Volume 8 Issue 19 | October 7 , 2019
News for Faculty and Staff from Human Resources
Viewpoint: 8 Things Managers Do That Make Employees Quit Jon Christiansen, September 17, 2019


Mistake 1: Setting Inconsistent Goals or Expectations
When employees are forced to choose between tasks in order to meet competing expectations, the result is a team of stressed out people without clear priorities.

You can create stability on your team by being consistent and clear with your expectations. Write them down—even if it is only for yourself—to see if any contradict or overlap. Then make necessary changes and share. In doing so, you will empower your team and ease their stress by giving them a greater sense of control over their tasks. Most importantly, you will be making work a more pleasant place to be.

Mistake 2: Having Too Many Process Constraints
Process constraints often occur when a lack of information, resources, or another factor, stops an employee from doing their job. Such conditions will naturally inhibit performance—which are evaluated by managers—even if it is not the employee's fault. In turn, the employee begins to feel powerless, and displays low morale, poor work quality, and frustration.

How can you avoid this situation? Consider context when evaluating performance. Look at the criteria, and consider how much control your employee has over their outcomes, as well as how much control you have over any constraints that may be affecting their output. Talk openly to them about their performance and ask questions that will help them communicate any concerns on their end.

Mistake 3: Wasting Your Resources
Too many meetings scheduled, so when are you supposed to work? In this case, the resource is time. Employees who are constantly crunched for time tend to get  burned out faster , which impacts the quality of their deliverables. If you don't give your team the resources they need to succeed, you are setting them up to fail. It's not uncommon for employees in this situation to leave and seek out a company with a more sustainable work culture.

How can you avoid this situation? Creating a list that ranks the importance and impact of your employees' tasks can help. Itemize the tasks they need to complete by that deadline, and consider if doing so is realistic given their current workload. Ask, "Is this new task a priority? Does this employee really need to be in the room?"

Mistake 4: Putting People in the Wrong Roles
This is another example of waste, "knowledge and skills waste." Unused abilities can leave employees feeling undervalued and faceless. 

How can you avoid this situation? It's best to  be transparent about the roles  you are hiring for and what they require during the interview process. But if you're already in too deep, there are a few ways you can handle it. Start by checking the job description your employee was hired into, and compare it against their current task load. Are there gaps and, if so, how wide are they? Discuss which gaps are falling short of their goals and which are the most important. Together come up with a plan to help them take on more meaningful responsibilities and drop tasks that add the least value to your team.

Mistake 5: Assigning Boring or Overly Easy Tasks
Having to attend a work event that you really didn't want to attend, having to converse with too many people about uninteresting topics or sit through several hour-long seminars in a single day could make you feel exhausted—even though all you had to do was talk a little and listen.

Why? Because you were suppressing your emotions rather than acknowleding. Any feeling can take a toll on your energy level, even if that feeling is boredom. When employees don't have enough to do, they can lose motivation and experience negative emotions. If they suppress those emotions, they can become physically and emotionally exhausted. The net result is a lack of work satisfaction and engagement, forcing employees to finally ask whether this job is the right fit for them.

How can you avoid this situation? Get creative. If your team member has a history of stable performance, they'll likely be open to extending their capabilities and taking on more challenging work during their downtime. Before assigning tasks, ask your employee about their interests and passions. and give them work that will enhance their knowledge and skills, or help them grow in the right direction.

Mistake 6: Failing to Create a Psychologically Safe Culture
Hostile environments are easy to spot. If you notice your team members being overly agreeable or quiet in meetings, that's a bad sign. When employees fear their thoughts or ideas will be met with repercussions, they tend to behave this way, which means you are likely operating in a fear culture. Employees who do not feel  psychologically safe  are more prone to error and less likely to take risks, participate in healthy conflict or  grow in their roles . Contrarily, team members who feel psychologically safe are productive, innovative and enjoy a sense of belonging.

How can you avoid this situation? To create a psychologically safe work environment, show your team that you are open to new ideas. In meetings, ask questions before posing answers and reward those who speak up by thanking them for their input or following up with additional queries. Consider all viewpoints when brainstorming solutions to difficult problems and make sure your team knows that there is no such thing as a "wrong answer." If an idea has a lot of potential, you might even ask your employee to run with it and present what they come up with at the next meeting. The more you can incorporate your team's feedback into projects and strategies, the more empowered, valued and safe they will feel working for you.

