ARE:A Renewal Enterprise

Doing What Matters Trumps Being Nice

While the ARE team is on summer break, we are publishing some of our most popular posts from the past year. This one originally appeared under the title "Don't Let The Crazies Take Over the Playground" in January 2010. 

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. 

Want To Connect Better With People?

We do, too. That's why we're changing things up here on our blog beginning right now. There might be a lesson in all of this for you, too, so don't stop. Keep reading.

Four Ways To Get Going When The Going Is Tough

It's a hard time to be in business, whatever your business is. A lot of nonprofit organizations and churches, for example, are experiencing shrinkage in both financial resources and membership. Unfortunately, when the going gets tough, a lot of these organizations don't "get going." Instead, they become:

• more and more inwardly focused;
• less willing to take the kinds of risks that innovation demands;
• more likely to be torn apart by internal conflicts over who gets the share of scare resources;
• more suspicious of outsiders and perceived "competitors";
• less open to new ideas and new people;
• more protective of their customs, traditions, and "the way we've always done it";
• more centralized and top-down in their decision-making;
• a lot less interesting or fun to be a part of.

Sound anything like the organization you're a part of? Here are four things you can do to get yourself (and others) going when things get tough:

Don't Be A Jerk

There have been some fascinating and very public examples lately of how NOT to treat the people you work with. Noriko Unoura, one of the top directors at Seiko, has just been pushed out by the board after years of bullying her employees and the 89-year old honorary chairman of the board who protected her for all these years has been stripped of his executive power. And General David Petraeus has been named to replace General Stanley McChrystal as commander of US forces in Afghanistan after McChrystal bashed his boss in public and lampooned his coworkers, calling them "clowns" and other derogatory names. 

There's a lesson here for all of us, whether you're in a formal leadership position or you answer to a boss: Don't be a jerk.

7 Ways To Prevent Your Team From Leaving For Greener Pastures

Here's something you probably haven't heard many people say lately: I quit. According to researchers, however, that is about to change. In fact, the Wall Street Journal is reporting this week that some staffing firms are "preparing for a massive reshuffling of talent at all job levels in all industries." We believe them. Even at our little company, we get multiple inquiries every month from really talented people looking to make a move to come work with us. 

If this doesn't scare you, it should. 

Meetings That Matter

Does your organization suffer from meeting-itis? Most organizations do. That's how Gina Trapani got a guest appearance in one of our favorite business/leadership magazines. Everybody wants to know how to cure this dreaded disease and she claims to have the solution.

Trapani, author of The Complete Guide to Google Wave, defines meeting-itis as "poorly-run and inefficient meetings that go on too long, happen too often and include more attendees than need to be there." Unfortunately, the "unconventional" advice she gives about how to cure meeting-itis is both conventional (in that it lacks originality or creativity) and dead wrong.

What will your legacy be?

(Note: Usually the writer of these posts speaks for the team and we share the work of writing them. We've given Kelly space today to share a special Mother's Day reflection.)

Last week my mom (and my children's grandmother) put on a put on a jump suit and strapped on a parachute, got on an airplane, and then jumped out of it. She hit 120 miles an hour during the free fall. It's not surprising that my mother, who is as much of a control freak as I am, said this was her least favorite part of the dive. Her favorite part was when the chute opened and she could get a good look at the expanse below. She told me later that before she jumped one of the instructors asked her why she was doing it.

Good question.

Why would a woman in the second half of her seventh decade decide, of all things, to go skydiving? Aren't there some cookies to bake, some golf lessons to take, somebody sick to visit? Isn't there something a little less, I don't know, prone to cause heart failure that you could be doing?! (God knows, MY heart would have failed!) 

Here's what she said to explain herself: 

Do You Help Others Play Well Together?

Do you play well with others? There are a lot of voices today encouraging you to ask yourself this question. HR expert, Susan M., says "accomplishing work is largely about the relationships you develop." Citing Toyota as a current example, the folks at Working With Others warn that not playing well with others can kill your brand. And Steve R. at All Things Workplace argues pretty convincingly that in terms of professional success, it's more important than anything else, including intelligence, abilities or performance. We wouldn't disagree.

When it comes to leadership in an organization, however, we think there's an even more important question:

 Do you help others play well together?

How are you telling your story?

 Happy Birthday, Chicago! 

Incorporated on March 4, 1837, today is the 173rd birthday of one of the world's most remarkable – and one of the nation's largest – cities. 

One of the local papers in Chicago is "celebrating" today with a photo montage of memorable and notorious moments. The truth is, we had to stop looking about half way through the show. While there are a few pics showing the city's good side, most of the photos in this montage highlight the bad and the ugly: mobsters, murderers, and mayhem. 

Really, guys?

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.