Siesta Key Beach from my window

Hurricane season has started for many of us!  Since I live on the beach on Siesta Key, a barrier island in Sarasota, Florida, any time there is a major hurricane, we have a mandatory evacuation.  Over the years in all this preparation, anxiety, and decision-making, here are some of the life lessons I have learned:

1. PREPARE FOR THE WORST AND HOPE FOR THE BEST. Like everyone else in the area, I begin to pack precious things away, get water, canned food, candles and gas, fill water containers, clean out the refrigerator, go through important papers, get all my work clothes and materials ready, and generally plan for the possibility of either being stranded at home without electricity or being off the island and without power for several days or more.  Although this is a lot of work, I am always deeply grateful when none of these preparations are needed!
2. BE FLEXIBLE. I’ve learned to have a series of plans depending on the harshness of the storm. My first plan is always to go to a girlfriend’s condo downtown.  Then if the news looks worse, I try to find a place in a friend’s home inland. In the meantime, I reserve a room at a hotel near the airport in case no one has extra room, and finally, it is also possible to completely leave town and drive north.  It is still stressful trying to determine the best course of action, but the most important thing I have learned is to keep all options open.
3. DETERMINE WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO YOU. As I always struggle with what to pack away, which rooms would likely survive windows blowing out, and which things to take with me, I really begin to think about what I would miss if I lost everything. Of course, the first thing I do is to pack all my pictures in a plastic tub, cover both the étagère that holds my doll collection and my grand piano, and move my desktop computer to the only room without windows.  I pack my insurance policies, my checkbooks, my daytimer, my Iphone, laptop and Ipad as well as an overnight bag with toiletries and fresh clothes and underwear. Then come the decisions about what else to save.  What really amazed me the first time I had to evacuate was how little I realized I would truly miss – they are all just “things” that can probably be replaced, but of course lives cannot.  (I even almost secretly hoped that all the piles of papers and books that I need to sort through might just “happen” to get wet and I could simply dump them without any guilt! 😉
4. BE BLESSSED WITH HOW MANY PEOPLE CARE ABOUT YOU. Each time this has happened I have been overwhelmed with all the calls, emails, and texts from friends and family all over the world who have shared their concern for my safety as well as the precious gift of their prayers. I have been deeply touched by the generosity of so many who have offered me a place to stay, their help in any way I might need, and even financial help if needed.The National Speakers Association, for example, calls every member in the affected area when there is a disaster to offer help. One of my dear speaker friends knew I had a speaking event during the last evacuation and even offered to be my backup if I could not get out!  This has made me even more aware of how important it is to show others how much we care about them
5. PRAY UNCEASINGLY FOR OTHERS. Even though I have been spared in the past, we all must keep praying for others who have been greatly impacted by these storms.  Prayers DO count!  I may still get water in my condo; however, that is a small inconvenience compared to so many, many others.

I will always remember these lessons and the GOODNESS of people and the way we can come together during a crisis.  Our world desperately needs this hope right now, and for those of us on the coast, especially during hurricane season!

For more information about Barbara and her work, go to www.barbaraglanz.com

Last week I received a note from Eddie Murai, a young man from Hawaii who heard me speak over ten years ago.  In the envelope was a lovely red origami flower crane with a name, Yoshida Saori, and writing on it.  He said to let him know when his letter arrived and he would share the story.

After I had opened the envelope, I emailed him to ask the meaning of the flower crane.  This was his reply:

The story goes like this…
In 2017, I accompanied my son’s Japanese class field trip to Pearl Harbor. They were to join the children from the Hiroshima Jogakuin High School in folding origami cranes. In Japan, an origami crane is a symbol of peace and I think more recently, World Peace.

They gave me a lei full of these cranes to take home or to give away to someone as a gesture of peace. Their goal was to see how far they could spread the idea of world peace.

I had this idea that I could spread it much father if I gave it to specific individuals who have influenced my life for the better, and I believe you are very deserving of a crane! You keep this one for yourself. So far I have given out cranes from New York and California to Japan!