Mistake 7: Creating a Work Environment That Is Too Safe
Studies show  that a moderate level of pressure and friction at work is healthy for employee growth. But the key is moderation. When employees feel overly pressured to perform well in their roles, they can lose sight of what's important, and in acts of desperation,  use unethical means  to excel. On the other hand, if your employees have no pressure at all, they may start to wonder if their work even matters. People who find no meaning or purpose in their work perform below their  potential , are less productive and are often  less loyal  than those who work in purpose-driven organizations.

How can you avoid this situation? One way to create a  healthy amount of friction  is to provide your team with regular feedback—both positive and negative. When delivered  thoughtfully  and without judgment, negative feedback can give people something meaningful to work towards. You should also be sure to remind your employees of what they are doing well, and how their role contributes to the goals of the larger organization (no matter how big or small their contribution is). In turn, they will begin to see how they fit into the big picture, and may even start to feel a greater sense of purpose.

Mistake 8: Leading with Bias
Leaders who are fair—without bias—are leaders who employees can trust, and a trusting manager-employee relationship " defines the best workplaces ," improves performance and is good for revenue. A lack of trust, however, can result in low morale and a team with little or no guidance.

How can you avoid this situation? Practicing self-awareness is a good start. Managers who can recognize their implicit  biases  and make adjustments to overcome them are more likely to lead in a fair and just manner. Before you make an important decision consider what is driving you. Are you basing your choices off of evidence or preference? Have you considered other perspectives? Are there any gaps in your knowledge you need to fill first? Asking for regular feedback from your team and acting on it will build a culture of fairness and open communication.
Open Positions
Please contact hr@mum.edu if you know of anyone who has the qualifications and interest to fill any of these positions.

Evening Assistant Manager at the Golden Dome Market
Department Administrator for Physiology and Health Department
Undergraduate Academic Adviser for MUM Online

For job descriptions and application information on any of these positions click here.

Maharishi University of Management is an equal opportunity employer.
Health and Wellness
You did it, Iowa! 

Thank you to the thousands of Iowans from across the state
who  participated in the Healthiest State Annual Walk  on Wednesday, October 2nd!

Iowa set a BIG goal: 900 walks in 99 counties to celebrate our 9th year.

Well... 🥁.... there were 981 walks registered at workplaces, schools and communities in all 99 counties! Way to go, Iowans!

Here is a photo of some of those who participated in the MUM walk. Big thank you to Melinda Arndt for organizing this year's walk, and to Ken Daley who has organized this walk for many years in the past.
An Invitation to Affordable Maharishi Panchakarma SM Treatments on Campus
MUM President Dr. John Hagelin is excited to announce our new Maharishi AyurVeda ® Integrative Health Center is now booking Maharishi Panchakarma (PK) appointments. 10 new PK Technicians are now being trained in the latest PK techniques.

Panchakarma is an integrated series of treatments and procedures that, taken together, very effectively dislodge impurities from the cells and tissues and flush them from the body.

Wellness—worth the time
Regularly taking advantage of Maharishi Panchakarma treatments is a great step in maintaining vibrant health and wellness, and a great way to take care of our physiology for the long term.

Enjoy the benefits of PK on campus, and avoid international travel, passports and visas, jet lag, and the air-quality and herbal-purity issues found at many international destinations.

Treatment Consultations Overseen by Jim Davis D.O. in Consultation with Vaidya Manohar
At this time, with Vaidya Manohar in-residence, there is a precious opportunity to schedule an affordable $100 consultation program with Vaidya Manohar where he will:
1) make recommendations for your home cleansing program,
2) see you in person for 15 minutes before you begin treatment to recommend your treatment program and,
3) see you at the end of your treatment for 15 minutes to provide post-treatment recommendations for herbs and diet.

Affordable Pricing of Treatments and an Additional Staff and Faculty Credit
Treatment pricing for full-time staff and faculty has been set to meet our costs only. To make treatments even more affordable for our dear full-time staff and faculty we are offering a two-tiered price structure and a treatment credit.

