Getting Beyond Survive To Thrive At Work

Guest post by Eileen Habelow @ Great Leadership

According to Randstad’s 2009 World of Work survey, an alarming number of workers surveyed (83%) feel fortunate to have a job. Why do I say alarming?

While this sentiment might simply be an expression of gratitude for some, I believe it is just as likely that this response reflects a distinct undertone of survival mentality – just grateful, just thankful, just fortunate.

So, what is the impact of survival mentality? Survival mentality tends to put people into a defensive mode – a reactive and protective stance. When employees are in survival mode, they are constantly looking over their shoulders or in the proverbial rearview mirror for the other shoe to drop. The impact is lower productivity and less focus on the job.

MEMO TO CORPORATE LEADERSHIP …if there ARE any.

So, how do we help employees get from survive to thrive with the swirling of negativity all around?

Tell them all that you can tell them. Paranoia is a killer! During a tough time at work, silence is NOT golden and no news is NOT good news! When employers leave ‘dead air’ in the workplace instead of open communication lines, paranoia will set in; and with paranoia comes the survival mentality I previously mentioned.

Pay close attention to your top performer. Even the most confident performers can have doubtful moments during a tough economic time.

Be clear about why some are gone and why some are still here. Honesty is the best policy. You may think that you are saving face for those who have been let go, but while you may soften the blow (very temporarily, by the way) of those who exit, you could be doing damage to the perceptions of those who are left.

Focus on the goals and be clear about the role. Find a common destination or a shared goal that is guaranteed to get employees looking forward, through the windshield.

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Hat tip: TheNoseOnYourFace.com

Does Harry Reid Have the Votes on ObamaCare?

Posted by Donald Douglas @ American Power

The prospects of facing defeat next year must weigh on Senate Democrats as they contemplate their healthcare votes. (See, “2010 elections: Democratic Fears, Republican Hopes.”) Reid will need the support of all 58 senators from the Democratic caucus. He’ll also need the support of Connecticut’s Joseph Lieberman, the Independent Democrat who has pledged to oppose any health bill that includes the public option. And on this morning’s “Face the Nation,” Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina announced that the Nancy Pelosi ObamaCare cram-down would be “dead on arrival” in the Senate.

Better spruce up that resume Harry.

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Obama: ‘Don’t Jump to Conclusions’ About Ft. Hood; Immediately Jumps to Conclusions

from The Powers That Be by Doug Powers

In Obama’s radio address yesterday, he did what every great leader would do at a time of a national tragedy: lauded diversity:

He praised those who serve or have served in uniform and reminded the public of their diversity – a move designed to calm tensions around the suspected shooter, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan.

“They are Americans of every race, faith and station. They are Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and nonbelievers,” Obama said in his radio and Internet address, airing the weekend before Veterans Day.

He forgot about the gays again.

THAT BIG TENT IS RUNNING OUT OF CHAIRS.

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In The End: No Public Option, No Abortions, No Pelosi, No Reid

from Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion by William A. Jacobson

Joe Lieberman threw a healthy dose of water on the Pelosi-Reid-Obama health care fire this morning, reiterating that he will join in a Republican filibuster of any Senate health care bill which contains a public option. This is at least the second time in recent days Lieberman has made this commitment, and there is every reason to believe he means it.

***

So Harry Reid needs to drop the public option to get a bill through the Senate. Nancy Pelosi needs to drop abortion coverage even for most private plans, to get a bill through the House.

The end result: If a bill is to pass both houses of Congress, it will have no public option and no abortion coverage.

The left-wing will take care of dropping Pelosi and Reid from their leadership positions. And if Obama were to sign such a bill, who knows whether he would be dropped in 2012.

Maybe the two of them should get together and start their OWN gambling casino in Las Vegas … at least they’d be using someone else’s money on a voluntary basis. Thanks Williams … great observation

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The Peter Principle and the U.S. Government

By Meredith Turney | at ChronWatch.com

Dr. Laurence J. Peter and Raymond Hull developed a business theory in 1969 entitled ’’The Peter Principle,’’ which says: ’’In a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence.’’ The Peter Principle theorizes that at some point, previously competent and productive employees are promoted to a position in which they are no longer either. Having peaked in their own usefulness and ability, they reach their level of incompetence.

The Peter Principle has applications outside of the business world. If ever there was a perfect example of the Peter Principle, it would be government. The United States government has certainly promoted itself to its level of incompetence.

… Take for example the federal government’s Medicare program. The healthcare program provides medical coverage for 46 million Americans. Out of a $453 billion budget, there is an estimated $6 billion in fraud every year.

… Another embarrassing example of government ineptitude is the Bernie Madoff scandal. For sixteen years, one of Wall Street’s most successful businessmen operated a $65 billion Ponzi scheme right under the nose of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

… If government isn’t even competent in running its relatively paltry billion dollar programs, why should it be entrusted with trillion dollar programs directly affecting the health and happiness of its constituents? The federal government reached its level of incompetence decades ago. Instead of a promotion, it’s time for a long overdue demotion.

LET THE REVOLUTION BEGIN.