The story of Sadako is a very famous one for young Asian children and most middle schoolers in Hawaii are required to read it.

I often stare at the crane on my desk to admire how beautiful it is in size, shape, and the perfection of every fold and angle. So beautiful,  yet a reminder of how brutal this world can be.

I was so deeply touched with Eddie’s personal gift but especially that these young people, whose ancestors were victims of the war, have chosen to be messengers of kindness and peace rather than harboring bitterness.  Amazingly, I will be going to Hiroshima in September, and I hope I may have a chance to visit this high school to thank them.

If each one of us could do some act of kindness and peace each day, imagine how much better our world could be!  Thank you, Eddie, for such a beautiful reminder.

To learn more about Barbara’s work spreading contagious enthusiasm and Kindness, go to www.barbaraglanz.com.

CREATING GLIMPSES OF JOY!

My belief is that our workplaces should be places of joy. After all, we spend half our lives there, so working in an environment that encourages us to be our best selves, that challenges us to constantly stretch and grow, and that nurtures our souls is a precious gift. The best news of all is that we can each contribute to helping that happen in our own workplace, whether that be in an office or at home.

The best way we can do this is to recognize and celebrate the uniqueness of each person we encounter in a day. Everyone has something to contribute, and it can be a delightful experience to help discover what special contributions each person on your team can make. Often these contributions have little to do with the person’s actual job, and yet they can add so much to the project, the team or the overall environment. Do you know the passion of each person on your team? Do you know about their family? Do you know what they REALLY love, what they do in their free time, what they spend their extra money on? This will tell you lots about their uniqueness. GLIMPSE OF JOY #1: Search for the special gift each person brings to your workplace.

 Another way we can create an environment of joy is by being grateful people. Often we get so busy that we forget to say “thank you” to those around us. The more creative we are in appreciating people, the more meaningful that affirmation will be. When we remember something that is very important to them and thank them with a small gift that relates to that passion, we are telling them that we care about what they care about. Also, any time we affirm what someone has done, we not only validate their existence on this earth, but we are also recognizing that they are making a positive difference in the world. GLIMPSE OF JOY #2: Thank people every chance you get.

 It is easy in our workplaces to focus on what is going wrong. The world today is filled with whiners and blamers. However, each of us can counter these negative persons by always looking for what is going right. I often suggest to my audiences, for example, that they begin every meeting with three minutes of “good news.” That not only starts the meeting on a positive note, but it also celebrates good things that are happening in people’s lives, homes, communities, and work teams. So many meetings are focused on what is going wrong that this becomes a way to spread goodness and cheer. I also keep a “Blessings Journal,” and each night before I go to bed, I jot down all the little things that happened in the day that blessed me. Even on the worst days, I can always find little glimpses of joy! GLIMPSE OF JOY #3: Focus on what is going right.

My personal motto is “Spreading Contagious Enthusiasm™.” Do you believe enthusiasm is contagious? Francis Likert, a well-known management expert, writes: If a high level of performance is to be achieved, it appears to be necessary for a supervisor to have high performance goals and a contagious enthusiasm as to the importance of these goals. As you think about your job, are you contagiously enthusiastic about the importance of the work you do? Have you ever thought about how what you do every day makes someone’s life better? That gives a whole new mission and purpose to your work—it is no longer just a job but it is important work which enhances someone’s life. This spirit of meaningful work creates a whole new enthusiasm in your workplace. GLIMPSE OF JOY #4: Be contagiously enthusiastic about the importance of your work.

Sometimes it is difficult in our workplaces to believe that we have choices to make a difference, especially when layoffs are occurring, stress levels are high, and people are being asked to do more and more for less and less. However, there is a difference between being happy in our jobs and finding joy in our lives at work. “Happiness” has the root word “happen” and depends on circumstances while “joy” is an attitude. We can CHOOSE to find little glimpses of joy even in the midst of the most difficult of circumstances. When our little boy died, I was given a book called “Glimpses of Joy in the Cesspools of Life,” and I have thought often about the appropriateness of that title. GLIMPSE OF JOY #5: Even if you are not happy in your job, you can still find glimpses of joy.

