Sesión 4
Celebrating Birthdays and Transitioning Activities
Initial Remarks
- The speaker expresses a casual approach to celebrating birthdays, indicating spontaneity in their celebrations. They hope for no negative reactions from others.
- A transition is made to other activities, signaling a shift in focus during the session.
Information Sharing and Meeting Logistics
Session Preparation
- The speaker discusses logistical aspects of an upcoming meeting, emphasizing the importance of efficiency and thoroughness in information sharing. They aim to cover all necessary topics without leaving anything pending.
- There is mention of connecting with colleagues for better collaboration during the session, highlighting the need for effective communication tools.
Understanding Effectiveness and Results
Key Concepts of Effectiveness
- The speaker defines effectiveness as the ability to achieve results through deliberate actions rather than chance or coincidence, stressing that results must be built intentionally.
- Community ethics and values are introduced as part of a broader discussion on collective efforts within groups, indicating a focus on shared responsibilities and outcomes.
Communication Challenges in Decision-Making
Importance of Communication
- A participant emphasizes that communication should not involve blaming others but rather understanding situations to help individuals improve without assigning fault. This reflects a proactive approach to problem-solving.
- The complexity of processing information for decision-making is acknowledged, suggesting that effective tools are necessary for managing this process efficiently within teams.
Collective Agreement and Proactive Attitudes
Navigating Group Dynamics
- The challenges of reaching consensus among larger groups are discussed; more participants can complicate agreement processes despite seeming like it would simplify discussions. Proactive attitudes are encouraged as essential for productive meetings.
Success Stories from Agricultural Innovation
Case Study: Hydroponic Farming
- An anecdote about a successful agricultural company illustrates how innovation can thrive even in challenging environments (e.g., hydroponic farming in Baja California). This contrasts with another group's reliance on government support instead of seeking innovative solutions themselves.
What Makes Successful Desert Farming Possible?
Key Strategies for Success
- The speaker inquires about the factors contributing to successful desert farming, receiving insights on preparation, training, and bringing in skilled individuals, particularly highlighting the expertise of the Israelites in cultivating arid land.
- A significant challenge mentioned is reaching agreements among team members, contrasting childhood ease with adult complexities in decision-making and responsibility.
Importance of Assertiveness
- The concept of assertiveness is introduced as a vital aspect of human behavior that involves recognizing one's rights while respecting others' rights. This quality fosters equality among individuals.
- Assertive orientation is defined as taking ownership of one’s rights while acknowledging and respecting the rights of others, promoting mutual respect.
Types of Aggressive Behavior
- Three types of aggressive behaviors are identified:
- Physical violence (e.g., murderers or thieves).
- Verbal aggression (e.g., those who lie or humiliate).
- Manipulative behavior disguised as kindness or incompetence.
Passive Behavior and Victim Mentality
- Individuals with passive behavior often see themselves as inferior and allow others to infringe upon their rights. This can manifest as a victim mentality where they frequently complain without taking action.
- The victim's tendency to complain rather than act is highlighted, emphasizing a reliance on external rescue rather than personal agency.
Communication Styles
Understanding Assertiveness and Communication
The Nature of Assertiveness
- Assertiveness is a decision made by individuals regarding how they communicate their rights and respect others' rights. This decision can be revisited at any time.
Choosing Behavior
- Individuals have the power to choose their behavior, whether it aligns with being an aggressor or a victim. This choice can be made in the present moment.
Childhood and Natural Assertiveness
- Children are born with a natural assertive orientation, lacking prejudices and fears. They initially understand responsibility rather than guilt, which develops around age six or seven due to societal influences.
Characteristics of Assertive Behavior
- Proactive behavior is a hallmark of assertive individuals; they take initiative rather than waiting for things to happen.
- Effective leadership involves fostering personal assertiveness in subordinates, enabling them to develop and improve through supportive guidance.
The Importance of Proactivity
- To achieve better outcomes (e.g., job satisfaction or income), one must actively seek opportunities instead of relying on external factors like luck or divine intervention.
The Role of Positive Orientation in Assertiveness
Understanding Positive Orientation
- A positive orientation goes beyond superficial optimism; it involves having beliefs that help transcend negativity and fear when asking for what one needs.
