Engagement’s Holy Grail?

Is there a Holy Grail that truly inspires employees to dedicate to their life’s work with heart and soul? Perhaps one cup of plenty with an elixir that solves all loyalty, performance and retention issues in the workplace?

The Challenge

I was sitting in the parking lot of a mall outside a Tim Horton’s coffee shop waiting to pick up my wife from a dentist appointment. Three Tim’s employees ended their shift in succession. The first one out the door noticed the discarded coffee cup beside the garbage can and walked past. The second employee to leave kicked the cup. The third employee deposited the cup in its rightful place.

Q. Who would you rather have on your team? Hint: Who needs less management? A. The staff that acts with discretionary effort.

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The Global Research

Employee Engagement can be defined as “a heightened emotional connection that an employee feels for his or her organization, that influences him or her to exert greater discretionary effort to his or her work”.

Towers Perrin Global Workforce Study (2007), the largest of its kind, identifies the drivers of attraction, retention and engagement through the eyes of employees at mid-sized to large organizations worldwide.  Summary results of surveying over 88,000 workers in 18 countries:

o Engaged: 21% – providing full discretionary effort, with scores approaching 100% on all three components of engagement: rational, emotional and motivational.

o Enrolled: 41% – partly engaged. They know what to do and tend to get the work done (higher scores on rational and motivational aspects), but they are not connected emotionally, which is why they’re not truly going the “extra mile” with discretionary effort.

o Disenchanted: 30% – partly disengaged. Their scores are significantly lower on all three components of engagement, but dramatically lower on the emotional connection*.

o Disengaged. 8% – completely disconnected rationally, motivationally and emotionally. The manager’s nightmare.

Download the Global Workforce Study Here.

The Opportunities

To answer the question, there is no one Holy Grail. But the research puts us on the right path because we know with absolute certainty that the quest for engagement must include greater emotional connection in order to succeed.

Since 1985, I have been offering programs that inspiring connection with self, others and service. I invite you to attend the following opportunities or contact me to explore how we can enrich relationship and deepen engagement with you and your people.

Contact Peter Today

True Case of Inspireitus

When was your last case of inspireitus, where your heart swelled up with inspiration and you were moved to tears?

I recently had the honour of offering my Unsung Heroes closing keynote at the annual convention of a national home care organization. As part of the speech, I reflect back to the audience some of the compelling stores of service excellence. Here’s what was shared. I got half through before the incredible compassion woven into these lives triggered my Inspireitus and I was deeply moved.

Compelling Stories of Unsung Heroes in Home Care

1. A 93 year old lady has received footcare at home by our staff for quite some time. She is known in her community for baking items and taking them to new residents as a welcome. She was recently frightened by a home invasion and was questioning whether staying alone was in her best interest. She did not want to go into long term care. Our staff now stays with this lady 24 hours/day 7 days a week and she is thrilled with the service. She is able to remain in her home with our assistance and continues to be a very active senior and baker.

2. A Mom aged 43 struggling with her second round of breast cancer. The palliative team made it possible for her to die in the comfort of home with her kids ages 13 and 15 and husband by her side. Her husband was in denial and worked long hours leaving a lot of responsibility to the two boys who had been doing care duties but could now focus on grieving her loss and not worry about her care. The care worker went above the call of duty and prepared school lunches, drove kids to school, etc. The mom took her caregivers hand and uttered the following last words to her angel caregiver before she died, “Thank you for taking care of my kids.”

3. Young soldiers that have been injured in Afghanistan and require dressing changes – they would need to go to the base hospital if our nurses did not go to their homes, thus causing additional pain and more pain control medication – these are wounds that none of our nurses have ever seen before. One care nurse stopped by to dress and pack the wound of a 23 year old foot soldier amputee on November 11, Remembrance day. He was distraught because he thought he had let his comrades down and his dreams to be a police officer were gone. The care worker stayed an extra 6 hours comforting him before a base social worker could relieve her.

I couldn’t get through these stories with out swelling up with gratitude for the unsung heroes who care and nurture thousands of folks like these every day. Salt of the earth, genuine, behind the scenes, everyday unsung heroes.

Here is how one home care professional described their role:

“Our is an agency that has both Personal Support Workers and Nurses that are here to assist you with your aging parents, your newborn babies, your disabled teenagers and everyone in between.  Depending on your needs, we escort you to appointments and programs so that you are not alone.  We cook your meals and clean your home so that you are safe and well fed.  We can give you a warm shower and make hygienic practices that could be embarrassing a little more comfortable for you, because when you look good, you feel good.  We remind you to take your medications and vitamins because we want you to be healthy. We can play board games, read books, make crafts and go for walks because we want you to enjoy our time together.  But above all, we are good listeners and companions.  If you are safe, happy and warm at the end of the day, we’ve done our job.”

