The award welches presented at the Presidents Luncheon last November at the 2013 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress an Exposition in San Diego, Calif. Richard LyonDr. Lyon, the winner of the 2013 Per Bruel Gold Medal for Noise Control and Acoustics, donated the $1,000 portion of his award to the Arthur L. Williston Award fund. The Williston Award is presented for the best paper submitted in an annual competition on a subject chosen to challenge the engineering abilities of engineering students.Established in 1954 by ASME member Arthur Williston, the award is open to ASME student members or members who have received a baccalaureate degree no more than two years before the paper submission deadline. Read more about this award. Lyon, president of the R.H. Lyon Corp. in Belmont, Mass, welch es selected as the recipient of the Per Bruel Gold Medal pioneering his contributions in the development of statistical energy analysis for analyzing vibrations in complex structural and acoustical systems, which continue to have a profound impact in the field of acoustics and noise control and for contributions in the areas of sound quality assessment and machinery noise diagnostics. Lyon was honored with the award at the Boston Section Committee Meeting in June 2013. For more information on ASME Honors and Awards, visit www.asme.org/about-asme/get-involved/honors-awards.

10 Appropriate Questions to Ask During an Interview

10 Appropriate Questions to Ask During an Interview10 Appropriate Questions to Ask During an InterviewOne of the most awkward moments of a job vorstellungsgesprch is at the conclusion of an interview when the hiring manager asks, Do you have any questions for me? They have been asking you questions, and now you have to ask them?You really want to ask, When do I start?, especially if you REALLY want the position, but that cannot happen. So, if you are not aya how to end an interview, do not say, Thanks and walk out. Try these three appropriate questions to ask during an interview.1. What would your employees say is the best parte about working here?This is an appropriate question to ask during an interview because it helps you see if the company listens to their employees. You also get to hear what the company perceives theiremployees value. Also, interview questions at the end are not made to put the hiring manager on the spot, but if you see the question is difficult to answer, it c ould be a sign of trouble.2. How will my performance be measured at this company?One of the worst things to happen is to accept a job where your performance is not measured. This leads to disagreements between employees and management over who is working harder to achieve success. Having performance measured also gives everyone in a company a sense of purpose and value to a company.3. Will I be hired to implement or follow strategies?This is an appropriate question to ask during an interview because anyone looking for a director, senior, VP, or CEO position is usually at a stage in their careers where they build. This interview question is designed to find out if they want to hire a leader or a follower.4. Who are your main competitors?Ask this appropriate question during an interview to see if the company is aware of their own market. You will also get a sense of how competitive the company is by their answer. Aside, you may also find out other companies you may wish to apply for i f this one does not work out.5. What is your favorite part about working here?At the conclusion of an interview, you should be able to say to yourself, The people in this company seem happy to work here. That is a good sign.6. How big is the team I will be working with?This is simply an appropriate question to ask during an interview because you may be a leader that prefers small teams. Not everyone is meant to manage large teams. You will also get a good idea of the workload ahead and if they are giving you sufficient resources to work with.7. What do you see as the most challenging task in my position?When they called you in for the interview, they had something in mind that led to start thinking, This is the person we need Ask this question and at the conclusion of an interview, you will know exactly what they see in you and the challenges you will face.8. How would you describe your own company culture?Over the last decade, company culture has become more and more important. By the conclusion of an interview, their answer will give you an idea if the companys morals and ethics are aligned with your own. If the companys answer disturbs you, its best to pass on the job.9. What have past employees done to succeed in this position?This is a simple and great question to ask at the conclusion of an interview. You are discovering what the company defines as achieving success.10. If you hired me today, what would you expect of me in my first week?What makes this an appropriate question to ask during an interview is the fact you are seeing if they already have plans for you, or you are seeing if this company needs you to come in and figure things out as you go.Some like to have a set path ahead of them and others like to pave their own roads. You are finding out what type of road this company will take you on.Be sure to reach out to Find My Profession for interview prep services to help you answer interview questions at the end with confidence.

