CDHRA DECEMBER 2005 Newsletter
	Merry Christmas!

CDHRA News
SHRM Online Highlights
SHRM Interactive - Webcast Series
On the Web - HR News
Stay On Message - Tips For Effective Communication
Constructive Criticism
What Is Effective Communication?
It’s Your Call - TurnYour Phone Into A Powerful Work Tool
Safety By The Numbers - Test Your Knowledge Of Safety Facts
Attention To Hand Hygiene May Prevent Colds And Flu
Customer Satisfaction Is A Team Effort
Golden Opportunity - Take Advantage Of Job Training
Holiday Stress - How To Make Your Holidays Stress-Free
Holiday Travel Tips
Communication Gap - Watch Out For These Common Pitfalls
Ready For Review? - Do Your Own Performance Appraisal
Complacency Kills
Successful Teamwork
Quotes

CDHRA News.

Kim Reidlinger-Wassim named Top Member

Kim Riedlinger Wassim, PHR, received the Central Dakota Human Resource Association (CDHRA) Top Member Award for her strong, active support of chapter activities during 2005. She chaired the Legislative committee and represented the ND State Council at the SHRM National Employment Law and Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. Kim effectively kept us abreast of state and federal Legislative issues that have an impact on the Human Resource profession, our employers, and our employees through reports or presentations at meetings, for the website, and in the Newsletter. She worked hard and represented CDHRA and the HR profession very well.

Kim graduated from Moorhead State University with a degree in Human Resource Management and has 15 years of HR experience. She is a Human Resource Officer in Human Resource Management Services with the State of North Dakota and currently serves as the Legislative Committee Chair for CDHRA. Congratulations Kim, and Thanks for all you do for CDHRA!

CDHRA Elects Officers for 2006

Congratulations go to four CDHRA members who were selected to fill volunteer leadership roles on the Chapter's Board of Directors for the coming program year. These members include:

Kelly Shatz-Jennings, an HR generalist at Great River Energy, has been elected president of CDHRA for 2006. Kelly will preside at all meetings of the association, make committee appointments, make an annual report at the end of the fiscal year, and perform all other services required by the by-laws of CDHRA. Kelly replaces Jeanne Masseth, SPHR, a Workforce Training Manager for Bismarck State College's Corporate and Continuing Education, who will now serve on our Board as the immediate past president.

Robert P. "Bob" Evans, HR director for the ND Department of Transportation, was selected to become president-elect. The president-elect calls the meeting to order and officiates at meetings in the President's absence.  In addition, the President-elect is the chairperson of the Program Planning Committee. Please call (328-4365) and make Bob aware of your suggestions for presentations or information session topics that we can easily fit into our program year. Bob replaces Kelly Schatz-Jennings as the president-elect becomes the president the following program year.

Corrie Mayher, HR secretary for Bobcat Company, was elected to serve as treasurer for CDHRA. As treasurer, Corrie shall receive all dues and assessments and make disbursements under the direction of the president, Board of Directors, or as voted by the general membership of CDHRA.  The treasurer also performs other duties pertaining to that office and prepares a quarterly financial status report for CDHRA. Corrie replaces Darlene Reinerts, HR manager for Cloverdale Foods. Thanks, Darlene, for your service to CDHRA.

Chris Blowers, HR director for BNI Coal, Ltd., will continue serve the CDHRA Board in the position of secretary for 2006. The secretary keeps meeting minutes and other records deemed necessary for CDHRA.  The secretary also performs such other duties that pertain to that office or as may be required.

These new officers will be installed at our January meeting. Committee appointments will be reviewed in our January 2006 newsletter.

January Program Focused On Bridging the Generation Gap

(NOTE: We have applied for recertification credits with HRCI for 1.25 hours and the application is still pending. The business meeting will start at 11:45 a.m. The program will start at 12:15 p.m. [at the conclusion of the business meeting].)

When a person grew up affects his or her way of work, which impacts the team’s productivity, especially if everyone’s way of work is different.  Acknowledging the four distinct generational cultures present in today’s workforce will help your organization run more smoothly and efficiently.   During this session, you will learn what defines each of the four generations and what each values most.  Also, you will hear a few tips for bridging the gap between Generation X and the others to make your organization more productive. Ignite productivity by bridging the generation gap.

