When Conflict Becomes a Conflict

Conflict occurs every day; in offices, homes, on vacation, and anywhere else you have people attempting to be in a relationship. Even though it’s common, rarely are people equipped to reach resolution. Often worse is an attempt to avoid conflict altogether, which typically prolongs the problem until it becomes an all out battle.

The most difficult situations tend to be discussed by everyone but the person involved. Often a meeting will be called to offer generic instruction to the group as a whole, when the person in conflict never realizes they are the culprit. Resolution has to be specific and one-on-one with the person or persons involved. Here are some suggestions:

1. Always deal first with emotion. If someone is angry the problem becomes secondary. Validate appropriate emotions before moving forward. “I understand you are upset, help me to understand how this affects you so that we can reach a consensus.” Then, as the leader, listen. Often, once they have “vented,” their anger reduces and the problem becomes easier to resolve. Often others simply want to be heard.

2. Give a commitment and get a commitment. Once you’ve acknowledged a problem and have a plan in place, then you are in a position to ask for something in return. “If I can get this done for you, can I trust that you are a team player and can move beyond this?”

3. Confront issues with a witness. Problems should never be dealt with unless a third party is present. To avoid “he said she said” always ensure someone who can be neutral is present as the discussion takes place and have that person take notes of the meeting and any decisions made.

4. Follow up in writing. Recalling a conversation later can be difficult, but if you have a letter summarizing the meeting and the action taken, that can become a part of the employee’s file and have all parties sign in agreement.

5. Solicit suggestions. Be proactive by not waiting! On many products today there is a toll free number to call with complaints or suggestions. That is because it is much easier to deal with suggestions than problems. Create an environment where others will contribute ideas and help eliminate bigger problems down the road.

6. Schedule regular reviews. Having a regularly scheduled time to review, reflect and plan is important in improving employee retention and loyalty. It’s also a good time to ask questions about how you as the leader can better serve them. It’s as important to know what a team member expects from you as a leader as it is to make known your expectations of that employee.

Conflict is a part of life, but dealing with it successfully is a skill rarely mastered. Take time to listen, ask the right questions, and deal with reality all at the same time. Once you’ve mastered it, conflict will become an opportunity to build great relationships and establish trust while earning the respect of others within your organization.

Beth Townsend is a dynamic freelance speaker and writer and can be reached at 865-851-4725 or at www.bethtownsend.com.

Spring Cleaning for Your HVAC System!

Rocky Top Air is your local resource for top quality heating and air conditioning services. Our professional team knows exactly what to inspect on your system to make sure it is operating at maximum efficiency so you will save money on utility bills.

With warm weather approaching, it’s a great time to do some SPRING CLEANING on your heating and cooling system! Rocky Top Air offers a complete 19 Point Precision Tune-Up that includes professional cleaning and a safety inspection to reduce the chance of unexpected breakdowns and make sure your system is dependable and safe. We identify existing or potential problems that can impact your system’s efficient operation such as draining/clogging issues, water leakage, filter changes, refrigerant levels (to avoid frozen coils), correct voltage draw on the motors, thermostat calibration, and tightening of loose electrical connections. We also clean the condenser coil and lubricate all moving parts (where applicable).

With newer, energy-efficient models now on the market, the professionals at Rocky Top Air can evaluate whether an improvement in your system is necessary to achieve additional cost savings and added comfort in your home. Plus there’s a LIFETIME REPAIR WARRANTY on the purchase of all new systems! Rocky Top Air provides reliability, efficiency, value, and performance you can count on!

For April and May, take advantage of a $40 discount on our 19 Point Precision Tune-Up at $49.95 instead of $89.95. If you need a new system, Rocky Top Air is designated as a Trane Comfort Specialist and provides a more diverse selection of Trane equipment than other dealers in this area. We also offer a variety of financing options to fit within your budget.

Please give us a call, 865.474.1511, www.RockyTopAir.com, 3035 Sutherland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37919.