3 ways to react when your manager quits

3 ways to react when your manager quits3 ways to react when your manager quitsYour managers sudden resignationcan leave you blindsided, but while things are about to drastically change, there are positive ways to handle the situation.Get some informationJennifer DeRome (formerly Jennifer Winter), who does consulting, writing and editing, writes in The Muse about how to get more information on your managers departure after writing about her own experience.So, doing a bit of covert research can help keep you informed and prepared. Whenever possible, go straight to the source for information (as, in, try to get the story from your boss, not from the rumor mill). If thats not possible - or plausible if you have limited access to your manager - youll need to do a little investigating, she writes. Ask around the office, but try to limit your questions to more senior-level individuals you respect.Hit the ground runningThe sooner, the better.Janet Scarborough Civitelli, Ph.D., career coach and vocational psychologist, told BBC Capital via email about how to do this with a new manager after one that you really liked hasleft the company.As soon as possible, find out the expectations of the new boss and make sure your priorities are aligned, she said in an email. Get clarity about what your boss would like you to accomplish in the next 90 days. Avoid too much talk about the way things used to be. This is a new day.If you want a shot at that promotion, make that clearNow is the time.Amy Wolfgang, career coach and owner of Wolfgang Career Coaching, writes on her site about how to let management know that you could be a good fit for your former managers position.Within the first week of the announcement that your boss is leaving (or has left), subtly but directly let the decision makers typically management know that you are interested in stepping in. Schedule a one-on-one with the remaining managers to find out what initiatives your old boss was working on that you can continue, she writes. At the saatkorn time, drop the fact that you are going to step and do these things and youre hoping to step into your former boss old role. Dont boast or bash your old boss or talk too much short and directWhether your former manager inspired you more than ever, or its a relief to finally see them go, use their departure as an opportunity to keep your eyes and ears open as you move forward. Youre bound to get a lot better at accepting change at work and at home.

Free Professional Banking Resume Template

Free Professional Banking Resume TemplateFree Professional Banking Resume TemplateAs the name suggests, a professional banking resume should make its writer seem professional and career-oriented. Professional resumes tend to utilize a more traditional format, but writers are allowed to insert some creativity. Professional resumes are ideal for established professionals who are in the market for a new job in their field. If you still need additional assistance writing your banking resume, this professional banking resume template and featured tips will help you get started.Create ResumeCustomize ResumeWhat to Include in a Professional Banking ResumeWhen writing a professional resume, highlighting your work history and skill tischset is a must. This type of resume is for established professionals and will be viewed by established professionals, so it is necessary that it flows well and your previous jobs are in reverse chronological order. Use professional sounding, action-oriented spe ech to sound educated and motivated. Be concise, and only include details that are relevant to the job you are applying for.Common Resume Fails Mistakes to AvoidLeaving Out Results Professional resumes focus on your strengths as a worker, and if you dont include the results of your actions, the reader will be less likely to take note of your accomplishments. This will not be possible for every listing, but you should be sure that the reader can understand the outcome of your work.Being Inauthentic Never submit a resume with false or exaggerated information. Doing so can easily destroy your chances of getting the job you really want. If you do not possess the skills needed to perform the job, you could end up in over your head.Straying Does your professional resume lack focus? Does it ramble or include unnecessary details? If so, you should definitely think about making some edits.Poor Spelling Proofreading your resume can save you a lot of trouble. When your resume contains correctl y spelled, descriptive words that are properly structured, you will seem like a professional and educated individual.Resume Content Brian Livingston 4574 Blue Spruce Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 11111 555.464.1420 blivingston22anymail.com Summary Self-directed and ambitious commercial banking professional seeking a new role in the same industry. Extensive knowledge of banking and accounting practices and procedures. Fully dedicated to providing account holders with a memorable and pleasant experience. Capable of supervising and managing others. Highlights Broad knowledge of commercial and private banking procedures Strong understanding of compliance and tax planning standards Experience in corporate and small business accounting Knowledge of the loan approval processRisk management trainingAttention to detailExperience with debt management programs Thorough understanding of financial planning process Strong customer tafelgeschirr skills Exceptional communication and organizational met hods Account balancing and reconciliation experience.Experience handling foreign currency Experience Commercial Banking Officer 3/1/2009 Present West End Bank Winston-Salem, NC Help clients select appropriate financial products. Open and close approximately 40 commercial bank accounts a week. Compile and analyze banking data and report on findings (100% accuracy rate) Enforce corporate procedures and policies. Educate individuals about loans, lines of credit, and mortgages. Assist loan officers and teller supervisor as needed. Help clients make financial plans and set goals. Assist senior officers and investment bankers with projects and presentations. Ensure that clients are satisfied with banking services. Discuss wealth building services with interested individuals. Perform other tasks around bank as needed. Junior Banking Associate 6/1/2004 12/1/2008 New Bank of the Southeast Charlotte, NC Managed team of six tellers and loan officers.Verified customer data and performed cr edit checks.Responded to customer inquiries in a timely fashion.Analyzed financial reports and compiled data for central branch.Built and maintained relationships with high net-worth clientele.Education Bachelor of Science in Accounting North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

