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    Monthly E-Tip                                                                                                           March 2009
This Month
Resiliency Differentiates
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mailing list 2009 With all big challenges come opportunities. Some may say that's a Pollyanna approach, but these days, we need all the positive attitude we can get. This month's e-tip addresses one of the most important skills we can use during challenging times: resiliency. Hopefully this e-tip provides you that little boost you may need to just keep going. Have a great month!
Resiliency Differentiates  
                                                                                                        
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I've heard from quite a few people lately who have lost their jobs, taken pay cuts, or are otherwise in a tough situation. They are struggling, not just financially, but emotionally. For many people, the comfortable stability that we have grown accustomed to has been rocked. We will get through these difficult times. Many people will even recover in a way that is bigger and better than before. What will make the difference between those who continue to struggle and those who bounce back stronger than ever?

Resiliency is the factor that differentiates those who survive tough times and those who thrive. Resiliency is the ability to bounce back after failure or disappointment. It's the ability to learn from difficulties and quickly move to a new and better place. Some people seem to show resiliency and others just don't.

What do resilient people do? How can you become more resilient? Here are a few thoughts:

Look forward. By focusing on the past and dwelling on your losses, you waste valuable energy that could be used to plan a better future. The more time you talk about, think about, and complain about the bad things that are happening to you, the more time you are wasting. Resiliency is about moving forward.

Blame no one. It's easy to point fingers at others for our losses. Blame family members for unrest. Blame the boss for the organization's failures. Blame the government for the current economic conditions. The more time you spend blaming, the less time you spend planning the future. When you accept the adage, "It is what it is," it's easier to create a more positive future.

Ask yourself, "How am I better as a result of this experience?" Whether your challenge is personal, like a divorce, or professional, like a layoff, you have the opportunity to learn and grow. Resilient people take time to reflect on the experience and identify how the future will be better as a result of the challenge.

Plan to make the next adventure even better. Resilient people look at tough times as an adventure. At the end of every challenging event, adventurous types begin to plan the next challenge. The thrill of the adventure is the journey, all the way through the end and on to the next. If you see the challenges as adventures, the excitement that comes from that perspective can be energizing rather than draining.

Tell yourself, "No big deal." I catch myself saying this often and it's my way of moving on. When you make a mistake or when someone else disappoints, try meeting the situation with a "no big deal." It takes the pressure off. And, really, there are few things in life that are a big deal in the grand scheme of things, aren't there?

Resiliency is the ability to accept who you are, where you are, for what you are and to move on with a positive attitude. Resiliency will get you through these difficult times. You can choose to be resilient or choose to be a victim. What's your choice?


Click here to view last month's performance conversation tip.
 
Upcoming Events
 

AZ IPMA-HR

AZ IPMA-HR Spring Conference
March 18th, 2009
Black Canyon Conference Center
Phoenix, AZ

Join Arizona's leading public sector human resources experts at this year's annual conference. This year's theme, "Weathering the Storm," tells us that the program will be full of practical solutions for leading your organization through these tough fiscal times. Featured speakers include MEG friends and colleagues Amy Lieberman, Michael Wade, and Chris Hunsiker. The conference is a great deal, too. The cost to attend this one-day event is only $69. Don't miss it!

For more information visit: IPMA-HR Arizona Chapter


2009 Western Region IPMA-HR

Western Region IPMA-HR
April 18th-22nd, 2009
Four Points Sheraton Hotel
Denver, CO

The 2009 Western Region IPMA-HR Conference will challenge you to "Climb to New Heights" in your professional career. The featured speakers, facilitators and vendors will offer you new skills and ideas so you can increase your confidence to step up, initiate new ideas, take risks and challenge yourself as an HR professional. While the field of human resources is never static, 2009 promises to be a historic year. Are you prepared to handle the changes and innovation that will come to HR in 2009?

For more information visit: Western Region IPMA-HR


ST. Luis HR Banner

Human Resource Management Association of Greater St. Louis
April 22nd, 2009
Renaissance Hotel St. Louis Airport
St. Louis, MO 63134

Join Marnie from 7:30 to 9:15 A.M. for, Painless Performance Management: Helping Leaders Actively Manage Employee Performance, and explore the essential elements of a successful, organization-wide performance management system. Learn how to implement training and coaching tools to be used when guiding supervisors and managers on performance-related issues. We will also recognize best practices in the field of performance management coaching and training.

For more information visit: HRMA of Greater St. Louis
 
Managing PeopleRecommended Reading
 
This month's recommended reading The Truth about Managing People is a guide for handling virtually every management challenge. The book reveals 53 Proven Principles that guide you to succeed brilliantly as a leader and overcome the "killer" problems faced by every manager. It offers:

� The truth about building winning teams and designing high-productivity jobs

� The truth about why "happy" employees aren't always more productive

� The (surprising) truth about what behaviors you really want to reward

The Truth About Managing People offers real solutions for the make-or-break problems faced by every manager. You'll discover: how to overcome the true obstacles to teamwork; why too much communication can be as dangerous as too little; how to improve your hiring and employee evaluations; how to heal "layoff survivor sickness"; even how to learn charisma. This isn't someone's opinion; it's a definitive, evidence-based guide to effective management: a set of bedrock principles you can rely on throughout your entire management career.

Truth About Managing People is available via our website at a discount. Click here to order this helpful tool.
FTPress.com (Pearson Education)
New Workshop 

We're excited to announce the launch of our newest workshop: Painless Performance Conversations: A Practical Approach to Difficult Conversations at Work. This in-depth look at why we avoid the most difficult, yet most important conversations at work provides the tools leaders need to excel in today's topsy turvy environment. Participants will walk away with:

� Customized written feedback on actual performance documentation they have created
� Specific feedback and extensive practice on real life, participant-created scenarios
� A fully developed list of performance expectations that apply to their work unit
� Practical tools for preparing for difficult performance conversations

Click here for a full program description and email us to discuss bringing this new resource to your organization.
 
 
Sincerely,

Marnie Green
Management Education Group, Inc.