Chocolate never tasted so good!
The best chocolate in Knoxville is at Schakolad Chocolate Factory, where just about anything you can imagine is made out of premium European chocolate.
Gus Paredes and his family took ownership in November 2009 with a remarkable success. They have over 800 molds for just about any occasion that can be customized and personalized, and corporate logos can be incorporated in many different ways onto Schakolad’s chocolate.
Couples who are planning for the special day can also add a decadent touch and personalize truffles with an array of special ways including a chocolate fountain rental. Gus can work with all budgets.
Any occasion is a perfect occasion to enjoy chocolate at Schakolad’s. In addition to customized pieces, they offer more than 80 types of chocolates which are hand-dipped or made on-site at the store.
Truffles range in a variety of flavors with everything from Italian Amaretto to Key Lime, dipped fruits or pretzels, nut clusters or just plain dark, white or milk chocolate. Also, they carry chocolate-dipped strawberries all year round.
Diabetic customers or those who prefer to enjoy their chocolate without sugar or carbs will want to try Schakolad’s delicious sugar-free chocolates.
“Our customers say that our sugar-free candy is the best, and they can’t tell the difference from regular chocolate,” Gus says.
With the weather warming up, customers will also want to taste Schakolad’s gelato, which is a richly flavorful Italian ice cream.
They also do birthday parties and private chocolate events.
Store hours are from 10 am to 9 pm Monday through Saturday and from 11 am to 6 pm on Sunday. For more information, call (865) 675-2626, email turkeycreek@schakolad.com or visit www.schakolad.com.

Schakolad Chocolate Factory
10944 Parkside Drive
Knoxville, TN 37934
865.675.2626
www.schakolad.com

Tennessee Athletics offers student-athletes the opportunity to learn about their individual nutritional needs through sports nutritionist Allison Maurer. Tennessee is one of only four Southeastern Conference schools including Auburn, Florida and South Carolina that employs a full-time sports nutritionist. Maurer works closely with the student-athletes, coaches, trainers and strength and conditioning coaches to help each student-athlete reach their peak physical condition.
Maurer earned an undergraduate degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill. She obtained a masters degree from Georgia State University. “I have always been interested in sports nutrition,” Maurer said. “Coming out of high school I knew what I wanted to do.” Prior to coming to the University of Tennessee, Maurer worked at the University of Colorado as the Nutritionist and Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Maurer started at the University of Tennessee as the Nutritionist/Dietician in October of 2007. She emphasizes the importance of collegiate athletic programs having sports nutritionists. “The major benefit is having someone that can focus their entire time to the nutritional needs of the student-athletes,” Maurer said. “At most schools, it is the strength and conditioning coach who does that, but they are so busy working on work-out programs and working with their teams. Someone in my position can really dive in and stay updated and learn about what all is out there.” Maurer adds that the education and training registered dieticians receive is another asset to athletic programs. “If we have a student-athlete with diabetes or someone with chromes disease, we know how to treat those issues, whereas sometime the strength and conditioning coaches or athletic trainers lack the experience in working with those particular situations,” Maurer said. She values her role as a consistent reminder and educator for the student-athletes.
As the only nutritionist on staff, Maurer has the opportunity to work with student-athletes on both the men’s and women’s side, which brings a unique set of challenges. Men and women have numerous differences in how they eat. “With women, food is more of an emotional connection whereas men eat to eat or they forget to eat because they did not think about it,” Maurer said. “That is the main difference in working with men and women. The accountability is also different. I can bank on female student-athletes meeting me every time when they say the will. They like the one-on-one, sit-down environment. On the men’s side, the education is more a question while I’m in the weight room or training room. I go to where I know they’ll be to do most of my educating.”
Training different genders is only part of Maurer’s challenge. She also specifies the nutritional needs for each sport and even different positions within the sports. “It is definitely different for each sport,” Maurer said. “With football, they are going so hardcore almost the entire year, so their needs and their caloric intake are a lot higher than the golf team.“ The practice schedules, duration of games and daily routines vary among sports and require individual attention. “With tennis, their matches could be an hour or three and a half hours so you have to teach them how to continually fuel themselves for them not really knowing what is going to happen. A basketball game is going to be two twenty minute halves, there is no question. Training the student-athletes’ bodies to know what they need is different with each sport.”
In September of 2009, Maurer received a new tool called the bod pod that helps student-athletes best achieve their nutritional goals. The bod pod measures body fat, lean mass, fat mass and caloric expenditure. “This machine shows the student-athletes what they are doing over the course of time. For example, we tested football when they returned from winter break. They were in Atlanta for a week then went home for ten days and were not as active, so this is a great time to take their measurements because now they have six to eight weeks of off-season training that they will do. We will measure them again at the end of training and will be able to see how much lean mass they have increased and how much their body weight had changed.”
Maurer also uses the bod pod to give the student-athletes an idea of where they should be physically. “A lot of people want to think the lower the body fat is the better they are, which is a misconception. Every person has a range. Every position has a range. Defensive backs are usually between 4-7% body fat while wide receivers are usually between 8-11%. I am trying to educate the student-athletes that the ranges are individual specific and that does not necessarily mean they should be at the low or high end of the range.”
The student-athletes have been receptive to the bod pod. “They are starting to get it that they are all not going to be the same.” The bod pod reinforces the work that the training room is doing as far as rehab, reinforces what the strength and conditioning coaches are doing in the weight room and it reinforces what they are doing from a nutritional standpoint.
Maurer capitalizes on her opportunity to educate student-athletes about nutrition. She provides cooking demos and grocery shopping trips. She teaches a nutrition class that all Lady Vols are required to take as freshmen. She has created a grocery list handout with tips for student-athletes about what they should buy. “In the summer, I do a lot of grocery store tours for upperclassmen because going from living in a dorm where they have three buffet meals provided a day to living in an apartment on their own can be a challenge,” Maurer said. Her skills, education and experience in sports nutrition give Tennessee student-athletes additional tools necessary to compete at the highest level while personally being at their physical best.