Unbiased Report Exposes the Unanswered Questions on What Does Resume/cv Mean

Unbiased Report Exposes the Unanswered Questions on What Does Resume/cv Mean Many times, the application instructions for a specific position will state whether or not a CV or resume is requested. Aside from beginning with your contact info, there isnt any typical format for a CV. Regardless of whether you take advantage of a CV or resume, you have to thoroughly edit your document. Determine which type of CV you must submit. When youre writing a guide, something to consider is who youre marketing your article to. Dont list someone for a reference unless youve cleared it with them first. The absolute fruchtwein important thing to keep in mind is that the info you place up front should be absolutely the most important for the CVs purpose. For grammar discussion, you might visit the next page. On the other hand, the CV meaningis different based on where youre in the world. Numerous Spanish Cale also dwell in Southern France, particularly in the area of Perpignan. If youre no t sure which type of document to submit, it is wise to request clarification. Regardless of what your reason may be to should learn Spanish insults, youve come to the correct place. Allah listens to people who praise Him. The response is it is dependent on your hypothesis. If You Read Nothing Else Today, Read This Report on What Does Resume/cv Mean Introduction to English English is regarded as one of the main languages on the planet. Learners in the ESP classes are usually conscious of the purposes for which they have to utilize English. There are not any greater versions of English. There are additionally some phrases that always utilize Tal. You do not need to incorporate the description for jobs within this section. Lets start with a fast overview of resumes, because they are more familiar to the majority of American writers than CVs. To down load the massive dictionary. While I say I possess the apple, I mean a specific apple, not only an appleany old apple, or appl es generally speaking. You might hear bae pronounced out loud the exact way that you would say the term bay. No, everything isnt chaos. In one location, people may have a name they like to utilize for something not utilised in another place. Over time these things accumulate. For the large part, when youre writing an article talk in language which people are likely to comprehend. Those results have a specific distribution, and they can likewise be centered around an ordinary price. The mean is calculated by adding all the values with each other, then dividing by the range of values. And, as a consequence, an ever increasing amount of reading is necessary to pass them. If people do many distinct measurements, they will acquire many different outcomes. If You Read Nothing Else Today, Read This Report on What Does Resume/cv Mean Social trust is currently the best online commodity. Emphasis is put on credentials and achievements which explains why theyre used by academics and doctors. Learners have to be self-confident to be able to communicate, and youve got the duty to help build the learners confidence. To the contrary, English should be shown in authentic contexts to create the learners acquainted with the particular methods by which the language is utilized in functions they will want to do in their fields of specialty or jobs. Utilizing a resume builder is a time-effective means of producing professional-looking outcomes. It merely depends upon your sample size. Thats because the latter document can be a lot longer than two pages in fact it ought to be lengthy, impressive and extremely detailed. Employing a table isnt necessary once you have the precise probability for a statistic. Ok, I Think I Understand What Does Resume/cv Mean, Now Tell Me About What Does Resume/cv Mean Keep your articles written with words your readers are likely to have the ability to comprehend. And, they are a few of the most complex stories in the language, too. Words receive their meanings from that which we do with them. Tannen would like to enlighten us to try to remember our words are powerful. The Appeal of What Does Resume/cv Mean There are things in life you couldnot change. When longsuffering is necessary, become a parent to the circumstance, in place of a stumbling child. Learn to realize that choice, make it and you will find a transformation with time. Be a better person, you are just too old to believe this manner.