 I have been deeply impacted by this thought from William Winter: “As much of Heaven is visible as we have eyes to see.” If we choose to look for glimpses of joy in our workplaces and in our lives, we will surely find them. “All the darkness of the world cannot put out the light of one small candle.” And if we choose to help create those glimpses of joy for others, joy will return to us in like measure. According to Ben Sweetland, “We cannot hold a torch to light another’s path without brightening our own.” A joyful atmosphere will not only impact morale, retention, and productivity, but it will also provide a place where each person can find value, purpose, and a deep sense of pride in the contribution he or she is making.

 For free articles you can use in your company newsletters and an archive of dozens of immediately applicable “Ideas of the Month,” go to www.barbaraglanz.com/articles.

Last week I came home to two voice mails that were a little disconcerting. There was a slow, gravelly voice that said, “My name is Wayne Williams. Call me back.” And he left his number. Since I did not know any Wayne Williams and because the voice did not sound like one of my usual clients, I was a bit reluctant to return the call.

The next day the phone rang, I immediately answered it – and it was Wayne Williams. He told me that he is 99 ½ years old and lives alone in Missouri. Somewhere he had received a copy of my book, “The Simple Truths of Appreciation – How Each of Us Can Choose to Make a Difference.” He said he wanted to order eight copies of the book to give to people…. “so that he could make a difference in the time he had left.”

I was so very touched (and to think I was not going to return his call) that when I sent the package with all the books signed, I included a copy of another of my books titled, “Priceless Gifts- Using What God’s Given You to Bless Others.” I signed it to him and told him it was an early birthday present.

The next week I got a lovely note from him thanking me for the book. This is what his card says: “98 Years Feeling Good and on a Roll May 21, 1920.” (He later told me the card was a year old! 😉

The quote on the bottom reads, “When we depart this world all that really matters is not how much money we have made or the possessions we have. What matters are the lives we have touched, the love we have shown, and the memories we have made. “   Uncle Wayne

Then it lists his email address, his office number, his cell phone, and he even has a YouTube channel!

Oh, my goodness, what an AMAZING role model he is to all of us! In the meantime we have emailed back and forth and shared devotions and articles that are meaningful to us. He shared that his wife died four years ago and they were just 4 days short of being married 72 years! I shared with him that my Dad’s name was Wayne and he died at age 62 when I was just 28 years old, so that name is very dear to me. And my very favorite uncle was also “Uncle Wayne,” so I don’t think this connection was by chance.

Uncle Wayne has already brought so much joy to my life, and he has assured me that any time he is traveling near Florida, I will meet him in person. The dearest thing of all was that he recently wrote:

“I am excited that our paths have crossed.  I told you that in the time I have left, I want to make a difference.  One of the ways is for me to order more of your books and scatter them out to selected people.  The messages I see in your books are life changing and will make a difference.”

Then he went on to tell me that his children are going to have a 100^th birthday party for him, and I AM INVITED! And if at all possible, I WILL be there.

Just yesterday Uncle Wayne called to order eight more books so that he could keep on making a difference. We just never know how our words and our actions can create a ripple of kindness and caring that truly DOES make a difference in this hurting world. I am so grateful for my meeting with Uncle Wayne!

To learn more about Barbara’s work, go to www.barbaraglanz.com

CHRISTMAS LETTER 2018

Merry Christmas! It is hard to believe that the year is almost over. It has been filled with lots of travel, meaningful work, and many wonderful connections with family and friends, old and new. Two thoughts have been deeply on my heart this year: “As much of Heaven is visible as we have eyes to see” and “All change comes bearing gifts.” With all the negativity and divisiveness in our world today, we all especially need to be focused on what is GOOD in our work and lives. I treasure our friendships!

