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Winter Newsletter (Newsletter Archives)

Update From Eileen

Welcome 2002! I'll bet most of us breathed a collective sigh of relief to close the door on a year marked by a reversal in fortunes and freedoms. If you're like me, you clung tighter to your loved ones and tried to rein in the excessive buying. Just "being together" seemed enough of a gift.

Perhaps you went out of your way to connect with family and friends. Nineteen gathered at our Christmas table, presenting a picture perfect —if somewhat chaotic—view of the generations. The first guest room was occupied by my good-sport, 85 year-young Mum from Florida. My oldest daughter and son-in-law from Oregon claimed the second room. The Boston contingent of my twin's family, with 10- year old Sasha, slept in a rented motor home, its international orange extension cord serving as an umbilical cord to the house.

The three- and five year-olds snuggled on air mattresses at the foot of our bed. Sister Susan and her mellow black dog took the sofa. One year-old Keaton got his own playpen while two-year old Siena shared the floor with our son and daughter-in-law. I couldn't help but remember a line from a Don Blanding poem: "Walk very carefully. Make your step hesitant. One of these babies some day might be President!"

Confusion reined and rained. Yes, I mean both verbs! And we wanted it no other way. The totality of sharing 24-hour days in close quarters is wacky, weird, and wonderful. Conversations spring up at odd times. You see things you might have missed. You file away memories for that day in which someone will be missing from the celebration. And you know a new meaning of grace and gratitude.

Now I'm ready for my silent time, for the order and cleanliness to return, for our structure to resume its pattern. But you know, I'm thinking about sleeping on that air mattress. Maybe outside. Christmas reminded me that breaking the pattern is good for the soul!

May this year bring you the grace of precious moments, gratitude for all your connections, and the comfort of knowing that broken patterns bring new experiences.

Going, Going, Gone? Or Stay, Stay, Stay?

The emotional and economic whiplash of terrorism has hastened a recession that now places managers in a very difficult position. Here's the deal: many managers are faced with the need to downsize juxtaposed with the increasingly difficult task of recruiting new employees and retaining those who are already top performers.

Research shows over and over again that recovering from downsizing is just as painful and can significantly hamper an organization's ability to bounce back. To lessen layoffs, some companies are cutting pay and benefits. Smart managers are doing all they can to keep employees happy -particularly top performers-during an economic winter. Studies available through the Wharton's Center for Human Resources show that the best people in an organization have a significant impact on that organization's success. Right now, an organization might think it has employees "over the barrel" and people will stay. Maybe so. But watch for an exodus when the job market takes off again. Be smart!

Take A Moment

Buy the tiniest spiral notepad you can find. Keep it in your pocket or purse. Use it for writing "Ahhhh" moments. These are the times you see, hear, or smell something wonderful. Could be the smell of baking bread as you enter the grocery store. It could be the giggle of your children in the bathtub. Perhaps you notice the mackerel pink clouds of a morning sky.
Jot it all down. Read it before you go to bed. I'll guarantee you'll sleep better.

Must Read Books

Learned Optimism, How to Change Your Mind and Your Life, Martin Seligman, Ph.D., Pocket Books, 1998. This is a classic and one that is timely in its need to be reread by all of us. Seligman, after years of clinical research, discovered that internal self-talk can be used to rise above pessimism. His easy-to-use techniques, self-tests, and practical examples are invaluable.

Creating a Charmed Life, Victoria Moran, Harper, 1999. I received this book as a gift and found myself charmed by the author's insights. I loved the notion of "complicate selectively" and "practice the vacation principle". The latter is not about being on vacation, but rather on looking at your surroundings as if you WERE on vacation. Look for places to explore, things you've never noticed, and BE present. Written specifically for women but a man could glean ideas in the chapters.

Tips for Managers:

Share the pain. At Micron Technology and DiamondCluster, top executives are taking larger sacrifices than they are asking of employees. The message: We're in this together!

Over communicate. Know WHY you are making the decisions. Employees are more willing to accept cutbacks as long as someone clearly explains why. Fairness IS a big issue.

Consider things that don't cost money. Free time is a precious commodity. Alter work schedules. Be flexible. Consider this a time for great job sharing and cross-training.

Tips for Employees:

Demonstrate your value and flexibility. Become an out- of-the-box thinker. Identify time and money wasters and change what you can. Speak with data and not emotion.

Think "can do" not "can't do". Become the voice of optimism. Consider this your growth stage. If you hit a wall, ask yourself, "what part of this can I influence?" Forget fighting dragons, unless dragon fighting is your strength.
Look for the blessing. This is not a sermon. This is Reality 101. We just think blessings belong in someone else's life. You have them. Write down what they are. Ask someone else. Sometimes, people think we have "charmed lives" and can see more than we can.

Have You Ever Wondered...

If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
Why do croutons come in airtight packages? Aren't they just stale bread to begin with?
What hair color do they put on the driver's licenses of bald men?
(Musings are compliments of humorist Dolly Howard.)

Something To Think About

The Bureau of Labor Statistics latest report states that the US will be short 4.8 million workers by the end of this decade, based on economic growth combined with demographics (the retirement of baby boomers). There IS work to be done.

Pass Along The Newsletter—FREE

A couple of clients posed this question to me: "Eileen, how can we get your newsletter in the hands of our employees and management team?"

Great question! Here's the answer. You can send out an e-mail blast, asking if they'd like to receive a BRIEF, practical yet fun e-newsletter four times a year. If they say yes, just have them go to http://www.eileenmcdargh.com and viola! Thanks for asking!

Subscription Management:

You can now manage your subscription to The Energizer on the web! Just e-mail us at eileen@eileenmcdargh.com and let us know what you need. All new subscriptions are by e-mail only.

MISSION STATEMENT

McDargh Enterprises—Energizing the Human Spirit since 1980

Our mission is to transform 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 meaning in a changing world. We value laughter, life-long learning, and leadership through service.

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