Hanging In There

On our walk in the park this morning, my wife and I noticed that most of the trees were bare, except for a few here and there. Pointing to one small tree still full of thin orange-colored leaves, she said: "Look at that, Terry. Despite very strong winds the other day, some leaves are still hanging on the trees."

Still hanging in there.

How often have I uttered those very words to fellow job hunters: "Hang in there."

We job hunters, especially the veterans like me, understand the soft side of a long job hunt. The feelings you keep to yourself. The desperation you sometimes feel in the pit of your stomach when you stop and count the months that have gone by.

Knowing that these feelings will dog you along the way to re-employment, we also know how important it is to support and encourage one another. With little taglines like "Hang in there."

Or another one that a friend of mine uses:

"Keep the faith, baby."

As a person of faith, I like that one. But whatever your faith tradition --and even if you are an atheist-- that saying has a special meaning for job hunters:

~ faith in yourself

As I've said before, you have to believe in yourself if you are going to run this race and reach the goal.

Posted by Terrence Seamon, Nov 30, 2009

In Praise of Dirt

My wife Joan is an avid gardener. Someday I hope to see her earn the Master Gardener certification because she is certainly a good candidate. For one thing, she is not afraid of getting dirty. In fact, if she is having a good day outside, you'll find her covered from head to toe in dirt. And loving it!

As a child, I was really into dirt --digging in the backyard, exploring gullies that fed into the Raritan River, or tunneling in sand at the beach-- much of it in search of rocks, old coins, fossils, and shells for my collection.

Recently I saw a science news story that said how important dirt is for our health. Dermatologist Professor Richard Gallo, of University of California at San Diego, said: “These germs (present in dirt) are actually good for us” in reducing inflammation after injury, when they are present on the skin's surface.

Even in the most humble and lowly there is great value, apparently.

Coincidentally, I've been musing on the word "humble" this past week. It derives from the ancient root humus meaning ground, earth, or dirt.

In organizations, we don't hear very much about being humble. Quite the contrary. The predominant paradigm we encounter is being proud, e.g. "pride of workmanship," "pride of ownership." We hear about being assertive, even aggressive. We hear about being competitive, playing hardball, and beating the other guys. It seems that arrogance (from arrogare = to claim for oneself) is more prized than humility.

But there are other schools of thought. For instance, servant leadership. I like this approach, personally. And have always practiced it, even before there was a name for it. Probably due to my catholic school education with the good sisters of charity who taught "the first shall be last" and "do not let your left hand know what your right is doing."

Two scripture passages come to mind. This mysterious and tantalizing one, from the Gospel according to John, shows Jesus using dirt as part of a healing act:

~ "Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing."

And this one, from Micah:

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

To heal with mud and to walk humbly. What mysterious beauty.

Posted by Terrence Seamon, Nov 29, 2009

Thanks and Giving

One way to appreciate a word that you've seen and used all your life is to view it in a new way.

My pastor Fr. Doug recently did that for me when he took the word Thanksgiving and broke it into pieces: Thanks and Giving.

When I saw that at church a few weeks ago, "the scales fell from my eyes," and I was able to re-appreciate the actions embedded in the idea of thanksgiving, namely:

~ that we should be thankful, and express thanks to those who have done something for us, and

~ that we should give abundantly, like there's no tomorrow, give of our time, our treasure, and most importantly our talents

On this day of Thanks and Giving, I'm sending a message of gratitude and appreciation for all the angels (you know who you are!) who have been so supportive this year!

Posted by Terrence Seamon, Nov 26, 2009

From That Original Breath

Today November 24, we mark the 150th anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin's book On the Origin of Species.

The New Scientist website is sponsoring a contest in Darwin's honor, to take the last sentence from his book and turn it into a work of art. Here is that line:

"There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved."

Do I detect in the phrase "having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one," a nod to the Creator?

Breath is the motivating force that gets life going. It's a deeply ingrained metaphor that we take for granted in our everyday speech; for example:

~ "Major League Baseball needs Mark Cuban to breathe life into the game."

