Substance Use And Mental Health Problems - 1630 Words

Substance use is very common among people diagnosed with mental illness. This paper will examine the results of four studies by Shi (2014) and by Ortiz-Gomez et al. (2014), Marmorstien (2010) and Green et al. All of these studies examine substance use among individuals diagnosed with depression. In conducting a study Shi (2014) examined the relationship between marijuana and depression. Shi (2014) examined the risk and quit behavior among adults living with depression or a serious psychological distress in comparison with those who do not. He also examined the relationship between Marijuana use and the time of diagnosis (how recent). â€Å"The purpose of this article deepen our understanding of the relationship between marijuana use and mental health problems, improve the screening for high risk marijuana use subgroups, and provide guidance in the treatment development of the targeted population† (p. 765). The 39,133 participants were non-institutionalized adults from the 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The participants age ranges were between 18 and 65. Shi (2014) study has similar findings of previous studies. As stated by Shi (2014). â€Å"This study attempts to examine the disparity in marijuana use characteristics of depression or SPD status. Based on the large and representative NSDUH 2011 data, the ï ¬ ndings of this study support previous research that adults with depression or SPD† (p.762). While conducting his study, he found that individuals with depression orShow MoreRelatedMental Health And Substance Use Problems Disorders1692 Words   |  7 Pages(2005), a mental disorder is defined as a disease of the mind or a brain disorder. According to SAMHSA (2016), more than eighteen percent of US citizens age 18 and older live with a brain disorder combined with another problem. To put it another way, almost 1/5th of the US population lives with mental illness and either a substance use disorder or some other issue (SAMHSA, 2016). A co-occurring problem is defined as the coexistence of both a substance use disorder and mental health problem (SAMSHARead MoreMental Health Problems: Coexisting Substance Use Essay2250 Words   |  9 PagesCoexisting Substance Use Mental Health Problems Introduction In this essay I am going to respond to the six questions provided in relation to the article, â€Å"Help-seeking for substance use, anxiety and affective disorders among young people: results from the 2007 Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing† (Reavley N, Cvetkovski S, Jorm A, Lubman D, 2010) in comparison to a NZ clinical alcohol and other drug (AOD) cohort which the article is entitled â€Å"Coexisting psychiatricRead MoreDiagnostic And Statistical Manual ( Dsm V )829 Words   |  4 PagesWorld Health Organization (WHO) (1995) are two similar systems (though not identical) which clinicians use to offer dependence diagnosing criteria by objectively identifying substance misuse and mental health disorder. According to Cooper (2011) dual diagnosis, co-morbidity, co-existence or co-occurring are terms used to identify the combination of substance use and mental health problems. (SOURCE) states that dual diagnosis, co-morbidity, co-existence, co-occurring, mental ill health, mental distressRead MoreThe Mental Health Parity And Addiction Act1533 Words   |  7 PagesThe Mental Health Parity and Addiction Act (MHPAEA) of 2008. This act requires the same level of benefits for substance use treatment and mental services as one would receive for medical care from their health insurance. The MHPAEA’s requirements were expanded by the Affordable Care Act that some health insurance plans should cover mental health and substance abuse treatment and services. This act will allow many social workers to treat more patients with low incomes and that have substance useRead MoreSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment Barriers: Military Life vs. Civilian Life1259 Words   |  6 PagesSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment Barriers: Military Life vs. Civilian Life Marina Herrera Butte College Abstract This paper explores the interesting relationship between substance abuse and mental health problems among military and civilian life. As well as stigma barriers to treatment within a military vs. a civilian setting. The article â€Å"Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment in the Military: Lessons Learned and a Way Forward† written by Katie Witkiewitz and ArmandoRead More Treating Concurrent Disorders Essay1700 Words   |  7 Pages Mental health is being aware, accepting yourself, and striking a balance in all aspects