The Character Coach

The article by Rebecca Knight on the Financial Times website ft.com (url listed below) about the Rewards of ‘gen-blending’ captures the rewards to both business and employees of authentically blending the strengths of the multiple generations in the workplace.  One statement,from Dan Woodward, senior vice-president at BakBone Software really is a foundational issue that is driving the need for change. In the article he is quoted as saying, “It used to be that when a 23-year-old attended senior level meetings, they were more often than not just taking notes.  Today, that 23-year-old is expected to contribute.”

How powerful to be a company or organization that recognizes in Gen Y workers their innate need to be engaged a part of the discussions and decisions–and how rewarding (and it ties to retaining them) for that employee to be in a place where their voice is valued and allowed.

It is important to consider how the Boomers, Gen X and Gen Y are affected by the environment of their up-bringing and how that brings strong expectations for their workplace and potential conflicts or clashes with other generations.

Helping your employees step back to understand and accept these differences can create an effective and motivational workplace. This sense of respect and collective responsibility to the individuals and environment in their workplace allow the goal of the business or organization to be the rightful priority of energies of the workforce.

Contact me for information on training on generational diversity at charactercoach@gmail.com.

To read Rebecca’s article visit:  http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e82acd60-a156-11de-a88d-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1

Check out the new things that are offered through CHARACTER COUNTS! to enhance your character initiative  go to www.charactercounts.org

Just to be clear–merchandise does not a character initiative make, but having resources and materials that illuminate and enhance your efforts can add freshness and depth.  Please don’t just put posters on the wall–create a climate in your school or youth organization that expects and exhibits good character for and by all.

State Farm Grants for Service-learning are due on October 2nd. www.statefarmyab.com

Check out some of the pictures from recent training sessions–Research proves that adult training will be more effective if it is interactive.  The old “sit and get” has “got up and went”–it is time to use what we know about how adults learn! Add to that adding Gen Y to these sessions makes recrafting training even more vital.  If you are going to spend time and money training your employees, the training needs to be effective.

Many Gen Y employees say that professional development is a key benefit they not only expect, but is vital to retention.  But, that training has to meet their needs–talking heads won’t do it!

Whether through experiential activities or by reconizing the brain research that shows the mode of learning needs to change at least every 17 minutes instructional designers and those that train the trainers must provide as much, if not more, time crafting the training strategies as the content.

Amazingly by integrating some key strategies that work for Gen Y, all ages find the training more effective and enjoyable. It’s important though that the activities not be trivial and that they aren’t just “games”–your trainers have to be skilled at how to set-up, implement and most important, process the reflection on the activity to correlate with your content.

As shared from Youth Today

Grant: Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge – For youth-led environmental projects.

Funder: Siemens Foundation, Discovery Education and the National Science Teachers Association.

Eligibility: Students in grades kindergarten to eight.

Deadline: Jan. 31, for elementary schools; March 15, 2010, for middle schools.

Amount: Students compete for more than $100,000 in cash and prizes.

Contact: http://wecanchange.com.

Grant: State Farm Youth Advisory Board – For service-learning projects that address certain issues, including drivers’ safety, access to higher education and environmental responsibility.

Funder: State Farm.

Eligibility: Individuals between the ages of 17 and 20 as of June 30, 2009.

Deadline: Oct. 2.

Amount: From $25,000 to $100,000 each.

Contact: www.statefarmyab.com/apply.php.

Grant: Campus Progress – For guidance and support to carry out community- and campus-based community service projects.

Funder: Campus Program, a project of the Center for American Progress.

Eligibility: Youth and student-led organizations.

Deadline: Sept. 14 for progressive partnership guidance, networking, strategic planning and training.

Amount: In addition to assistance, $1,500 grants are available year-round.

Contact: www.campusprogress.org/issues/4464/action-alliances.

Grant: Big Green – For environmentally friendly projects that encourage youths to take care of the environment, be active, live healthier and engage in community service.

Funder: Nickelodeon.

Eligibility: Elementary and middle schools and after-school community-based organizations with 501(c)(3) status serving kids age 5 to 15 years.

Deadline: Dec. 31.

Amount: $2,500 or $5,000 each. The latter amount must be matched one to one.

Contact: www.bghevent.com/grant/index.htm.

Grant: Service learning – For service-learning projects focused on natural and societal disaster preparedness, driver safety, accessing higher education/closing the achievement gap, financial education and environmental responsibility.

Funder: State Farm Advisory Board.

Eligibility: Nonprofits.

Deadline: Oct. 2.

Amount: Multiple awards from $25,000 to $100,000.

Contact: www.statefarmyab.com.

Recently here in MN Gov. Pawlenty vetoed an anti-bullying bill.  For the specifics look at the article in the Star Tribune

http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/45921002.html?elr=KArks8c7PaP3E77K_3c::D3aDhUec7PaP3E77K_0c::D3aDhUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU.

Many want to make this a political debate, but personally I think the focus is off the mark.  The existing legislation already covers issues of discrimination.  What is needed is the moral courage to ACT on what we know if right.

I ache for our youth that are bullied in our schools–I’ve worked with children with disabilities that are teased, students that are academically gifted that are mocked, the elementary child with glasses that is laughed at, the middle schooler that doesn’t have the “right” clothes that isn’t let into the group, the high schooler that doesn’t want to drink that is taunted, the torment of the student that is gay or lesbian, the cruetlyyouth that is OCD or ADHD –I understand the subtleness but pain of girls bullying and the physical nature of bullying by boys.  Many feel like it is a right of passage, but all of us know that bullies are individuals (children or adults) that most likely were also bullied–it is a cycle that is out of control.  I understand the concern over bullying due to race, to sexual orientation, to all the ways that we are different—BUT I still truly believe we are starting in the wrong place to address the issue if we think that a written law is going to put people into ACTion!  People ACT because they are inspired to ACT–to help, to give, to respect, to teach, to model. 