New York Life Named Among Top Companies For Women Technologists

New York Life Named Among Top Companies For Women Technologists Below is an article originally written by PowerToFly Partner New York Life Insurance Company. Go to New York Lifes page on PowerToFly to see their open positions and learn mora.AnitaB.org has named us to their 2018 Top Companies for Women Technologists list. The list, now in its seventh year, recognizes companies building workplaces where women can thrive. Companies are measured on their representation, programs, and policies. This recognition demonstrates we are not only committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce, but we view technology innovation as a strategic imperative.Read more about the award here. One of the biggest challenges in almost all industries today is achieving gender parity. Gender diversity provides huge benefits in the workplace. pWhile some industries have made significant advancements in gender diversity, some industries lag further behind.. . and the construction industry is well-known for being in the latter category. If someone says, construction workers, youll likely picture a group of men in yellow hard hats analyzing an architects plans or laying bricks on top of a scaffold. And men at work signs only help to reinforce this image.pThis stereotype is rooted in reality. When was the last time you actually spotted a woman on a construction site? Or hired a female plumber or carpenter? Your answer is most likely never. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statisticsreports that only 3.4% of the total of 8.3 million construction employees are women.pBut the construction industry has a lot more to offer than steel-toed boots and hard hats, and it needs women to help advance the industry in this era of rapid change. Here are 5 reasons why women joining the workforce or looking to make a pivot should consider a career in construction.h21. Fuel Innovation/h2pNot only is diversity the socially and morally right thing to do, but it is also actually an excellent business strategy. pResearch presented in the Harvard Business Reviewshows that diverse teams develop more innovative ideas. This is further supported by a study conducted by Gallupon the performance of gender-diverse teams versus single-gender teams, which found that the difference in backgrounds and perspectives led to better business performance and problem-solving. h22. Capitalize on Demand/h2pThe construction industry is currently experiencing a labor shortage. The industry itself is booming and projected to be one of the fastest-growing industries, with total spending projected to exceed $1.45 trillion in 2023/a. However, most construction companies are unable to meet the rising demand. pAccording to the Associated General Contractors of America/a, more than 80% of contractors are experiencing difficulties filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce.pAnd demand isnt limited to individual contributor roles. Given the industry boom, there are a number of open stable and high-paying roles (any project managers out there?) waiting for the right candidateh23. Leadership Opportunities/h2pAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics/a, women compose only 7.7% of the total 1 million managerial positions in construction.br/pBut given the highly collaborative nature of construction work, more women in leadership roles would help drive innovation and enhance productivity.Furthermore, as a woman in construction in a leadership position, youd have the unique opportunity to drive change for the industry and make it a more attractive option for other women.h24. High-Income Potential/h2pSalaries for many skilled positions in construction are on the rise, making a construction career a prime choice for women looking for a high-paying job,pThe 2018 Construction Craft Salary Surveyconducted by the National Center for Construction Education and Research revealed that salaries for many skilled craft areas are increasing. Project managers and project supervisors topped the list at $92,523 and $88,355, respectively. The next set of highest-paying jobs include those of combo welders ($71,067), instrumentation technicians ($70,080), pipe welders ($69,222), power line workers ($68,262) and industrial electricians ($67,269). Of the 32 categories of workers in the survey, 19 positions earned an average salary of $60,000 or higher.h25. Sense of accomplishment/h2p The construction industry can give employees a unique sense of achievement. Yes, the job is stressful and the work can be demanding, but nothing beats the feeling of being able to build something from the ground up. pHow many professionals in other industries can point at a school, a hospital, or a skyscraper and say I helped build that?pThe construction industry has a long way to go in combating gender bias and supporting women in the workforce, but given the current demand for workers, theres no better time to pick up a sledgehamm er (figurative or literal) and smash the gender stereotypes plaguing the construction industry.

