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Navigating Family Relationships and Business Challenges: 6 Signs It’s Time for Coaching
Managing the different stresses, strains and perceptions between personal relationships and business partnerships in a family (or value-driven) business can be challenging. It is not uncommon to find yourself stumbling through difficult times trying to clarify...
The Skills of Conflict Confidence© – Manage Difficult Emotions
We must address our discomfort with difficult emotions like anger, envy, resentment and revenge to effectively manage conflict. We create trouble by lacking the skills· ... to confront with patience, insight and imagination the many problems that we face in our...
How much Rudeness is Tolerated in Your Workplace?
Is unnecessary rudeness tolerated in your workplace? Have you ever been shouted at during a meeting? Repeatedly been ignored, interrupted or criticised by a colleague? Had your opinions or concerns brushed off or dismissed because of your gender, status or work role?...
The First 3 Minutes of Difficult Conversations Predict the Outcome
The likelihood of a difficult conversation ending in an escalating argument, or finding a reasonable resolution and compromise, all depends on how you start. When there's potential for tension and heightened emotions, research shows what you do in the first 3 minutes...
Keeping Your Cool this Christmas!
The pressures at the end of the year can be overwhelming and can lead to increased stress, heightened emotions and lots of potential for relationship conflicts over the festive period. And then there’s that ONE DAY where you feel you need to get everything right. Or...
Could Conflict Coaching Help You Improve Your Relationships?
What is Conflict Coaching? In our increasingly diverse world, with different views, personalities, communication styles and expectations, conflicts are more likely. Conflict coaching is a confidential way to increase your self-awareness, gain insight into the...
Confident Conflict Conversations: ‘It Never Gets Easier, You Just Get Better’
How do you initiate conversations that make you uncomfortable and vulnerable? When you’re hesitant to talk about conflict, it can be tempting to avoid the issue altogether, but that can have disastrous results. As I leave my gym there’s a sign that...
First Principles of Conflict Confidence©: Conflict is a skill, Not an Emotion
Many years ago, sadly, I was very adept at being caught up in unpleasant conflicts – and it was a mystery to me how I got there! After one particularly stupid experience I decided this must end. And so, my passion was ignited for untangling what really works to...
You Mainly Feel the Way You Think
“Much of what we call emotion is nothing more or lessthan a certain kind – a biased, prejudiced, or strongly evaluative – kind of thought.”Albert Ellis. Albert Ellis was an American psychologist and academic who in the 1960s proposed there are twelve [12] irrational...
COVID Frustrations & Harassment of Frontline Workers
Despite how intelligent or sensible we think we are, we’re all a little irrational. This is especially true in conflict or stressful situations. Some people have irrational beliefs that amplify their reactive emotions. This leads to difficult behaviours, angry...
Check Your Conflict Assumptions
Each January I quietly sit awhile and set my relationships intentions for the year ahead, in both my professional and personal life. What are the challenges I want to explore to deepen my understanding, to be more flexible and less reactive, and how could I practice a...
5 Principals for No Fault Discussions
You can create more peace in every conversation you have. Too often fault and blame about the past gets in the way of successfully resolving conflicts, especially when there is a lot of emotion involved. Here are five tips to reduce the risk of failing in difficult...
Seriously Social Podcast Interview with Simone Douglas, November 2020
https://socialmediaaok.com.au/podcast/episode-16-elizabeth-williamson/
A COVID19 Story of Compassion and Gratitude
In these difficult times so many of us are experiencing during the COVID19 pandemic it is often the kindness of strangers that gives an insight into our human connections. The pressures of responding to the unknown reveals our true values and strength of our...
The First 3 Minutes of Difficult Conversations Predict the Outcome
The likelihood of a difficult conversation ending in an escalating argument, or finding reasonable resolution and compromise, all depends on how you start. When there’s potential for tension and heightened emotions research shows what you do in the first 3 minutes are...
Bad Boss Blues: Australian Workplace Harassment Statistics Tell a Sad Story
You might even recall the Appoc scandal from 2016. There’s been a decade of concerted effort to raise awareness about workplace bullying and yet a 2016 Report from Safe Work Australia of over 4,000 workers found the incidence of workplace bullying in Australia has...
Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast
Every organisational values statement I have ever read includes the words respect, integrity and trust. But if you were to ask staff in many organisations, you might find that those words aren’t in their experience of workplace culture. Good workplace culture requires...
Does Your Workplace Culture Make You Smile?
Not many organisations define their values and service practice succinctly and in a way that captures your imagination. Rembrandt Living, an aged care residential service, has an organisational ethos that is clearly articulated in one word: ‘Gezellij’. This Dutch...
Reading the Slouch – Part 2
When I published ‘Reading the Slouch’ in April this year, I was overwhelmed by the responses I received from my readers. That article explored the subtle tactics in a controlling relationship and introduced Matt and Claire. So many emails saying “Thank you. I know...
8 Essentials tips to stop you from killing your ex (figuratively speaking)
Julie is in my office again, frustrated with herself because she blew her cool with her ex, and found herself horrified at the words pouring out from her mouth! He’d said just one thing that triggered her, “I understand what you’re going through.” Of course, he...
Essential Secrets to More Confidence!
Psst: Contrary to popular belief, confidence is not an emotion. I used to think that confidence was feeling cool and sort of, well, unemotional. But confidence is not so much how you feel but how you think about a problem or challenge. Confidence is the skill of...
5 Top Tips to Cure Office Conflicts
Workplace conflicts steal your energy and motivation at the office. Not to mention the additional stress you take home, the restless nights, lost sleep and negative impacts on your overall health and well-being. Business excellence requires recognising conflict risks...
Small Package, Big Influence
This is a remarkable story about how to resolve workplace conflict with mindfulness and empathy. There are many bridges to cross in this challenging relationship: differences in language, culture, gender, education and values. As you read about Jade and Mike’s...
9 Tips To Help Your Child Adjust to Separation
When a family breaks up it is an anxious time for any parent. You’re struggling with your own personal pain and sadness when a relationship ends. Your children are also going through these same experiences, often without the language or emotional skills to explain...
Have I Got a Story for You!
Oh, I have I got a tale for you! Margaret’s story Margaret and I met a cocktail networking event, an awards night for small business. Margaret is bright, sociable and authentically charming. That awkward question “What do you do” led to a fascinating conversation. It...
Quickly Identify Controlling People – Try the Five Key Words Test
How do you recognise people who are likely to behave in ways that are conflict-driven, controlling, or manipulative, in ways that are likely to stop you from hiring them, dating them, or marrying them? As a couple and family therapist, and workplace conflict...
What is the Arc of Your Story?
Conflict makes our world turn, our heads spin, our hearts race and sometimes our hearts break. It is the arc of every story, song, movie and indeed, many of your thoughts. What you rehearse becomes your reality. You are the director, scriptwriter and star of all your...
Customer Service Under Duress
If you want to create a culture that is conducive to dealing with difficult and demanding people, your frontline and legal professionals must be able to deal with stressful situations with the confidence that they can manage emotionally charged and challenging...
Irrationally Yours
In the real world, we can all be a little difficult and demanding at times when worried, stressed, or feeling defensive. We can fall victim to our strong reactions, difficult emotions and the subsequent irrational thinking that leads us to be pushy, impatient, or...
Here’s to The Best Teacher I’ve Never Met!
It’s very embarrassing to admit this, but I have been caught out being difficult and demanding. This story reveals an uncomfortable time for me. It was a time that I didn’t always handle stress responsibly. However, sometimes small commonplace events can change your...
The Tip of The Iceberg
One month ago Anthony was excited about his promotion to Head of Business Development, after five years of hard work as Senior Engineer in a management role. It was a big opportunity, significant pay rise and recognition for his hard work and commitment to the...
The Tipping Point
I met Janni when she was at her lowest. She wanted to quit and run away from a job she loved, but that was set in an awful environment. Her health was impacted and she was miserable. Janni was 2IC in a large Early Childhood Centre. She felt that going to work each day...
