AVISTA E-Update

The latest news and insights on safety-critical software and systems development from the AVISTA services team. Subscribe to our monthly email updates.

AVISTA Makes Local Scholarship Donation
Esterline Control Systems - AVISTA has committed to a $7,500 matching funds commitment for scholarships for the Platteville High School (PHS) Scholarship Fund. The goal of the PHS Scholarship Fund is to give every deserving graduating senior going on to post-secondary learning a scholarship.

Create a Low-Stress Work Environment
May 8, 2012 — Stress, unfortunately, is a fact of life. It can greatly affect a person's work and output. If you manage a team, you need to know how to best deal with work stress, both your own and that of your employees.

Essential Behaviors of High Performing Managers, Part 2
May 1, 2012 — Achieving a high level of performance is, for most managers, an ongoing and never-ending pursuit. While it can be difficult to pin down exactly what makes each individual person more or less effective, it is possible to identify generic elements of behavior which can significantly increase your chances of becoming a high performer.

Essential Behaviors of High Performing Managers, Part 1
April 24, 2012 — Achieving a high level of performance is, for most managers, an ongoing and never-ending pursuit. While it can be difficult to pin down exactly what makes each individual person more or less effective, it is possible to identify generic elements of behavior which can significantly increase your chances of becoming a high performer.

Are You an Approachable Manager?
April 17, 2012 — Good managers are often defined by their approachability. If employees are comfortable with their manager, day-to-day tasks become more enjoyable and the overall work environment becomes more pleasant. Here are some tips.

Five Tips for Reducing Nervousness When Giving a Speech
April 10, 2012 — For most people, getting up in front of a group to speak is difficult. Even for an experienced presenter it usually creates nervousness. If you are unable to control your nervousness, it can inhibit you and prevent you from becoming an effective speaker. Once understood, nervousness can be your best weapon and can be used to your advantage. The next time that you deliver a speech, try using these five tips.

Communicate More Effectively
April 3, 2012 — Greek philosopher Epictetus said, “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” These words serve to remind us that the art of communication really is a two-way street. The need to be heard and understood is critical for everyone, particularly in a difficult situation. Thankfully, there are a few helpful things that can make all the difference in avoiding a potentially costly misunderstanding.

Dealing with Workplace Conflict
March 27, 2012 — Conflict is a natural result of workplace interaction. It happens most often when one party becomes frustrated by the words or actions of another party—including individuals, work teams, departments or the company itself. Conflict can be good, especially when the solution benefits many or encourages cooperation. However, unresolved conflict may lead to productivity loss and a negative working environment.

Help Your Team Embrace Change Instead of Fearing It
March 21, 2012 — It is human nature to resist things that are different. Even in organizations that embrace process improvement, change can be challenging to achieve. However, you can embrace change, and even help your team by better understanding why we resist and then take action.

AVISTA Services to Present at SEPG 2012
March 13, 2012 — This week is the premier conference on software and systems process management—SEPG North America. For the fourth time, one of those sessions will be presented by an AVISTA services expert. Craig Hale, process improvement manager for the AVISTA services team, is presenting “Using Statistical Models for Real-Time Quality and Performance.

Five Tips for Running More Effective Meetings
March 6, 2012 — As the meeting manager, it is up to you to ensure that the objectives of the meeting are met and that it is a worthwhile use of people’s time. Consider these five simple elements to make your next meeting a success.