The Seasons Top Five: How to Pursue Wellness
Here are the Seasons top five suggestions for the pursuit of wellness.
1. Evaluate Your Diet.
Do you make good food choices? Are you overweight? The latest statistics indicate that 58 million Americans are overweight, 40 million are obese, and 4 million are morbidly obese. The vast majority of illness is caused or complicated by being overweight.
2. Evaluate Your Activity.
Do you exercise? Small choices add up to increased physical activity, so park further from the grocery store entry and WALK. Take the stairs. Stop working at the computer for 5 minutes and do 50 situps.
3. Have a Wellness Checkup at Seasons of Farragut. The Seasons approach to wellness is centered around balance and prevention. A few medical tests will reveal where your body is deficient. A wellness regimen tailored to YOUR body will relieve hot flashes, sleep difficulties, mood swings and even weight gain.
4. Make Sure You’re Getting Enough Vitamin D. Studies indicate the importance of Vitamin D in disease prevention. The level of cold and flu increases in the winter largely due to the decrease of Vitamin D in our system. Medical research even suggests that Vitamin D is the BEST prevention for flu–even better than the vaccine. At Seasons, we evaluate your Vitamin D levels and offer medical-grade Vitamin D supplements in capsules, drops, and even injections, if needed.
5. Decrease Stress. Stress is the enemy. Don’t spread yourself too thin. Take time to smell the flowers. Find a de-stresser that works for you, whether it’s weekly Bible Study, a good book, or coloring with your kids.

For more information about the Seasons approach to wellness or to schedule an appointment, contact us at 865.675.9355 or visit our website at www.seasonswellness.com.

Fog Force Bird Repellent
With warmer weather approaching many of us are anxious to enjoy our outdoor living areas once again. One of the free perks that Mother Nature provides for our enjoyment is numerous species of multi-colored birds, each with their own song to sing.