Keeping It Cool

Keeping It Cool Keeping It Cool Keeping It CoolLooking up into the sky can remind us of some of humanitys greatest achievements. The moon landing is one. And though you may need a telescope to see it, the planet Mars reminds us of the next possible frontier in space. But our universe kompetenzprofilly offers us so much more without ever leaving the ground. That we havent taken more advantage of that medium-sized star in the center of our solar system surprises Shanhui Fan, professor of electrical engineering at Stanford University.The universe presents an enormous thermodynamic resource and there doesnt seem to be a large amount of work that looks into it and tries to explore it, he says. Weve known for a long time about what the universe can do and yet its been this way.According to Fan, the solar industry is an incredibly fast-growing industry and the advantage of solar cells can be utilized to a much greater degree. But even though the sun is involved, the strange thing about thes e cells is that greater efficiency can actually be achieved by keeping the cells cooled, something that is not such an easy task.You would think Fans team of researchers opted to work on the roof of the electrical engineering building just to get closer to the sun, but it was actually chosen for its construction flat and smooth, just like they needed to put their work to the test. They put silicon material over a solar absorber, which Fan says has a similar makeup to a solar cell, and waited to see if cooling would take effect.behauptung two solar absorbing structures may look the same, but the one on the right has a cooling layer on top. Image Prof. Shanhui Fan / Stanford.It was within minutes that we saw the cooling effect but the experiment ran for several hours where we had the structure on the roof and recorded the temperature of the structure, he says. We found it had a temperature of about 13 degrees Celsius, which is truly much cooler relatively speaking when compared to the structure without the layer on top of it. This is not a solar cell experiment, but if one can lower the temperature of a cell by even 10 degrees Celsius then that would translate into an efficiency enhancement of perhaps more than one percentage point. That would be very significant, and it could save a great deal of money, especially when you consider solar is a billion-dollar industry.The absorber was partly inspired by an earlier radiated cooling project of which Fan was a participant.When you look at a practical solar cell, every layer serves a number of different purposes, he says. The overlayer typically is used for protection purposes and what we point out in our work is, its inefficient to do protection. For the functionality for these overlayers, a longer term challenge is designing overlayers for cooling purposes but also to be able to preserve all the other functionality for these overlayers.The potential applications for their work are numerous, he says. Were talking ab out a category we call lower preserving cooling, he says. An absorption property of a given object, for example. Think of color and solar and the effect on temperature. For example, lets say you have a red automobile, which means it absorbs a certain amount of sunlight. But you want it as cold as possible under the sun. This work may help that. Again, the universe is offering up answers, we just have to take advantage of it.Eric Butterman is an independent writer.Learn about the latest energy solutions at ASMEsPower Energy Conference and Exhibition. For Further Discussion The universe is offering up answers, we just have to take advantage of it.Prof. Shanhui Fan, Stanford University