Real-Life Application: Asking for Help
- An example illustrates how someone hesitated to ask for permission due to fear but was encouraged to approach the situation proactively, demonstrating that asking effectively can lead to support.
Strategies for Effective Asking
Understanding Assertive Behavior and Self-Efficacy
The Importance of Saying Yes
- The speaker emphasizes the need for others to agree with him, highlighting that it is in their best interest to support his return due to ongoing projects and initiatives he has at the hotel.
- He stresses the importance of effective communication when making requests, advocating for assertiveness in asking for what one needs.
Concept of Self-Efficacy
- Introduces self-efficacy as a form of internal personal control, which is rooted in the belief that individuals have control over their own lives rather than allowing external factors or people to dictate their circumstances.
- The speaker asserts that maintaining this internal control is crucial throughout life, emphasizing a mindset of "I can" and "I am."
Lifelong Learning and Humility
- Discusses the concept of lifelong learning, referring to it as rectification and affirmation. He expresses gratitude for being a continuous learner from various sources around him.
- Encourages colleagues to learn from each other’s successes and failures instead of reinventing processes unnecessarily.
Benchmarking Best Practices
- Highlights the importance of benchmarking—learning from how others achieve success—to improve one's own practices within an organization.
- Stresses humility as essential for learning; warns against pride which can hinder growth and collaboration.
Emotions in Assertive Behavior
- Describes vital energy as a characteristic of assertive behavior, noting that children naturally express emotions like joy more freely than adults do.
- Observes that high-productivity teams often exhibit joy, which fosters creativity and innovation while reducing fear in communication.
Promoting Healthy Joy in Organizations
- Advocates for cultivating a healthy sense of joy within organizations, suggesting it leads to better thinking and openness among team members.
Work Culture and Self-Esteem Insights
The Importance of Passion in Work
- The speaker expresses a deep love for their work, emphasizing that passion drives them to continue working even when tired. They highlight the joy found in doing what one loves.
Managing Organizational Realities
- Acknowledges the non-existence of perfect organizations, sharing 50 years of experience in various organizational settings. The focus should be on managing both positive and negative aspects effectively.
Cultivating Joyful Work Environments
- Stresses the need for creating work cultures filled with joy and energy, which serve as vital fuel for thoughts, actions, and feelings. This energy is essential for productivity.
Ethics and Assertive Behavior
- Discusses assertive behavior as acting in one's own interest without harming others. Emphasizes the importance of internal (self-consideration) and external (consideration for others) ethics.
Understanding Self-Esteem Components
- Identifies self-esteem as a personal experience rooted within oneself. It is influenced by self-knowledge, which includes understanding fears, joys, limits, and capabilities.
The Role of Self-Knowledge
- Highlights that true love requires knowledge; similarly, self-love stems from self-awareness. Knowing oneself deeply allows for better appreciation of personal strengths and weaknesses.
Exploring Self-Concept
- Explains that self-concept involves how one perceives themselves versus how they believe others perceive them. It can fluctuate between feelings of superiority or inferiority compared to peers.
The Journey to Self-Acceptance
Understanding Self-Acceptance and Its Impact on Relationships
The Cost of Self-Rejection
- The speaker discusses the consequences of self-rejection, using a broken vase as a metaphor for personal responsibility. They emphasize that while mistakes happen, it's essential to learn from them to prevent recurrence.
Self-Rejection and Paranoia
- The speaker explains how self-rejection can lead to feelings of paranoia, where individuals may perceive rejection from others even when it does not exist. This mindset creates fear around vulnerability and asking for help.
Fear of Vulnerability
- Acknowledging one's limitations is crucial; the speaker highlights that many people fear admitting they don't know something due to low self-esteem. This fear can hinder personal growth and open communication.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Analogy
- The discussion shifts to the importance of self-care through an analogy involving PPE in safety culture. The speaker recounts experiences with individuals who neglect their safety, paralleling this neglect with emotional well-being.
Setting Boundaries in Relationships
- Emphasizing respect in relationships, the speaker asserts that people will treat you based on how you allow them to treat you. Establishing boundaries is vital for mutual respect without conflict.
Conclusion: Taking Responsibility for Self-Care
Assertiveness and Responsibility in Relationships
Setting Boundaries and Respect
- The speaker emphasizes the importance of mutual respect in relationships, stating that if someone disrespects them, they will not tolerate it. They prefer direct communication over public confrontation.
