A Social Strategy for a Daily Health Focused Life

 With experience as a principal, Steve Betando is an educational administrator in Northern California who most recently served as superintendent of the Morgan Hill Unified School District. One focus for Steve Betando is helping others achieve life balance in areas that range from physical health to social wellness.

The latter concept refers to the critical close relationships people have with others which has become increasingly sparse since the dawn of the digital age. More challenges to the human connection occurred when the pandemic caused further separation and isolative experiences. Many people struggled with forced distancing experience while heavily desired the physical presence of others. Whether physical isolation is voluntary or forced, there are other ways to support mental wellness by keeping social connected to others through a nurturing communication link with friends, family, old acquaintances, and coworkers.

Physical proximity certainly has a positive influence not quite found by another means of connection. However, it is important to take advantage of old and new technology when it is not possible to by physically together. Staying connected with others does not require close or lengthy physical proximity. A simple phone call, text, or email can help reestablish a sense of continuity with others. Try to integrate “10-second relationships” into the day as well. This involves simple greetings and conversations with neighbors, service workers, and others who share part of daily life's path.

For many, reaching out to others is not necessarily comfortable. For more reserved people, being the first to reach out to others must be an acquired skill before it become a natural part of their daily experience. The connection focus on improving communication skills and interacting with others in ways that carry minimal expectations and ulterior motives.

Proven effects of prosocial behavior include a raise in self-esteem, a stronger sense of purpose, and the frequency of "paying the positive connection forward," to others. Such brief interactions of human connectivity have profound positive influence on each individual involved in the interaction. A study providing a Theoretical Perspective on Thriving Through Relationships, (Feeney and Collins, 2014) found that receiving prosocial acts are associated with fewer depressive symptoms and greater belongingness.

Multiple studies find that the human connection also decreases other health risks and improves physical well-being and longevity. Researchers have found that strong social connections also strengthen the immune system. Over time, infusing prosocial behaviors in your day’s routine will likely increase your chances of a longer life by as much as 50%. Moreover, enhancing the human connection in your and other lives will make each day on earth more healthy, positive, and meaningful.

The Canine Companions Offering Company and Promoting Independence

 

A bachelor of arts graduate in psychology from San Jose State University, California, Steve Betando, a former principal, recently retired as superintendent at Morgan Hill Unified School District. Passionate about community involvement, he actively takes part in local events. Aside from being a benefactor for the Canine Companions organization, Steve Betando invited and arranged for the Canine Companion therapy dogs with their owners to assist in calming down anxious children during hundreds of Santa Clara County Office of Education supported COVID-19 vaccine clinics.

Founded in 1975, the Canine Companions organization provides service dogs to people with various forms of disabilities, whether physical or cognitive, including children, and facility dogs for people working in criminal justice, educational institutions, and healthcare. The organization believes in the transformative spirit of human and dog partnership and provides the canines at no cost to those seeking and needing independence the most.

A full non-profit, the Canine Companions rely on well-wishers to keep the programs running, including fundraising events such as the DogFest. These annual event offers a fun platform for registrants, sponsors, donors, and vendors at over 15 different event locations in the country. Though registration is free, entrants are encouraged to raise funds. The 2022 DogFest series raised a total of $1.5million for Canine Companions.

Conflict Management and Negotiation

A resident of San Jose, California, Steve Betando is an educator with over 36 years of experience. He served as the superintendent of the Morgan Hill Unified School District, during which time he received the California Distinguished Schools Gold Ribbon Award. Steve Betando is also a consultant and trainer on conflict management.

Building relationships provide the basis for conflict resolutions. Conflict management refers to the means by which parties can settle disagreements amicably among themselves. There are various conflict resolution techniques. Some of them are as follows:

Compromising and reconciling. This technique involves both parties letting go of something, be it an opinion or otherwise, to locate a middle path from where they can identify a resolution. Rarely can negotiations be settled without compromise and reconciliation.

Problem-solving/Confrontation. With this method, people involved in the conflict or who may have a difference in opinion come forward to discuss the issues at hand with a very open mind. Constructive confrontation refers to confronting the issue, not confronting other parties in an adversarial manner. For success, parties must focus on resolving the conflict and finding the best alternative or solution while understanding the benefits of resolution for all parties.

Smoothing/accommodating. When two parties dissent on an issue and discussions stall, either party can lead a resolving perspective on the situation by stressing points of agreement while recognizing, but de-emphasizing disagreements. Working together on common goals can act as a catalyst to dissolve the tension between the people involved by instilling trust and motivating both sides to resolve the conflict.

How Does Interest-Based Bargaining Work?

With a career of more than 35 years in teaching and education administration, California resident Steve Betando is the current superintendent of Morgan Hill Unified School District. His previous roles include that of principal for Chrysler Elementary School and Eisenhut Elementary School, both in the Stanislaus school district where he eventually served as an assistant superintendent. Steve Betando also works as a leadership development consultant and has conducted training programs on topics like interest-based bargaining.

While bargaining is often seen as a confrontational activity, an interest-based bargaining (IBB) approach seeks to make negotiations more collaborative. Instead of positional bargaining, where parties pit demands or needs against each other and try to get the better deal, IBB involves more conversation and transparency, where groups lay their issues out and then brainstorm on resolutions that will benefit everyone. That is why IBB is also known as win-win bargaining. Another term for it is ‘integrative bargaining’ since the process often integrates a number of contested issues, and the stakeholders trade off on individual matters for an overall outcome where everyone gets some part of what they want.

The first step in an IBB discussion is to identify the issue. Parties then break down the core matter into their individual and shared interests and concerns in it. Clarifying what each group wants out of the negotiation and why is important and necessary for a more empathetic mindset when coming up with solutions. Breaking down the issue may also enable the negotiators to find specific answers that they mutually agree on. A crucial part of shortlisting solutions, therefore, is to create an objective metric for them; standardizing the desired outcomes ensures that parties do not leverage power or lose sight of the goal where everyone benefits. Finally, once everyone has addressed their needs and expectations, they decide on the solution plan together, rather than one group taking the lead.