5Â Steps to Improving Engagement in Meetings

5Steps to Improving Engagement in Meetings 5Steps to Improving Engagement in Meetings The interview for that new job youre hoping to get. The coffee date with your personal hero and, hopefully, future mentor. The make-or-break sales demo with that perfect-fit client. The last-ditch attempt to mend a broken partnership.When everyone in the room understands whats at stake, engagement is automatic. We dont worry about engagement in these situations. Instead, we focus on success. When you are clear about why your group needs to meet and what you want to accomplish together, engagement is natural.Sadly, many meetings lack this clarity.The good news Every meeting can be as focused, compelling, and engaging as the high-stakes meetings listed above when you follow these five steps 1. Define What You Want People to ContributeGet clear about what you want to help each person actively do or say during the meeting. Engagement involves mora than simply paying attention Active engagement results in observable behavior.It helps to visualize the meeting in advance and think through everyone invited. Picture in your mind what each person will do in your best-case scenario. Thats the engagement you want.If you picture someone just listening quietly, they probably dont belong at your meeting. Of the 16 types of meetings businesses run, only two (training and broadcasts) expect a passive audience. The rest of our business meetings are leid spectator sports only active players belong in the game. 2. Ask for EngagementDo you want written feedback? Verbal input in a go-around? A show of hands? Get specific and provide examples.This seems obvious, and thats actually the problem. To the person leading the meeting, its obvious how things should play out, because they have thought about it in advance. Meeting leaders frequently forget to fill everyone else in, though. They dont give people advance notice about how to prepare for the meeting, and they dont ask clear questions during the meeting. Then, they get frustrated when no one participates.Remember You must explicitly ask for engagement to get engagement. 3. Make Space for People to EngageMake koranvers you have enough meeting time for engagement. For example, to get feedback from 10 people with each speaking for just two minutes, you need 20 minutes.Many leaders prefer meetings with five or fewer people precisely because its far easier to make sure everyone has a chance to contribute in a small group. We cant keep all meetings tiny, though. With more people involved, you have three options- Make the meeting longer so everyone has time to speak.- Break out some facilitation skills. There are great ways to engage large groups, all of which require advance planning and some know-how to pull off.- Accept that youre going to basically ignore some of the people in the meeting.This last option is the default choice in most corporations. Its also a lousy way to treat people. 4. Acknowledge ContributionsAt the very least, people who make a contribution to the meeting deserve thanks.For many individuals, speaking up in a group means taking a personal risk. Some people are shy, and some environments are hostile. Whether the risk arises from internal or external factors, it still takes courage and effort to overcome. When this contribution is then glossed over, when its dismissed, or when you havent made time for it, people learn that the risk was not worth the effort.Many high-performing teams make a point of reserving time at the end of each meeting for sharing appreciations, where individuals publicly thank one another for specific contributions. This is a fabulous way to acknowledge the value people bring, improve team relationships, and reinforce the benefits of contributing for those who might be reluctant to speak up. 5. Use What You ReceiveMost importantly, make sure contributions made during the meeting impact what happens after the meeting. With our high-stakes meetings, this is a no-br ainer. Can you imagine a salesperson failing to send over a contract after a successful demo? Hardly. In these cases, we know that the decisions we make in the meeting will result in action after the meeting.That shouldnt be different for other meetings - and yet, it often it is.For example, strategic planning workshops are notorious for creating a significant outcome that never gets used, and not because they fail to engage participants. Its possible to run a fabulously engaging workshop to build out your companys strategic plan, only to then have that plan sit on the shelf for a year.When it comes to engagement, the rule is use it or lose it. Clever facilitation tricks cant get people engaged if they learnengagement doesnt matter. When people see theyve made a difference, however, theyll contribute again.- Every meeting presents an opportunity for engagement and the creation of new value. For some meetings, this opportunity is obvious. For others, we have work to do. When you fol low the five simple steps outlined above, youve got a great shot at transforming every meeting into one worth your teams investment.J. Elise Keith is the cofounder of Lucid Meetings and the author of Where the Action Is The Meetings That Make or Break Your Organization. Connect with her on Twitter EliseID8.