The best news of the year is that Kinsey, my 17 year old granddaughter, finished her last chemo treatment for leukemia November 9. It has been a long hard 2 ½ year journey for her, and it is not through yet as the steroids have so destroyed her bones that they are anticipating having to replace both knees and ankles next year due to the constant pain. We are all so proud of her for her bravery and positive attitude. By taking extra classes and summer school, she will be able to graduate with her class next spring. How grateful we are for all the support and prayers from all over the world!

I spent last Christmas with my sister and brother in Grand Junction, CO, and then had a relatively quiet first of the year. I especially enjoyed Sarasota’s opera season and hearing Renee Fleming. I was asked to be on the Board for Designing Women, a high -end consignment shop whose proceeds go to help the arts and humanities in our city. I continue to be on Guideposts Advisory Board as well as the Lead Like Jesus Board,

My monthly book group, church Home Fellowship group, new clients, and a number of webinars, interviews and podcasts have kept me busy during my non-traveling time. A new business edition of “The Simple Truths of Service” came out in November, and we recently learned that the original book has now sold 400,000 copies. It just shows how everyone desperately needs hope today. Ken Blanchard and I are also planning a book on “Kindness,” a new speaking topic for me and so needed in our world.

I LOVE having visitors! My brother, Brian, from Chiang Mai, Thailand, visited in March along with the Whartons, dear friends from PA. Gretchen, Randy and the boys came from Portland for a week, my brother, Bruce, from CO for a week, and Erin was here for the July 4th week. What fun we all had on the beach!

I have traveled for both work and play to Atlanta, Savannah, Memphis, Philadelphia, Huntington Beach, CA, Copper Mountain & Grand Junction, CO, Dallas for NSA, Chicago to speak for my 21^st year at the Society for Human Resource Management conference, Washington, DC, for the Veterans Speakers retreat, and San Diego twice to see both my precious 95 year old aunt who still does water aerobics and ballroom dancing, and Shannon Johnston, a friend for over 50 years!

Highlights of the year include Frank’s 80^th birthday party when he brought all his family (and me) to the Homestead, a lovely resort in Virginia, for a week. The end of July I took all our family except Gavin, who had to work, to a really fun lake house outside Seattle for a 4-day weekend. We had a wonderful time being all together, playing in the lake with all the toys including Garrett’s jet ski, playing games, and eating and eating!

The other major highlight for me was a most WONDERFUL birthday celebration planned by Gretchen and Erin in Portland in May. They reserved a room at the fanciest hotel in downtown Portland, took me to a lovely restaurant for lunch and then gifted me with a facial. When I returned to the room, they had flowers, champagne, and chocolate-covered strawberries. That evening they treated me to dinner at a fancy restaurant and then cocktails on the terrace of the hotel. The next day the little boys joined us for a Bloody Mary brunch and then we all went to the Timbers soccer game. It was one of the nicest weekends of my life!

In August Frank and I took a 7-day cruise to the Western Caribbean where I did my first “helmet dive” – you go down 30 feet and walk on the bottom of the ocean and feed the fish. 😉 A trip to Disney with my sister, Beth, and her daughter, Katie, and 2 year old granddaughter, Riley, from Australia in November was a delight. I will spend Thanksgiving in Seattle at Garret’s and Christmas in Portland with Gretchen and Erin.

Gretchen continues to be Operations Manager for Adorn shops in Portland. OR, and Randy continues his freelance webmaster work. Owen is in 8th grade. His interests are video games, building Legos and anything to do with computers. He’s looking forward to doing computer programming courses in high school and wants to be a video game developer. Simon is in 6th grade. His interests are soccer and video games. His competitive soccer team is having a great season and he is loving playing left mid-field. Even though he’s right-handed, he is left-footed in soccer! They, including Erin, are all huge Timbers soccer fans.

Garrett has taken a new job with Amazon in Seattle and handles marketing for the electronic device Alexa. Ashley and Kinsey spend a lot of time with their horse, Rally. Gavin has graduated and is working two jobs, seven days a week, to help pay for his hot car. He loves anything to do with cars!