When we breathe life into something we bring it back, we resusitate it, we reanimate it.

Though Darwin became agnostic (Who knows?) later in life, he never lost his abiding belief in a creator that breathed out an original life-breath that started the whole process.

Posted by Terrence Seamon, Nov 24, 2009

Powerful Words

Feeling defeated? Powerless? In this economy, I wouldn't be surprised to hear "Yes" in response to such questions.

The good news, however, is that you have at your disposal a "secret weapon," a strength that you may not fully appreciate: the power of words.

Words can uplift, encourage, and inspire. Words can invite, welcome, and heal. The key, however, is to remember this bit of wisdom: "There's a great power in words, if you don't hitch too many of them together."

So keep your words simple, and down to earth.

Here are a few of the powerful words you already know and can start to use right away.


~ Thank you.

~ I'm sorry.

~ How can I help you?

~ What are the possibilities?

What are some other powerful words that you would add?

Remember: "Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world." Attributed to Buddha.

Posted by Terrence Seamon, Nov 23, 2009

Finding Your Way

Some of the clients I've been working with these past couple weeks are feeling like their jobs (and their lives) are out of control. They have been through downsizings, and are now "doing more with less."

Some said they are overbooked and overwhelmed, feeling like they are drowning. Some have just about given up on planning because every day is filled with unplanned surprises. For others, stress is high, nerves are on edge, and tempers are rising. Some even said that their personal and family life is starting to suffer.

The flash that came to me was that they are trying to find their pathways through chaos.

Two of my favorite bloggers, Dick Richards and Curt Rosengren, have recently offered some wisdom about finding your pathway.

At his blog Riding on Dragons, Dick Richards has an entry called "Another Pathway" (a followup to an earlier entry called "The Mythic Pull of Pathways"). In these pieces about paths, roads and trails (that he has photographed so beautifully), he muses about the "pull" of pathways:

~ "The question–why am I attracted to images of pathways?–is yet another pathway that leads to an uncertain destination and so attracts me in the same way that I am attracted to the pathways in these photos. It seems that certain phenomena, be they photographic images or unanswered questions, draw me in because I cannot see where they lead–they invite me to seek and so allow expression for the mythic energy of the Seeker."

I know what he means. I have always been a seeker too. One who is drawn to the "pull of the road," wondering what discovery is around the next bend.

At his blog The Map Maker, Curt Rosengren has an entry called "The Power of the Crossroads of Possibility." In it, he asks: "What would happen if you really and truly looked at each moment, not as simply a continuation of an inevitable single-track path, but as a crossroads jam packed with potential directions?"

To start exploring the possibilities, he recommends that we stop and ask, "What are the possibilities here? Where am I going? Where do I want to go? What choices or steps can I find right here and now that would lead me - even incrementally - towards that goal?"

Coming back to my clients in chaos, I believe that exploring possible pathways is what they need to find their way through chaos. But how can they do that when everything is raging around them?

Here are a few thoughts that might help.

~ F for Focus: In the midst of chaos, it's like you are in a storm. Distractions are flying all around you. How do you find a calm center in the storm, a place you can go where the din is not so loud?

~ A for Attention: Chaos can scatter your attention, shattering it across too many "to do's" and priorities. Multi-tasking does not work. How do you pay attention to the things that matters most? Things like your own goals? Your family? Your health?

~ S for Slow: A few years ago, journalist Carl Honore published a book about the Slow Movement. In his TED Talk on the positives of slowness, he recommends "getting in touch with your inner tortoise." How do you get out of the fast lane for awhile?

~ T for Think: In the storm of organizational chaos, the winds are strong. How can you think? You need to raise the unanswered questions, weigh the knowns, and consider your choices.

Although the organizational chaos may feel like you are driving the Indy speedway, a period of focused, attentive, slow-paced thought, centering on the One Thing of most value to You and to the organization, may be just the thing for discerning the pathway forward.