of your life like social, spiritual, physical, economical, and mental (Association, 2001). Mental health can be described as our positive interactions with the context and events in our life, and having the ability to cope with life’s stressors. Mental health problems can begin at anytime during your life (CAMH, 2010). In fact anything can make it difficult for an individual’s ability to interact effectivelyRead MoreTaking a Look at Homelessness893 Words   |  4 Pagesthis community, there are a large number of homeless individuals. In homeless population, mental illness commonly present in the forms of schizophrenia, depression, personality disorders, substance abuse, and other affective disorders. According to Metro Vancouver Homeless Count, there are â€Å"400 homeless people in Surrey, representing 15% of the regions 2650 homeless† (City of Surrey, n.d, â€Å"2014†). This problem has been present for many years and there are still people suffering from the basic lackRead MoreRelationship Between Mental Health And Addiction1470 Words   |  6 PagesIf you or someone you love is seeking treatment for a substance abuse related disorder in addition to a psychiatric disorder, you will come across two terms in your research: co-occurring disorders and dual diagnosis. Right off you may be more concerned about simply getting help for your addiction. Maybe it has caused you to lose your job and your family is in tatters. It s important to note that when substance abuse and mental illness co-occur specialized treatment is needed. First, however, youRead MoreDrug Policy And Funding Has Not Changed Much Over The Past Two Decades1505 Words   |  7 Pagesto cease, yet they continue to use the same methods, expecting different results. It is clear to see that the United States still has a policy of criminalizing drug users and not the treatment of them. Treatment and prevention of drug addiction in the United States needs to be a priority for many reasons. Drug addiction is affecting individuals and families from all different backgrounds across the United States. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA]Read MoreSelf Help For Individuals With Co Occurring Mental Health And Substance Use Disorders1601 Words   |  7 PagesSelf Help for Individuals with Co-occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Over five million adults in the United States (U.S.) have a co-occurring substance use disorder and serious psychological distress (Magura, 2008). Dealing with substance abuse is never easy and it’s even more difficult when an individual is also struggling with mental health problems (Timko, Sutkowi, Cronkite, Makin-Byrd Moos, 2011). Co-occurring disorders can affect each other making both disorders

The Waiting Room free essay sample

The Waiting Room A family is like a puzzle. When all of the pieces are put together and fit perfectly in their own unique ways, I feel content. Ever since I can remember, I have always had that puzzle put together. Nobody in my family or nobody very close to me has ever died. But one day, I thought that my puzzle would get ruined and no longer be together. This was the day that I found out that my grandpa Danny had a heart attack. This incident happened exactly two years ago over MEA break. My dad and brother were already at the trapper shack for a day. The trapper shack is this little shack in the middle of nowhere in Baltrami were they go hunt. This weekend they were so excited to hunt for some grouse. My mom and I were on our way to the cities to do a little shopping and have a girls weekend. It was a cold fall day, and the trees were warm and beautiful. They were burnt orange and warm yellow, and I could not take my eyes off of them. The trees were tall and broad, they were clothed in healthy, fresh leaves. I thought that nothing could go wrong on this pretty day.Right before my mom and I reached the turn to either go left and go the cities, or right, to go toward Grand Forks area where our family lives, my mom got a call. I have my headphones in at the time. She pulls over and stops the car. I am confused as to why she pulls over. My mom is the type of person who shows her emotions facially, and she can never hide her emotions. At this point I can tell that something is wrong so I take my headphones out and listen. â€Å"What is going on? Who are you talking about? Is it Grandpa?,†I said. â€Å"Grandpa Danny had a heart attack,† she said. At that point of my life, my knowledge of what a heart attack is was very vague. I just automatically thought, the per son’s heart stopped, and then they died. I did not cry or freak out like my mom was.I just sat there because I was so shocked. I had never