Erin is still in the fashion industry as a National Agent for a company called True Collaborative Fashion. She travels around the country to various markets to show her lines. She is the proud mama of two darling kitties, Cricket and Clover, and as Owen, Simon, Gavin and Kinsey would attest – the best aunt ever!

2019 is going to be a huge travel year. I have a trip scheduled to Iceland in March (I have always wanted to see the Northern Lights), Frank and I have rescheduled the Viking River Cruise from Berlin to Prague in late April, and we just booked a trip to Japan in September. How BLESSED I feel to be able to continue to see amazing places in our world! May your holidays be filled with peace, love, and JOY.

Blessings and Love,

I’m so excited to share with you that I am one of 30 leadership experts and bestselling authors that are being interviewed by Shirley Taylor for her FREE online event, the Future Leaders Summit.  NOTE:  Special ends Monday, October 22, so do it NOW!

Here’s the link for your front row seat: https://barbaraglanz.krtra.com/t/BrxKLYtsN89c

At this online Summit, you’ll be able to watch and listen to all these fabulous, never-seen-before video interviews. Some of the things we will be sharing are how to:

• Build a culture that enhances connection and teamwork
• Create virtual power teams to develop your organisation for the future
• Earn a promotion and a payrise
• Lead yourself first: indispensable lessons in business and life
• Change your mindset, change your patterns, change your life
• Create a workplace of passion, purpose and productivity
• Embrace incremental innovation for dynamite results
• Make your biggest mark and lead a bigger life
• Think big, act bold, and get the results you want

These are just a few of the topics being discussed at the Future Leaders Summit.

And here’s the best part – I’ve got you a FREE PASS, so you can learn from all these experts without ever having to leave your home or desk.

So whether you’re looking to learn more about the future of leadership, lead effectively in our virtual world, or create new opportunities for growth and success, don’t miss the Future Leaders Summit.

Here’s the link for your front row seat: https://barbaraglanz.krtra.com/t/BrxKLYtsN89c

Sign up today, and I look forward to seeing you at the Summit!  For more information on Barbara’s work, go to www.barbaraglanz.com.

Here’s Your Free ‘VIP All-Access Pass’ to the New Video Series, “From the Boardroom to Backstage, Women Leaders Who Rock!™”

My friend, Chief Rock Star Kristi Staab – transformational leader, motivator and rocker, is premiering her new online video interview series, “From the Boardroom to Backstage, Women Leaders Who Rock: Your All-Access Pass to 21 Leadership Experts Who Are Powered by Passion, Positivity and Purpose.™” As part of my community, you receive a FREE “VIP All-Access Pass” to the entire Series, and more!

I’m thrilled to be featured as one of the 21 hand-picked daring, dynamic and diverse leadership influencers for this timely, inspirational and empowering event. Each featured guest shares her area of expertise to assist you in living and leading your best life imaginable. Whether your looking to up-level your life and leadership, exert more positive influence, or live and lead – yourself and others – powered by passion, positivity and purpose, you will receive a wide-range of valuable expertise and guidance to put in to immediate action!

PLUS… You’re also going to receive up to 21 free gifts– one from each featured influencer, when you watch her interview and download your free gift each day. That’s a total of 21 free gifts designed to support you and your 21-day “Women Leaders Who Rock™” journey. WOW!

Secure your ‘All-Access Pass’ now: http://womenleaderswhorock.com/BG

Recently, I went to my favorite car wash in Sarasota, Eager Beaver, to have my car detailed.  Every year I  purchase at least two “Wash Books” that have discount coupons for a full service wash.  Another perk is that they also have a punch card for each wash so after ten washes, you get one free.  I like their service, but most of all, I love these savings (and I am sure so do all the other customers)!