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Obamacare’s nasty surprise

By Martin Feldstein | The Washington Post

Obamacare could have the unintended consequence of raising health insurance premiums and causing a decline in the number of people with insurance.

Here’s why: A key feature of the House and Senate health bills would prevent insurance companies from denying coverage to anyone with preexisting conditions. The new coverage would start immediately, and the premium could not reflect the individual’s health condition.

This well-intentioned feature would provide a strong incentive for someone who is healthy to drop his or her health insurance, saving the substantial premium costs. After all, if serious illness hit this person or a family member, he could immediately obtain coverage. As healthy individuals decline coverage in this way, insurance companies would come to have a sicker population. The higher cost of insuring that group would force insurers to raise their premiums.

The higher premium level would cause others who are currently insured to drop coverage, pushing premiums even higher. The result would be a spiral of rising premiums and shrinking numbers of insured.

YOU GET THE PICTURE.

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FT. HOOD ATTACK WAS TERRORISM

By Dick Morris And Eileen McGann | DickMorris.com

In his nationally televised remarks following the horrendous killings at Ft. Hood, President Obama never mentioned the T word. The attack was an act “of violence.” No mention of terrorism.

In fact, the Ft. Hood shooting is the first terror attack on American soil since 9-11. But Obama, reluctant to take the rap for inadequate protections against such attacks, is doing everything he can to make it look like an adult version of the Columbine school shootings. We are treated to stories about the killer’s dread of being sent back to Afghanistan and his deformed personality.

But, the fact is that Major Nidal Malik Hasan jumped on a table, yelled “Alah Hu Akhbar” and began the shooting rampage that killed 13 people and wounded 30 more.

Ilana Freedman, CEO and Senior Analyst for the Gerard Group International, which provides intelligence analysis for business and homeland security, describes Hasan as a “lone wolf terrorist” who acts without apparent coordination with any other person or organization. But that does not make him any less of a terrorist.

The dividing line, of course, between a terrorist and a psychopathic killer is political motivation. His statements right before opening fire would indicate that Hasan was motivated by fanaticism and a commitment to Islamic fascism, even though President Obama bends over backwards to avoid saying so.

THANK YOU Mr. Morris!

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House Passes PelosiCare

BIG GOVERNMENT

At 11pm EST, the House of Representatives passed the 2,000+ Pelosi Health Care bill by a vote of 220-214. 39 Democrats were given the opportunity to vote no, in what will go down in history as the most ’structured’ roll call of all time. (1 GOP member, Rep. Cao from New Orleans voted with the Democrats.) The Senate is unlikely to take up any health care reform legislation this year. With unemployment expected to stay above 10% through at least the early part of next year, it isn’t certain the Senate will ever take it up.

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7 Most Massive Single Meteorites on Earth

EnviromentalGraffiti.com

Like fugitives on the run from distant solar systems, meteors hurtle through the earth’s atmosphere, lighting up the eyes of observers on the ground. Often these fireballs of metal and rock burn up in a blaze of glory, and many do not survive their impact with the Earth’s surface. Those that do though start a more settled life here on Earth as meteorites. Some might even claim to be the new sheriffs in town – they’re that big and resistant to weathering.

GO SEE THESE … TALK ABOUT COOLNESS!

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Names chose at random

The Mudville Gazette

Here are the names of the people killed by Nidal Malik Hasan, as released by the DoD:

Pfc. Aaron Nemelka, 19, of West Jordan, Utah. He was assigned to the 510th Engineer Company, 20th Engineer Battalion, Fort Hood.

Pvt. Francheska Velez, 21, of Chicago, Ill. She was assigned to the 15th Combat Support Battalion, Fort Hood.

Spc. Jason Hunt, 22, of Tillman, Okla. He was assigned to the 1st Brigade, Fort Hood.

Pfc. Michael Pearson, 22, of Bolinbrook, Ill. He was assigned to the 510th Engineer Company, 20th Engineer Battalion, Fort Hood.

Spc. Kham Xiong, 23, of St. Paul, Minn. He was assigned to the 510th Engineer Company, 20th Engineer Battalion, Fort Hood.

Spc. Frederick Greene, 29, of Mountain City, Tenn. He was assigned to the 16th Signal Company, Fort Hood.

Sgt. Amy Krueger, 29, of Kiel, Wis. She was assigned to the 467th Medical Company, Madison, Wis.

Staff Sgt. Justin Decrow, 32, of Plymouth, Ind. He was assigned to the 16th Signal Company, Fort Hood.

Capt. Russell Seager, 41, of Racine, Wis. He was assigned to the 467th Medical Company, Madison.

Maj. Libardo Caraveo, 52, of Woodbridge, Va. He was assigned to the 467th Medical Detachment, Madison, Wis.

Capt. John P. Gaffaney, 54, of San Diego, Calif. He was assigned to the 1908th Medical Company, Independence, Mo.

Lt. Col. Juanita L. Warman, 55, of Havre De Grace, Md. She was assigned to the 1908th Medical Company, Independence, Mo.

Michael Cahill, 62, of Cameron, Texas. (CWO, retired) He was a civilian employee at Fort Hood.

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