Respond to each student's posts (minimum 100 words for each response)

First student: Regarding a situation of conflict and resolution

1. A conflict that has been bothering me for the past couple of weeks was the constant and compiling workload that would come in to my queue at work, while also helping mentor a new teammate. I set up a meeting with my leader to discuss prioritization of the work.

2. I came up with how much work I had to get done each day and mapped out what I thought would be the top priority and what would be the last priority.

3. I was having to work from home so I emailed my leader to set up a time that would work for both of us to discuss on the phone.

4. It isn't an issue with somebody but instead it was an issue with "something" so I listened to my leader and the feedback they had for me and what I all had on my table.

5. My leader and I were able to discuss and come up with a plan of prioritization that helped me be less scattered and have a list (pending any "rushes" that would come up randomly) of items with the top of the list being the highest priority.

Second Student: Regarding Triangulation and how addressing conflict with the person involved, rather than trying to gain allies against an opponent

Triangulation is referred to as the drama triangle. This triangle is a drama triangle that causes trauma ultimately. When I look at triangulation, I look at it as sort of a math problem. I my mind Im looking at triangulations as a Mobius strip. For those who dont know a Mobius strip it is like when you take a strip of paper and make one turn in it and tape it together. Once you do this the paper has no outside or inside or beginning or end. For those who are using triangulation such that there is a persecutor, rescuer, and victim there will always be this thing keeping you in and not knowing that there are people on the other side. It will continuously be this round about situation of everyone thinking that they are stuck in the position they are in with no way out. The people in this then have a false sense of the situation they are in. Rather if we take that Mobius strip of paper and cut it and tape it back together with out a twist there is a way into the box and a way out of the box. When we remove all of the inner twisted paths it is easier to see others perspectives but if one doesnt try to cut that paper back they will remain in the box.

Third Student: Regarding active and effective listening skills

Effective listening is a big thing for me. I feel that I am fairly good at this when at work. I think I have made a point to improve this at work because I have experienced those that do NOT practice effective listening skills many times. The listening key I have really improved on is not interrupting until the time is right. At times when the subject was something I was excited or passionate about, I would find myself interrupting to get my point in. Because this has happened to me so many times I really wanted to make sure that I was being better about this. It has gotten easier with time but sometimes I still find myself thinking "alright, stop talking already" especially with my long winded co-workers.

Although I feel that I am an okay effective listener at work, I do not think I am as much at home. I am guilty of looking at my phone while my son talks to me. I hate to admit it but there have been a time or two where he has stopped talking and called me out. When I tell him I am listening he says, "what did I say?" and I can't answer him. This is so terrible and I know this! Especially with him being my youngest I know in a few years I am going to long for him to blabber in my ear. One way I have found to improve on this is to to maintain eye contact with him. This tells him I am engaged and doesn't tempt me to look at my phone.