This week when I stopped to get my car washed, the cashier informed me that they would not longer be offering the wash books, and that my coupons would be good only until the end of the year.  Then she said they were ALSO canceling the free wash after ten visits.  I could not believe it!  I asked if they were under new ownership, and she said no.  Someone just decided to no longer offer these perks to their loyal customers.

I have been thinking a lot about this experience.  When I speak on Customer Service, I talk with my audiences about CORE Services, CUSTOMER Service, and ENHANCEMENTS.  Core service is your product, and you must be good at this to stay in business.  However, that is not enough to create loyalty.  Customer service is all about how you treat your customers- their EXPERIENCE with your organization.  Research has shown that there are four things all customers want:  Friendly, caring service: Flexibility: Problem solving; and Recovery when a mistake is made.  The way your organization deals with these things demonstrates your customer service.

Finally, Enhancements are those additional, often unexpected perks that surprise and delight us.  The more creative they are, the more customers love them, so they become huge drivers of business, and an added bonus is that people talk about them to their friends and neighbors.  However, we have also learned through our research, both statistically and personally, that once these perks are established, customers come to EXPECT them, so taking them away is now a huge disappointment and ultimately can (and usually does) lead to loss of customers.  The only way to save a customer is to offer a new and exciting perk which Eager Beaver does not seem to be doing.

It will be interesting to see how Eager Beaver fares with these new policies.  I, for one, will probably no longer be a customer!

To learn more about Barbara’s work, go to www.barbaraglanz.com

28 Creative Low-Cost or No -Cost Ways to Appreciate your Employees (…..and Sometimes Yourself!)

“People get just as excited about receiving a compliment as they do at the prospect of getting money!” ~ Journal Neuron

Barbara Glanz, CSP, CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame

As you are thinking about applying some of these ideas in your own organization, first think about the people who have made a difference in your own life. List five teachers or mentors who believed in you and encouraged you, five friends or co-workers who have helped you through a difficult time, five people who have taught you something worthwhile, and five people who have made you feel appreciated and special. If YOU want to be remembered for making a difference in someone else’s life, make them feel appreciated. Remember, appreciation is a FREE gift!

1. When you are forced to sit somewhere for a period of time (commuting, waiting for an appointment, even watching something boring on TV), get in the habit of writing short “thank you” notes. . Carry them in your purse or briefcase so they are easily accessible. Mention two or three specific things that make you glad that person is in your life.
2. Draw an outline of your hand. Put it on the wall of your office, and when you’ve done something great that no one has noticed, walk back and give yourself a little “pat on the back!”
3. Call someone’s parent, spouse or significant other at home to thank them for the good work that employee is doing.
4. Go to the store and look at all the candy names: Skor, Extra, $100,000 Bar, Snickers, Payday, Lifesavers. Plan little surprises with notes tying into that theme to surprise and thank employees.
5. Ask each of your direct reports or colleagues to list the letters of the alphabet and think of something they are thankful for that begins with each letter.
6. Give an employee the day off to work with his or her favorite charity. Ask them to take pictures and write about it for the company newsletter.
7. Give an employee a gift related to their favorite hobby or passion with a personal note. (First, you have to FIND OUT what their hobbies and passions are, however. That, in itself, is a form of recognition!)
8. Take an employee someplace that would personally delight them – attend a baseball game, go for a walk together, go shopping, attend a class together, take time to discuss a good book, attend an event to see one of their children perform.
9. Commit to finding someone doing something right each day and thank them for that on the spot.
10. Send a positive, encouraging voice mail to someone and then send one to YOURSELF!
11.  Make a “Thanksgiving Tree” and keep it in your lobby all year long.
12. Have an “Appreciation Board” posted in your breakroom where employees can publicly thank others who have gone the extra mile for them.
13. Make a “Thanksgiving Tree” and keep it in your lobby all year long. Ask people to write things they are thankful for and hang them on the tree.
14. As a special thank you to the whole team or company, host a half day event where employees pick an expert to come in and teach them a new life skill (photography, cooking, decorating, golf lessons).
15. Learn the American Sign Language sign for “thank you” and teach everyone in your department to use it when things are hectic.
16. Send a gift to the employee’s family to thank them for sharing that person, especially when an employee has been working hard on a project – a restaurant gift certificate with a letter, flowers, or movie tickets for the whole family.
17. Put 5 pennies in your right hand pocket in the morning. Every time you thank someone, move a penny to your left hand pocket and do not go home until all 5 are all on the left side.
18. Prepare a home-cooked meal for your employees. If possible, invite them to your home.  
19. Sponsor a Family Day at work so that family members can share in the mission of the company where their mother or father works. As a special perk, give them a logo gift of some kind.
20. Place five silver dollars in your pocket each week and pass them out to someone who is doing a great job during the week.
21. Give an employee the gift of time – permission to come in an extra hour later or leave an extra hour early or take an extra hour at lunchtime.
22. Have everyone on your team create an AIG folder (Ain’t I Great!) and ask each person to fill it with things that encourage them or bring them joy.
23. For one year, name a hallway, favorite dish in the cafeteria, or special room after an employee. Post their picture with the nameplate.
24. Have your team brainstorm creative ways they would like to be recognized or appreciated.
25. Invite an employee to lunch and ask him or her to share some ideas with you that could make a difference in your workplace. Be sure to take good notes and acknowledge any ideas that you implement.
26. Think of practical needs your employees may have. For example, invite a laundry service to come in once a week to pick up clothes or provide a caterer who will prepare meals to be picked up as the employees leave for the evening.
27. Place a large poster page next to everyone’s office or cubicle door for a week. Ask other employees during the week to stop by and write something they appreciate about that person.
28. Keep a “crazy gift” closet (the Dollar Store is a great place to get them), and when employees have done something exceptional or are just having a bad day, let them choose something fun from the closet.