What is needed?  I believe there needs to be more focus on developing positive character–how we treat each other and how those around us are treated–and to enhance the moral courage for targets and bystanders to step up, speak up and be a part of the solution.

It is documented that every act of school violence has been traced back to the issue of bullying.  There are definitive patterns in bullying along a continuum of escalating intensity from eye-rolling to acts of violence.  It is documented also that there were individuals that knew of the growing alienation and frustration of these young people but they didn’t step up.  How many times have each of us “looked the other way” or experienced “selective listening” or were “willingly blind” as others  have been put in difficult or uncomfortable circumstances.  This isn’t a problem exclusive to our young people.

Emphasizing the role of respect, caring and the sense of a collective responsibility–where we each are responsible for the good of the whole, not just ourselves–is a key message of character development and character education initiatives.  Adults and children alike need to have their moral courage to be challenged, developed, inspired and encouraged. 

Only when we take responsibility for not allowing bullying–whether in a school yard, a classroom, a neighborhood, or a work place–and have the moral courage to ACT rather than wait for others will we begin to see a decrease in bullying.  Our society has models of bullying behavior all around us–check out reality TV some night.  We must also strive to model to each other and to our children and grandchildren that it is our duty, our responsibility, to treat others with respect and compassion and not allow them to be mistreated.

Hard to do?  Absolutely.  And it is easy to rationalize why we shouldn’t step in–and sometimes, personal safety is indeed a factor.  But I would guess that in the majority of cases where children  or adults are bullying others that if the bystanders step in and speak up that the bully will lose his/her power. 

Because the majority of bullying incidents with children take place out of the sight of adults, it is vital for us to provide our children with the foundation of character and the skill sets that allow for them to know how to step up and deal with conflicts–for themselves and for others.  They don’t know these things without being taught and without seeing the adults in their lives modeling these actions.

Through the emerging Minnesota CharACTer Initiative, school and community representatives are learning about strategies for emphasizing character education throughout the community.  For further information about scheduled training visit www.minnesotacharacter.org

 

 

A Character Development Seminar through CHARACTER COUNTS! is coming to LeSueur-Henderson for people from throughout Minnesota to participate.  This 3-day training is the foundation for developing a CHARACTER COUNTS! initiative in your school or community.  For more information on the specifics, please visit our very basic website at www.minnesotacharacter.org.  Early bird registration ends May 1.

 

 

A small group of dedicated folks that care about the character of the youth in Minnesota–that’s who we are.  With assistance from educators in LeSueur-Henderson, Austin, and Orono,

The Institute for Character Development/CHARACTER COUNTS! in Iowa organization (my former workplace for which I still cheerlead) recently gave Olympian Shawn Johnson the highest award they give–the Pillar of Character Award.  This award is named in honor of Former Governor Robert D. Ray.  Having worked with Governor Ray for many years, I sincerely hope that Shawn had the opportunity to sit and visit with Governor Ray and capture the essence of this amazing gentleman.  I believe he is one of the last true remaining statesmen. 

One of the most precious gifts that I received from Governor Ray was the modeling he did when he spoke to people.  Every time he speaks with people he respectfully and sincerely listens to what they have to say.  As someone that has worked with some of the most admired world leaders, he shows such compassion and authentic interest in the people he meets–no matter who they are.  He never was talking to me and looking around the room to see who might be there that he could be talking to, his attention was real, a character attribute I’ve found missing in many people let alone politicians. 

His lesson in leadership for me (in my on-going challenge to improve) is that it is important to be fully engaged with the people with whom you converse and that each person is valuable just by being them.  As Shawn’s life unfolds, I hope she holds firm to her convictions and compassion and truly lives her life with the integrity and character of her award’s namesake. 

For the months I haven’t been up-dating this blog, I’ve been out working with schools across the country and continue to be in awe of the tremendous impact that character development initiatives–done well–are making in the lives of our youth.  I have had the honor of visiting finalist schools for the Character Education Partnership’s National Schools of Character Awards.  In addition, I’ve been thrilled to conduct CHARACTER COUNTS! training at a new school that is using the Six Pillars as a foundation-not only in content and culture, but in the actual architecture of their building-as they move to open in the fall.

oct_8__2008_phone_call21

Listen to one of the voices of

youth say it more powerfully than I can–

I had the HONOR of talking with a group of high school youth in Indiana this evening.  These incredibly observant, caring and articulate young people are members of their HS student council and their Night Mentors (that work with transitions).  They shared so openly and freely with myself and my co-trainer and they didn’t even know us! 

Here we were two strangers from out of state, that had less than a half-hour with them before they started opening up about their concerns with decisions their peers are making.  powerful, powerful sharing      As so often happens when youth get the chance to talk to adults that truly want to listen, they unwrap the layers they wear as an armor of protection day in and day out and they devulge their true desire for adults to step up—to listen , to value them, to deal with the youth that are not following the rules.  And, as so many other youth have shared with me, they don’t feel valued by their community and they are frustrated with the modeling the adults are doing on a daily basis.

Lesson learned (again).  We have to purposefully and assertively work to connect the youth and their ideas, dreams and concerns with the character education initiatives.  Youth need to be partners in the leadership of character education initiatives.  They can start doing that even in elementary school if we just give them the opportunity.