Susan Heathfield's Weblog: Moon Musing

Until We Meet Again

Thu, 11 Sep 2003 04:56:06 GMT

Dear People,

With some sorrow, I write you this note. Since my front page at the Human Resources site at About.com turned into a blog several months ago, I find that it is a daily struggle to find something interesting and insightful to say on each site every day. This site is most neglected because of the volume of visitors daily to my About site.

This, plus, I need to take the time I invest in updating this blog to do four new projects.

I need to begin marketing a "How to Mentor" program that I wrote and developed. It was piloted with great success at a major university. It is a step-by-step guide to developing, implementing and evaluating a mentoring program complete with monthly conversation guides for the mentoring pair.

Second, I need to begin work on a book proposal.

Third, I'd like to start a cooking website. (I'm a spicy, from scratch, almost every day, inventive cook.)

Finally, I'd like to start a professional website for change management and for people who must mentor change in their organizations, called Changementor.com which will include information about my consulting, training and writing business.

Whewwwww! I make me tired. I think that clearly, I need more time to bring these projects to fruition. I am blessed with more goals than I can accomplish in a day. Right now, while I am spending a lot of time at an expanding client's workplace, is a great time for me to move forward on these new projects. I have a steady income and can invest in the future.

Please forgive me if you have added this blog to your daily ramblings - I need to put it on hiatus for awhile. I know I am a bit more conservative about what I discuss at the About site since my audience is totally international and completely diverse with respect to age, race, longevity in the field, experiences, and so much more. I treasure my About audience. I treasure the notes I receive every day from around the world. Heck, with a few more minutes of time, I might even respond to this correspondence sooner.

I'll revive this weblog when the Changementor site is up. In the meantime, keep reading at:

Human Resources

This is not "good-bye." It is "til we meet again at the new website."

In the meantime, you can reach me at:

humanresources.guide@about.com

To subscribe to my twice-weekly, free newsletter:

Human Resources Newsletter

Warmly,

Susan

Celebrate Life: Workplace Remembrance of September 11

Thu, 11 Sep 2003 01:42:01 GMT

Dear People,

I'll duplicate a website post here because it is an important one as we approach September 11. This year in my client company, I think we'll pause for a few minutes of silence in remembrance of September 11, 2001 and in remembrance of all other tragedies experienced by innocent people.

People in workplaces around the world will remember September 11 as a day of tragedy, sorrow, remembrance, honor, and celebration. No matter how you decide to commemorate September 11 - and I believe some commemoration is worthwhile in every workplace - take these words from Gary Lear, President and CEO of Resource Development Systems, LLC, to heart.

Gary Lear expresses the views of many employers when he reminds us, "I'm not sure how important it is for businesses and other organizations to have some sort of observance. Of course, some will have been more impacted by this event than others, and I'm sure that will also impact upon their decision about activities. Whatever your organization decides, may I suggest that one way to pay respect to those who have left us - for whatever reason - is to celebrate life. Celebrate the life they led, not the death that ended it. Celebrate their life by celebrating all life, including your own. Take a moment of silence to remember, but spend the rest of the day in celebration. There is no greater way to honor someone than to live, love and laugh in their honor."

I don't believe I can give you more meaningful advice. Live, love, and laugh in their honor.

Celebrate Life: Workplace Remembrance of September 11.

Warmly,

Susan

Team Building Targets

Sun, 07 Sep 2003 18:40:54 GMT

Dear People,

A gun show in the massive Pontiac Silverdome just before hunting season - how could it be so boring? Yet, it was.

I don't hunt by the way, my husband and I are target shooters. There's a gun club south of us to which we belong. As a good team building activity, every couple of years, we take anyone on our TechSmith staff who wants to learn to shoot to a "learn to shoot" day. We use balloons for targets, closely supervise the activities and give staff an overview of responsible gun use. This year, we have so many people who want to attend that we will likely schedule two days.

Team building activities in our company are important, even as we have grown to over 60 people. This summer, we sponsored a company dinner and evening in a sky box at a Lansing Lugnuts baseball game (minor league local team - fun if you've never been.) Staff bring their families for a fun evening.

Next, we held a company picnic at a local park and supplied the food and drink. Our sales manager held a barbecue at his home to say good-bye to two staff members who are moving to Boston and Spain.

Additionally, we attended three staff weddings this summer and mingled with the many others who were invited.

Stretch your imagination. There are so many ways to build the team. And, if you do it outside of the work day, just make sure it's voluntary, fun and that the activities are diverse.

Visit our company: TechSmith. (We're the developers of multimedia screen capture software.)

Warmly,

Susan

Posole Stew and Personality

Sun, 07 Sep 2003 03:36:37 GMT

Dear People,

I do try to provide something lighter for the weekend. Check out your opportunities to learn more about yourself.

Personality Tests, Quizes, and Profiles

Happy weekend. I'm off to the mother of all gun shows tomorrow plus I made Posole Stew for dinner. Tons of different peppers and saffron and spices and pork. Awesome.

Warmly,

Susan

HR Newsletter - Interested?

Fri, 05 Sep 2003 20:33:53 GMT

Dear People,

Did you know that I offer a free Human Resources newsletter that goes out to thousands of subscribers twice each week?

Check it out ...

HR Newsletter

Warmly,

Susan

Measuring Organizational Performance

Fri, 05 Sep 2003 03:38:26 GMT

Dear People,

My key area of research right now is into ways to measure whether we are truly upgrading the skills, the goals, the accomplishments, and the productivity of our staff at a client company. We have introduced a performance management system and are looking for ways to measure our success as a company in attaining staff development and goals. Have you encountered a measurement system that works?

Any feedback is truly appreciated. In the meantime, read about what I mean when I talk about a performance management system.

Use Performance Management to Help People Succeed and Improve

HR Tool: Performance Development Process Checklist

Warmly,

Susan

Communication Resources

Thu, 04 Sep 2003 03:56:59 GMT

Dear People,

It's amazing how fast one loses the relaxed feeling that a long weekend brings. I admit. I vegged out ... watched TV, read four books, took a few walks and watched Lake Michigan. Back to the work world with a vengeance. Vacation is over for now.

I've started reading a book about increasing productivity which I'll share with you soon. Just a few more chapters ...

In the meantime, take a look at the resources I've gathered on the site for communication. When I interview people in companies, communication is always cited as one of the biggest problems. (Managers always cite productivity.) I think we lack fundamental information about what people need and want to know. More on this tomorrow.

Communication Resources

Warmly,

Susan