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Unhappy Work Atmosphere?

If it wasn't called work.....

When I first started working when I was sixteen, I had already learned the value of good hard work. Growing up, my father had insisted on us working every spare moment of every day. Well that's what it seemed like! I had to tell my friends on most occasions that I could not go to the party or have a stay over because I had to help my dad build something or clean something. I hated it.

But after I had started working a real job for real money, there was a comment made to me from a manager of the Albertsons store that I was working at while I was staying overtime to mop up the floor. I will remember his words the rest of my life. As he watched me work with enthusiasm and vigor, he said with sincerity, "Eli, if you ever need a job at anytime in your life, you've got one."

Wow! Someone noticed my hard work ethic. That made me feel good.

Since that day I have always tried to compliment those

Privacy: Blogging and Online Communities

I participate in an electronic community (aka online community, social network) that is aimed at business professionals. It is very likely that you or one or more of your employees are one of the more than 18 million people who are part of this one community or one of many more like it. During the last couple of weeks I noticed and answers are clearly inappropriate. Some members of the community argue that being professional excludes having fun, and all they are trying to do is liven up the community by having fun. What it really comes down to is appropriate vs. inappropriate -- not fun vs. boring agony.

Electronic communities, blogs, and email have become a valuable source of information for character references and character assassination? Character assassination is usually done by the hands of the victims themselves by being inappropriate in w

HOLDING ONTO THE GOOD IN A SEA OF NEGATIVITY

You wake up one morning and the world seems to be collapsing around you. Your tenuous time living with you parents because you are running out of money has gotten worse because you placed a bowl in the wrong place in a washing machine or forgot about a coupon to purchase a scooper for cleaning out leave troughs. The previous week a job hunting trip went bad because your car with 120,000 miles on it broke down on highway with steam coming out from underneath the hood. One day late in paying off your membership in your health club, you ask the owner if you can discount for doing some work around the gym. You are told that the gym has more than enough people working for them. Even if they did, you wouldn't be the one they would want. So it goes.

You can develop a real bad feeling about yourself if all this continues. Just because others suggest bad things doesn't mean they are true.

Life occassionally sends each of us life perservers. If these life persevers ar

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October 22, 2007 Posted by Anthony Cooper | workplace wellness, wellness, stress, strengths, over 50 fitness, opportunity, meet people, imbalance, financial coaching, fear, extraordinary living, expectations, employee values, control, business coaching, bridge, balance, backup, baby boomer fitness, anxiety | Comment (0)

THE AMC MADMEN PROGRAM: corporate suite fragging

Just imagine working for the imaginary Cooper Sterling Advertising Agency? A Creative Director is hiding a past life that started when he assumed the identity of a commanding officer who was killed next to him in a Korean War battlefield incident. A sex obsessed senior partner has suffered a heart attack while indulging in a tryst on company premises. Publication of an article/book by one of the copywriters is greeted by ridicule and personal put downs by fellow employees. An arrogant junior employee who undermines his boss is retained on staff because of the importance of his family's connections.

Gossip and scandal seem to run the Cooper Sterling Company. The quality of product and financial health of this company seem to be of secondary importance. Is it any wonder that an employee who feels passed over has started to search for ways to bring down his boss (and perhaps the company?)

During the Vietnam war 120 officers were

OUT FROM BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL

How often have all of us heard the words be yourself and everything will work out. Something frequently stops us from being ourselves on jobs. What is it?

I have theory. So many of us have to move for jobs so we take out long term leases. So many of us move for jobs that we end up isolated in a community where our company doubles as both a source of friends and a source of income.

That leaves all too many us trembling whenever speaking out could result in a loss of a job. Minds race ahead vividly imagining what it would be like to be unemployed, isolated and unwanted. Eyes end up tilted downwards. Hands go down. Words end up uttered hurriedly in whispers. FEAR IS CATCHING AND IT RESONATES.

Companies and team suffer because of fear. The sad truth is that to be successful on a job someone has to show the courage to risk losing one.

October 11, 2007 Posted by Anthony Cooper | relationships, fraud, employee values, business coaching | Comment (0)

"Excuse Me, I'm Confused"

This blog is to help share the latest tools in improving communication skills, eliminating confusion in business and personal relationships and empowering people to live their dream with passion

September 6, 2007 Posted by Mike Conner | visualization, time management, Team Building, synergy, strengths, speaking, self-empowered, self-discovery, purpose, prosperity, professional development, power, personal development, motivation, leadership, knowledge, individuality, finding a trainer, enterpreneur, enlightenment, employee values, effective management, concentration, communication, career coaching, business contacts, business coaching, build relationships, balance | Comment (0)

Workplace wellness...

I recently presented Workplace Wellness for Nightingale-Conant Corporation employees during a health and wellness program. When we think wellness, we think fresh air, good environment, comfortable and ergonomically correct worksites. The experience was incredible - what a healthy workforce and what an engaging environment! This is a company that walks the talk - and lives it each and every day! What is your workplace like? Does it contribute to optimum health? Are you glad to be there each and every day? Let me know and let's talk!

August 8, 2007 Posted by Sharon M. Weinstein | workplace wellness, environment and you, enhancing productivity, employee values, chicago | Comment (0)