Posted by Terrence Seamon, Nov 19, 2009

Show Up. Give Back. Go Forth!

I'm pleased to feature my wife, Joan Best Seamon, the Director of Music at St. Matthias, as today's guest blogger! Recently, at our parish in Somerset, NJ, Joan wrote the following essay for our church bulletin. It was inspired by our parish engagement initiative.

Show Up, Give Back, Go Forth

Recently, our pastoral staff and pastoral council met to discern new directions for our parish over the next few years. As we shared ideas and concerns, our discussion centered on how we might express more clearly our expectations of the members of our parish.

So if you are a member of the Catholic Community of St. Matthias, what do we , or, even more important, what does God expect of you?

1. Show up! That sounds like a major oversimplification, but it’s true. We need you to come to Mass every week. Your presence as the Body of Christ receiving the Body of Christ is vital to the energy and spirit of our parish. Our weekly worship is our chance to see each other, pray with each other and be nourished by the Word and Sacrament. When our church is full of young people, old people and everyone in between, it becomes a real sign of Christ’s living presence. It feels good and important.

I know- you are thinking that you are only one person- what difference does it make if you show up or not. I’m telling you-it does! You might smile at someone, greet someone, or simply be a model for someone of a faith filled life. You have no idea how powerful your presence can be. But if you are not here, and especially if your children are not here, nothing can happen. What’s the point ?

2. Give back! Give back to God gratefully a portion of what God has given to you. That’s what stewardship is all about, but sometimes the real meaning of the word eludes us. St. Matthias certainly needs and
depends upon your financial support to continue our many and varied ministries to the poor and less fortunate – ministries that you may not have needed yet but you might someday. Equally important is the giving back of your time and your talent.

Face it. We all want to feel like we are making a difference in this world to give our lives purpose and meaning. The many ministries at St. Matthias exist to give our members an organized way to do just that. Just think about what you are good at or what you like to do, and offer your help to someone or some group. Some are obvious. If you like to make music, join one of our music groups. If you like coming to Mass and are a friendly person, become one of our Ministers of Hospitality. If you have expertise in a particular area – law enforcement, interior design, …and have an idea for how you might like to share that knowledge, let us know. If you can carry bags of food to your car, help out with our Food Bank collection. If you are free to come to funerals during the week, join our Lazarus Group. It’s not that hard to find just one way to connect and to give back. If you are waiting for a personal invitation, this is it!

3. Go forth! Don’t just be holy in church on Sunday or at an HSA meeting or a GIFT night. Be holy all week long. Be kinder to clerks, co-workers and coaches, not to mention your spouses, parents and children. Make better and more compassionate decisions. You are baptized and a child of God! Act like it! I know life’s not easy, but that’s why we come together so often to help each other figure it out, with God’s help, the guidance of Jesus and the energy of the Holy Spirit.

So, show up, give back and go forth. And let’s do it soon. The church year is ending and another one is just around the corner. The world needs you, your parish needs you. There is no time like right now!

Copyright 2009 by Joan B. Seamon

Posted by Terrence Seamon, Nov 17, 2009

Put Yourself Out There

In getting ready to teach job hunters how to make the most of LinkedIn as a tool in their job search, I came across the article about Charles Pixley. He's the investment banker who, after losing his job in the recession, decided to market himself by wearing a sandwich board and standing at the corner of Broadway and Wall Street until he got an offer.

Pixley said: "Believe in yourself, improve yourself, put yourself out there. Have yourself seen. You resume will go into a pile. It's just another resume, just more words. There's no color. These posters provided my soul. It says everything in one lump page."

Take a close look at his poster. It says in part:

Investment Banker. 30+ years. Enlightened Leadership. Mission Driven.

Wow. What a great elevator pitch in visual form. Tenacious Pixley shows us how to put yourself out there and be seen.

The folks at the LinkedIn presentation were wowed by his example. And I showed them how LinkedIn can help them become more visible to employers and business partners.


