Welcome to the April 13, 2005 issue of The Total View

Published by Success Performance Solutions, Written by Ira S. Wolfe

Visit our Human Resources Blog and Perfect Labor Storm Blog where we can post daily (and more often) human resource updates, news, and Perfect Labor Storm facts. 

Did you miss the April 12, 2005 edition of the Wall Street Journal?

" Don't Just Abandon A Hated Job; Diagnose Your Occupational Ills Check out the Career"

An interview about career change and transition including SPS founder Ira S. Wolfe.

What's Inside:

1. Generational Styles At Work

Stay with this -- the answer is at the end -- it will blow you away.

One evening a grandson was talking to his grandmother about current events. The grandson asked his grandmother what she thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, and just things in general.

The Grandma replied, "Well, let me think a minute, I was born, before television, penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, contact lenses, Frisbees and the pill. There was no radar, credit cards, laser beams or ball-point pens. Man had not invented pantyhose, air conditioners, dishwashers, clothes dryers, and the clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air and man hadn't yet walked on the moon.

Your Grandfather and I got married first-and then lived together. Every family had a father and a mother. Until I was 25, I called every man older than I, 'Sir'- and after I turned 25, I still called policemen and every man with a title, "Sir.' We were before gay-rights, computer- dating, dual careers, daycare centers, and group therapy.

Our lives were governed by the Ten Commandments, good judgment, and common sense. We were taught to know the difference between right and wrong and to stand up and take responsibility for our actions.

Serving your country was a privilege; living in this country was a bigger privilege. We thought fast food was what people ate during Lent. Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins. Draft dodgers were people who closed their front doors when the evening breeze started. Time-sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and weekends-not purchasing condominiums.

We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, electric typewriters, yogurt, or guys wearing earrings. We listened to the Big Bands, Jack Benny, and the President's speeches on our radios. And I don't ever remember any kid blowing his brains out listening to Tommy Dorsey. If you saw anything with 'Made in Japan ' on it, it was junk. The term 'making out' referred to how you did on your school exam. Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of.

We had 5 & 10-cent stores where you could actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents. Ice-cream cones, phone calls, rides on a streetcar, and a Pepsi were all a nickel. And if you didn't want to splurge, you could spend your nickel on enough stamps to mail 1 letter and 2 postcards.

You could buy a new Chevy Coupe for $600 but who could afford one? Too bad, because gas was 11 cents a gallon. In my day, "grass" was mowed, "coke" was a cold drink, "pot" was something your mother cooked in, and "rock music" was your grandmother's lullaby. "Aids" were helpers in the Principal's office," chip" meant a piece of wood, "hardware" was found in a hardware store, and "software" wasn't even a word.

And we were the last generation to actually believe that a lady needed a husband to have a baby. No wonder people call us "old and confused" and say there is a generation gap.....and how old do you think I am ?

I bet you have this old lady in mind...you are in for a shock! Read on to see -- pretty scary if you think about it and pretty sad at the same time.

This woman would be only 58 years old!

Special thanks and credit for this week's column go to my 81-year-young mother who forwarded this story to me using her laptop. I find this ironic when the workplace is filled with 45 and 50 year old employees who claim to be too old to learn to use technology!

To learn more about working with different generations, read about our new Generational Style Assessment (#4 below) and visit our bookstore to order Generation X, Generation Y, and Managing the Generation Mix.

2. Perfect Labor Storm Alerts #389 to #390
http://www.perfectlaborstorm.com/facts.html

Don't miss day-to-day updates on Perfect Labor Storm. Save the Perfect Labor Storm blog to your favorites.

Fact #389:   The aging population could result in rising average patient acuity, which could in turn requires higher nurse and physician staffing levels. (Source: HRSA)

Fact #390: Total requirements for FTE RNs are expected to increase from approximately 2 million in 2000 to 2.8 million in 2020 (a 41 percent increase). Requirements for FTE LPNs are expected to increase from 618,000 in 2000 to 905,000 in 2020 (a 46 percent increase). There is an expected increase in FTE nurse aide and home health aide requirements from 1.5 million in 2000 to 2.3 million in 2020 (a 50 percent increase). (Source: HRSA)

Don't be caught in storm without all the facts. "The Perfect Labor Storm Fact Book: Why Worker Shortages Won't Go Away" is a must-read leading edge forecast that predicts workforce trends for decades to come. Order your copy today - Only $7.95.

3.  Recognize your employees - great managers do it every day.

Studies show that recognizing employees for their good work is one of the most effective ways to motivate them. So why don't more managers say "thank you" or give praise?

The Organizational Recognition Assessment for Managers measures beliefs and expectations, past and current experiences, and organizational variables that influence your managers' use of recognition.

The 54 statement, self-scoring assessment provides feedback in six dimensions that have a significant influence on why managers use or don't use recognition:
- Impact on performance
- Beliefs about recognition
- Ability to do recognition
- Passion for recognition
- Organizational support for recognition
- Organizational context for recognition

Organizational Recognition Assessment for Managers - Pack of 5 - Only $49.75

4. NEW! Generational Style Assessment

Test your ability to communication with Gen X, Gen Y, Boomers, and Traditionalists. Our NEW Generational Style Assessment evalautes the communication or relational style you typically apot when interacting with individuals or groups of people from different generations. It then provides you insight into those styles that work for you, and what to do about the styles that don't. This self-scoring workbook includes the questionnaire, response sheet, how to interpret your results, and how to understand the different styles.

Order the Generational Style Assessment today.
Single copy of Generational Style Assessment - $15

Save! Order Generational Style Assessment in packages of 5 - $50 each.

Human Resource Consultants and Trainers - Order the Leader's Guide including Powerpoint slide for only $250.

5. SELECT employees with the Right Work Attitudes

A pre-employment screening tool to identify work-related behaviors such as Absenteeism, Honesty, Positive Service Attitude, Accountability, Frustration Tolerance, Acceptance of Diversity, Multi-tasking and more.... plus a Validity Check and Integrity Index. Each customized report includes a step by step interview guide including recommended interview questions. SELECT is available on-line, by fax, or by purchasing software for on-site licensing.

7. We've Moved!
Success Performance Solutions has a new home as of March 1. Our new address is 2137 Embassy Drive, Suite 218, Lancaster, PA. Our phone number is 717.291.4640 and new fax is 717.427.2020. Of course, our online home remains the same at www.super-solutions.com.

Syndication available - call us.