Avoid family fights about work and money using HR tricks

Avoid family fights about work and money using HR tricksAvoid family fights about work and money using HR tricksMy family is being strategically restructured. No one is getting laid-off (thank goodness), but the organizational chart is definitely changing. You see, my wife, who has been a stay-at-home-mom for the past five years, will be returning to work full-time as our youngest matriculate into elementary school. The shift is as dramatic for our family as it would be for a company experiencing a shake-up in management. Were all facing new and unfamiliar roles - the kids included. Interdepartemental disagreements are inevitable.Having lived through a restructuring or two in corporate America, I know how rocky things can get when expectations shift and Im hoping to keep ahead of conflicts and schwimmbad feelings. To do that we need a plan. What kind of plan? Im leid sure. But I do know one thing good marriages are predicated on top-notch communication and a fair distribution of lab or. Anything else leads to resentment, pain, and nights spent sleeping on the couch. Families, like businesses, fall into disarray unless someone is doing the hard work of management. Fights are a product of procrastination.The good nachrichtensendung for my wife and I is that we can get ahead of the situation and start out on the right foot. Like any good business, we could use someone to help with team-building, conflict resolution, and morale. But Id rather not press my family into trust falls off the playroom couch (the kids arent nearly strong enough to catch me). Instead, I decided to outsource my family human resources to a therapist. Thats why I called up licensed psychotherapist and relationship specialist Terry Klee, who told me the biggest boon to family morale is not to avoid the inevitable conflict, but to boost recognition.You both agreed on a scenario and its going to bring up difficult feelings in each of you and thats the definition of conflict, Klee tells me, befor e reassuring me that conflict avoidance is a pretty universal trait. Each of us as people are not comfortable with conflict. That is human nature. Our brains are wired to avoid difficult situations otherwise wed be extinct. Approaching a saber-toothed tiger is a conflict.But my wife is not a saber-toothed tiger. herbei feelings are not an actual danger to me despite how her eyes darken when she is feeling pissed. Im not a tiger either, but that doesnt keep my wife from avoiding conflict with me too. In other stimmts, this evolutionary prerogative, while helpful in making us feel normal, does little to help in actual circumstances in conflict, which are imminent. So whats to be done?What we have to do is learn to tolerate when our partner has a bad day, Klee explains. Because when a partner expresses feelings of being overburdened it can trigger feelings of guilt, shame, and inadequacy. That can lead to retorts, quibbling, and fights.The shift is when someone wants the space to say t hey really dislike something, the other partner has to try really hard not to be defensive, Klee says. They have to agree and accept and validate Yes, I can see how hard this is, thank you. Avoiding a defensive attitude is key to solving conflicts in the business too. Because the fact is there will be times where the problem we face requires mora than validation. It will require action. In those cases, I can look for guidance on how problems are solved in the boardroom. In those circumstances, active listening is key. Its part of focusing on the problem - What I hear you saying is There is also a huge premium for respect and calm, and very little room for accusation and blame. The problem at hand is the focus and nobody can tackle a problem when theyre angry. But most importantly, the best business people understand conflict as a potential for growth. That mindset allows for a crucial reframing of the issue. If my wife and I see conflicts as an opportunity to shake something loos e and keep growing? So much the better.Of course, that wont stop me from thanking her for her hard work. Thats super important too. Any manager knows that. Its not so different than businesses that lean into employee of the month or offer shout-outs during a staff meeting. And while I cant give my wife the best parking spot, or a plaque, I can let her know that I appreciate what shes doing to increase the families earning potential.This is particularly important as my wife heads back to work. I am acutely aware that working mothers are regularly saddled with more household duties than men. In fact, according to a 2015 survey from the Pew Research Center, working moms in two-income households are twice as likely to report being responsible for more household chores than fathers. Its not just a perception either. Studies routinely show that when mothers are employed demands at home do not decrease proportionately with the increase in paid labor outside the home. Moms routinely take on more than dads. Thats just fact.They say that knowing is half the battle and that might be true, but Im not naive enough to think my family will be the exception to the statistical rule. So its my job to think of this like a good coworker and try to shoulder some of the burdens while giving appropriate credit where due.People want to be appreciated, says Klee. Half the time people dont need the regret to be fixed. But they do want