Business owners always believe their companies can perform better, but aren't always sure of the steps they need to take to generate results. In most cases, a company's ability to improve results rests with the owner and leadership team.

  

Affineco has been working with the Handel Group, a New York based executive and personal coaching company. According to Shir Nir, president of the Handel Group's executive coaching practice, "It's simple: Happy people are good for business. When an individual becomes proud, inspired and excited about their lives, they show up differently at work. That can make a significant impact on an organization." He says the value of a happy and productive culture extends from the corporate suite on down.

  

Since the middle of 2010, Nir has been working with Affineco's CEO Paul Senecal and President Michael Diamond as well as with the leadership staff. He says it's already making a difference in the company's performance.

  

"We've seen enhanced performance each month since we started working with Paul and the team," said Nir.  "We've altered behaviors, created new strategies and designed new cultural rules for the company."

  

"It's definitely paid dividends so far," said Senecal. "We know there are always roadblocks to success and, often times, it comes down to how people interact and communicate. Shir and his team understand that bad habits get in the way and they help us recognize those and to 'get a leash on them'."

  

Nir says the Handel Group gets outstanding corporate results by dealing with human issues and concerns, both universal and client specific. On the personal coaching side, they help people "design their lives," which essentially means they assist their clients in having the life that they truly want. Topics of focus range from conquering life challenges to improving personal relationships, from weight loss to creating and reaching goals. The company also teaches and leads programs in colleges and universities including New York University, MIT and Stanford University Business School, to name a few.

  

"One of the most important things we've learned in this process is that you have to be open to talking about your issues and able to let an outsider come in and show you how you can do a better job running your lives and your business," said Senecal. "That's the hard part, but it's where the real work gets done."
 

Photos courtesy of www.handelgroup.com

The Affineco companies of United Services and Premier Maintenance are helping raise awareness of an important program designed to help families stay in touch with loved ones who are serving our country overseas. The program is called Cell Phones for Soldiers, and Affineco learned about it through one of its clients in Stamford.

 

Scott VanDerheyden is the property manager for BLT overseeing the GE Energy Financial Services facility in Stamford, which is cleaned and maintained by United Services. VanDerheyden is a veteran, having served in the Marines from 1987 to 1991. He also volunteers as a case manager for National Veterans Services Fund, a nonprofit in Darien dedicated to helping serve veterans and their families. That's where he heard about Cell Phones for Soldiers. When Scott met with United Services CEO  Michael Diamond in February, he asked if Affineco might be willing to profile the program in this newsletter.

 

"Feeling a connection to home is crucial for soldiers serving overseas," said VanDerheyden. "When I was in Iraq, we used to wait with such anticipation for the helicopter mail drops; it was our only link back home. Now, troops have the advantage of communicating by cell phone, which is great, but those calls are ridiculously expensive. That's why this program is so important. Anything that makes it easier for soldiers to contact their families is a huge morale booster."

 

In April 2004, then 13-year-old Brittany Bergquist and her 12-year-old brother Robbie of Norwell, Massachusetts founded Cell Phones for Soldiers. They began the program with just $14 of their own money (plus $7 they collected from friends) after hearing a news story about a soldier whose cell phone bill had run upwards of $8,000. Since that time, the program has become a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization and has collected more than 7.5 million cell phones. By selling those phones to a company that recycles them, Cell Phones for Soldiers has been able to supply more than 90 million prepaid calling card minutes to military personnel serving overseas. Brittany and Robbie's efforts have received national recognition, including wide media coverage by such outlets as CNN, CBS News and USA Today, plus high-profile partnerships with AT&T, General Motors and NASCAR.

 

The website www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com provides information and online forms for donating phones, donating money, finding drop-off points, requesting prepaid calling cards and more. You can print pre-paid shipping labels via the site and find out how your building, business or school can become an official collector.

 

"We are proud to support our troops through this wonderful program," said Diamond. "We appreciate Scott bringing this opportunity to us and we encourage every one to learn more about how they can set up individual donations or collection points in their buildings and offices."

Lanartco Performance Tip of the Month You know it takes finesse to communicate passion in the workplace.  If you don't, that's okay, because Lanartco does. Passionate communication is like a volcano. It erupts unexpectedly and flows from the core. Volcanoes, as we know, are incredibly powerful and beautiful to watch, but they also generate fear and a sense of danger in others. Just like our instinct to run from a live volcano, we have the same instinct to flee from someone expressing passion inappropriately. To avoid falling into this trap try taking a deep breath or a count to ten before exposing your impulses. You'd be surprised how a little time out works for adults too!

For more from Jill Diamond, see her blog post No Holds Barred and add your comments or questions.

Jill Diamond is a communication coach and the Founder/President of Lanartco, Inc. Read more about Jill here.  Lanartco is a learning and development boutique that provides communication performance skills solutions. To learn more about how you can enhance your vocal presence, your presentation style or your communication effectiveness, visit us at www.lanartco.com or contact us at (212) 206-3900 or admin@lanartco.com. Lanartco is happy to help you put your best self forward!