had anything like that happen to me. Nobody in my family has ever been in a life or death health situation. I felt the leather on the seats heat up while I was clenching on to them, trying not to freak out. The rough leather was becoming soft*. I tried to calm my mom down and tell her that we do not know all the facts and he is alive right now and that is what matters. We decided to take that right turn, and go towards home and go to the Grand Forks hospital where he was. All my mom wanted at that point, was tobe able to call my dad and tell him what she knewand what had happened. But she could not, because the trapper shack is in the middle of nowhere and there was no service. Our three hour drive to Grand Forks felt like it was ten hours. Of course the weather was crappy, which did not help our mind set. The clouds were dark and the sky was grey like the mood.During the whole car ride, my mom was on the phone with her brothers and her mom, all talking about her dad. She was in tears the whole entire time. We finally get to the hospital. We run to the front desk and urgently try to figure out where my Grandpa Danny is. He was on the third floor;The Intensive care unit floor. It smelled like chemicals right as we got there. We went up the elevator and right when we get out we see our family in the waiting room. We see my Uncle Todd, my Uncle Brad, my cousins Abby, Hannah, and Josh, and lastly, my Grandma Delores. My heart broke for her the first second I saw her. I felt so bad thinking of what kind of worry and sadness she must have been in at that moment. I laugh when I feel uncomfortable, so I awkwardly laughed when I hugged them all. I could tell that everyone was in distress. Then, we wait. Everyone but my grandma finally leaves to go to sleep. We still did not know if he was okay or not. The next morning we all went to the hospital bright and early. Once again, we sat in the waiting room, waiting. My cousin Abby and Uncle Brad and I decided to go to Starbucks to get some actually decent coffee. I will never forget when my Uncle Brad quietly said to us. â€Å"Girls, you should possibly get something to wear to a funeral because things are not looking so good,† he said. He was trying not to cry when he said it. That sentence that he had said brought my hopes down and put me in the realization that my grandpa may not make it. The taste of my sweet vanilla latte soon became bitter. My cousin Abby and I are very close. She is in the front seat and turned around to look at me. We both wear the same somber expression on our faces but both force a little smile to make the other feel better. When we got back to the waiting room, it was once again awkward and worrysome feeling. I felt better when I saw the other familiarfaces of my family. In times like this, family becomes important. Once ag ain, everyone is sitting in the waiting room. â€Å"I am going to go to the bathroom,† I said. I walk into the tiny hospital bathroom. During those past few days I hadn’t cried at all; I was trying to stay positive and didn’t want anybody in the family to see me cry. I broke down in tears in the bathroom. I thought about my grandpas soft smile and imagined never being able to see it again. The bathroom walls were closing in on me, and laughing at me for hiding my tears from everyone. I guess that those tears were good luck. A few hours later, we found out that he was okay and we could come to his roomand see him. The bright white hospital walls became even brighter. I could almost hear everyones breath of relief and peace. Being able to see him after being so worried was amazing. He was in bad shape, but he still was trying to crack a joke and make the mood a little bit more lighthearted when we saw him. That is just who he is. The room felt crowded at first, an d I thought that since there was so many people in there, my grandpa would not notice me. But after he said the simple phrase, ‘Hi my Lucy†, (thats his nickname for me), I felt like it was only us two in the whole hospital. Going through this experience has taught me to never take anything, especially family, for granted. I cherish every moment I get when I see my grandpa and how blessed my family is that he made it through that life or death experience. It taught me to be thankful for my puzzle, but know that it may not always be perfect and put together. As we left the hospital that day, the trees were the exact same as they were before. The leaves were yellow and orange. But one thing that was not the same as it was before, was the sky. Rather than being grey and gloomy like the mood, it became sunny and light. It was Gods way of saying your welcome and to never lose hope.