Birds, however, can become a nuisance, and in some instances a health risk when they nest in eaves, above outdoor fixtures and near patios. Most attempts by homeowners to discourage our feathered friends are usually ineffective and temporary.
But now there is an avian specific, non-lethal repellent, Fog Force, that controls their behavior. The repellent, methyl anthranilate, a totally natural product derived from concord grapes and orange blossoms, repels all species of birds, yet is not harmful to humans or pets.
This same active ingredient is a common food additive found in beverages, ice cream, candy, gelatin, pudding and chewing gum.

The best time to apply Fog Force is in the early morning or early evening. Applied with either a thermal or mechanical fogger, the fog will dissipate after only a few minutes.
Applied as a fog, Fog Force is a temporary irritant to the eyes and mucous membranes of birds. After several applications, the behavior of unwanted roosting birds is modified and they search out alternative nesting sites. Continued metering of product makes the area unattractive to birds and keeps them away.
To learn more about Fog Force, to ask questions or to find out how to purchase the product for application, call Steve Krawczyk at 865-919-1615.

Upholstery 101 for comfort and style

Spring has sprung and you have been diligent in re-feathering your nest. You have finished that remodeling project or purchased your new home, and you are ready to move onto the furnishing selections. Last month I showed you how a transitional style works in many homes and is popular in today’s interior styles, and how you can implement that style in your home. This month I am going to help you understand what quality upholstery terms mean so that you can best select the proper upholstery for your home.
First you must consider how the furniture will be used and by whom. A family room sofa needs to be more durable than seating for a single individual who only occasionally entertains. The anatomy of the furniture, as well as fabric and leather wearability and cleaning codes, should also be considered. The comfort and quality of upholstery is based on what’s hidden beneath the fabric. The frame, springs and padding are the bones of your upholstery.
Kiln-dried, hardwood frames are traditionally the best for ensuring long-term stability and shape retention. (Soft woods are rarely used as they are more likely to warp or split.) Quality hardwood frames are joined with some combination of dowels, screws, glue, staples and corner blocks… and the best examples use a combination of these methods. Springs should be “Eight-Way” hand-tied: A time-honored construction method using a series of coils, each tied from front to back, side to side and diagonally, eight times. This system creates even comfort and prevents “give” in the frame. This traditional method is believed to offer superior comfort.
Cushioning and padding refers to the way furniture “sits” and is influenced by the cushioning and padding in the seat, back and arms. No matter which method is used, cushioning must be evenly distributed and conceal the feel of the springs and frame. Most manufacturers produce a standard cushion using 1.8 – 2.0 density foam core with some form of synthetic wrap, often Dacron fill. “DENSITY” refers to a cushion’s resilience. The higher the density the firmer or more resilient a cushion sits.
“DOWN-BLEND” wraps are a popular method for producing a more sumptuous cushion. The down-blend is wrapped around a foam core to provide the look and feel of down without the maintenance. Down-blend is a mixture of down and waterfowl feathers. Synthetic fibers are also mixed with the feathers to give extra resiliency. A 10/90 blend refers to 10% down and 90% feathers mixed with 50% synthetic fibers. A 25/75 blend is 25% down and 75% feathers mixed with 50% synthetic fibers.
“SPRING DOWN” cushions use a series of spring coils that sit within a “skeleton” of foam. This unit is then wrapped in down or down-blend and encased in down-proof ticking. The result is seating that has some of down’s luxury, but with built-in resilience and firmness thus not near the maintenance of down.
At O.P. Jenkins Furniture Store we carry many manufactures of this quality. Our own private label is one; Sherrill, Bernhardt and Hickory White are just a few more we carry. You can visit me there and get all your answers and match your budget to the right manufacturer for your furnishing needs. To see more examples of our furnishings, go to carolhudson.asidtn.com or www.opjenkinsfurniture.com.