Posted by Terrence Seamon, Nov 15, 2009

Giving All You Got

Watching my son Dave and the rest of the Livingston College Theater Company cast of Rent these past few days at Crossroads Theater in New Brunswick, NJ, I am impressed by how totally committed these young people are to this show. My wife and I have gone to hundreds of high school, college and local theater productions over the years and the best ones always have that high level of commitment by the actors. The other production values, like sets and costumes and lighting and music, might leave something to be desired, but if the cast is "giving all they've got," you feel it. It grabs you. And the experience works.

As an organization development consultant, I wonder if my son and the other performers will have that same "fire" after they graduate and go into the world of work. Will their passion for performance, so much in evidence on stage, go on? Or will it be diminished by the organizations they will join?

One of the lessons of the Employee Engagement movement is that the organizations that "get it," that recognize and nourish the connection between commitment and performance, will not only be highly productive and profitable, they will be the best places to work.

Posted by Terrence Seamon, Nov 8, 2009

Emotional Engagement

Consultant Judith Bardwick, PhD, author of the best-selling book One Foot Out the Door (from AMACOM, 2008), has said very forcefully, that employee engagement is critical to organizational success. But she has voiced frustration:

~ "I’ve been shocked over the last three to four years by the near universal ignorance of executives and managers about the compelling financial relationship between levels of employee commitment and engagement and success. In plainer words, the great majority of organizational decision makers do not know they will only succeed if they have their employee’s hearts, minds and guts."

They just don't get it.

But what is it that they don't get? Executives and managers are trained and developed to focus on numbers and facts. Other things, like emotions, relationships, commitment, trust, culture, and feelings, don't enter into the decision making.

But that's just it!

That's what the Employee Engagement movement, as exemplified by Judy Bardwick and others, is trying to say: The Soft Stuff Matters!

I got a tweet earlier today from Denver-based consultant Chuck Blakeman who wrote:

~ (There are) "7 Emotional Needs of Customers. To be loved/valued, accepted, cared for, appreciated, understood, trusted, respected."

I tweeted back that these seven needs also apply to employees!

He then responded:

~ "Great point! Treat your employees this way and we wouldn't have to worry about how they treat our customers."

That's it, in a nutshell.

When you build, nourish, and care for your employees, they will build and sustain your business.

Posted by Terrence Seamon, November 4, 2009

Employee Engagement Round-Up 2

Some time ago, I gathered up a number of my blog entries on engagement. Since then, a few more have appeared. So here is Round-Up Number Two on Employee Engagement. These blog entries deal with leadership, managing, change and engagement.

Engaging the Whole Organization

The Seven Essences

Clearly Engaged

The Engaging Manager

Employee Engagement Matters

Five Sentences

Leading After Layoffs

Posted by Terrence Seamon, Nov 3, 2009

Charter for Compassion

This morning, in an email from OD consultant John Scherer, I learned about The Charter for Compassion.

The Charter --crafted with input from people all over the world, by a multi-faith, multi-national council-- is a call for a return to the Golden Rule, the central principle of all the major religious traditions, considered to be the essence of religion, "that everything else was “commentary,” and that it should be practised “all day and every day.”" The Charter will be unfurled on November 12.

In his e-mail, Scherer asked: "How can we use the amazing technology available these days to rapidly spread a counter-virus to the hateful one threatening to tear apart the fabric of life? What will it take? Who will do it? Do those of us who know a little bit about change and transformation have a role to play? If so, what and how?"

One idea is: Stand up, show up, and be counted on where and when the need arises.

I had the opportunity to do this last week at an event called Rutgers United Against Hate. There was a pro-tolerance rally in the morning rain outside Hillel House on College Avenue. Intended as a response to an anti-gay and anti-semitic group that had selected Rutgers Hillel as its target, the rally attracted over 1000 students from a rainbow of religious traditions.

My wife and I (probably the two oldest in attendance) joined in too. It felt very good to show up and stand tall for tolerance and love.

Have you ever wished you could do something that would help change the world for the better?

Posted by Terrence Seamon, November 1, 2009