space to be witnessed.Still, I understand that we cant just go into this new phase of our family life without some sort of structure. While grateful to Klee for acting as a top-notch family human resources person, I was still unsure about the actual day to day structure of our family? How would we navigate this change?What corporations are doing is making unspoken expectation spoken and clarified, says Klee. She notes that making expectations clear will be tantamount to our success. Still, Klee explains, well need to be a bit more forgiving than hard-nose d a-type bosses.Married couples have unspoken expectations about how well things are done, Klee explains before making a suggestion. There could be a house rule that you dont challenge each other on how things are done. Because thats how you start to micromanage each other. Time is limited as it is. You cannot get into how things are done, unless its really obvious. If youre feeding your kid Schlitz beer for breakfast, that needs to be talked about.Besides the fact that my go-to dad beer is Coors, Im taking Klees point to heart. And I hope my wife does too. But theres still the pesky issue of what the new organizational flow will look like. Thats why after speaking with Klee, my next call is to Certified Professional Organizer and Productivity Consultant Amy Tokos, owner of Freshly Organized.You need to treat the family like a team, Tokos explains. To help with communication, you need to have family meetings.This is a familiar task in my house. Or was, at least, for a few weeks back in April when my wife and I tried to tackle some chaos via a regular meeting. It didnt last long. In fact, I feel continually shamed by a sign I made and hung next to the dinner table. It reads Family Meetings Monday 630 p.m. The shame is particularly sharp on Monday evenings when we specifically avoid our family meeting because were feeling overwhelmed and would rather engage in some screen-based self-care.Tokos helps me understand where things might have gone wrong. It doesnt have to be formal, she explains. If you asked my kids if we had a weekly family meeting they would wonder what you were talking about. They dont even know were having a family meeting. Its just a conversation.Tokos frames the meeting more as a conversation that slots into the natural rhythm of the familys life. It might happen during a walk, over brunch, or over dinner. The point is that the event is an unrushed natural moment where everyone gets on the same page about everything from sports games and practi ces, travel, obligation, transportation, and even needs from the grocery store.Because when everyones working and has school and activities, there has to be a lot of coordination, Tokos says. Its a cohesive, strategic conversation about the week. Because when we become reactive is when we get angry.That said, Tokos notes that there has to be someone making sure the conversation happens. Someone has to be the keeper, she says. It cant be everybodys responsibility or no one will do it.Which brings me to the pesky point of division of labor. My first thought is creating an organizational structure like a chore chart. Tokos tells me that shes never seen one that really works. Theyre hard to maintain, she says. Theres a lot on the parent to make sure theyre putting them together and thinking through it each week.Instead, Tokos suggests routine and habit. Her tactic is more akin to giving a person a job description that guides their behavior every day. Even better? Those job descriptions play into a families core values.This whole thing is a family project, Tokos explains This is not mom and dad managing this for everyone. If were going to have company, rooms need to be clean or were not having company. Theres no arguing thats just the way it is.To most important part, Tokos says, is that whatever we decide to do, it needs to be easy to maintain. She says that this is the same advice that works for her corporate clients. If youre creating elaborate systems for grocery lists, or elaborate systems of communication, or elaborate chore charts, someone needs to expend energy to maintain that, she explains. You need to make this lean and efficient, or else its not going to happen.Tokos notes that any good system of management is one based on asking and answering questions. The only real systemic structure she recommends is a list so things arent forgotten.For my part, Im excited about the idea of giving the family new job descriptions. I love the idea of creating core val ues that we internalize. More than that Im reminded that our kids must be part of the team too. They are not our clients they are part of what makes the family successful as we move into this new phase of life. So as hard as I will work to ensure that I take on important responsibilities she once oversaw, its just as important to have my kids involved too. And thats really a revolution in the way our family will be run.But as we move forward, Terry Klee does have one word of caution. You guys are living organisms, she says. The plan will change as you guys grow and change, and as the children grow and change. You might not even have the plan right from the beginning where neither of you changes.I am prepared for that. But Im also certain, thanks to my HR person and my organizational consultant, that my family will see strong returns in the coming months and nobody will quit.This article first appeared on Fatherly.