NEED a WISH?

I remember a time when the holidays meant time off from work and relaxing with family and friends. There seems to be a new trend emerging that is creating a culture filled with deadlines and stuff that we must do. Stopping to smell the roses or should I say cinnamon cookies, is not a bad thing. Time away with others that support our lower order needs (physiological, safety, and love/belonging) strengthens our foundation. Maslow in his theory of motivation discussed this very thing. Take the time to support these lower order needs so that the higher order needs of esteem and self actualization may be gained as well. Enter the New Year with a greater perspective, refreshed, and energized. 

As we prepare to say good bye to this past year, we need to ensure we have not forgotten the lessons learned and successes that blessed us. May your holiday be filled with family, friends, and loved ones. We at McPherson|Berry wanted to provide you a gift to use for the next year. Here is a wish on us…

What are some of your holiday wishes - we invite you to share your comments with us.

Happy Holidays.

Is the Pay Equal?

The Equal Pay Act of 1963 was established to stop wage disparity based on sex. It is now 2010 and there is still a gap in pay. A senate vote failed on November 17, 2010 to approve the amendment to the act called the Paycheck Fairness Act. In a press release last week, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis issued a statement discussing her disappointment in the act not passing. This act would have closed loopholes and enforced equal pay. She went so far as to describe the gaps that still exist: for every dollar men earned women earned $.77, women of color earn $.69, and Latinas make just $.60. One reason for the act failing in the Senate is because there is a question about why the gap still exists. Is it because there is an education or experience gap? I don’t believe this is the last we have heard on this issue.

I appreciate your comments and would love to hear from you.

We wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving. 

Your Bottom Line Can Be Affected by Poor Communication Skills

Our clients engage us to work closely with them on a challenge they are facing within their company. We work with many organizations and industries to invest in their employees and improve performance. We take our work seriously and go in with not only our experience but the sensitivity we know it will take to help them work through it in a results-oriented manner. And, at the same time we always respect their privacy which is why the following example does not mention the company or any details that would lead you to presume who it is.

Challenge
With one client, we addressed the concerns of management and their communication with their employees. Feedback and discussions can be counter-productive when you are unable to drill down to the real issues and receive meaningful feedback to address a particular problem. Managers are faced with limited time, multiple tasks, meetings, and increasing interruptions from all angles. Actually “hearing” the concerns of your direct reports to solve issues and provide direction on how to best handle challenges is important to managers. However, they are often overwhelmed with white noise and long winded conversations that do not provide the information they need to resolve the issue. Many times this can force a situation to escalate when it could simply be addressed in a manner that leaves everyone feeling much better – which means everyone can move on to complete the other important tasks at hand.

Solution
In separate sessions with employees and managers, we facilitated on-site training providing them with the skills to effectively listen. We provided targeted development to a group of employees and then separately to a group of managers listening to what their barriers were in regard to listening. We then assessed their listening strengths and style to determine areas for improvement. We worked closely with them introducing our powerful communication process and model to enhance their listening ability. Once we left the facility we provided additional long-distance coaching as needed.

Results
Both groups discovered techniques to drive conversation to the information needed to effectively address concerns. They also learned their listening skills were not as sharp as they once thought. The participants appreciated the fact that our process was easy to learn with quick results improving their communication skills and promoting productive dialogue. The managers have since reported during the distance coaching and follow up process that the strategies and techniques are working positively outside of the classroom. They are now more aware of the distractions and behaviors fostering negative attitudes that were once counter-productive. By continuing to implement the techniques they learned in this program communication is enhanced which in-turn means a higher-level of production for the company.

Performance Checkup: What’s in your box of chocolate?

There is a big thrust to be healthy and go green. Have you applied the green initiative to your career? We should be as diligent about our career health as the focus we have on our physical health. Maintaining your position or gaining a new one has become challenging and complicated. As the companies and organizations push doing more with less, the employees have to be creative, responsive and more productive. With those criteria, it is easy to get lost in the process. As employees, we are ultimately responsible for our career just like our personal health. So where are you right now?

Check your Career Pulse

At the beginning of the year, you usually complete an individual development plan (IDP) and make your performance commitments for the year. However, we forget to check our progress along the way. Personal development often times becomes secondary or forgotten until review time. Regularly check your pulse by taking the time to review what you have committed. Peak performance is indicated by your ability to handle daily demands while increasing your skills and stretching beyond your normal pace. The best employees are key contributors who value and seek growth. Balancing your development against performance is a way to maintain a healthy career. It is important for organizations to see there is a balance between the two.

Exercise for Growth

Exercise is a way to build muscle. Career advancement can be considered in the same way. Having a schedule to build new skills regularly increases your chances to catapult your advancement opportunities. Add skill development opportunities to your calendar to increase your focus and build a routine. Practice increases the chances for this behavior to become a habit. It is also a good idea to have an accountability partner. Whether you hire a coach or enlist the assistance of a co-worker, having someone to help gauge your progress can be helpful. As Forest Grump was told, “You're gonna have to figure that out for yourself. Life is like a box of chocolates, Forrest. You never know what you're gonna get.” Keep your career in shape so that you can adjust and excel.