REMEMBER: It does not have to be something big and the more fun and surprising it is, the better. As Mark Twain said, “I can go two months on one good compliment!”

To learn more about Barbara’s work, go to www.barbaraglanz,com

BARBARA GLANZ BIOGRAPHY

Internationally known speaker, author and a member of the prestigious Speaker Hall of Fame, Barbara Glanz, CSP, CPAE, works with organizations that want to improve morale, retention, and service and with people who want to rediscover the joy in their work and in their lives.  Barbara was voted “best keynote presenter you have heard or used” by Meetings & Conventions Magazine, July 2010.  She is the author of 12 best-selling books, including The Simple Truths of Service Inspired by Johnny the Bagger; The Simple Truths of Appreciation; Handle with CARE—Motivating and Retaining Employees; CARE Packages for the Workplace–Dozens of Little Things You Can Do to Regenerate Spirit at Work; Building Customer Loyalty and CARE Packages for Your Customers.  Using her Master’s degree in Adult Education, Barbara lives and breathes her personal motto:  “Spreading Contagious Enthusiasm™.” She is the first speaker on record to have presented on all seven continents and in all 50 states.  For more information, she can be reached directly at 941- 312-9169;

CREATING GLIMPSES OF JOY!

My belief is that our workplaces should be places of joy. After all, we spend half our lives there, so working in an environment that encourages us to be our best selves, that challenges us to constantly stretch and grow, and that nurtures our souls is a precious gift. The best news of all is that we can each contribute to helping that to happen in our own workplace.

The best way we can do this is to recognize and celebrate the uniqueness of each person we encounter in a day. Everyone has something to contribute, and it can be a delightful experience to help discover what special contributions each person on your team can make. Often these contributions have little to do with the person’s actual job, and yet they can add so much to the project, the team or the overall environment. Do you know the passion of each person on your team? Do you know what they REALLY love, what they do in their free time, what they spend their extra money on? This will tell you lots about their uniqueness. GLIMPSE OF JOY #1: Search for the special gift each person brings to your workplace.

