POWER THOUGHT OF THE WEEK: Corporate Social Responsibility, Part 2

Power Thought of the Week with Patricia Parham, Ph.D.

My World is Green

As we network and do business, how “green” are we? Green companies produce little “waste” and they recycle. Any instance of using virtual means of communication in lieu of paper increases our “green-ness”, as does using biodegradable products in our operations. Whenever possible, does your business take advantage of alternative sources of energy? How much has your company looked into these strategies? Being green is our responsibility to the planet. Share ideas in your networking.
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POWER THOUGHT OF THE WEEK: Corporate Social Responsibility, Part 2

THE POLITICAL FRONT: The "Stimulus" Package - A Study In Self - Interest.

The Political Front with Douglas Castle

Dear Readers:

At present, the President of the United States is receiving a lesson in dilutive compromise -- that special effect which happens to any idea, invention or legislative bill when an inharmonious group of individual decisionmakers are much more myopically focused on their respective interests, agendas and politics than they are in the economic well-being of the people whom they are supposed to protect. And while Mr. Obama learns this horrifying lesson first-hand, the United States plummets deeper and deeper into a shattering economic depression. An economic stimulus package is undeniably needed - that part is unanimous - but just what "package" will emerge after this originally well-intentioned beast has run the gauntlet of Washingtonian politics as usual is not looking like anything like any reasonable person's idea of a Silver Bullet. In fact, the package (or rather the bill being discussed in the Legislature) is mutating in the womb as I write this.

The analogy is that the highly-compensated gods atop Mount Olympus are busily hosing each other while we mere mortals down below, all but forgotten, are being consumed in an uncontrollable fire. And the fire is growing in its intensity and destroying every object in its path. The blaze is out of control.

In properly-focused networking, teambuilding and policymaking, all parties involved 1) share a common vision; 2) share a measurable common goal; and 3) have a personal opportunity to reap some political, emotional or financial gain, but without conflict with the group's vision. If any of these three elements are missing, you have a recipe for slow-cooked compost.

Despite Mr. Obama's apparent good intentions; despite the desperate need for the government to take a definitive, leadership role in the shoring up of a dangerously failed economy; despite the time sensitivity of the mission at hand; despite the manpower and might behind this legislative C-Section effort; and despite the growing list of economic casualities in this fiery meltdown -- there is no plan, there is no bill and there is no concensus.

Sadly, our legislators are suffering from some conditions that are rendering them unable to unite and draft needed legislation:

1. They are well-paid, and do not relate to the problems faced by their constituents;

2. They have wonderful job security, without an assessment of performance, or a requirement to actually "produce" anything;

3. They put partisan politics and special interests ahead of the welfare of the State;

4. They do things to impede the success of adversaries, instead of reaching a status of cooperation in order to put their grudges aside and work in concert;

5. They do not understand the causality of the problem, do not share a vision of how to solve it, and they do not have a defined set of goals toward which a stimulus package would work;

6. They enjoy showing power by slowing the process until such time as their personal agendas and pet projects are incorporated into any programs;

7. There is no personal incentive to any of them to actually help solve the problem. They represent their respective parties, their favorite lobbyists, and simply enjoy a chance to find fault with the ideas of others instead of proposing solutions.

In brief, all three vital elements for effective teamwork and decisionmaking are completely missing from the legislative stimulus plan proceedings. It takes a good team, as well as a good leader to produce effective legislation. I am not certain that we have either of these.

When and if this bastardized, compromised, pork-stuffed patchwork behemoth of a bill emerges, it will likely be 1) unintelligible; 2) non-economically stimulating, and 3) filled with financial patronage and inflationary waste.

But then, I tend to be an optimist.

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle,

THE POLITICAL FRONT

for THE NATIONAL NETWORKER

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THE POLITICAL FRONT: The "Stimulus" Package - A Study In Self - Interest.

MASTERING THE MEMBERSHIP MAZE: Who do You Need to Meet?

Mastering the Membership Maze with Glen Gould

I noted in a recent article that the first part of the year is the time when chambers and other membership organizations see a rise in
attendance. And true to form this has been the case this year.
Nearly all of the chambers I work with have reported record attendance at their programs for the first part of the year. Even in these challenging times many chambers have had record renewal and conversion rates as well.

There are many reasons for the jump in attendance, retention, and conversion. The resulting audience at chamber functions is full of people who haven't participated in networking groups before or who haven't been in quite some time. Now is a great time to attend chamber events and meet new people. Because many people at the chamber are new, you should be aware that most of them have limited networking skills. Many people new to chambers in this economy have come from industries where business came to them naturally. They never needed to network so they never learned to network. Here's where you can help them and help yourself in the process.

Try to remember what it was like when you attended your first chamber networking event. Chances are you felt intimidated, unsure of what to do or how to do it. For me, I was blessed to have Kathy Lehner, a professional realtor in Venice, Florida greet me at the door. What she did those many years ago has left a powerful impression on me. In my estimation, Kathy saved me from myself and from many of the mistakes most new networkers make. She greeted me at the door and asked, "Who do you need to meet?"

Of course I didn't know who I needed to meet because I never gave it much thought. Then she introduced me to interesting people, most of whom I would have never had access to without her introduction.

New members of the chamber are hungry for results and full of energy.

They need help channeling that energy into a positive experience. You can help them. Greet a new member at the next event. Walk up to someone you haven't met before and ask them, "Who do you need to meet?" Even if you don't know the person they are looking for you can help them connect with someone who probably does. Either way you can help them in their quest to be successful

And what about you? How does this help you? We've all heard of "paying it forward". But often we become impatient, seeking immediate results. When you help someone today, they will remember it for a long time to come. Need proof? You just got it. Kathy Lehner greeted me at the Venice Area Chamber of Commerce in Venice, Florida nearly ten years ago and I am still promoting her to this day. You must trust the process. If you help someone find success, success will certainly come to you.

Glen Gould
770-745-5102

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Posted to THE NATIONAL NETWORKER. To subscribe for your free newsletter, go to www.TheNationalNetworker.com. For the complete National Networker Relationship Capital Toolkit and a free, continuous RSS feed (available either by traditional RSS or by direct email), go to: http://thenationalnetworkerweblog.blogspot.com. You are also invited to click our buttons:


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MASTERING THE MEMBERSHIP MAZE: Who do You Need to Meet?