Sighting

There was a reported "Harry Connick, Jr." sighting in my store during my past shift. At the Pharmacy counter this past Sunday evening. I don't doubt it. If I really wanted to I could pull up the surveillance video to see if all the hub-bub is true. I'm just wondering why a New Orleans kid is here in Springville, UT? If so, it's still pretty cool. My very first music - that I purchased - in any format, ever, was Harry's "25" album, on casette tape. Would have been neat to shake his hand, or something.

Mediator

Before my most recent work shift ended I arranged a meeting for this morning with two of my associates who weren't getting along very well. This was a chance to put on my "Future Psychologist" hat and I've been looking forward to today's meeting all week.

My direct report called me when he arrived at work to let me know all the participants were present. After dropping Oriah off on campus I headed to the store. We all met in a storage room because there were a total of five of us meeting and all the other offices were taken.

I thought it was important to lay out some ground rules. The overall atmosphere I wanted present was maintaining respect for the individual throughout the meeting and conversation:

1. Respect the presence of everyone in the meeting - talk directly to the individual you need to address rather than talking about them as if they weren't present

2. Deal with the issue and not the person

3. Take ownership of your feelings (for example: When "x" happened I felt "y") and do not place blame on others

4. Be as specific as possible with examples so counterproductive patterns or behaviors can be identified

I think that's all I wanted to get out before I let the associates air their grievances. They began engaging and from time to time I reminded them to talk directly to one another or otherwise guided the conversation when I felt the conversation was straying from the issue at hand. When the conversation hit a lull I stepped in to ensure that all the participants felt that they had been heard and their concerns understood which then generated more discussion.

As I listened to the conversation unfold I definitely picked up on patterns which led to some ideas to help facilitate better communication amongst themselves within their work environment. When I sensed they were done with what they wanted to talk about I asked if I could share some observations. I gave each party two suggestions to implement into their work practices and interpersonal communication skill set.

By this point I felt the only thing left to do was to ensure, once more, that everyone had felt heard and that all their issues had been brought to the surface for discussion because - in my mind - this was going to be a one-time event. I wanted the issue resolved so that after today's meeting everyone could move forward and work together. They assured me they were good-to-go. At which point I:

1. Summarized all that had been discussed and the next steps each person had been given to improve the situation

2. Told them that I didn't want them to feel like I was treating them like a 3-year-old child but for the sake of clear communication I asked them to repeat back to me what they understood my suggestions to be

3. Felt it was my responsibility, as their supervisor, to document the conversation, the participants involved and the action plan for each individual, and would refer to this conversation should issues arise in the future in terms of any necessary accountability

All in all, this felt like my most complete and most effective mediation/intervention/ counseling session - what have you - that I've ever held. At times I felt guided, or prompted, with ideas or what to say. I really felt that my efforts this morning had made a difference - even if it was only for the 45 minutes we were meeting - in ironing out misunderstandings and brainstorming ideas on what would improve the situation, individual behaviors and relationships. Time will tell if what happened this morning will have any sticking power but it was a really, really good experience.

Civil War

150 years ago today the Civil War began with Confederate forces attacking a U.S. military installation at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. Abraham Lincoln had been President for a little over one month (took office March 4, 1861) and when all was said and done more than 600,000 soldiers died during the conflict.

I lived in Georgia for a six-month period back in 2001 to go through a Navy training command. The group of guys I lived with said more than once that had it not been for the will of God the South would have won the war. It's been 150 years but emotions still run strong and very close to the surface.

As The Voice Of A People Speaking From The Dust...

There was a segment on NPR the other morning about the United Nation's recent military actions in Ivory Coast. The segment featured a sound clip from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commenting on Ivory Coast's disputed President Laurent Gbagbo. Secretary Ban Ki-moon said, "Why 10 million people of Cote d'Ivoire should suffer from insistence and persistence of just one man who is sticking to power — it is not acceptable." As I listened to his comment I thought to myself...I've heard this somewhere before.

1 Nephi 4:13 in the Book of Mormon, actually. This moment served as another testimony to me of the truthfulness of the words contained in this book. During this time of wars and commotions spoken of in Luke there is peace to be found in the Holy Scriptures. I invite every one I know to read the Book of Mormon. The fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored through His Holy Prophets in this book. There is peace to be found within its pages. Of the Book of Mormon the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”

2 Nephi 3:12 says, "Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins [the Book of Mormon], and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah [the Bible], shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord."


Again, in the words of Luke: "And I say unto you, ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." I testify that the Book of Mormon is true.

Spring Haiku

The smell of cut grass
Birds chirping, flowers blooming
Laughter and sunshine

Busted!

Michael thinks he is 5'6". I am 5'6" and I know this because for my classes in college I had my height measured about a million times (I studied Fitness and Wellness Management).

Today Michael found out that he is officially 5'5". Niki he has joined your club.

Busted!

Conference Weekend

After work I drove up to my sister-in-law's house for Conference weekend! Her friend Monica was there and the conversation turned towards figuring out behavioral patterns. When all was said and done, around 2a, she thanked me for the insight and I felt that my contributions to the conversation helped her to some extent. The experience felt like a precursor to what my future professional occupation might be like...and I'd get paid for it! It was a really great experience.

My Mom has gotten into her family history lately! That's been exciting to watch and this morning I gave her some information on her Dad's Mother and Father who both immigrated from Ireland. Her family history has been fairly difficult for me to unravel since a lot of information didn't carry over - or from what I haven't been able to research - the other side of "The Pond," as the professionals call it. I'm excited to see what she might discover in her search!