- Assertiveness is highlighted as a key principle; the speaker insists on treating others with respect while expecting the same in return. They assert control over their own life decisions.
Self-Respect and Personal Control
- The speaker reiterates their autonomy, declaring that they are responsible for their own actions and feelings. They stress that no one else can dictate their choices or emotional state.
- Self-respect is foundational to demanding respect from others. The speaker reflects on past experiences where they may have disrespected themselves and acknowledges the need for change.
Understanding Responsibility
- The concept of self-responsibility is introduced as crucial for effectiveness in life. It involves being accountable for one's thoughts, feelings, and actions.
- The speaker asserts that individuals cannot be forced to think or feel a certain way; personal responsibility lies within oneself.
Childhood Accountability vs. Adult Blame
- Children naturally take responsibility for their actions until societal influences lead them to blame others around ages 5 or 6. This shift impacts how adults perceive accountability.
- Examples illustrate how children express honest opinions about food or emotions without hesitation, contrasting with adult tendencies to deflect blame onto external factors.
Consequences of Blame Culture
- Adults often blame circumstances or other people for their situations instead of taking ownership of their decisions. This behavior leads to victim mentality.
- The speaker critiques this tendency by highlighting how individuals rationalize delays or failures by blaming others rather than acknowledging personal choices.
Guilt vs. Responsibility
- Guilt is described as a counterproductive emotion that does not facilitate change but rather wastes time and energy without leading to actionable outcomes.
- In contrast, embracing personal responsibility empowers individuals to make changes because it acknowledges ownership over one's thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Understanding Personal Responsibility and Guilt
The Concept of Responsibility
- Emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility in actions, thoughts, and feelings. Acknowledges that mistakes can be learned from to avoid repetition.
- Discusses how blaming others for one's problems does not absolve one from the consequences of their actions. Personal accountability is crucial.
The Nature of Guilt
- Describes guilt as a complex emotion that combines shame, anger, sadness, and fear. It is portrayed as more debilitating than any single negative emotion.
- Highlights the corrosive nature of guilt, suggesting it affects individuals both consciously and subconsciously.
Mythological Illustrations of Guilt
- Introduces the story of Orestes from Greek mythology to illustrate themes of guilt and responsibility. Orestes' narrative serves as a metaphor for understanding personal accountability.
- Explains Cassandra's curse in mythology—her ability to predict the future but being disbelieved—symbolizing the loss of trust when one fails to take responsibility.
Consequences of Actions
- Discusses Clytemnestra's betrayal during the Trojan War and its repercussions on familial relationships, emphasizing how actions lead to inevitable consequences.
- Introduces the concept of Eriae (Furies), representing guilt that relentlessly pursues those who have committed wrongdoings.
Moving Beyond Guilt
- Advocates for accepting mistakes as part of being human while stressing that suffering from them is unnecessary; instead, one should learn and move forward.
- Stresses the importance of effective communication in processing information before sharing it with others, highlighting that clarity enhances understanding.
Assertive Communication and Information Processing
Importance of Information Processing
- Effective communication begins with processing information thoroughly. The quality and quantity of information directly influence the clarity of conveyed meanings.
- Using precise language is crucial; vague terms can lead to misunderstandings. For example, stating "the unit is running a bit bad" lacks specificity.
Clarity Through Precision
- Asking targeted questions helps gather specific data about issues, such as identifying when an engine problem occurs (e.g., overheating on the highway).
- Clear descriptions are essential; they should focus on factual details rather than subjective evaluations. For instance, describing an object by its physical attributes rather than labeling it as "ugly" or "pretty."
Types of Communication in Organizations
- There are two main types of communication: formal and informal. Formal communication includes messages desired by the company, such as orders and reports.
- Companies establish clear channels for communication, ensuring that messages reach the appropriate individuals without bypassing authority.
Challenges with Informal Communication
- In the absence of formal channels, informal communication often arises through gossip or rumors, which can be misleading and untraceable.
- Intrigue within organizations can lead to unproductive arguments; effective communication should remain clear and direct to avoid confusion.
Assertiveness in Communication
- Assertive communication involves being direct about one's position while also considering how messages may affect others emotionally.
- Empathy plays a vital role in assertive communication; understanding how to convey messages without causing harm fosters better relationships.