The Happiest Day in My Life free essay sample

I was sitting in my room after finishing my home work. As my friends were away to hill stations, I was feeling very lonely. I watched the cars and other vehicles passing by and wished that like my friends, I would also have been travelling or passing my time. While my mind was occupied with thoughts of holidays and having fun with my friends, the door bell rang. I ran to answer it and found the postman with a parcel and a letter for me. I signed the paper and took the parcel. My hands were itching to open the packet as my curiosity knew no bounds. I ripped the parcel open and found a beautiful tape recorder in it. The parcel had been sent from the United States and the letter along with it was from my uncle who had sent me that wonderful gift. However, even more joy than receiving the tape recorder was the letter which my uncle had written. We will write a custom essay sample on The Happiest Day in My Life or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The letter was an invitation to go to the United States for my holidays. My uncle had arranged everything for me-the tickets and the visa, and I already had a passport. My heart skipped several beats as I ran to give this great news to my mother. She was taken aback initially and her first reaction was not so positive. However, she thought about it, consulted my father who was at his office and they both agreed to allow me to go to the United States to spend the rest of my holidays with my uncle. I jumped from room to room and started packing my clothes, my toys, my books and other articles that I would need on the flight and in America. My mind was filled with various ideas about how I would spend my time with my cousins. I started dreaming about Disney world, Universal studios, the Statue of Liberty, the Grand Canyon and all the other tourist attractions that I had read about in magazines. My father took me shopping the same day because he felt that I would need some more things to take with me. We bought gifts for my cousins and my uncle and aunt and when I came back home my cupboard was full of new clothes, shoes, gifts, etc. Since I had not expected any such thing to happen to me, and I had been feeling sorry for myself, this offer came as a great surprise. This was indeed the happiest day of my life and I dont think I shall ever forget it as long as I live.

The True Meaning of Honor

The True Meaning of Honor Free Online Research Papers I’m not going to sit here and preach to you that I have met and interacted with every type of person, because I haven’t. And I can assure you that nobody else in this world has either. So how would a boy who grew up in the war torn streets of Afghanistan define honor compared to the daughter of a wealthy investment banker? The true meaning of honor has to mean something different to different people from cultures, cultures with different values, those with different character, and those who have had different life experiences. For example, not lying to a parent might not be as honorable as other things to someone who has experienced sacrificing something of value for the betterment of someone else. I can open up a dictionary and tell you that the definition of honor is â€Å"honesty, fairness, or integrity in ones beliefs and actions,† or maybe â€Å"A principled uprightness of character; personal integrity.† I can also tell you that the word has a Latin, Middle English, and Anglo-French origin and to pronounce it you have to be able to say on-er. But a bunch of words jumbled together by the folks at American Heritage can only give you the impression that you now possess the knowledge of what â€Å"honor† really means. But do you? I don’t. Truthfully, I have no idea what those American Heritage literary geniuses are trying to tell me. However, I can certainly tell you my opinion. I believe honor is being you, in the sense of being individual, independent, and thinking for yourself while doing what you believe is right. Today, everyone is being brainwashed to do what society wants them to do and have the same opinion about everything. Yes, that Northface jacket, those gazillion Polos, and having the best truck in town might get you respect, but how much of an individual are you? How much of this â€Å"honor† would it take for you to drive something more fuel efficient? Or to wear something outside of the boundaries of the standard classic fit Polo? I ask myself this as well because I am also guilty of following some trends. So how much individuality do I have? Am I honorable? To take individuality to a further extent, how much honor does one have to have to risk sacrificing his or her life to help someone else need, especially if no one else around does? In the epic poem Beowulf, Wiglaf, a soldier of the king Beowulf, has enough individuality to decide that he alone will assist his loyal king instead of fleeing like the rest of the warriors. Honor of this magnitude is hard to rival. Since honor to different people can mean things completely different, it’s almost impossible to come up with a solid definition of what it actually is. To some people being a brave soldier and dying for the country you love is honorable. For others, it might be being a Peace Corps volunteer in a poor African country. While both of these instances that are considered honorable might be a little different, I think it all goes back to being an individual and doing what you think is right. Those volunteers don’t go to Africa just for an experience. They go to help a world in need. Those soldiers aren’t out there dying for any reason, they are ensuring America stays free. So in the end, to you, me, or even the girl next door, what is considered honorable might seem to be completely different, but it still shares the same basic idea. To be honorable is to be that person who goes against society, leads not follows by being an individual, or even helps a king slay a fire breathing dragon. And while even in Pagan times honor was present, throughout that tiny bit of time that has elapsed till now, the same basic idea still exists. Research Papers on The True Meaning of HonorComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoWhere Wild and West Meet19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementCapital PunishmentThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropePersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionBringing Democracy to Africa

Disability Management Program Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Disability Management Program - Assignment Example Supervisors in any organization face various challenges regarding the size of the work unit, timely delivery of project and employee motivation. Illness and injuries are the most common reasons that an employee shows for absenteeism. The main challenge for an employer is to manage the absenteeism so that the departmental goal can be achieved timely and the cost of project execution can be minimized. The disability management program focuses on preventing the cause of absence due to illness, disability, and injury. Cooperation and respect need to be promoted among supervisors, employees and unions to create a successful disability management program. There are various steps to be followed to build a successful disability management program. These steps include building a team-based management; developing a framework, obtaining resources etc. Disability management program has an extended effect on various levels of the organization. It could be beneficial to the employers, employees, union and health care providers. Active participation of each and every team is necessary as it ensures the proper work execution in the workplace and it also ensures benefits for the employers and employees. Disability management program helps employers to manage cost and to improve benefits for employees by creating more cooperative, productive and safe workplace. This program also helps the employer to reduce the cost of recruitment and training and reduce the time and cost of employee turnover. A well-designed disability management program enables employers to reduce compensation cost of workers’ and it helps them to reduce accidents in the workplace. Disability management program helps employees to generate awareness about all the cost of injuries and sickness.