This is Todays’ No 1 Workplace Problem
Narcissistic Leaders We’re often attracted to narcissist leaders who can be charming and persuasive, full of stories of triumph, the centre of attention, impressed by their confidence and arrogance. Yet many narcissist managers are often under-performers who use...
Are You an Emotion Coach?
Your children’s emotions are not always easy to read and sometimes might be puzzling. Children often lack the words to explain their feelings and may have difficulties telling you about what’s troubling them. Here’s how you can help your kids gain confidence to manage...
What’s Your Leadership Pain Tolerance?
Jules is a late-30s Senior Manager working on a significant national project, amidst the usual amount of corporate change. The latest restructure process has consolidated a destructive management configuration. One that unfortunately seems to be on the rise. Jules...
Tactics that Trip You Up: Reading the Slouch
There are some behaviours that can initially confuse or distract you from recognising a controlling person. Tactics that trip you up. One part of the solution is understanding it takes time to ‘read’ the clues that help you make sense of difficult people and...
The 3 Essentials for Conflict Confidence with Difficult People
Keep your observation objective, remain curious and manage your connection during conflict situations with difficult and controlling people. These 3 skills are the foundations for confidence in highly challenging relationships. Step Back & Observe Everyone...
5 Key Indicators you are Dealing with a Highly Controlling Person
Domineering, demanding, difficult, controlling, bossy, inflexible, over-the-top, short–fuse, Drama Queen/King… All words often used to describe someone whose comments, behaviour and attitudes can make your working life hell. 1. They are Star of every Story they...
Buddhist Perspectives on Depression
Depression has been a part of the human condition for as long as history has been recorded. Known by various epithets such as melancholy and the black dog, recent advances in treatment – medication, alternative and therapeutic – have helped relieve the symptoms of...
Private: Great Sex is all about Listening
I want to talk to you about making love. Not sex but making love happen, in the small and important moments together, so that even when you’re having a difficult discussion or disagreement, you know how to make love happen between you. There is an art and a science to...
5 Sure-Fire Tips to Insure Your Marriage
What are the secrets to lasting relationship success? The secret is 6 hours a week. Happy couples consciously devote 6 hours per week to looking after their relationship. It’s like an insurance package for your happiness as a couple. This is how you look after your...
7 Simple Steps to Living with Purpose
What’s your definition of a purposeful life? For me, it’s being able to live my life without the inner conflict that stops me from sharing my personal and professional strengths. It’s the confidence to shine, have some spark and stand up for what’s important. Ending...
Gottman Method Couples Therapy
The Gottman Method Couples Therapy for Healthy Relationships There’s science and art to creating strong, satisfying and lasting relationships. Dr John Gottman’s ground-breaking research shows that to make a relationship last, couples must become better friends, learn...
FaceBook Video on Aggressive & Demanding People at Work
See Elizabeth's Facebook Video below :
Dealing with Difficult People – 6 Survival Strategies You’ll Want to Know!
Demanding, Dominant and Controlling People are an Increasing Problem at Work and in Business. Research indicates that the number of controlling people is increasing. This problem exists in our competitive business world, government departments, sporting and community...
The Man’s Guide to Women
Dr. John Gottman, renowned researcher in to couple relationships and parenting has recently published a long awaited book: The Man’s Guide to Women. For over 40 years, Dr. John Gottman has been leading cutting edge research into what couple actually do in successful...
5 Top Tips for Curing Office Conflicts
This article first appeared in The Business Woman Media 6/04/2017 http://www.thebusinesswomanmedia.com/tips-cure-office-conflicts/ Workplace conflicts steal your energy and motivation at the office. Not to mention the additional stress you take home and negative...
Resilience: Step forward into what you really want
Resilience is managing balance: between your stress and fear and finding your creativity and determination. It’s really important that we give ourselves time for the difficult feelings when you’re faced with an ongoing difficulty, or a challenge that sometimes feels...
Confidence Tips that May Surprise You!
Contrary to popular belief – Confidence is not an emotion. Confidence is a skill. Like any skill, it takes time and practice to improve…. BUT some people are working on the wrong set of skills Let’s define it clearly. Confidence is the skill of...