Here are the PK treatment prices for full-time staff and faculty:
If you desire to book a specific confirmed day and time, there is one price. But if you are willing to put yourself on a wait list and be willing to “fill-in” an opening in our technician’s schedule, then we are offering an even greater discount.

Fill-in appointments will be confirmed three weeks in advance so there is plenty of time for completing home prep before your PK appointment.

$300 credit for full-time staff and faculty
In addition to these low prices, we will be offering each full-time person a $300 PK credit per year. You can use this credit to offset much of the cost of doing PK. You choose what you desire from the menu, and apply the credit to help cover your PK.

Very Important – If you are interested in learning more, getting on the fill-in list, or scheduling confirmed treatment times please fill out the form at

Announcements
Annual Security and Fire Safety Report 2019

The  Annual Security and Fire Safety Report 2019  is now available for you to review on MUM’s website:


The report contains a summary of the University’s security policies applied on MUM Campus in Fairfield, in Headley Hall in Maharishi Vedic City, and on MUM’s non-campus courses, field trips and other overnight trips.

In the report you will find valuable information about:
  • How to report crime and sexual harassment to the University and law enforcement,
  • How the University investigates these allegations,
  • What assistance is provided for the victims and what sanctions are applied against the
  • perpetrators if the allegations are substantiated,
  • What awareness programs the University pursues to prevent crime and sexual violence,
  • How to access the daily crime log,
  • How MUM collects criminal and incident reports on campus,
  • How MUM collects criminal statistics from law enforcement agencies,
  • Who are “campus security authorities” and what are their functions,
  • What are MUM’s missing person policies,
  • How MUM notifies you about dangerous and emergency situations,
  • How you can sign up to receive timely warnings and emergency notifications,
  • What are MUM’s emergency policies and procedures,
  • What are MUM’s fire safety policies and procedures,
  • Criminal and fire statistics for 2016 – 2018,
  • Many other helpful security and safety information.

If you have questions or suggestions about the policies we discuss in this report, please feel free to contact:

Beata Nacsa, PhD in Law
Director of Regulatory Compliance
641-472-7000 ext. 4275
Upcoming Fall TM-Sidhi Course: CIC#87

  • Fairfield, IA: October 31–November 3, November 7–10, and November 14–17
  • Application deadline: October 17, 2019
  • Contact: Bobbi Ringwalt at cicfairfield@tm.org or 319‑400‑5010
Upcoming Events and Courses
Climate Change: the Challenge and the Hidden Solution
Sunday, October 13, 1:00 pm CDT
The signal is clear: In order for us to be able to survive on our planet, it’s time we make decisions based on long-term consequences—not just short-term. Join Dr. Tony Nader on his next Facebook and Instagram Live as he reveals the hidden solution that can change our course for the future.

About Dr. Nader
Tony Nader, M.D., Ph.D., M.A.R.R., is an author, medical doctor, and neuroscientist trained at M.I.T. and Harvard University, as well as a globally recognized scholar in the fields of meditation, yoga, and consciousness. As Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s successor, Dr. Nader is the head of the international Transcendental Meditation organizations, and oversees Consciousness-Based SM  programs in the fields of education, health, business, etc., in more than 100 countries.


If you’re a Facebook member,  join the talk and chat in your questions here   during the livestream.

For non-Facebook members

Dr. Nader’s Facebook page is available for public viewing so anyone around the world, including visitors who do not subscribe to Facebook, can see his content and watch his livestreams.  Here’s how to connect .



It is a joy to announce that Dr. Bevan Morris will be offering a new course, entitled Vedic Expressions Used by Maharishi in His Exposition of His Vedic Science and Technology. This inspiring eight-lesson course will cover the following:
 
  • Learning the expressions and how to pronounce them correctly
  • How to understand them in the context of Maharishi Vedic Science, through lectures by Maharishi using the different expressions
 
We are also excited to announce that Brahmachari Dinesh Mittal, TM-Sidhi Administrator from India, is coming especially to Maharishi University of Management to help lead the course and guide our pronunciation.
 
