Bridges

Edition of 2/7/2007

[Bridges] Bridges - Goals follow-up, Results only workplace

Welcome to Bridges, a monthly newsletter published by Robin Fogel, Executive and Career Coach & Consultant. My goal is that these newsletters include practical information that you can use in your work and in your life. If you found the newsletter helpful, please forward it to your colleagues, friends and family.

If you would like to take advantage of a business consultant or executive coach, please email me at robin@coachrobinfogel.com for a complimentary coaching session or visit my website - www.coachrobinfogel.com

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Happy February
It appears that the ground hog has signaled that spring will be early this year. This is great news, especially if you are one of those folks affected by SAD (seasonal affective disorder), a type of winter depression caused by shortened hours of daylight and lack of sunshine. Take heart, the days are getting longer and if the ground hog is right, spring should be around the corner.

Not to seem like a broken record but last month I suggested that you approach each week as if you were making a New Year's resolution. So one month into 2007:

What success have you had in accomplishing your goals for the month of January?
What roadblocks do you need to be aware of before they impede your progress?
What is your focus for February?

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WORKPLACE TRENDS
Taking in a movie mid-day, leaving for a kid's soccer game, goofing off in the corporate workplace? No. These are examples of the new "results only work environment" at the Best Buy corporate offices described in a December Business Week article. The article said that the hope was that "freeing employees to make their own work-life decisions could boost morale and productivity and keep service initiatives on track".

The two HR professionals who designed the program were quoted as saying it was time to bring the workplace into the new century. They believed that flexible work schedules were a joke and bureaucratic and more importantly, were missing the real issues: how do you work efficiently in an era of transcontinental teams, multiple time zones, and the need to always be connected. They said, "If people can carry their offices in their pockets, why should it matter where and when they work if they are crushing their goals". So far ROWE appears to be working. Since beginning this initiative in 2005, productivity at Best Buy is up 35% in participating departments while voluntary employee turnover has dropped significantly.

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LAUGHTER
Many years ago a book called "Anatomy of an Illness" was all the rage. The author described how he laughed his way out of a serious illness. Fast forward and today there is a growing global movement called Laughter Yoga. It was founded a decade ago in India by Dr. Madan Katari, who determined that laughter, even if is forced laughter, when combined with yogic deep breathing, relieves stress, increases disease-fighting hormones, and has the added benefit of helping people bond with others. Dr. Katari incorporated simulated laughter exercises with yogic principles and founded Laughter Yoga.

Subsequent medical studies have shown that laughter boosts the body's immune system by releasing beneficial hormones and decreases stress hormones that can lead to disease. Laughter Yoga, unlike watching the Comedy Channel, is based on sustained laughter of 10-40 minutes. Apparently the brain can't tell the difference between forced and real laughter. Certified laughter clubs are sprouting at health clubs, hospitals, even the military is using Laughter Yoga. Today there are 2500 world wide Laughter Yoga clubs.

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CONSULTING/COACHING NOT FOR PROFIT EXECUTIVES
Over the past few years an expanding part of my business has been to work with executive directors and staff of not for profits, supporting them on issues such as board relations, staffing, and leadership development. If I can be of assistance to any organization you work with, I hope you'll consider recommending my services

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FINAL THOUGHTS
Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine. - Lord Byron (1788-1824)
If we couldn't laugh, we would go insane. - Jimmy Buffett

COPYRIGHT: 2007, Robin Fogel & Assoc., LLC. All Rights Reserved. May be distributed and reprinted in its entirety with copyright, subscription instructions, and contact information intact. However, you may not copy it to a website.