Who I Am Voting For

Election day is just a little over a month away. If you have a mailbox, an email account, a t.v., an internet connection or a newspaper subscription it is impossible to ignore the fact. And, truth is, you shouldn't. Now is the critical time to do your research and be an educated, empowered voter!

On my ballot there will be a mix of party affiliation, gender, race and age. It's lazy to assume that if you vote a single party ticket that your views as a voter are being considered or represented. These are people that we are entrusting with leadership roles who make decisions that impact our daily lives. We should be informed and know why we are voting a certain way.

Here are the candidates I will be voting for:

• Those who are brave enough to tell me I can't have everything I want
• Those who seems to understand that compromise is not a sign of weakness, but rather a way of finding a middle ground and getting things done
• Those who are a conscientious steward of tax payer money
• Those who have demonstrated a willingness to work with a diverse group of people and tackle tough issues
• Those who seem to understand that governing is about process and not platitudes
• Those who would be willing to admit when they've been wrong or apologize for unintended consequences
• Those we are willing to try new ideas and talk about their vision for the highest good

I realize this list reads as an idealistic fantasy! We might have a hard time believing there is a candidate out there who is any of these things. But, if that's true than we're much to blame. We've somehow decided that our politicians cannot compromise and they had better not ever be wrong. We want them to promise us more of everything for less and then we are surprised when that isn't possible.

Government is made up of people, just as corporations are. Human beings that are trying to make a meaningful life for themselves and their families. We should respect their efforts and then make a much greater effort to educate ourselves about who and what we are voting for.

See you at the voting booth!

What Engages You?

We had a powerful presenter at my American Business Women's Association meeting this past week. Germaine Porche of Eagle's View Systems (www.eaglesview.com) spoke to us about "Leadership: The Art of Engagement". She had some really great information to share with anyone who is interested in developing their skills as a leader.

According to a survey done recently of workers around the globe 8% are disengaged from their work, 30% are labeled "disenchanted" meaning they are only partially engaged, 41% were labeled "enrolled" which meant they were partially engaged but felt no urgency in their work and 21% were "engaged" meaning that they were fully utilizing their skills and creativity in their work environment. I was shocked by the large percentage of people who are disengaged and disenchanted with their jobs.

We had a brief discussion about engaged us in the workplace. Answers included having fun, relevance of what we do, meaning, a clearly articulated company mission and vision and autonomy.  According to the survey Germaine shared with us the #1 thing that engages someone in the workplace is knowing that senior management is sincerely interested in employee well being.

There were nine other top survey answers to what causes you to be engaged at work. Not a single one of those answers involved compensation. Here are the remaining nine:

#2: This job improves my skills
#3: The organization has a reputation for social responsibility
#4: I get input into decision making
#5: The organization quickly resolves customer concerns
#6: Management sets high personal standards
#7: Career advancement opportunities
#8: Challenging work assignments that build skills
#9: A good relationship with supervisor
#10: The organization encourages innovative thinking

So, an organization that offers a challenging work environment, tries to do the right thing and cares about its employees is a place that is more likely to have engaged, productive people at all levels. And engaged, productive people always have a positive impact on the bottom line.  All of these concepts are in line with the idea of ethical leadership. What can you do to make your workplace or community organization a place of high-level engagement?

Your Work: Where Purpose & Passion Can Shine

Today is Labor Day. For most of us a day away from the office. The unofficial end of summer and beginning of fall. I like to use this day to check in to see that my work in this world aligns with the things I'm passionate about and what I feel is my purpose for being here. As leaders we are also gifted with many opportunities to assist others in finding outlets for their passions and purpose.

We often think about our jobs as a necessary evil. The place we spend 40 or more hours every week earning money so we can really enjoy the leisure time we have. We complain about our jobs, wish we had different jobs and feel we aren't recognized for the skills and talents we use there. But what if we looked at those hours spent differently and sought out ways to bring our energy and passion there? Take some time today to think about what gets you excited.

One of my passions is clear communication. I'm fortunate that I've worked in a field (marketing) that values good communication so I find plenty of opportunities to practice. But, I've also found an outlet for my passion in other places. This blog, for instance. And in my volunteer and community roles.

Say you are passionate about quality education, but you aren't a teacher and don't work in the educational field. How can you bring that passion into your current work? First of all, do you look for opportunities to add to your education inside or outside of your work environment? Do you encourage and support those you work with to learn more and add to their skills? Could you put together a proposal and sell to your company's management a scholarship program for kids in need?

Perhaps you are passionate about environmental issues and are dedicated to recycling, composting and using all organic materials at home. How can you translate that passion to your workplace? Maybe you are the perfect person within your company to start a conversation about sustainability. It probably wouldn't feel like work to spend some time researching how your company could get greener while having a positive impact on the bottom line. What leadership can you provide as your company changes to new processes and procedures? What resources can you bring to bear? It doesn't matter what your current job title is.... step out and take ownership of something that gets you excited!

My wish is that we all find places in our daily work where our passion and purpose can shine through. I believe we are all happier and more valuable to ourselves and others when we can make that connection. Good luck and happy labors as you find yours!