Building Relationships for Future Negotiations
Understanding Empathy in Communication
The Essence of Empathy
- Empathy is defined as the ability to understand and imagine how another person feels in a given situation, emphasizing the importance of seeing things from their perspective.
- The speaker illustrates empathy through personal examples, such as checking on a colleague who appears busy, highlighting the need to consider others' circumstances rather than one's own assumptions.
- True understanding requires recognizing and appreciating another person's feelings and experiences, which can be complex when it involves loved ones or close relationships.
Navigating Victimhood and Responsibility
- The discussion shifts to empathizing with individuals who adopt a victim mentality, stressing that one can still show compassion while maintaining boundaries regarding responsibility.
- It’s crucial to recognize that some individuals may not have been exposed to concepts like assertiveness due to their life experiences; thus, empathy must be balanced with accountability.
Assertiveness vs. Empathy
- While showing empathy towards someone who has faced hardships is important, it does not mean tolerating inappropriate behavior or neglecting one's rights.
- The speaker emphasizes that empathy should lead to constructive actions rather than enabling negative behaviors; for example, offering practical solutions instead of just sympathy.
Practical Applications of Empathy
- An example is provided where a parent empathizes with their child's frustrations about work hours but maintains clear expectations about responsibilities and rules.
- Effective communication involves understanding others while also asserting one’s own needs; this balance is essential for healthy interactions.
Active Listening Techniques
- Listening effectively requires engaging all senses—being aware of non-verbal cues such as smells or temperatures in an environment enhances understanding during conversations.
Effective Listening and Empathy in Communication
The Importance of Active Listening
- Effective communication requires focused listening; one cannot speak and listen simultaneously. It is essential to process what the other person is saying before responding.
- Pay attention not only to words but also to body language, which can reveal emotions such as calmness, restlessness, or anxiety. This awareness enhances understanding.
- Encourage dialogue by asking questions that prompt the speaker to elaborate on their thoughts. This approach fosters a deeper exchange of information.
- Aim to listen for understanding rather than interpretation. True comprehension leads to better decision-making in communication contexts.
Building Empathy in Conversations
- Empathy involves understanding others' perspectives without necessarily agreeing with them. It's crucial when addressing issues directly with individuals involved.
- Gathering comprehensive information about an individual's behavior is vital before discussing incidents or problems, ensuring fair treatment based on context and history.
- Differentiate responses based on past behaviors; repeated issues may require stricter consequences compared to first-time occurrences, highlighting the need for tailored approaches.
Practical Applications of Empathy
- Understanding empathy means recognizing emotional states while maintaining boundaries. For example, acknowledging feelings of anger while enforcing rules against harmful actions.
- Real-life scenarios illustrate how empathy can be applied effectively—such as guiding children through their emotions while setting clear expectations for behavior.
- Acknowledge feelings like guilt or sadness without condoning negative actions; this balance helps individuals learn from their experiences without resorting to self-harm.
Conclusion: The Role of Empathy in Communication
- Emphasizing empathy allows for more meaningful interactions where individuals feel heard and understood, fostering a supportive environment conducive to growth and learning.
Understanding Empathy and Responsibility in Communication
The Role of Empathy
- The speaker emphasizes the importance of empathy, noting that it is complicated when dealing with operators who often play specific roles.
- There is a mention of individuals adopting victim roles, which complicates communication and understanding within the team dynamics.
- Empathy is defined as understanding another's feelings without necessarily indulging their demands; it's about recognizing frustrations and challenges they face.
Boundaries in Empathy
- The speaker warns against confusing empathy with complacency or consent, stressing that understanding does not mean justifying negative behaviors.
- A distinction is made between empathizing with someone and covering up for their mistakes; responsibility must be acknowledged by all parties involved.
Effective Communication Strategies
- Engaging in conversations to understand others' perspectives is highlighted as a key aspect of empathy, even if one disagrees with them.
- The speaker uses an analogy about personal boundaries to illustrate that while one can understand someone's feelings, it doesn't mean allowing inappropriate behavior.
Building Connections
- Establishing rapport through simple greetings and inquiries about well-being fosters empathy and opens channels for better communication.
- It’s important to differentiate between empathetic listening and taking action; effective communication involves being open to hearing others out without immediate judgment.