Robin Thorstenson, director of Volunteer Services for St. Alexius Medical Center, has managed teams – paid and unpaid – for nearly two decades in the government, youth services and healthcare arenas.  In every team, she has observed the conflict between generations, especially with Generation X, and has worked hard to bridge those gaps, reshaping perceptions about Generation X’s work ethic.

During her career, Ms. Thorstenson has facilitated management workshops for numerous organizations, including the Mountain Plains Museum Association, Volunteer Resource Center of the Twin Cities, Minnesota Association of Blood Banks, and Minnesota Clinical Lab Collaborative Conference.  She holds a MBA with a focus in nonprofit management from University of St. Thomas and has served on the boards of the Volunteer Resource Center of the Twin Cities, of Minnesota Association for Volunteer Directors, and of North Dakota Coordinators of Volunteers.

[Top]

SHRM On-line Highlights.

For the latest HR information, resources and reference material, visit www.shrm.org.
NOTE: SHRM membership may be a requirement for access to these articles.

[Top]

SHRM Interactive.

[Top]

On the Web - HR News

For more news and updates on these and other stories, see the online version of HR News visit www.shrm.org/hrnews.

[Top]

Stay On Message. Tips For Effective Communication.

Effective communication begins with the message you want to transfer from your head into the minds and hearts of the people to whom you speak or write.

• Figure out what your message is.
• Organize your thoughts into a logical sequence.
• Consider your expectations. Do you expect other people to take action as a result of what you tell them? Outline your expectations in your message.
• Simplify. Give one message at a time and be succinct. You are more likely to be heard and understood if you keep it simple.
• Be precise. Use concrete language and examples to explain what you mean so that you leave no room for misinterpretation.
• Be concise. Say only what needs to be said to get your point across. Extra words confuse the issue.
• Demonstrate what you mean when appropriate. Show the other person what you mean, or draw him or her a diagram, a chart, or a graph to emphasize and enhance your message.
• Repeat your message. Studies show that a message needs to be repeated several times before it gets through.

Timing Counts. Timing is also an important element of effective communication. Time your communications so that they are delivered:

• When you have the person’s attention. Your message is unlikely to be heard if you try to communicate with someone who is in the middle of doing some thing or surrounded by distractions.
• When the person is most receptive. Pick a time when co-workers can focus on your message. Trying to communicate with them when they’re rushing out the door or on their way to lunch isn’t likely to produce positive results.
• When you are prepared to answer questions. Remember that good communication is interactive. Always be prepared to clear up any issues your listener doesn’t understand.

Follow these tips to stay on message and you’ll gain a reputation as a great communicator at work.

[Top]

Constructive Criticism.

It’s always easier to praise people than to criticize them. But even when you must criticize, you can still do so in a constructive way that gets your message across without offending the other person.

• Critique in private. Do not embarrass a co-worker by discussing his or her shortcomings in public.
• Begin with a positive statement. Praise something about the co-worker’s performance. This sets a positive tone for the conversation.
• Use objective feedback. Focus on the work situation; don’t attack the person.
• Explain what you believe went wrong and talk about how together you can rectify the situation.
• Set clear expectations. Be specific about the changes you think need to be made.
• End on a positive note. Stress how the changes you’ve suggested can help both of you perform more effectively.

[Top]

What Is Effective Communication?

Effective communication is:

• Interactive. It flows both ways. You speak and you listen.
• Informative. It tells you and others what you need to know.
• Positive. It focuses on the exchange of ideas and information to improve relationships and interactions on the job.
• Productive. It allows you to interact with co-workers so that you can perform your
  jobs efficiently.

[Top]

It’s Your Call. Turn Your Phone Into A Powerful Work Tool.

For most of us, the telephone is an essential part of our personal lives. We never go anywhere without our cells. On the job, the phone is a powerful work tool, too. For example, a phone call can:

• Initiate action. If you need someone to do something for you, pick up the phone and ask.
• Obtain information. When you need information for your job, you can call someone in the know to get the answers.
• Provide information. A quick phone call allows you to provide co-workers, customers, and others with information quickly and easily.
• Confirm information. Not sure about the validity or applicability of a piece of information? Just pick up the phone, call the source, and ask.
• Share news. You could e-mail the news. But a quick phone call allows you to share work-related news — good or bad — in a personal and direct way.
• Ensure follow-up. A few minutes on the phone with a customer, supplier, or company representative can ensure that everything is progressing satisfactorily, and nothing is falling through the cracks.
• Provide an opportunity to say “thank you.” A phone call is a personal and effective way to say “thanks” when someone does something for you.

