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KEYZINE: An e-zine for LEADERS:
ABOUT THE PEOPLE PART OF BUSINESS
Volume
5, August 2001
Publisher: © Key Associates, LLC, 2001
http://www.mkkey.com
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IN THIS ISSUE (the theme is Spirit at Work):
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"I believe that the ultimate in self-actualization is
when a person is confused about the difference
between employment and recreation."
-Ken Blanchard
"The deepest craving in human nature is the need
to be appreciated."
-William James
"Festivity, like play, contemplation, and making
love, is an end in itself. It is not instrumental."
-Harvey Cox
It is impossible to have stellar performance in
an
organization without collective spirit.
-Terrence Deal & M. K. Key
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WHAT'S HOT IN LEADERSHIP
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TAPPING THE HUMAN AND ORGANIZATIONAL
NEED FOR CELEBRATION.
RELEASING THE HUMAN SPIRIT AS OPPOSED
TO "MOTIVATING."
BECOMING MANAGERS OF MEANING--People
come to work for meaning.
ATTENDING TO THE NON-RATIONAL QUALITIES
THAT PEOPLE POSSESS--i.e., FEELINGS. Leaders
want WHOLE people not ROLE people at work.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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I am not the party type. How can I do this?
Fine, put your endorsement on the event and give it to a
culture committee, like SouthwestAirlines and Disney
have done, to design and execute the festivities. Let the event
self-organize, but be a BIG participant, front and center!
When times are tight, should I be hosting
parties?
When everything is going well, celebration
allows us to
revel in our glory. But in tough times, celebration
is more
important than ever, drawing people together, rekindling
faith and hope that better times lie ahead. There is clear
evidence that Play Pays in terms of productivity, retention,
morale and even stock market performance.
My Board/Investors would raise eyebrows at
using
funds for play at work. If they do
not see the business
benefits, then opt for something like: (a) honoring
your
customers and external players, (b) recognizing teams for
performance and asking them to teach their strategy to
others, or (c) doing something altruistic for the community.
Who could argue with the bond that comes through the
common purpose of serving humanity?
Cost is always an issue. How do I get
around this?
The best times are often spontaneous
gatherings, with food
(covered dish?) and story-telling. Provide the external
sanction for bonding in this way. Model it yourself. One
CEO gave a banana as recognition for a job well done.
Another had the last recipient pick the next and make the
award. A hospital conducted an Easter parade with
make-shift hats from available materials (bedpans, surgical
gloves, flower pots, etc.). Another honored a departing
colleague with a circle of storytelling and presentation of
memorabilia for a scrapbook. The list of simple ceremonies
is endless. See Deal & Key (1999) for ideas: Corporate
Celebration: Play, Purpose, and Profit at Work.
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MEETINGS AND COURSES
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Here are some of the principles from Deal & Key (1999),
taught in our Celebration workshops and developed further
in the book:
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USEFUL WEBSITES
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For a business book summary of Corporate Celebration:
Play, Purpose, and Profit at Work, see
http://www.meansbusiness.com/Organizing-
Work-and-People-Books/Corporate-Celebration.htm.
For a study guide and ordering information for the book,
go to http://www.bkpub.com/literacy/key.html.
See http://www.wnylrc.org/dhp/ethnic/doccel.htm
for ideas about documenting celebrations.
Trustee leadership development centers around
celebration. For books, videos and education,
review http://www.tld.org/resources.htm.
Celebration success seen as part of the cycle of organization
change, at http://www.autdyn.com/change.htm.
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ARTICLES/PUBLICATIONS
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Autry, James. Life and Work: A Manager' Search
for Meaning. New York: Avon Books, 1995.
Collins, James C. & Jerry I. Porras. Built to Last:
Successful Habits of Visionary Companies. New York:
Harper Business, 1994.
Fox, Matthew. The Reinvention of Work. San
Francisco: Harper-Collins, 1994.
Feieberg, Kevin & Jackie Frieberg. NUTS:
Southwest Airlines' Crazy Recipe for Business
and Personal Success. Austin, Texas: Bard, 1996.
Fulgum, Robert. From Beginning to End:
The Rituals of Our Lives. New York: Ivy Books,
1995.
Glanz, Barbara. Care Packages: Dozens of Little
Things You Can Do To Regenerate Spirit at Work.
New York: McGraw-Hill, 1996.
Hemsath, Dave & Leslie Yerkes. 301 Ways to
Have Fun at Work. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler,
1996.
Nelson, Bob. 1001 Ways to Reward Employees.
New York: Putnam, 1994.
Weinstein, Matt. Managing to Have Fun. New York:
Simon & Schuster, 1996.
Yerkes, Leslie. Fun Works. San Francisco: Berrett-
Koehler, 2001.
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MAINTAINING YOURSELF AS A LEADER
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Recall a celebration event at work where you truly felt
significant--full of emotion and meaning. Dissect this
experience, then check your recent past for moments
where you did this for other people. Use these elements
as design criteria for your next celebration.