I have no more words I’ll just let my Inspired Lachryosis (Swelling up of tears) respond.

More on this keynote topic

I Goofed-Up or Did I?

Have you ever goofed up and then realized it wasn’t as bad as you thought? Here are two recent goof ups.

1. I traumatized our 5 month old Bubbly Baby, aka. Bubby. I had just placed her in the bouncy seat and turned away. I heard a soft thud and cry and there she was face down on the floor beside the chair. She rolled out and tumbled down 8 inches. I was a basket case. As I comforted her startled little soul I was in tears and kept saying, “I am so sorry Bubby” as I consoled her. I completely goofed up as a Dad meeting basic needs for my child’s safety, or did I?

When I shared my mistake with friends something unexpected happened. I felt comforted as everyone had their own child safety mistake, some much more harmful. With each confession I felt like I was stepping across a threshold to join a legion of imperfect parents, who despite their best efforts, are not and will not be perfect. I felt like it was a rite of passage to the humility of parenthood. Even though I learned the obvious lesson to clip the safety straps for our little squirmie wormie I also learned something else. That I am going to make mistakes like all parents before me and after me. And that I cannot be perfect but only do my best with love.

2. I was cleaning up some files and came across an order form for one of my audio CD product’s that I sold at the back of the room at a nurses conference two years ago. Unfortunately it was marked paid but never shipped. That mistake is just plain old embarrassing. I did my best to salvage the order by writing an apology letter and included a complementary Dreamweavers DVD as a consolation. If I were honest, I added the DVD in an attempt to release some of my guilt. I take pride in being efficient I thought nothing good can come out of this blatant bungle so best apologize and move on. I completely goofed up in customer sales and service 101, or did I?

The next week I received the following letter from Maggie (not her real name). I think it’s a good reminder that no matter how bad things we think things are sometimes there’s a silver lining and good can come mistakes.

“Dear Mr. Davison:

I’m writing to thank you for the recent video you sent me on Dreamweaver’s. Imagine for a moment that you’re feeling totally overwhelmed with the events of your life and that you’re praying to God and your guardian angel to help you find a way to cope as well as understand how to move on. This was and is the case for me right now. Due to a number of restructuring and reorganizations of the health region I have been forced over the last two years to be uprooted from positions of enjoyed to ones I’ve not found the same satisfaction doing. While I strive to find the right fit for myself these last years before retirement, I often feel alone and lost.

So here I am walking home from my dentist appointment praying to find the strength to return to work the next day and some happiness in what I’m doing. I stop at the mailbox and here’s a video from yourself which relates to how I’m feeling offers some ways to cope. Needless to say Mr. Davison, I was driven to realize if you want something, and you believe in enough, it can happen. I know I am not yet in the space that I want to be but I am trying to make some positive changes toward that goal. Thank you again for completing the CD order. I guess it was meant to be late because now is the time I needed it the most.

Sincerely,

“Maggie”

Q. Has that ever happened to you, a compete goof-up that turned out good? Add you comment or confession below.

Click here to Learn more about the Dreamweaver DVD

Come Together, Right Now!

Did you know that Crisis Intimacy is recognized as one of the 12 intimacies by which we can all connect? For those of you who live in Nova Scotia and PEI you may recall the wonderful spirit of community that we celebrated in the after math of Hurricane Juan, then again several months later after “White Juan”, a snowstorm that dumped over a metre of snow overnight. The stories of people coming together to help are many, each a testament to the best of humanity.

This week’s special report is dedicated to the folks who live along the Red River. Here is an email transcript from a past training participant. Notice the qualities of character that are called on to get through a crisis. (Hint: humor and gratitude, among others).

Enjoy,
Peter

Crisis Intimacy - Come Together Right Now!
How Struggle Brings Out the Best

Peter: I was just thinking about you as I read the dangerous flooding news about North Dakota and Fargo. Are the Adoption Trainers in your area okay?

Linda: Hello Peter. How kind of you to think of us. Yes…we are all ok. I live 12 miles north of Fargo (we just moved from Fargo in December) and our development is totally surrounded by water. We have an earthen dike that was built about 8 years ago so we are dry but secluded. Have been here since last Friday as all the surrounding roads are closed…but we are fine. We didn’t know when we moved here that we would have “beachfront property” – ha!!

Today we received about 10 inches of snow but the river is declining slowly so we are hopeful that by the time it melts it won’t create too many additional problems for the city. I am so proud of our people, the volunteers and our city leaders…great and hearty people who truly care about other. It is refreshing!

