Humor and Leadership Tips of the Week
 Lead * Laugh * Connect
January 28th,  2008
Invest In Positive Leadership!
:: HumorACTION!
:: Joke of The Week
:: Days to Celebrate
:: Map Your Success!
halloween
MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT

Each team member impacts the culture of an organization (positively or negatively) because emotions pass from person to person.  Fifteen years ago, I was working for a particularly mean-spirited manager.  He would spend his days yelling, stomping and publicly chastising me (and I was a work horse!).  Although he looked at this as a type of training, I looked at it as his way of unfairly wielding his power.  We had worked together a little over a year and, as I was moving to a different job, he said; "Chip, I'm really going to miss you -  you're more than a worker, you're an atmosphere."  Obviously, his words took me by surprise.  Not only did I think this manager despised me, I also thought he spent his evenings devising new ways to humiliate me.  As time passed, I reflected on his words and came to the conclusion that, "He's right, I am an atmosphere!"  I tried to impact the people around me in a positive manner,  find a way to smile or find the "funny thing" in a difficult situation, and give a positive spin on what looked like negative circumstances - which lifted the spirits of my co-workers (even the negative manager).   But there are two kinds of atmospheres - carriers and converters.   Which kind of atmosphere are you?

Carriers
Carriers clutch onto their negativity and infect,  just like the plague, each person they meet in the organization.  If they are having a bad day, they are not happy unless they infect you with their problems (in an effort to ensure your day goes as bas as theirs).  This transfer of negativity by the carrier must be satisfying to the carrier.  So satisfying, in fact, that they are not content until they have contaminated everyone in their workspace.  I am sure you are familiar with this person (or people).  Everything can be absolutely fabulous in their life, but they take the one negative and spend 20 minutes telling you how awful they feel because of it.  When they are done, you are drained and feel terrible!   Yes, you have been infected!   This disease is highly contagious and has the potential to  spread from person to person quickly.  It affects workplace productivity, creativity, teamwork, and morale.  What's the vaccination for the disease?  Being a converter!

Converters
Converters are organizational "rays of sunshine" and they do just that!  They illuminate the workspace!  Converters are skilled in the transformation of negatives into positives.    You may think that nothing ever goes wrong for the converter because you rarely hear about it.  If they do speak of it, it is quickly spun into something positive that can be learned from or built upon for the greater good.   Unlike carriers, converters help to boost morale, productivity, creativity and teamwork.  Do you want the best news?  Even if you don't "naturally" have a converter attitude, it's something that can be developed.   Here are several approaches to help you convert to being a converter:

  • Smile - it's amazing how something so simple can help to change your disposition.
  • Laugh - get a "humor buddy," that person that makes you laugh when there's nothing to laugh about.  This person already knows the secret to being a converter.  If converters are in short supply, subscribe to a daily joke email list or call me (I'll be happy to help).
  • Contribute - take the focus off yourself and do something nice for someone else. 
  • Play - do something that you liked doing as a child (sledding, biking, building with Legos).  Have fun!

No matter what your vocation, being a converter will catapult you to the forefront.  If your current environment at work is change resistant, negative, unproductive, and you dread going to work, YOU can make the difference.  Renovate the atmosphere with your converter attitude.  There are no tools required.  All that's necessary are the words "can" and "will."  Your attitude indicates that you "can" and your actions indicate that you "will."  Be a converter!  The light you shine will illuminate the darkest organization!



Keep Leading, Laughing, and Connecting,
Chip 
Chip Featured In Zig Ziglar's Newsletter!

zigExcel Today! Check out this link to the 15 January Issue of Zig's Weekly Newsletter!
Set the Pace From The Helm

"It is your attitude, not your aptitude, that determines your altitude." -  Zig Ziglar
Quote of the Week
cool

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable."

- Helen Keller
HumorACTION!
Have Fun at Work!
Tips to Break Down Those Barriers!
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1. When an office mate gets up from his chair, sit in it quickly and scream, "You snooze you lose!"

2.  Spend the week delivering all phone messages in the form of paper airplanes.

3.  Institute a "Polka Tuesday" (a nice alternative to "Casual Friday") - complete with music, wiener schnitzel and lederhosen.
Joke Of the Week
Corny Enough to Make Anyone Smile!

cow

A farmer was helping one of his cows give birth, when he noticed his four year old son standing at the fence, soaking in the whole event.

The man thought to himself, "Great. He's four and I'm gonna have to start explaining the birds and the bees. No need to jump the gun - I'll just let him ask, and I'll answer."

After everything was over, the man walked over to his son and said, "Well son, do you have any questions?"

"Just one," gasped the still wide-eyed lad.

"How fast was that calf going when he hit that cow?"
Days to Celebrate
Pick a Day and Kick it Up!

groundhog1/28 - Kazoo Day

1/29 - Freethinker's
          Day

1/30 - Jazz Day

1/31 - Twist Off Day

2/1  - Women's Heart Health Day

2/2  - Groundhog Day!

2/3  - Artist Day
Map Your Success for 2008!
Chart your course here!

halloweenHow do busy people become successful? Insight Publishing is pleased to present Charles Lutz, Ken Blanchard & Stephen Covey in an exceptional compilation of resourceful people who will tell you how they learned how to be successful.
Laughter Fact
Laughter Rocks!happyface

Laughter is used as a signal for being part of a group - it signals acceptance and positive interactions.
Invest in Positive Leadership Today!  Book Chip!

halloween Happy Employees come from positive organizations and positive organizations are created through positive leadership!  Learn to connect with team members, inspire greater productivity, creativity, and teamwork! 
Invest in a presentation or training from Chip Today!


Chip is a speaker/trainer that's been there, done that
and has the uniform to PROVE IT!
KEYNOTES - WORKSHOPS - LUNCH 'N LEARNS - COACHING
There's Never Been a Better Time To Talk to Your Team
 about Positive  Leadership!         

CALL CHIP TODAY - 262-960-2034
Email:  czar@funsquadinc.com
MORE INFO AND NEWS YOU CAN USE!
Using Humor to Maximize Learning: The Links between Positive Emotions and Education
By Mary Kay Morrison

cover2 Rowman and Littlefield Education Publishing; Lanham Maryland January 2008
The purpose of this book is to affirm, sustain, and encourage educators in the practice of humor not only as a personal tool to optimize a healthy lifestyle, but to maximize the benefits of humor in education. These benefits include current research-based data on the use of humor to nurture creativity, to increase the capacity for memory retention, to support an optimal learning environment and to build safe communities that reflect the relational trust necessary for collaborative learning.


About Chip Lutz and Fun Squad, Inc.
SPEAKING * TRAINING * COACHING

INSPIRING POSITIVE LEADERSHIP FOR POSITIVE RESULTS!

I work with people who want to increase teamwork, productivity, and communication and with organizations that want to create a more positive, change resilient culture.

There's never been a better time to connect, inspire and provide positive leadership than right now. Develop your leaders with a workshop or inspirational talk today!

Chip is a retired Navy Officer with 22 years leadership experience. He served as Commanding Officer of two separate Navy Facilities and was the Director of Security for Naval District Washington, DC during September 11th, 2001. Additionally, he is adjunct faculty for two colleges where he teaches classes in leadership, teamwork, and organizational behavior.
 
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