Addressing Child Poverty in the UK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Addressing Child Poverty in the UK - Essay Example This limiting of considerations and change in social policies is not simply a development in UK’s guiding principles toward families and children within its frontier, but is applied to promote a specific political objective across the globe. The child poverty program of Labour is driven by the broadening of inequality and increase in social exclusion in the UK throughout the past two decades and specifically the worsening in the conditions of UK children in comparison to other vulnerable groups. This has shown that the main social objective of the government of the UK has increasingly turned into addressing child poverty. The UK government is viewing and treating poverty not only as a symptom of socioeconomic disparity, but as a force producing resource deficit and hampering the educational achievement and growth of children. Social policy refers to the study of the structure and provision of public services, security, and welfare within countries. Its emphasis is on the means in which various countries interpret and address the demands and needs of their citizens (Micklewright & Stewart 2000, 89). Basically, social policy is an applied discourse which tackles the provision and organisation of resources for the fulfilment of social needs. This paper will analyse and discuss the development of UK government’s social policy since 1997, particularly in relation to child poverty, along with two other related policy areas, namely, child abuse and low educational attainment. There have been substantial disparities in child poverty between countries over the past two decades. In some societies, particularly the UK, the extent of child poverty broadened significantly, whereas in other European countries it did not (Hills 1998, 8). Rather, different types of welfare state safeguarded revenue and expenses flowing to children. This refers to the mutual connection between children’s citizenship or political representation and their cultural and social representation. This demands both reassessing the segregation and exclusion of children from the society and re-evaluating the commonplace but negative stereotypes of children that govern political discourse (Dobrowolsky 2002, 45). Nevertheless, there is a vital link between children’s influence in policymaking and political discussion and the culturally and socially constructed paradigms in which children are viewed. Moreover, several studies have emphasised the connection between child poverty and a number of forms of child abuse, particularly physical and emotional maltreatment, and neglect (Devaney & Spratt 2009, 2). There is no major research that explicitly studied the nature of the connection between child poverty and child abuse in the UK, yet the widespread assumption focuses on the stress variables related with social exclusion and poverty, which are aggravated if mental health problems and substance abuse come about (Devaney & Spratt 2009, 2). Hence, in order to su ccessfully support and protect vulnerable families and children, there should be more understanding and knowledge of the effects of material and social deprivation, and the various kinds of difficulties that families and children are confronting have to be acknowledged if their demands and needs are to be successfully addressed. Furthermore, aside from child abuse, child poverty in the UK is now being felt in the education sector. For instance, there are empirical reports of behavioural and psychological disparities by socioeconomic standing, in at least 2-year-old children (MacBeath, Gray, Cullen, et al. 2006, 82). Alongside supporting the growth and development of

The Characteristics of Effective Groups Essay Example for Free

The Characteristics of Effective Groups Essay According to Johnson Johnson (2009), groups are defined as two or more people joined together for a common purpose to achieve a goal and influence each other. There are many different types of groups and groups exist for many reasons. Groups are interdependent â€Å"in the sense that an event which affects one member is likely to affect all† (Johnson Johnson, 2009, Chap. 1, pg. 6). Most groups are structured by a set of roles and norms. These roles define what part members of the group will play along with acceptable behavior of each role. Norms are a set of rules that are established through common beliefs and shared values that control the behavior of the group by defining what is acceptable or unacceptable behavior based on the situation (Johnson Johnson, 2009). This paper will provide an overview of an effective group through my personal experiences, explain roles members have played, and explain how group participation is expressed through verbal and nonverbal communication and leadership. Lastly, this paper will discuss how each of these things have contributed to the group’s effectiveness. Effective Groups Effective groups work together to achieve individual goals and team goals, and foster two-way communication between the leader and team members. The team only succeeds when everyone succeeds and resolve conflict in a constructive