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Winter 2012 Newsletter (Newsletter Archives)
Update From Eileen
Today was one of those rare early mornings in which a full moon still hung over the Pacific Ocean while to the east, the sky brightened in streaks of coral and pale blue.
Night and day. Yin and yang. The beginning and the end. All suspended for a few minutes between heaven and earth.
These past few months I have felt the same way as we try our feeble best to support Mom, age 95, through the last days of her life. Endings. Beginnings. In speaking to many of you, I know I am not alone in trying to care for a loved one while still juggling the demands of work and family.
Caught between this night and day, how acutely I realize the need to ask for help and to gratefully accept compassion and acceptance, often when least expected. We have found the most wonderful gift in Hospice Care of the West. One of their volunteers created a video tape of mom which my sister talks about in this short clip.
Every exit is an entrance. Seeing life this way is fundamental to resiliency. In 2012, I intend to seek opportunities to both give and receive care, warmth, encouragement and wisdom. I’ll gratefully accept what you offer me. Please let me know what I can extend back to you.
PEACE,
“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new editing.”
- Maria Robinson
Watch This:
Brian McNaught’s film: Anyone Can Be An Ally…
When gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people don’t feel safe and valued at work, productivity goes down, and organizations fail in their efforts to attract and retain the best and brightest talent. Many organizations realize this, and have created clear policies on the issues. But in order for the climate to change, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people need allies to speak up.
This is a very thoughtful, balanced resource that merits much attention… an important film on an issue so few of us understand how to address in the work environment. It is one thing to have a skill set in referencing and working with race or religion. It is quite another challenge to talk about gender and sexual orientation.
I have an obvious personal motivation to be an ally: my twin brother is a gay man. I also know two more things from knowing him. The first is that sexual orientation like gender orientation is not a “preference” or choice. The second is that my brother has been a compassionate, effective and even beloved scholar-teacher at the university where he works – but only because he has been fortunate to find allies in his work community that have supported him in being wholly himself.
My professional motivation in commending Brian McNaught’s film is that I recognize, despite my personal commitment, that I have a lot to learn about how to be a skillful and effective ally. This film would be helpful to anyone who wants to help create a work environment where every employee can flourish because they do not have to expend the energy trying to maintain a firewall between their family/personal lives and their professional lives. These are things that those of us who are heterosexual simply do not have to worry about.
Look at this video. Anyone Can Be An Ally. Celebrate what everyone, when respected, can bring to your world.
Sad But True
“Witnessing the Republicans and the Democrats bicker over the U.S. debt is like watching two drunks argue over a bar bill on the Titanic.”
I don’t know who said it, but…!!!
Important To Know!!!
The Corporate Executive Board researched some 50,000 employees and concluded that until you engage employees’ hearts, you have no sustainable advantage.
“True believers”- employees who value, enjoy, and believe in what they do, displayed 57% more discretionary effort and were 87 percent less likely to leave a job!
BIG QUESTION: What are you doing to capture the hearts of your employees? A paycheck is not enough to garner the whole person.
Recommended Reading
WE are the ones WE have been waiting for. That’s the theme in John Izzo’s newest book, STEPPING UP: How Taking Responsibility Changes Everything.
I love the idea of moving into this new year, reading about the people who didn’t wait for politicians, religious leaders, the corporate structure, or the unseen hand of who-knows-what to make a difference.
The difference is only in your five rows of influence. You won’t change the Board of Directors (unless, as my little grandson would say “you are one”), you won’t solve global warming, or stop wars either. However, you might change the dynamics in your team, do five things differently about buying decisions, or create a neighborhood potluck for newcomers on the block. The point: we all can take charge. Ripples can become big waves. I like that idea.
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PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY is the theme of this recommendation.
There’s relief for all of us who despair about exercise and diet: Meet Jonathan Bailorand his book: The Smarter Science of Slim (which to me, is the most well-researched book) on what it takes to be fit.
Don’t let the size of the book overwhelm you. You can go to AMAZON.com and get his workbook:
The Five-Week Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins, and UCLA Endorsed Program To Burn Fat Permanently.
P.S. Just by doing fewer weight reps, heavier weights, and doing it slowwwwwwwer… I am seeing a difference!
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Is the work ethic a concern for America? My guess is that most business leaders at every level struggle with the declining work ethic and the entitlement mentality of their new emerging employment base.
How do you help others take responsibility for their lives at work?
My friend and colleague, Eric Chester is getting a lot of attention because of his new book, “Reviving Work Ethic: A Leader’s Guide to Ending Entitlement and Restoring Pride in the Emerging Workforce.” It has just been released on AMAZON.com and is highly discounted during this introduction.
Eric has focused his consulting and speaking business on this issue for the last fourteen years. If you have employees in the emerging workforce, I highly recommend you get this book.
Videos That Make You Smile
It’s Britain’s Idol Competition. I guarantee if it makes Simon Cowell smile, you will too! Meet GIN, The Dancing Dog.
Following your checked bag… Delta Airlines thought that it would be interesting to drill holes in a box, stuff it full of video cameras, and send it on a flight from Atlanta to New York, after hitting all the record buttons. The video shows how a bag experiences a flight, from the initial drop-off spot through security screening- all the way out to the plane and back again. What if passengers could travel this well?
QUIT BUT STAYED? EXPERTS CHIME IN
Challenged by employees who quit, but stay? Join some 2600 other folks who have signed up for an amazing leadership livecast. Listen to 40 thought leaders as they give short insights on what can be done.
The leadership livecast is Thursday, January 25, 2012, at 8 AM, PST, and it’s FREE! Cast will feature experts such as Ken Blanchard, Jackie Freiberg, Elliott Masie, and others (including me! :-).
*Go to the website at http://www.leadershiplivecast.com to register.
Meet The Values Coach: Joe Tye
There’s a theme in this ezine: personal responsibility; values, ethics, and – of course, humor. I found all these ingredients when I shared the platform with Joe Tye, at the Operating Room Managers conference in Chicago. Click on his name above, and study his web site.
Good to know; if you are involved in any part of healthcare, you should read The Florence Prescription. Also, every leader can use his newest book, All Hands on Deck.
What I really value is how Joe thinks. His e-zine, SparkPlug, is incredible. In fact, I am convinced this guy never sleeps. And, he has a team that can bring values training into your organization.
Great resources and people should always be shared :-)
Welcome to the McDargh Clan of Clients:
- Novartis Diversity & Inclusion
- Assoc. of Legal Administrators- Golden Gate
- Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Bench International
Mission Statement and Contact Information
| Mission StatementEnergizing the Human SpiritSince 1980Our Mission is energizing the life of work and the work of your life. We work with and speak for organizations that want people to create meaningful relationships with all their stakeholders and to develop a resilient leadership capacity for living a life of balance, engagement, productivity, and purpose in a changing world. We value laughter, life-long learning, and leadership through service. |
Call 949-496-8640 or send email eileen@eileenmcdargh.com
McDargh Communications
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Eileen@EileenMcDargh.com
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