Challenges in Empathetic Engagement
- Some individuals may find it difficult to engage empathetically due to personal traits or social skills deficits; this requires patience from leaders.
- The speaker suggests withdrawing from complex interactions when necessary, allowing time for emotions to settle before re-engaging.
Learning from Mistakes
- Emphasis is placed on ensuring that team members learn from their mistakes rather than focusing solely on punishment; the goal should be growth and improvement.
Discipline and Leadership in Organizations
Understanding Discipline
- The definition of discipline is maintaining or restoring order, focusing on solutions rather than punishment.
- Discipline is viewed as a technique that requires leadership skills to effectively manage human interactions within organizations.
Application of Policies Over Punishment
- Emphasis on applying company policies, rules, and procedures instead of administering punishment; executives should not act as judges.
- The speaker stresses the importance of consequences being seen as policy application rather than punitive measures.
Cultivating a Culture of Responsibility
- A culture of responsibility must be fostered among employees through daily interactions and communication.
- Assertiveness is highlighted as a necessary skill that needs to be developed within the organization; it cannot be taught in schools but must be cultivated internally.
Support for Employees' Well-being
- The need for psychological support for employees is acknowledged, with an example given about providing access to therapists.
- Historical context provided regarding group therapy conducted 30 years ago, emphasizing the struggles faced by operators and the importance of assertive training.
Communication Styles and Conflict Resolution
- Discussion on personality types (parent, adult, child), highlighting how these roles influence communication and conflict resolution strategies.
Understanding Communication Dynamics
The Importance of Submission to Rules
- The speaker discusses the necessity of submitting to rules and policies to avoid problems, highlighting a personal anecdote about affection in public as an example of societal norms.
Rebellion and Its Consequences
- The concept of rebellion is explored, particularly how it can stem from feeling hurt by imposed expectations. This includes criticism of extreme forms of protest that lose their meaning.
Types of Communication
- The speaker introduces three types of communication: complementary, cross, and ulterior. Each type affects interpersonal interactions differently based on the ego states involved.
Complementary Communication
- An example illustrates complementary communication where both parties engage at the adult level, allowing for productive discussions about work-related topics.
Engaging with Different Ego States
- The speaker describes engaging with different ego states (child vs. adult), demonstrating how this influences responses in casual conversations like inviting someone to a soccer game.
Challenges in Communication
- Crossed communication occurs when the addressed ego state does not respond appropriately, leading to misunderstandings and halted dialogue.
Ulterior Communication Explained
- Ulterior communication involves dual messages—one social and one psychological—that can lead to misinterpretations based on tone or body language rather than explicit words used.
Miscommunication Examples
Understanding Psychological Communication and Its Consequences
The Role of Tone and Body Language in Communication
- The speaker emphasizes the importance of tone, voice, and body language in conveying messages, suggesting that these non-verbal cues can significantly alter interpretation.
- Acknowledges the difficulty in providing a report due to miscommunication, highlighting how emotional responses can stem from perceived offenses.
- Discusses psychological interpretations where individuals may feel humiliation or rejection based on tone and body language, leading to aggressive responses.
Accumulation of Unexpressed Emotions
- Introduces the concept of "stamp collecting" from transactional analysis theory, where unexpressed emotions accumulate over time, potentially leading to explosive reactions later.
- Explains that failure to express emotions can result in severe health issues such as anxiety or heart attacks due to emotional buildup.
- Warns that unexpressed feelings often do not explode at the source but rather affect loved ones unexpectedly.
The Dangers of Psychological Games
- Highlights the serious consequences of psychological games in relationships, which can lead to extreme outcomes like hospitalization or even death if unresolved.
- Stresses the importance of addressing conflicts directly rather than allowing them to fester into dangerous psychological patterns.
Effective Communication Strategies
- Encourages clear and empathetic communication; people should express their feelings directly without resorting to manipulation or sabotage tactics.
- Reminds listeners that it’s not just what is said but how it makes others feel that matters; emotional impact lasts longer than words themselves.
Long-term Effects of Emotional Interactions
- Conveys that years later, individuals may remember how they felt during interactions more than specific words spoken during those moments.
Cordiality and Professional Relationships
Importance of Good Relations
- Emphasizes the need for empathy and understanding in professional relationships, urging individuals to avoid judgment and criticism.