O.P. Jenkins
209 W. Summit Hill Drive
Knoxville, TN 37902
865.522.9632
sales@opkenkinsfurniture.com

Profile:

Kim Jackson came to O.P. Jenkins Furniture Store nine months ago after a recent move from Rome, Georgia. She knows that she was created for two things… beauty and relationships. Here she finds the perfect balance of these two things.

Kim worked with Griffin Designs/Room Service in Rome for eight years. She got a great deal of her knowledge of furniture and eye for design from her mother, an artist and designer in Ohio. She graduated with a degree in Sociology and Psychology from Anderson College.

She enjoys the creative aspects of her work, but she especially enjoys connecting with her clients. “I know that for some people shopping for furniture can be a stressful experience, I know some clients know exactly what they want, and some are overwhelmed with the idea of design. I enjoy helping them sort through the process to find what works best for them.”

The headlines would read: “A teenage female going by the name of Gold E. Locks is being sought for questioning related to criminal trespass and food contamination. Upon returning home from a trip, the property owners discovered the assailant sleeping in a bed, and then she committed criminal flight to avoid prosecution. Please contact law enforcement with any information on her whereabouts.”

Now, as Ms. Locks can testify under oath, some things will fall into three categories…
Too Hot, Too Cold, and Just Right. And similar to her Modus Operandi, I begin my day by assessing the temperature of the financial markets with the hope of avoiding unpleasant surprises. Fortunately, there are various indicators that can provide some good insight into pending market actions, one of which is the OBOS indicator (Over-Bought – Over-Sold).

OBOS measures the current price of an investment versus its average price over a recent time period. The higher the current price is above the average, the more it’s considered to be ‘over-bought’. Conversely, the lower the current price below the average, the more ‘over-sold’ it is. In either case, there is an increased probability (but no guarantee) that the investment will move back toward the average in the short term. So the OBOS indicator helps identify investments that may be too hot (over-bought) and that may drop in price, and those that are too cold (over-sold) and may provide some upside potential.
So there are lots of temperature gauges for
the market, but the data may require some
interpretation. As a Fundamental Choice
Portfolio Manager with Wells Fargo Advisors,
I created the Flexible Growth Portfolios (FGP) for clients who may be frustrated with the fluctuating temperature of the market. FGP consists of four different portfolios to accommodate different levels of tolerance for market risk: Conservative, Balanced, Moderate and Growth.

Because of their operational structure, the four portfolios may prove less expensive than your
current investment strategy. And each is managed with a very systematic 3-step methodology that is proprietary to FGP:

Adjust the investment allocation*
based upon the market conditions.

Focus on areas of the financial
markets that are ‘in-favor’.

Utilize a ‘Sell Strategy’ to minimize
the chance for large losses.

So if you’re concerned about your investments being too hot or too cold, perhaps you need to ‘Explore Your Options’ with an in-depth explanation about FGP.

The Week is a Market and Econmic commentary published by Wells Fargo Advisors on a weekly basis. If you would like to receive a sample copy for review, or if you would like to discuss your
situation by phone or in person, contact Jerry Goodman at 865-560-2610
(toll free 800-537-9889) or by email at
jerry.goodman@wfadvisors.com.