Another way we can create an environment of joy is by being grateful people. Often we get so busy that we forget to say “thank you” to those around us. The more creative we are in appreciating people, the more meaningful that affirmation will be. When we remember something that is very important to them and thank them with a small gift that relates to that passion, we are telling them that we care about what they care about. Also, any time we affirm what someone has done, we not only validate their existence on this earth, but we are also recognizing that they are making a positive difference in the world. GLIMPSE OF JOY #2: Thank people every chance you get.

It is easy in our workplaces to focus on what is going wrong. The world today is filled with whiners and blamers. However, each of us can counter these negative persons by always looking for what is going right. I often suggest to my audiences, for example, that they begin every meeting with three minutes of “good news.” That not only starts the meeting on a positive note, but it also celebrates good things that are happening in people’s lives, homes, communities, and work teams. So many meetings are focused on what is going wrong that this becomes a way to spread goodness and cheer. I also keep a “Blessings Journal,” and each night before I go to bed, I jot down all the little things that happened in the day that blessed me. Even on the worst days, I can always find little glimpses of joy! GLIMPSE OF JOY #3: Focus on what is going right.

My personal motto is “Spreading Contagious Enthusiasm™.” Do you believe enthusiasm is contagious? Francis Likert, a well-known management expert, writes: If a high level of performance is to be achieved, it appears to be necessary for a supervisor to have high performance goals and a contagious enthusiasm as to the importance of these goals. As you think about your job, are you contagiously enthusiastic about the importance of the work you do? Have you ever thought about how what you do every day makes someone’s life better? That gives a whole new mission and purpose to your work—it is no longer just a job but it is important work which enhances someone’s life. This spirit of meaningful work creates a whole new enthusiasm in your workplace. GLIMPSE OF JOY #4: Be contagiously enthusiastic about the importance of your work.

 Sometimes it is difficult in our workplaces to believe that we have choices to make a difference, especially when layoffs are occurring, stress levels are high, and people are being asked to do more and more for less and less. However, there is a difference between being happy in our jobs and finding joy in our lives at work. “Happiness” has the root word “happen” and depends on circumstances while “joy” is an attitude. We can CHOOSE to find little glimpses of joy even in the midst of the most difficult of circumstances. When our little boy died, I was given a book called “Glimpses of Joy in the Cesspools of Life,” and I have thought often about the appropriateness of that title. GLIMPSE OF JOY #5: Even if you are not happy in your job, you can still find glimpses of joy.

Speaking at the Society for Human Resource Management national convention in Chicago to 3000 people on “The Simple Truths of Appreciation”

 I have been deeply impacted by this thought from William Winter: “As much of Heaven is visible as we have eyes to see.” If we choose to look for glimpses of joy in our workplaces and in our lives, we will surely find them. “All the darkness of the world cannot put out the light of one small candle.” And if we choose to help create those glimpses of joy for others, joy will return to us in like measure. According to Ben Sweetland, “We cannot hold a torch to light another’s path without brightening our own.” A joyful atmosphere will not only impact morale, retention, and productivity, but it will also provide a place where each person can find value, purpose, and a deep sense of pride in the contribution he or she is making.

Barbara Glanz Biography:

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Barbara Glanz, a member of the prestigious Speaker Hall of Fame, works with organizations that want to improve morale, retention, and service and with people who want to rediscover the joy in their work and in their lives. She is the author of twelve best-selling books, including The Simple Truths of Service Inspired by Johnny the Bagger® (Co-authored with Ken Blanchard); The Simple Truths of Appreciation; Handle with CARE—Motivating and Retaining Employees; CARE Packages for the Workplace–Dozens of Little Things You Can Do to Regenerate Spirit at Work; CARE Packages for the Home; and CARE Packages for Your Customers . As an internationally known speaker, trainer, and business consultant who has a Master’s degree in Adult Education, Barbara lives and breathes her personal motto: “Spreading Contagious Enthusiasm™.” She is the first speaker on record to have presented on all seven continents and in all 50 states. For more information, she can be reached directly at 941-312-9169; email: bglanz@barbaraglanz.com; website: www.barbaraglanz.com.

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