I have been in touch with Pam (from Grand Forks), Colette (lives in South Fargo) and the SD ladies and every one is fine. BE on the lookout as the Red is flowing north. Thank goodness Canada was progressive and built the diversion years back.

Take care. It was great meeting you in Vegas and I so enjoyed the day and your presentation. I hope all is well with you and your family (especially that beautiful baby).

Peter: What a wonderful testament to the human spirit coming together for the common good. May I share your observations with my special report subscribers?

Linda: Most certainly…feel free. As I mentioned I am so proud of our community, let the whole world know. You may use whatever I said if you like. If we behaved like this everyday (not just in crisis). I think we might see a glimpse of world peace. People are people regardless of where we live. We all have similar hopes and dreams of love, family, relationships and meaningful work…not too much to ask for but sometimes difficult to achieve. We all know what is important and you, Peter, so eloquently shared/displayed that to us in Vegas. Shalom!

>>>
What qualities of character have you noticed that shine when a community/work team faces a crisis?

Love Your Babyness

As a new proud Dad at the ripe age of 49, I may act as if there has only ever been one baby born. But in humble reflection every baby born is, and always has been, the single greatest celebration of the awe and wonder of creation, both spiritually and biologically

Babies represent hope and promise. Their essential goodness and innocence and simple joy at “being baby” glows and inspires poems such as, “I Love Your Babyness” shared below. So what happens? After all, we’re all just baby’s who have moved forward a few years down the path. I invite you to enjoy either versions of the poem below (spoken or read) and reflect on the babies that have touched your life. -Valuing Others

Here’s a loving (literally) challenge. -Valuing Self
Write a poem, letter, etc. that’s entitled:
“I love your (Your Name)ness”
and appreciate your Babyness, regardless of age.
Peter

Click Here To Listen to Peter and his Daughter Read the Poem

I Love Your Babyness
(Hannah 4.5 months old)

I love the way you flail your arms around
pivoting wildly from the shoulder socket
exploring the voids of space
hoping to catch an angel by her wing’s
or a butterfly
as she flutters on by.

I love your little hands,
with their dimpled knuckles.
Stubby little grabbers of all things curious.

I love the way you discover your fist,
as if every time is the first time,
and chomp down with your gum-ption
until a soother appears as a gift from the Gods above
(and I love being a deity at the centre of your universe).
Such determination and gusto.
May you always be so passionate in your pursuits.

I love the way you coo when happy,
murple when laughing,
and let’er rip when you need me.
I love how you flip from content to play to pain
and back again in an instant,
or an hour later as per your whimsy.

I love the way you muckle onto your bottle
with reckless abandon
creating a vivacious vacuum
and resisting to come up for air
like a pearl diver reluctant to leave
her treasures below unadored.

I love the way your nappy holds fast against
your concerted effort to dislodge it from duty.
I love the way you flush intense red,
your neck turtles in, and give it your all
as if conducting a big movement from Beethoven’s 5th
Hannah’s symphony in P major.

I love when we hold each other’s gaze
and time stands still as the world turns without us
and I look deeply into your beautiful brown eyes
until our two souls are content.

I love your little pout
and so sorry about laughing.
I really do take your disgruntlements seriously,
but your pout just turns me inside out
and joy creeps out through my grin.

I love the way you rub your eyes
with a loose fist when tired,
just like in the cartoons.

I love the way you sleep like an Egyptian
in eternal slumber with your beautiful cheek turned to one side
parenthesized by your arms overstretched
like Queen Nefertiti.
Such confluence of the Goddess in one little face.
I am your humble servant, your highness.

I love the way you burp before I count to seven after I sit you up from a good feeding.
I love the way you bop to the tunes, indiscriminately catching the beat.
I love the way you have way more fun than a rubber ducky at bath time.
I love the way you sigh as if you just put in a satisfied day of being you.
I love how your long lashes grace your cheek in slow motion
like a butterfly’s kiss.

I love the way my lips feel when I kiss your tiny ear
then I love the way your head smells like baby.
1 part innocence, 1 part cuteness and 1 part love.

I’d love to write down your stories
but at this point your baby words are a bit hard to spell.

I love your full body yawns and your little kerchoos,
precious miniature memories of my late Grandpy’s grander versions.

In fact, I love every breathe you take and everything you do.
I love your babyness,
because I love you.

My Baby Loves Vegas

Have you ever noticed that when you get something new, like a red two door sports car for example (yes you can!), how you start to be more aware of all the others like yours on the road. Common sense tells they were there all along but you see them because you’re tuning in to the “Red and Sporty” wavelength.