manner (Johnson Johnson, 2009). Working together in this setting promotes teamwork and a happy work environment. It also encourages people to be individuals and fosters innovation. Johnson Johnson (2009) have stated in order for an effective group to succeed â€Å"the group must achieve its’ goals, maintain good working relationships among members, and adapt to changing conditions in the surrounding organization† to include internal and external influences (Chap. 1, pg. 24). Roles The roles each member plays in the call center are defined by the job description that states functions a member is to carry out based on their role. The groups are structured in a hierarchy of a call center director who would serve as the group chair, a team of supervisors who would be considered committee chairs to help facilitate the effectiveness of the group, that have 20 direct reports or members. Once the group is organized the leader must establish clear and achievable goals. The goals must be able to satisfy individual needs in order to gain commitment from each member, but the group must also see that these goals cannot be achieved without other members of the group. If the goals are set and they are not attainable then members will feel discouraged and unmotivated to achieve the goals. These goals provide a guideline for the group to work by. Communication Once the goals are established they must be communicated to the group. Communication is a vital part of the group being able to achieve these goals as members must be able to exchange information to reduce misunderstandings and clarify work that needs to be done. Effective communication occurs when the â€Å"sender’s message is interpreted the way the sender intended it† resulting in work being accomplished more accurately and efficiently (Johnson Johnson, 2009, Chap. 4, pg. 133). Two-way communication involves both the sender and receiver engaging in open dialogue and being able to share ideas and feelings, rather than the sender communicating the message to the receiver and limiting the receiver sharing responses. Although two-way communication is more time-consuming this is the method that is used with the effective group at my job to encourage group participation, limit frustration, encourage innovation, and increased productivity. Communication is also delivered through different channels verbally and nonverbally that the receiver will have to interpret. Some of the channels that are used are presentations that can be verbally and nonverbal, face-to- face communication, email, group meetings, questionnaires, surveys, reports, conferences, and more. The receiver will pay attention to pictures, words (spoken and unspoken), body language, facial expressions, seating arrangements to show authority, size of the room, invitees, lighting, props used to facilitate the message, and more. Communication should be clear, informative, and delivered using methods assessable to everyone. Employees should have an opportunity to ask questions and managers should also follow-up with employees to ensure they are on the right track. Leadership and Participation In order to establish an effective group, leadership and participation must be distributed amongst all group members to ensure commitment on everyone’s part and to take advantage of all the resources within the group (Johnson Johnson 2009). Two leadership approaches that I’ve continued to use is the â€Å"Try this and What do you think? † These have been both very effective working in a call center, especially one that is new. Within our call center employees are always learning new ways of doing things and improving upon processes, but we simply can’t do it without feedback. Feedback is an important resource that we rely on as managers to tell us what our employees like and dislike and it aids our employees in their development to reinforce positive and negative behavior. As a manager I wear many hats, one of them being a coach. Coaching helps employees identify strengths and weaknesses, and offers guidance without telling the employee what to do. This has been effective because it facilitates conversation between the employee and leader and allows two-way conversation versus it being one-sided. When one effectively coaches and offers suggestions, employees know you care and have an interest in what they are doing and often times will exceed performance expectations because of successful coaching. Once the employees meets/exceeds the manager can continue to give them task that will stretch them and challenge them to aid in their continued growth and development. When coaching employees it will be important to set SMART Goals and ensure that tasks are assigned appropriately according to the employees skillset otherwise, this may hinder development and frustrate the employee. Using the â€Å"What do you think? † approach is considered participative leadership. All decisions made within an organization should not be the sole responsibility of leaders. Depending on the type of decision being made should determine who is involved in the decision making process. By consulting the group the manager is more apt to get buy-in when implementing change and it shows the group that you value