June 3, 2009

Edited and Written by Ira S. Wolfe

Published by Success Performance Solutions. Major Sponsor,

2008 Best Places to Work In Pennsylvania

What's Inside this issue of The TotalView:

1.  How values influence attitudes toward social networking

2.  Perfect Labor Storm Warnings

3.  Twitter tops with young tweeple

4.  How did John F. Kennedy die?

5.  Emotional Intelligence Profile

6.  What Motivates Employees?

7.  Quotes from the Hire Authorities

1. How values influence attitudes toward social networking

As human beings, we tend to value certain viewpoints positively and judge others negatively.   What we value or judge determines our motivations and these in turn provide us with our sources of energy or causes of stress in both our personal and professional lives.

 When we value something, we take a positive attitude toward it. It hits our hot buttons and motivates us to do more. Likewise, the less we value something, the more likely we will have a negative attitude toward it.

For managers, understanding business values and motivators answers the nagging question: How can I motivate my employees?  For employees and individuals looking to re-energize their careers, understanding business values and motivators helps them understand what they seek most out of a job or work environment. 
 
In my column last week I highlighted how four different behavioral styles (D-I-S-C) might approach social networking (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace, etc).  Today I highlight how different people might value positively or judge negatively social networking in their lives. What follows are the six values and how an individual representing each viewpoint might describe what he or she gets out of networking.
 
Conceptual:  There are so many interesting things that people are doing. I love listening and learning from people coming from all walks of life. And I've got experts at my fingertips any time anywhere.  I can see how you can become addicted to the discussion groups.  These groups are just like being in school except that I can participate in only the discussions I want and I don't have to pay tuition!
 
Aesthetic:  I'm really troubled by how much time people seem to spend on these things.  My life is crazy enough. I need more balance in my life, not another thing to do.  But I did find three engaging discussion groups that I joined: I love the gourmet cooking, music, and yoga groups.
 
Economic: I wonder how I can make money from social networking.  I'm not convinced it's worth the time or effort yet but I'm willing to give it a try.  Now, what's the easiest way to get started?  I don't have time to waste fumbling around, trying to learn what to do.
 
Power & Authority:  If I can get ahead of the curve, I'll have the edge on my competition and be viewed as the expert. I've got to catch this wave before anyone else.  I live by this motto: if you're not at the table, you'll likely be on the menu.
 
Social:  Social networking is near utopia for me.  I love the concept of a community. It's all about sharing information for the benefit of others, many times complete strangers.  It's about building consensus and helping others. I have so much to give and people seem so grateful for my unconditional help. But what really upsets me is when someone stops following me or declines m y invitation?  I just hope I didn't do anything to offend them - it certainly wasn't my intention.  I worry about that a lot.
 
Doctrine:  It feels so good to know that I'm not alone out there.  I've got very strong views and often times I feel isolated. But with social networking sites, there is always someone who thinks like me.  Besides there are just a lot of people who just are plain wrong in what they believe and it's good to have a place where I can voice my opposition.

Learn more about Understanding Business Values and Motivators, click here.

Order a downloadable copy of Understanding Business Values and Motivators and

save 25%. Click here.

2.  Perfect Labor Storm Warnings   

Subscribe to the Perfect Labor Storm 2.0 blog and receive skilled worker shortage updates like this:

Learn more about workforce trends. Purchase the NEW Perfect Labor Storm 2.0 books (soft and hard cover versions) at PerfectLaborStorm.com.

New Perfect Labor Storm videos added. Watch now!

3. Twitter Tops with Young Tweeple

This week's results from the Geeks, Geezers, and Social Media survey conducted during April 2009 focuses on Twitter.

The results have important implications for business: how will Twitter affect your business?.

Download a free copy of the Geeks, Geezers, and Social Media summary report here.

4. How did John F. Kennedy die?

For Baby Boomers and Veterans, the memory of JFK's assassination is as vivid as it was on November 22, 1963. But for Gen X and Gen Ys, the question might prompt memories of July 16, 1999 when John F Kennedy Jr died when his plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean.

This subtle but significant difference is just one example of how seminal moments shapes the different viewpoints, preferences, attitudes and values of each generation.

Please take this brief 2-question survey of the most significant historical event that stands out from your childhood. Your responses are anonymous.  

Click Here to take survey. 

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5. The Emotional Intelligence Style Profile

Try the Emotional Intelligence Profile, from our line of "style" profiles and assessments.  Both "style" and "competency" profiles and assessments can be used in conjunction with any development activity, to target specific development needs, to assess current competencies or to prepare for a training workshop.

 
The Emotional Intelligence Style Profile has four quadrants based on the intersection of two scales. The 4 styles are:

Reflective (facts-focused) Organized (systems-mindedness) Conceptual (open-minded) and Empathetic (feelings-focused).

The two scales that create the styles are level of thinking structure and drive/motivation (outcome or belief-driven).
 
Participants learn their own preferred Emotional Intelligence (EI) style, the pros and cons associated with each of the four styles, ways to find better balance by developing skills in all four of the EI styles, and helpful advice about how to flex one's own style to better communicate and relate to team members with different EI styles. 
 
Test Drive 'The Emotional Intelligence Style Profile' Today!

Buy today 'The Emotional Intelligence Style Profile' (only $14.95) or take a sneek peak at the 89 other Management Pocketbook topics. 

6. What Motivates Employees

Zig Ziglar once said he had never met a person who was truly lazy, but he'd met many people who were under-motivated. He also said his job as a speaker was not to motivate anyone in his audience- doing so was impossible, because people motivate themselves. His job was to help them recognize that truth.

That truth is described in Understanding Business Values and Motivators. This book is THE 21st Century manager's primer to understanding how to motivate employees and how managers can tap into those motivators to encourage continuous productivity improvement, improved morale, and peak performance. 

7. Quotes from Hire Authorities

"Any activity becomes creative when the doer cares about doing it
right, or doing it better."
John Updike

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Ira S. Wolfe Copyright 2009 - All Rights Reserved. Reprints and other distribution by permission only.