Course schedule: October 14 - November 7. Monday and Thursday evenings 7:45 - 9:15 in Dalby Hall and available online. First lesson starts at 8 pm. (The class scheduled for October 31 will be on October 30 instead.)
 
Course fee: $75 (or $40 for full-time MUM/MSAE staff, faculty, and students; or full-time Governors, IAA grant recipients, and anyone who is retired and cannot otherwise afford the course.) MUM alumni get 10% off the full course fee.
 
Prerequisite: This is an advanced course for Governors, Sidhas and those Meditators who have a familiarity and comfort with many of the terms and concepts used in Maharishi Vedic Science.
 
Let’s Celebrate Victory Day on October 8

Victory Day or Invincibility Day — Vijaya Dashami — will be on Tuesday, October 8, 2019. This is the traditional day in the Vedic calendar that celebrates the victory of positivity over negativity.
Fall Semester TM Retreats and WPA's

You are warmly invited to enjoy some deep, revitalizing rest and profound knowledge on these two night, in-residence retreats. Breakfast will be served on-site so you can enjoy your mornings of rest, relaxation and meditation.
October
Campus TM Retreat & WPA
Thurs, Oct 24 8pm-Sat, Oct 26 noon
Visitors Center, building 153

November
Thanksgiving Campus TM Retreat & WPA
Thurs, Nov 28 8pm-Sat, Nov 30 noon 
Visitors Center, building 153


The flow of blessings

Maharishi Yagyas are powerful technologies to enliven the total intelligence of Nature. They nourish all of creation and help enliven peace in our world family. Every Yagya performed – large or small – reduces negativity in collective consciousness.

Auspicious day for Well-Being Yagyas!

Vijaya Dashami, Victory Day, falls on October 8 this year . Victory Day is the culmination of the Nine Days of Mother Divine and signifies the ultimate triumph of good in the world.

This is an ideal opportunity for a Well-Being Special Yagya. Or you may have a birthday or plan a special starting point in your life on or near this time.

Victory Day is an auspicious time to launch new endeavors and make resolutions for success—particularly when supported by participation in a Yagya.

Your treasured participation supports the Maharishi Vedic Pandits!

Special Yagyas bless special occasions and enhance life’s potential

Well-Being Special Yagyas can be performed at any time and as often as you wish, even monthly.

Please request your Special Yagyas at least 7 days in advance.
NEXT U.S. NATIONAL YAGYA ℠  PERFORMANCE OCTOBER 17–27
SIGN UP BY OCTOBER 12
“Mahalakshmi is the source of all affluence and progress.”
—Maharishi
October presents an exceptional opportunity to engage the evolutionary power of Nature to bless our nation—and ourselves.

October 27 is the Day of Mahalakshmi, the aspect of Nature that brings inner and outer affluence, fulfillment of desires, and good fortune. Maharishi described the Day of Mahalakshmi as, “the most awakened day out of the 365 days of the Vedic calendar.”

A charitable gift in support of a Yagya performed during this time is said to bring the most powerful blessings to both donor and recipient.

The next U.S. National Yagya performance will begin on the evening of October 17 and culminate on Mahalakshmi Day—ideally timed to take full advantage of this most auspicious occasion.

The Sankalpa (intention) of the Yagya will be:

Increasing harmony, positivity, and spiritual awakening
for the United States and its people.

Saturday, October 12 is the final day to sign up.

Please  CLICK NOW  to take advantage of this particularly auspicious time.

Better still... commit to  regular monthly sponsorship  and participate in every National Yagya throughout the year.  CLICK HERE

If you make a gift of $1,250 or more, you, your family, someone you designate, or your company will be acknowledged by name on each day of the Vedic performance.
Special Gift for Governors and Meditators: October 11 DLF Benefit with Katy Perry

The David Lynch Foundation SM  (DLF) is generously offering Certified Governors a free ticket to their “Silence the Violence” benefit concert on Friday, October 11, at The Anthem in Washington, DC. The concert will feature Katy Perry, Norah Jones, and Mavis Staples. Concert proceeds will help bring the TM ®  technique to 10,000 more people in need in the DC area.