[Top]

Safety By The Numbers. Test Your Knowledge Of Safety Facts.

Remembering certain key numbers can sometimes be important to your safety and health on and off the job. To complete this safety by the numbers quiz, just fill in the blanks below with the correct number, and then check your answers.
1.	When driving, always keep __________ seconds behind the car in front of you and _________ seconds at night.
2.	Never climb higher than the ________ step from the top of extension ladders.
3.	Stay at least __________ feet away from power lines.
4.	If your blood pressure consistently measures __________/__________ or more, you have high blood pressure.
5.	Leave at least __________ inches of clearance under fire sprinkler heads.
6.	The number __________ in a blue diamond on a color-coded chemical label means the chemical presents a severe health hazard.
7.	Flammable liquids have a flash point of under _______ degrees F.
8.	If a chemical splashes in your eye, flush your eye for at least _____ minutes.
9.	Walking at a moderate pace can burn about ________ calories an hour.
10.	If your blood alcohol concentration is ____________ percent or higher, you are considered legally intoxicated in most states.
Answers: (1) 2; 4 (2) third (3) 10 (4) 140/90 (5) 18 (6) 4 (7) 100 (8) 15 (9) 250 (10) 0.08

[Top]

Attention To Hand Hygiene May Prevent Colds And Flu.

Cold and flu season is just beginning, which means you and your family need to be prepared to do battle with a variety of nasty germs. Besides getting flu shots, what can you do to keep healthy?

A study funded by Reckitt Benckiser Inc., a maker of cleaning products, finds that using alcohol-based hand sanitizers and washing hands frequently can keep colds and other viruses from spreading among family members. The study followed 200 families for one cold and flu season. The families reported 1,545 colds and 360 gastrointestinal ailments, most believed to have been brought home by a family member.

According to the study, people who used alcohol-based hand sanitizers and washed hands frequently reported fewer cases of colds and stomach flu. [Lysol Cold and Flu Prevention Guide 2005 - 2006 ]

[Top]

Customer Satisfaction Is A Team Effort.

It’s easy to get caught up in your own job and responsibilities and forget that our success as an organization depends on a team effort. As team members, we all share one paramount goal — customer satisfaction. Without customers, we’re out of business.

No single person or department can guarantee customer satisfaction. It takes all of us working together to keep customers happy. When we all cooperate and work toward that goal, we all benefit — you, the organization, and our customers.

[Top]

Golden Opportunity. Take Advantage Of Job Training.

Are you getting all you need out of job training? Review the following checklist:
Are you open to learning new skills and Knowledge related to your work?	Y	N
Do you take responsibility for your professional development?	Y	N
Do you participate during training sessions?	Y	N
Do you read all training materials?	Y	N
Do you apply what you’ve learned to your job right away?	Y	N
Do you seek opportunities for additional training?	Y	N
Do you ask for additional training when you think it would help you do your job better?	Y	N
Do you review training materials and notes periodically to make sure you are using the right techniques and methods?	Y	N
Training is a golden opportunity to build skills, gain knowledge, and develop expertise that can help you do a better job and prepare for greater responsibility and advancement. Take advantage of it.

[Top]

Holiday Stress. How To Make Your Holidays Stress-Free.

December is National Stress-Free Holidays Month with good reason. Despite the joy of this time, people still find ways to stress out.

Money issues, for example, are the leading cause of holiday stress, according to a poll by the American Psychological Association (APA), which found that 61 percent of Americans cited lack of cash as the chief reason for their holiday stress. Other stressors included the pressure of selecting and buying gifts, lack of time, and credit card debt. The survey also found that over one-third of Americans turn to overeating or drinking to cope.

To help you survive this holiday season, APA Executive Director for Practice, Russ Newman, Ph.D., offers this advice:

• Focus on friends and family. Make the holidays a time to reconnect.
• Accept help from people who care about you and can relieve your stress.
• Set realistic goals instead of overwhelming yourself by trying to do too much.
• Keep things in perspective. Remember how short the holiday season is.
• Deal with whatever is causing you stress instead of letting it get to you.
• Take care of yourself. Pay attention to your needs and feelings. Keep time in
  your holiday schedule to do the regular things you enjoy and find relaxing.

[Top]

Holiday Travel Tips.