Ok, so I guess you’re wondering what chocolate has to do with dancing or the beach. The answer is nothing really, unless you’re in the bunker and you need to get out. Still confused? Keep reading.
Most of us who practice usually hit balls at the range. Some of us work on our chipping, very few of us work on our putting, and no one ever works on their sand play. The truth is, once you feel comfortable “at the beach,” life becomes a lot easier on the golf course, and approach shots to the green become a lot less intimidating.
Find a practice bunker and take your sand wedge or your lob wedge into it. Rake yourself a nice patch of sand. Draw a line in the sand with your club, then make another one parallel to it so the lines are about one club head in width apart. Now make lines connecting the first two, making squares, Hershey chocolate squares. You want about 5-6 total. Now make a small dent in the sand with your club head in the middle of each “chocolate” square, this will represent the golf ball.
Now that you are all ready to practice, keep in mind there are several schools of thought on how to play a bunker shot. I find that most players have trouble getting enough height quickly; playing the ball off your front foot will help get the ball up quicker. I use this method for 95% of my shots, the only time I move the ball position to the middle is when I don’t have a big lip to deal with and there is a lot of green to work with, this helps me run the ball out more to the hole.
The other part of my set up that works best for me is having my stance square instead of opening up to the target. I found that most of my shots went left, where I was aimed. By squaring up to the target, my shots flew there instead.
The other crucial part of a bunker shot is leverage in your backswing. Pick the club up quickly with a little shoulder turn, setting the club steeply with your wrists, take it a bit inside and keep your legs quiet. On the follow through, make sure you follow through! Not finishing your swing is probably the biggest mistake most people make. The follow through will give your ball height and direction; it will also keep the momentum of your club moving forward through the sand. Your backswing length will control your distance, so follow through and accelerate, it’s crucial!
Ok, back to the chocolate! This is where you can really hone your skills. Line up your front foot with the first line you drew, the one closest to the green; this will put the ball on the front of your stance. Next, hold your club behind your first chocolate square above the sand, near or over the back line. Now make practice swings, removing your chocolate squares and landing them on the green. Check to see where your square was after each shot, use the remaining squares as feedback for your divots. Was your divot too long or too deep? Did your divot start half way through your square? Keep practicing without a ball, getting the feel for taking the right amount of sand. Now make a new chocolate bar, and place a ball in the middle of each new square. Instead of focusing on the ball (the root of most of our issues), just swing and put your chocolate on the green; the ball will magically land there, too!
If you’re not a chocolate lover, make small circles instead of squares, and take yourself to a “tropical island” instead. Who wouldn’t want a vacation at the beach? Think of this next time you’re faced with a bunker shot on the course, and watch your ball fly safely home on the first try!

As the saying goes, March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb! We’re hoping there’s a lot of truth in this as we look forward to the return of sunny days and fun spring fashions!

From floral, to watercolor, to ethnic, prints are everywhere this season… already matched for you, you’ll have no trouble wearing the looks with confidence.

Glorious florals and other garden-inspired elements are trends this season; dresses covered in floral bouquets, handbags, shoes and necklaces with front and center flowers. Petal embellishment on cardigans and shirts bring a fresh, fun and flirty look to spring 2010.

Neutral shades are a soft and subtle knock-out… they’re elegant and so, so easy to work with. Champagne, blush, beige, grays and putty color tones are an essential as you begin to build your spring-summer wardrobe.

Remember that gray can look much softer on the skin than black or navy and its strength is to highlight lines and details… choose grays that emphasize cut, fabrication and craftsmanship. Perfect to pair with every color, gray can be worn as your basic, giving a fresh, softer change from your basic black. A great new trend that’s sure to be around for a while, spanning season after season.

There’s going to be a style that appeals to everyone… the fashion trends are so widespread. If you’re the classic, Coco Chanel type, try the feminine look. It’s showing up in blouses with flirty collars… tiered accents that lend themselves to a balance found in tailored, structured bottoms such as the skinny jean or a pencil skirt.

The ethnic look is strong, also, as worldly prints such as placed tie-dye and animal patterns are adding excitement to spring fashions. Guaranteeing a lot of “hipitude”… yes, that’s a mix of hipness and attitude… you’ll wear these pieces with your own style showing through!

There’s never a dull moment in our wonderful world of fashion – it’s fun, fast-paced and exciting as we gear up at The Lily Pad to greet you with our fabulous selections for spring 2010!

Remember… you can shop for three generations at The Lily Pad! It’s a great place to spend the day and enjoy a girl day together, taking a lunch break at one of our fabulous eateries in Sweewater and leaving with lots of happy spring fashions for each of you!