Jennifer L.

Beaver

Week 2 Discussion Board

May 17, 2017

I struggle with being assertive at times, due to my fear of conflict. I am uncomfortable with

confrontations, because I am unsure of the other persons response. Will it be hostile? Will it be

reasonable? I realize no one likes it, but, when I encounter an aggressive person, I will avoid the

confrontation. I am aware that the conflict resolution will be more challenging, and I will sometimes

seek guidance from my director on how to proceed. What I have learned, is that it is OK sometimes to

have a third, neutral party present to mediate the conflict (ex. Human Resources representative,

Director, fellow manager) to try to create a win-win solution. Win-win solutions are those that satisfy

the needs of all parties. This will allow myself and the agency staff to move forward in a positive

direction.

What I have learned about the importance of boundaries is that you cannot be friends with your

supervisor. I have a friend that is a director for our agency, but works in a different county, so

professionally we never mixed. My director got a promotion, and now my friend is my director. I find

that she takes advantage of the friendship, and is unprofessional in regards to sharing stories about her

other staff. These stories tend to be negative and she feels it is ok to complain to me about them. It

makes me wonder if she is complaining to them about me? I have tried to broach the subject with her,

but she is not open to the conversation, stating that, Some people can handle this type of

arrangement. And maybe Im just not capable, like I am to blame somehow. It has been a good

lesson on the kind of director that I do not want to become. I am pursuing other leads on positions

inside the agency, and I am hoping my Masters and Capstone Project will benefit me in achieving that

goal.