- Advocates for cordiality as a means to foster positive interactions within the workplace, suggesting that a good demeanor can open doors.
Helping Others Effectively
- Discusses the importance of knowing one's limits when offering help, stating that if one cannot assist effectively, it is better not to intervene at all.
- Highlights the necessity of understanding others' capabilities before attempting to provide assistance, stressing that support should be meaningful.
Communication and Feedback
- Advises against speaking negatively about others unless there is something constructive to say; silence is preferable over harmful comments.
- Introduces the concept of giving feedback positively, indicating that there are techniques for effective communication in leadership roles.
Self-Presentation Through Behavior
- Quotes Ralph Waldo Emerson on how people's behavior reflects their character; emphasizes that actions speak louder than words.
- Observes that most people in organizations are inherently good but may struggle with appropriate behavior due to lack of guidance or knowledge.
Consequences of Actions
- Suggests focusing on helping rather than criticizing those who struggle with their behavior; encourages patience and repeated explanations when necessary.
- Stresses that individuals reveal their true nature through their actions towards others; negative speech about others reflects poorly on oneself.
The Cycle of Good and Bad Actions
- Discusses the principle that good deeds often lead to positive outcomes while bad actions result in negative consequences; this is framed as a matter of natural consequences rather than karma.
Discussion on Personal Growth and Psychoanalysis
Reflections on Classmates and Personal Experiences
- The speaker reflects on the irony of individuals in prestigious professions, like endocrinologists and chefs, being subject to their classmates' mischief.
- A light-hearted moment is shared about a photo taken during the session, emphasizing the importance of capturing good moments.
Importance of Sharing Knowledge
- The speaker encourages participants to share what they learned with someone at home, reinforcing the idea that teaching others enhances personal understanding.
- Emphasizes that discussing learned concepts leads to better retention and application of knowledge.
Artistic Representation in Therapy
- Introduction of a painting by Remedios Varo, linking it to childhood experiences and psychoanalysis.
- Discusses how Spanish artists migrated to Mexico during the civil war, highlighting cultural influences in art.
Analysis of a Specific Painting
- Focuses on a particular painting depicting a woman emerging from therapy, symbolizing self-discovery and reconstruction.
- The painting includes initials of famous therapists like Freud and Jung, indicating its psychological significance.
Themes of Father Figures in Development
- The central figure in the painting represents an individual undergoing psychoanalytic processes while discarding fears associated with paternal figures.
- Discusses how childhood perceptions shape adult identities; fathers are initially seen as heroes but can later become sources of trauma or insecurity.
Internalized Criticism from Parental Figures
- Explores how negative parental experiences can lead individuals to develop an internal critic that perpetuates feelings of inadequacy.
- Highlights the impact of autocratic parenting styles on personal development and self-esteem issues faced by adults.
Consequences of Blame and Responsibility
- Describes scenarios where individuals avoid responsibility due to internalized criticism from their upbringing.
- Reflecting on workplace dynamics where fear of consequences may stem from unresolved childhood traumas related to authority figures.
Therapeutic Insights into Family Dynamics
- Shares advice received during therapy about reconciling one's internal father figure with external realities for healing purposes.
Understanding Emancipation and Societal Norms
The Struggle for Individuality
- The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing that societal narratives may not reflect reality, urging listeners to understand the complexities behind personal stories.
- Society often reacts negatively to those who seek independence, labeling them as "bad" or "devilish" for deviating from expected norms.
- Individuals expressing their sexuality face societal condemnation despite being encouraged to live authentically, highlighting a paradox in social acceptance.
Breaking Taboos and Fears
- The speaker encourages people to confront myths and fears, advocating for self-expression while respecting others' rights.
- Acknowledges the historical context of psychoanalysis as a lengthy process, contrasting it with modern therapeutic approaches that are more efficient and positive.
Artistic Expression and Mental Health
- Discussion on Remedios Baro's artwork reflects her struggles with paranoid schizophrenia, symbolized through recurring motifs like eyes in her paintings.
- The speaker shares personal favorites among artworks, indicating how art can resonate deeply with individual experiences and emotions.
Cultural Reflections
- Mentions a nostalgic reference to childhood reading materials that shaped early perceptions of good and evil through art and literature.
Conclusion Remarks