This week’s special report (in a snappy new format) is about tuning into the Dreamweavers channel that surround and support our lives. For those of you who are currently enjoying my new Dreamweaver DVD you’ll recognize how this rounds off the story of major life change # 3 that I shared.  Enjoy

I just returned from four days in Las Vegas courtesy of a speaking engagement. When I am able, I like to add a few days onto fun trips and take in the sights. The flight’s already paid for and since I am a huge fan of Cirque du Soleil fan what better place on earth to find 6 resident Cirque shows. Andrea and I saw four Cirque shows in as many days (Chris Angel – Spooky, mind-boggling and a bit contrived; O – absolutely take your breath away awesome; Beatles Love – My heart lifted out of my chest in the first minute and my soul was tickled for the next 1.5 hours and Mystere – classic modern circus celebrating the best of human creativity. We even tucked in a double header evening with America’s Got Talent winner Ventriloquist Terry Fator – We laughed till we cried.

So how’s this a Dreamweaver story? Fasten your seat belt.

I‘ve been to Vegas before. I planned a 24hr stopover on my way to present at a conference in Sacramento in March of 2006. Off the plane at 10 a.m. Saturday morning, snarfed one of the infamous all you can eat buffets, strolled the strip and experienced two back to back Cirque du Soleil shows. The awe-inspiring “O” and the rather raunchy “Zumanity.” While I walked amongst thousands of people that strolled the sidewalks of Las Vegas Boulevard there we lots of conference nametags and thought to myself would be great to be invited to Las Vegas, arguably the convention capital of North America, as a motivational speaker. That was my thought. That was my dream. Back on the plane Sunday at 10am and I presented my Everest Unsung Heroes keynote and Love Your Work breakout session on Monday March 9 in Double Tree Hotel in the room next door to the Northern California Decorative Egg convention. I encounter some interesting subcultures in my travels, but that’s another story.

Fast forward to the summer of 2008 and I answer a call from Shirley in North Dakota. She’s the leader of an organization that coordinates infant adoption training in CO, MT, ND and other States across the Northwest. Believe it or not she had actually saved my handouts from Sacramento two and half years earlier-which in itself is astonishing if you think back to what you do with your conference handouts. She wanted me to boost her team of infant adoption trainers and improve their presentation skills when training professionals who council expectant moms considering the option for adoption.

I confessed that I wasn’t a subject matter expert in this field although my younger sister Sue was adopted at age 2 (She is now 45) so I could relate to some of the issues faced by the team. We agreed and set the date and the location. I wasn’t going to argue why an organization from North Dakota was planning their event in, you guessed it, Las Vegas! But that’s not the half of it. The training took place on Monday March 9^th which, if you’ve done the math, was exactly three year to the day that I set my dream intention in motion.

I could stop here with the point about believing in your dreams and what you think about you bring about but there’s more…

The story continues. Sept 9, 2008 we received the call from my sister in law about being the parents chosen for a private adoption by the birth mom and her family for a baby due in late November. Three things to note: 1. We decided to give up the old fashioned way and get a puppy. 2. We had not really considered adoption due to the wait times and 3. The sister in law did all this behind our ever lovin’ backs much to our surprise and delight. Hannah was born Nov 28 and I called Sheila and told her I take my client research seriously so I just doubled my credentials to speak to your team because we adopted a baby!

There are many mysteries in this life including how all events align to help us manifest our dreams. Who would have imagined a soon to be dad would be honored by the opportunity to professionally support Infant Adoption Trainers & Recruiters in the good work that they do. I truly believe that somewhere behind Hannah’s 4 month old grin that my baby loves Vegas because without this piece of the dreamweaving puzzle it’s hard to tell where she would be. I can only give thanks we get to tuck her in at night.

But for A Moment – Poem

I close my eyes but for a moment
and then I see our 15 week old
peacefully asleep
after long day
of being adorable,
lighting up smiles in others,
exploring her hands and toys
and making her parents tear up
with unspeakable joy.

I close my eyes but for a moment
and then I see our 15-month-old
peacefully asleep
after a long day
of running, walking, hopping,
telling delightful stories,
exploring her world
and making her parents laugh.

I close my eyes for but a moment
then I see our 15-year-old
peacefully asleep
after a long day at school
building friendships,
exploring talents,
finding her own way to make a difference
and making her parents proud.

I close my eyes for but a moment
and 15 years have passed
our daughter has found a passionate career,
her souls mirror,
and a baby to love
and now making new grandparents tear up
with unspeakable joy.

I close my eyes for but a moment
and the gift of life and it’s timeless love carries on.

Hannah Katherine Davison 15 weeks old