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STRESS MANAGEMENT

Signs of Stress and Imbalance

How To Break Through Fear in Turbulent Times

What is Stress?

Solving Problems in a High-Stress Environment

Break Through Self-Doubt & Fear

Let's Get Physical

Holiday Stress Hotspots

Make 2004 your Year of Organization

Holiday Stress Hotspots

Manage Stress by Stopping Obsessive or Unwanted Thoughts

Meditate Stress Away

Taking Stress for a Ride

3 Strategies to Reduce Stress

Cleaning Up

Stress; Control It, Change It or Let It Go!

Substance Abuse

The Courage to Feel Bad

The Challenge of Change

Tips for Managing Holiday Madness

Modern Day Stressors: What Stress Looks Like in the 21st Century

The Life Juggle: How to Find Lifework Balance

New Year's Resolutions

 

CHANGE

The Questions Leaders Should Ask Themselves about Change

The Top Ten Ways to Manage People through Change

Understanding Change

The Challenge of Change

 

RUNNING A BUSINESS

Be Heard. Be Strong. Be Effective. How to Deliver Impressive Presentations

Getting Started in the Speaking Business: Answers to Burning Questions

What Entrepreneurs Need to Know to be Successful

How to Create and Maintain Culture as You Grow

Recruitment and Retention of Diverse Candidates

 

DIVERSITY

A Passion for Diversity

Traits of a Diverse Organization

Simma's Holiday Diversity Q and A

How to Go from Eggshell Walking to Multicultural Festivity Making

Are You Wasting Your Money on Diversity Training?

Interview Bias: Overcoming the Silent Forces Working Against You

How to Help LGBT Employees Help Your Organization Grow

How to Integrate Diversity Into Your Business Strategy

Diversity Benefits Organizations and Communities

Diversity Fast Facts

How to Integrate Diversity

10 PC Tips for Communicating with a Diverse Audience

Are You Truly Successful?

Interviewing Employees Who Stay

Wage and Position Disparity Across Gender

What Every Consultant Needs to Know About Diversity Consulting and Training

Diversity Competency Assessment

Recruitment and Retention of Diverse Candidates

Understanding Diversity Dialogues

Dialogue as a Communication Tool Amongst Diverse Groups of People

Communicating across Generations in the Workplace

Simma & Kate's Strategies for Cross-Generational Relationship Building

Valuing Diversity during the Holidays

 

COMMUNICATION

Understanding Dialogue: A Q&A on the benefits of dialogue

Dialogue as a Communication Tool

Communication with Concern

Helping Others Deal with Loss

10 PC Tips for Communicating with a Diverse Audience

Tips for Better Communication Between Men and Women in the Workplace

Understanding Diversity Dialogues

Dialogue as a Communication Tool Amongst Diverse Groups of People

Simma & Kate's Strategies for Cross-Generational Relationship Building

Web Site Tips

 

GENDER COMMUNICATION

Differences in Male and Female Communication Styles

Gender Communications Differences and Strategies

Wage and Position Disparity across Gender

Tips for Better Communication between Men and Women in the Workplace

 

WORK/LIFE BALANCE

Life/Work Balance in the Real World

New Year's Resolutions: A New Approach?

Working with Loved Ones: Leverage Potential and Avoid Pitfalls

Modern Day Stressors: What Stress Looks Like in the 21st Century

The Life Juggle: How to Find Lifework Balance

 

RESTAURANT & HOSPITALITY

All in the Family

Are You Truly Successful?

How to Create and Maintain the Culture of Your Restaurants

Let's Get Physical

Meditate Stress Away

Taking Stress for a Ride

The Challenge of Change

3 Strategies to Reduce Stress

Cleaning Up Substance Abuse

 

FEAR & SELF-DOUBT

Break Through Self-Doubt & Fear

Substance Abuse

The Courage to Feel Bad

All in the Family

By Simma Lieberman. This article was originally published in Restaurant Hospitality in the March 2000 edition.

Working with family members can be wonderful, but it takes a lot of work and the willingness to be flexible.

David and Hiromi Vardy have owned O ChamŽ, in Berkeley, Calif., for 10 years. David is the chef and Hiromi runs the front of the house. They enjoy working together.

"With all the hours we put in the restaurant, we wouldn't see enough of each other if we didn't work together. It's become more play than work for us. It took time, not now everything is clicking," said David. "As long as we keep the front and the back of the restaurant separate, we have harmony."

Hiromi and David have learned to take things that happen a lot less seriously. "Sometimes we that our work problems home. But we have had to stop talking about those things at the dinner table," explained David. "We have worked at addressing those things as problems separate from our personal feelings. Also, there are times when I step over boundaries. I have learned to stop giving Hiromi unwanted free advice."

The couple has three children who also spend a lot of time in the restaurant working or just doing homework. The family was put through the test last year, when their house burnt down. For nine months, all five of them lived in a one-room studio while they continued to work together successfully. After that everything else seemed easier.

Nickie and Pete Zeller own Pearl, a restaurant located in California's Napa Valley. They met while they worked in another restaurant over 16 years ago. They were both involved in other relationships and became good friends for six years. In 1991, still both single, they opened a restaurant together, which they ran for six years. They eventually fell in love and got married.

Their passion for the restaurant business, plus their love of good movies and food, has kept them together. "We don't argue that often anymore. We now resolve things by talking." That wasn't always easy, admits Nickie, especially early on when they were working 80 hours a week and barely making ends meet. Yet their love got them through some very tough times. Now that Pearl is doing well, their challenge has been to keep their private and work lives separate. "Pete and I have had to agree not to talk about work at times. It can be a struggle to not call work when we are off."

When they are off, they don't sit around thinking of work. Instead, they make an effort to see the city and eat in other restaurants.

If you're a couple working together, here are some tips:

  • Recognize that under the best of circumstances, there will be a blurring of personal and professional issues.
  • Try to anticipate possible areas of disagreement, then create a process for resolution
  • Commit to a time where you will not talk about business; right before sleep, at meals or during particular hours.
  • Make a list of all the positive reasons you work together. Refer to that list when problems arise.
  • Don't let resentments and arguments stay unresolved.

  • Make sure you include personal recreation time in your schedule.
  • Talk to other people who have successfully worked with family members.
  • Remember that you're a team and that nobody will watch your back better than a family member.

Simma Lieberman works with people and organizations to create environments where people can do their best work. She specializes in diversity, gender communications, life-work balance and stress, and acquiring and retaining new customers.

You may reprint these articles free of charge, on a non-exclusive basis, provided that Simma Lieberman's name and contact information are included. She would love to know that you plan to use her article(s); please contact her to let her know.

Call Simma at 510.527.0700 or Email simma@simmalieberman.com
Visit her website at www.simmalieberman.com


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