ARE:A Renewal Enterprise

Don't Let The Crazies Take Over The Playground

Don't underestimate the importance of cultivating healthy relationships in your organization. Leadership blogger Jon Gordon reminds us today that research has found successful marriages have a 5-1 ratio of positive interactions. Similarly, workgroups with a 3-1 ratio of positive interactions are more effective. 

It's not all just about being happy-bunny at work, though. Pretending that all is wonderful when it's not is no better than scowling your way through everyday, ignoring all the good stuff. Gordon reports that workgroups with an 11-1 ratio of positive interactions are less effective. 

The point is: Leaders cultivate healthy relationships. i.e., positive and honest. 

Are you paying attention?

Nettlehorst Elementary School is a located in the East Lakeview neighborhood of North Chicago. Ten years ago, Nettlehorst was a failing school with a bussed-in student population, depressed teachers, and a revolving door of principals (7 interim principals from 1990-1998). Nettlehorst was a neighborhood school that the neighborhood had given up on. In 1999 not one family who lived in the neighborhood sent their children to Nettlehorst. Not one.

A Shout-Out

Our foundational book The Future Starts Now (already in its second printing after just four months!) recently got a shout-out on Susan Hogan's blog. Susan is a veteran religion reporter who spent several decades writing for newspapers like the Dallas Morning News, Minneapolis Star-Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. Susan's blog Pretty Good Lutherans has scooped several interesting stories recently and been featured in the national media, including Eight Forty-Eight, Chicago Public Radio (WBEZ), Politics Daily (AOL), and USA Today. One of Susan's readers left this comment about The Future Starts Now:

"The Future Starts Now is a book that moves us...

• from whining about what we don’t have to noticing and celebrating what we do have;
• from the “god in a box” to the One who is on the loose in the world;
• from trying to do the same old life-draining ways to answering the Call to join God’s mission all around us. 

Grace abounds! This book offers a theo-practical vision of doing life as people who have been set free. 

Get it. Read it. That’s what I’m trying to say!"

What a great way to start off the new year! Thanks, Susan!