How to request your free ticket
DLF has reserved a limited number of complimentary tickets for Governors. If you are interested, click the link below. Please include your first and last name and contact information in your request.


Share the invitation & 2-for-1 Meditator ticket offer
Meditators are generously being offered one free ticket for each one they purchase at the $150, $200, or $400 level.

Sponsored by the MUM Alumni Office (not a student tour).
Deposits due by October 15. Tour limited to 16 participants.
2019 Purusha Capital SM
Top Leaders Coming Again This Year
We invite all male Governors and Sidhas to join us for deep experience and knowledge on one of our courses. During these courses top leaders of the TM ®  organization will share their knowledge and the latest news and developments in their area of expertise.
For a complete list of all World Peace Assemblies (WPAs) and other courses, including detailed course descriptions, please visit  PurushaCourses.org .

Upcoming Courses/WPA

Columbus Day Weekend • Oct 11–14 (Fri-Mon) 3 nights • $450
This will be the last weekend course in 2018.

Nine Days of Mother Divine WPA with Dr. Doug Birx • Sep 28 to Oct 5
(Sat-Sat)7 nights • $950
Special Articles
History of the Movement  
 
Documentary:
Donovan Leitch revisits Maharishi's ashram in India fifty years later.
 
The gentle troubadour Donovan returned to Rishikesh in 2018 to see again that memorable place where his life changed forever. Many delightful recollections and insights are told as he walks through the recently reopened ashram. It's a beautiful step back into that pivotal time at Maharishi's ashram where Donovan and the Beatles were stoking their creativity through dips into the Transcendent that then flowed into their music that helped inspire the world to find a deeper reality. Musical history and world history were being made inside the gates in Maharishi's ashram in the forest of peaceful Rishikesh.
Award-Winning Film Presents Faculty Research Filmmaker Silvia Damiano has her EEG assessed by Professor Fred Travis in the documentary Make Me a Leader.

A documentary on brain-based leadership that includes interviews with Professors Fred Travis and Robert Schneider, and former adjunct professor Harald Harung, recently won Best Documentary Feature and Best Documentary Director at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards.

The filmmaker, Silvia Damiano, came to campus to conduct interviews.
In his segment,  Dr. Travis emphasizes  the importance of a leader having a clear mind.  Dr. Harung talks  about the importance of mind-brain development in becoming a good leader. And  Dr. Schneider explains  that an optimally functioning brain depends on an optimally functioning physiology. The film, titled Make Me a Leader, also shows Dr. Travis taking Ms. Damanio’s EEG. A practitioner of the Transcendental Meditation technique, Ms. Damiano is the founder and CEO of About My Brain Institute.

The documentary can be viewed at  aboutmybrain.com/makemealeader  for $10. A trailer that includes Dr. Harung and Dr. Travis can be viewed on  YouTube . The film describes how to develop the leaders of the future and suggests a new mindset based on science that integrates the entire biological system from the brain down.

Ms. Damiano offers leadership training and wrote in an email, “I am happy I was able to showcase the amazing work of Fred and Harald. I speak about them all the time.”
Humor Corner
TM in the News
Towards the end of last year  Iowa press covered the launch  of the new MEG’Array Solar Power Plant for Maharishi University. This week Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg visited Ideal Energy and the large MUM Solar Array Power Plant. See part of an article here along with photos taken by Werner Elmker. The Union journalist Ashley Duong tweeted she,

How Spiritual Snobs Became the New One Percent
Enlightenment is the new status symbol for the elite, and Jack Dorsey, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Marianne Williamson the undisputed gods of the wellness aristocracy. by  MIKE ALBO SEP 26, 2019
The David Lynch Foundation has been promoting the benefits of Transcendental Meditation for nearly 15 years, and, thanks to a $2.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense, it has the research to prove that TM can help veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder cope.
“Everybody’s been jumping on the bandwagon, and a lot of it is baloney,” says the organization’s CEO Bob Roth. “There is no magic pill from Big Pharma to prevent stress and trauma, although there are tons of medications for managing it. They just don’t get to the ‘tumor’ of stress. Now, 50 years later, we are getting close to finding reasonable ways.