their opinion. Although this can be a time consuming approach according to Yukl (2006), when employees feel like they are part of the process they are more likely to accept decisions and performance and morale increases, along with commitment of employees. Leaders will have to be careful that employees have time to participate and aren’t overloaded with work, subordinates share the leader’s goals and tasks, ensure criteria for determining decision is fair so the ajority will be likely to accept the decision, and one’s personal views don’t impact the decision. I’ve used this approach of decision making when trying to find out what type of rewards employees would like so they would work harder to achieve the goal versus me going out and buying things that they will not benefit from resulting in them not being motivated to achieve the goal. This approach can be effective when used for the right reasons and not the leader wanting to avoid the decision making process. Match Decision-Making with the needs of the Situation From time to time leaders will have to make decision that can not be derived out of group consensus. According to Yukl (2006) Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchard proposed the situational leadership theory that states the approach a leader takes will be based on the situation, subordinate maturity, and level of influence one needs to complete the task. Effective situational leadership â€Å"acts as one function between the leader style, maturity of follower, and situation and each must be appropriate for one another† (1000 Ventures, 2009). The style of the leader is not consistent with each person because one’s behavior, level of understanding, and commitment to the task may change depending on the situation therefore, the leader must be prepared to use a variety of leadership styles. The key to effective situational leadership is to effectively understand the situation, provide employees with the appropriate tools to learn and aid in development through coaching and feedback, along with keeping individuals motivated. It is never appropriate to assume that all individuals are on the same level because people have different life experiences and needs therefore, proper questioning and observation should be used to be effective at situational leadership. Leaders have to be careful that their leadership style is appropriate for the situation and if not this could be perceived negatively in which the leader will have to make an adjustment. I have used situational leadership as a manager and have found that it is important when the situation affects the group to get the groups buy-in by presenting the problem, getting suggestions, and then making a decision. Resolving Conflict in Constructive Ways No group is perfect and disagreements are bound to happen from misunderstandings, lack of communication or clear goals, personal opinions however, with effective groups disagreements are beneficial, but must be resolved in a constructive manner. According to Johnson Johnson (2009), disagreements promote â€Å"creative decision making and problem solving, promote involvement in the groups work, and commitment to implementing group decisions† (Chap. , pg. 27). Group challenges also ensure that the minority is heard rather than always going with the majority and everyone has a voice. If disagreements are not handled timely and addressed they can destroy the group. Members of effective groups resolve their conflict through compromise, negotiation, analyzing problems by using supporting data, and ensuring the process is fair and everyone is heard to come up with the best solution for the group and leave all members satisfied. If the group is unable to reach a decision then they may enter into a process called mediation whereby an appointed member may determine the best course of action and the group will trust the decision made by the appointed member and move on (Johnson Johnson, 2009). Conclusion All groups are set up based on a structure that includes roles and norms to provide a basic framework for members to function. In order for the group to be effective members must understand what roles they play in order to avoid role conflict and acknowledge the norms exist and they must follow them or accept consequences for not following them. Effective groups use their ability to influence and increase the knowledge and skill of each other and react to issues in a positive manner to resolve conflict to allow the group to run more smoothly. In order for these issues to be well managed the group has to understand the organization’s strategy and business objectives and continually look to the future needs of the organization, consumer, employee, environment, and economy due to continual changes to ensure the organization and group is able to keep up. By each member maintaining its’ commitment to the group, having clear goals and understanding of how they fit in, maintaining clear and open lines of communication, proper balance of leadership and participation to ensure balance of workloads and direction, along with proper channels to resolve conflict will continue to contribute to the group’s effectiveness and enable long lasting effective groups.