People First!
Publisher: James Carter
http://www.EmployeeDevelopmentSolutions.com
Repario Ltd. 2004 - 2008


"Take away my people, but leave my factories, and soon grass will grow on the factory floors. Take away my factories, but leave my people, and soon we will have a new and better factory."

-- Andrew Carnegie


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IN THIS ISSUE


1. Recent Poll Results

2. New HR News Service & Recent News

3. My Issue For This Issue - The Best Team Experience, by JoAnn McNutt

4. Books on the Subject of Teams


1. Recent Poll Results

How effective are the team building exercises within your organization?

Percentage Response
14.29% Very
14.29% Somewhat
14.29% Not Very
57.14% We don't do team building.
# Respondents = 18

What motivates you to stay in your current job?

Percentage Response
31.58% Money
15.79% Relationships.
0.00% Small Perks
0.00% Stock Options.
15.79 Flex Time.
36.84 None of the Above.
# Respondents = 19

What kind of training could you use the most?

Percentage Response
25.00% Interpersonal Communication
37.50% Team Building
37.50% Conflict Resolution
00.00% Diversity
00.00% Management
00.00% None of the Above
# Respondents = 8

 

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2. Recent News - NEW HR Service!

We have provided a new service on our website.

Updated, by the minute HR-related news. Here is the link:
www.employeedevelopmentsolutions.com/hrnews.htm

There is so much news I can hardly keep up. Also, many of the news links go dead. However, there has been a lambasting of the FBI recently. Obviously, these are monumental screw-ups, but don't many of the same things happen in every company? There are just not the public ramifications for most of the decisions we make in our companies. We should all learn from the mistakes the FBI has made and make sure they don't happen in our own organizations.


a. FBI's Freeh Admits Agency Has 'Culture' Problem
May 17, 2001 2:41 pm EST

By Sue Pleming
http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?b19221061


b. FBI 'Culture' Must Change, Critics Say
Freeh Leaving Behind Unfulfilled Goals
By Roberto Suro
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 13, 2001; Page A01
http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?b19005863

c. The Culture of 'Yes Men'
Freeh explains how FBI let documents fall through cracks
By Michael Isikoff
NEWSWEEK WEB EXCLUSIVE
http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?b19213082


d. CEO discusses LookSmart's corporate culture
Evan Thornley, LookSmart
EVAN THORNLEY is Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of LookSmart

TWST: Could you tell us about your corporate culture and what you do to encourage creativity and things like that?
Mr. Thornley: I don't think we've ever really fitted into some of the extremes of Silicon Valley corporate culture. Our company went through a lot of financing challenges in the early days, partly because we started the company outside the US, and so we're not well connected here. We've always had a pretty realistic corporate culture and a strong fighting culture. At a time when the industry in general is experiencing difficulties, I think some of the cultures that were built on unsustainable models and, you know, people smoking too much of their stuff, are really suffering. I think we're finding that there is a real strength in the environment that we've created at LookSmart: good deal of realism, a good deal of loyalty and a good deal of long-term belief about the value that we are creating for our customers and for their users.

Complete Story: http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?b18503232

e. EVP speaks about Celera Genomics Group's corporate culture
Peter Barrett, Celera Genomics Group
PETER BARRETT is Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer of Celera Genomics Group

TWST: Given that rapid expansion, what is the corporate culture that you've tried to build at Celera?
Dr. Barrett: The culture here is one that wants to change the world in a lot of ways, both from the science and from social impact. People ask us often, "How were you so successful so fast?" and I think it is that overarching vision, that by doing, if you will, big science, we can do things a lot faster and really have social impact. So I think the culture is very dynamic, very goal-driven in terms of achievement, with quite a team spirit, and not at all hierarchical.

Complete story: http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?b18939072


f. Chainsaw Al: Corporate heartlessness incarnate

ROBERT RENO

It's hard to overstate the influence of Albert Dunlap on America's business culture. He's best remembered as ``Chainsaw Al,'' the man who made corporate heartlessness respectable and redefined employer-employee loyalty as a one-way street.

Still, even in the shreds of Dunlap's career, today's corporate leaders fail to read the correct lesson: When you treat your workforce as a disposable commodity, you risk discarding both decency and profits.

Complete Story: http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?j19257770&w=WIZARDCODEHERE

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3. My Issue For This Issue - The Best Team Experience

The Best Team Experience
By JoAnn McNutt

When I think about the best experiences I've had working in teams, what comes to mind is the feeling of satisfaction and the sense of accomplishment that comes out of hard work, stress, and lots of laughter. What makes the team experience so great is a combination of several factors. But the most important factor is how I feel about myself during the group (team) process. The group experiences that are most memorable are the ones in which I feel that I had made significant contributions.

In many ways, it's up to the individual whether or not s/he has a positive or negative team experience. We often think too highly of how others relate to us, but with a conscious effort, we as individuals can make the ultimate difference in how we affect the group process and outcomes. This means that we have to make a commitment, to ourselves and to the members of the team, to do "our part".

Here's what I think it means to do "our part":

  • Decide to accept your team members as they are. Although it's much easier said than done, we need to consciously decide to accept others. If we wait around for our feelings to dictate whether or not we're going to like someone on our team, it might be too late. Go into your next team assignment with a commitment to accept others as they are. Try it! Mind over matter. If you don't mind, it don't matter.
  • Be honest in the moment. Sometimes, things do matter and it bothers us. Speak up! Don't wait until the team has already made the decision. Make sure you're honest with yourself and others throughout the entire team process. But remember that it's all in how you say it.
  • Be humble. Be humble by suspending judgment of others and their ideas, opinions, and suggestions. Give people the benefit of the doubt that their ideas are brilliant and give them the opportunity to express themselves. When they do the same for you, you'll realize just how important it is to be given this respect.
  • Remember that others' worldviews are as just as right as yours. As you go through the team process, remind yourself that the way you view your world is not the only way. In fact, when you look through the lens of others, your world will be much more richer and clearer.
  • Encourage your team members. No team is without disagreements and miscommunication. But when these things happen, you have a choice to make this a learning opportunity and grow, or perpetuate the cycle. With a little bit of encouragement and commitment from all the team members, teams can move forward and accomplish great things.

"Doing our part" simply acknowledges that we are, indeed, empowered to make a difference in our teams. Be aware of how we act and treat others. Being a team player that is accepting, honest, humble, and encouraging, is a conscious decision we all need to make.

Contact JoAnn: joann@employeedevelopmentsolutions.com

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4. Books on the Subject of Teams

Do your self a favor and go to half.com for books before you buy any. I have had fantastic results from purchasing from this website.

There are hundreds of books on teams and team building, but I have found these two to be very interesting.

The Wisdom of Teams: Creating the High-Performance Organization
by Jon R. Katzenbach, Douglas K. Smith
This was a great book. Most of you have probably already read this book or heard of it if you are interested in teamwork or team-based projects. This is one to buy and reread from time to time.

No More Teams! : Mastering the Dynamics of Creative Collaboration
by Michael Schrage
This was a different approach to working together, not just in team-based settings. I found it thought provoking and made me really think about what it means to be on a team. I feel it is worth a look.

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