If you’re traveling by air this holiday season, follow these tips from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA):

• Don’t pack or bring prohibited items such as knives, pointed metal scissors, or box cutters to the airport. Review the complete “prohibited” and “permitted” list at www.tsa.gov.
• Place valuables such as jewelry, cash, and laptop computers only in carry-on baggage.
• Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry, and accessories that contain metal. Metal items may set off the metal detector.
• Avoid wearing shoes that contain metal or have thick soles or heels. Many types of
  footwear require additional screening even if the metal detector does not alarm.
• Put all undeveloped film and cameras with film in your carry-on baggage. Checked baggage screening equipment will damage undeveloped film.
• Declare firearms and ammunition to your airline and place them in your checked baggage.
• If you wish to lock your baggage, use a TSA-recognized lock. Check the website for details.
• Do not bring lighters to the airport. No matches or lighters are allowed in checked baggage. You may carry up to four packs of matches in your carry-on bags or on your person.
• Don’t pack wrapped gifts, and don’t bring wrapped gifts to the checkpoint. Wrap
  gifts when you arrive or ship gifts before your departure.

[Top]

Communication Gap. Watch Out For These Common Pitfalls.

There are several key reasons for communication breakdowns:

• Too many messages at the same time. It’s hard to absorb too much information all at once. Remember that your communication is competing with messages from many other sources.
• Lack of clarity. If your message is confusing or ambiguous, people may hear something quite different from what you intended to say.
• Lack of interactivity. Effective communication flows two ways. Communication is incomplete if you give your message without taking the time to listen carefully to listener response.
• Undefined expectations. If you don’t express what you expect to happen as a result of your communication, you may be unpleasantly surprised by the results.
• Failure to consider your audience. If you don’t consider the concerns and priorities of your listeners, they might tune out what you have to say.
• Too many links in the chain. When your message is passed from person to person, it becomes distorted. The more links in the communication chain, the less accurate the information received by those down the chain will be.

Avoid these common communication pitfalls to improve your performance.

[Top]

Ready For Review? Do Your Own Performance Appraisal.

Prepare for your next performance appraisal by reviewing these key issues:

• Quality of work. Do you avoid errors and consistently meet required standards?
• Quantity of work. Do you manage your workload well and accomplish all assigned tasks?
• Accomplishments. What are you most proud of achieving?
• Performance goals. Did you meet or exceed the goals set in your last performance appraisal? Do you have new goals for the next review period?
• Time management. Do you keep up with production schedules and meet deadlines?
• Safety. Do you work safely and avoid accidents and near misses?
• Behavior and attitude. Do you work well with others, follow directions, take initiative, etc.?
• Attendance and tardiness. Are you at work on time every day? Do you give adequate notice when you have to miss work?

Being well prepared for a performance appraisal will make it more meaningful. Remember, one of the major reasons for conducting performance appraisals is to help you improve your performance and achieve your career goals. Make sure you’re always ready for review.

[Top]

Complacency Kills.

Complacency is one of the leading causes of workplace accidents. Complacency is:

• Going on “automatic pilot” because you’ve done the job so many times.
• Assuming that because you’ve never had an accident, you never will.
• Paying lip service to safety rules while taking shortcuts, skipping steps, and cutting corners.
• Believing that you know all there is to know so you no longer have to pay attention in safety meetings.

No matter how long you’ve been on the job, never let complacency cloud your safety sense. Keep alert, keep learning, and keep safe!

[Top]

Successful Teamwork.

Members of successful teams all:

• Appreciate the skills, experience, and perspectives of other members.
• Learn what they can from teammates and share their expertise with them.
• Respect different points of view.
• Encourage cooperation. Emphasize collaboration over competition.
• Set a good example by demonstrating commitment to team goals.
• Contribute as much as they can to the group effort and encourage others to contribute as well.
• Support teammates and ask for their support in return.
• Communicate well with positive feedback and constructive criticism.
• Share responsibilities and recognition.

[Top]

Quotes:

"Do give books - religious or otherwise - for Christmas.
They're never fattening, seldom sinful, and permanently personal."
-- Lenore Hershey

"The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter. "
-- Mark Twain

"Before you agree to do anything that might add even the smallest amount of stress to your life,
ask yourself: What is my truest intention? Give yourself time to let a yes resound within you.
When it's right, I guarantee that your entire body will feel it."
-- Oprah Winfrey

“We have been taught to believe that
negative equals realistic
and positive equals unrealistic.”
-- Susan Jeffers