Bresnahan's Shorts* - November 2006

*Short topics

Attraction to Others

We don’t often think about the kind of people we want to be with. However, if we take a moment to reflect, we would find that usually they have traits similar to ours. They may be friendly & outgoing or they may be quiet and introverted. It is a natural tendency to be attracted to people like ourselves.

It is easy to see the faults of others, but not always their good qualities. Sometimes we are afraid to look at ourselves or ask someone what qualities they appreciate & which drive them crazy. However, when we do take the risk, we often learn a lot. This information can be most helpful when dealing with others, both at work and in social situations. We grow personally & can become better leaders.

This is exactly what happened in a recent Webinar. Participants learned about themselves in a safe & non-judgmental way. The result, the ability to better manage their business and be more effective in working with others.

Stay tuned for the 2007 series of Webinars. Take the risk and learn more about yourself & the reactions of others. Developing your emotional intelligence is an important step in becoming an effective leader.

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Fragile—Handle With Care

This story was sent by our realtor, & new friend, Phyllis Boverie. A family was moving for the seventh time. The husband decided the heavy lifting was to be done by a moving company. To surprise his wife, he had a couple friends assist with the packing of boxes. He was thorough and did a fine job. When his wife returned he proudly announced what he had done and waited for her to praise him. Instead she asked, “Did you label the boxes?” With shock he replied, “Well, I labeled a lot ‘fragile’.”

Moving can be an exasperating event. We would all like to snap our fingers & have it over with. However, without the process we cannot enjoy the entire experience & the end result.

This story is a great analogy of our journey through life. Don’t miss what is right in front of you. Appreciate the effort you put into every accomplishment. It can be rewarding & refreshing to make a change rather than staying in our comfort zone. (It was a renewal for me.) And, when thinking about leadership and the people that surround us, remember they too are fragile. Give them your focused attention.

Corporate Citizen

GolinHarris consumer research identified the top seven drivers that determine a company is a good corporate citizen:

1. Values its employees well & treats them fairly (85%).
2. Executives & business practices are honest & accountable (83%).
3. Goes beyond minimum requirements for safe & reliable products & services (75%).
4. Markets products & services responsibly (72%).
5. Is committed to social responsibility, economic opportunity, environmental protection, etc (72%).
6. Listens to the community or customers before making a business decision (68%).
7. Is active & involved in the community (68%).

While the above items prove that positive actions have positive results, we should look at the other side too. Alan Downs who was involved in many downsizings points to four myths:

1. Downsized companies are leaner
2. Layoffs increase productivity
3. New & better jobs are created
4. Downsizing increases profits

As a matter-of-fact, the result is broken communications, stalled productivity and battered morale.

Excerpted from David Batstone, The WAG, e-letter of Worthwhile Magazine, June 29, 2005

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Thoughts to Ponder

"Every man dies. Not every man truly lives." - Braveheart

"If at first you DO succeed, try something harder." - Ann Landers

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Environment Means a Better Bottom Line

A study by ISR, a research and consulting firm of 664,000 employees around the world, showed a 52% gap in operating income between companies with highly engaged employees and those with a low engagement score.

Highly engaged companies improved 19.2% in performance improvement in a year while low engaged companies declined 32.7% during the timeframe of the study. This resulted in 13.2% net income growth and 3.8% decline respectively over the same timeframe.

If you wish to get your employees on board & engaged, contact the Bresnahan Group.

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What is Trust?

We all agree trust is important, but can you define it? Integro Leadership Institute has helped us with that. It is being Honest, Straightforward, Open, Accepting & Reliable. Additionally, they have developed a survey that measures the work environment & the level of trust that exists between management & front-line employees.

Think about what you expect from others and what you do to build trust. Keep in mind that what you value may not be what someone else values. For example, do you keep your commitments? They can be as small as being on time. If you think it is ok to be late, then are you being respectful of another person’s time? Sounds like a little thing but if you are continually late you may be seen as unreliable.

Another example would be saying you are going to do something. Another item becomes a higher priority & you push your promise back on the list. What is the message you are sending to the first person you made a promise to?

Think about what you do. Ask someone else for their perceptions of your behaviors. Best time to start practicing a new behavior is now. Take a deep breath. Ready! Set! Go!

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Negativity

Who likes to work with someone who is negative? What causes it?

• Excessive workload
• Concerns about management ability
• Worry about job & retirement security
• Lack of challenge
• Perceived lack of recognition

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More Information

For more information about any of these topics contact us at 505-922-1973 or email BresGroup @ 4u.net.

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