LUE-42 Enterprises October 2022 Ezine

I Believe In Fairness, Fun, And Sharing What I’ve Learned With The People Who Make This Planet A Great Place To Live

Issue 140, October 2022

In the not-for-profit sector, when summer is over it's really over! September entered with board meetings on first and last days of the month and several in between. I have to say, it was great to see everyone again. There seems to be a nice balance of in person and virtual meetings. I hope this continues.

Even with all the meetings, there was time to catch up on professional development webinars, articles, etc. CSAE had an excellent session on Alberta's political landscape with Paul McLoughlin. There is so much information out there, and Paul's is an objective voice that I've heard for 40 years. While politics terrifies me these days, I at least have a better understanding of what's what.

Of course, there was football too. A road trip to Calgary and an innovative event for season ticket holders on the field at Commonwealth Stadium. There is solid evidence of the shifting culture in the Elks organization (in a good way!). The EE Alumni Winefest was a great day out, too.

I attended an art show and some theatre. One of my plays looks like it will be getting another run in 2023 and I've finally started writing something new. I am getting back to the gym now that it's safe(r) and realized that despite my efforts to stay active on my own, I have not done enough.

I doubled down on my beer studying. I went to Calgary to volunteer as a Steward at the judging weekend for the Alberta Beer Awards. 422 different beers and 7 sodas were being judged. Think 4-6 cans of each, and you'll get an idea how much beer we hauled and poured. It was great fun and I met some terrific people who share my interests. I had some pretty nice samples, too. When we weren't volunteering, we visited breweries. the awards will be presented on October 18, so in the meantime it's hush-hush,

I scattered more of Brian's ashes in a place he loved. In honour of that and also of the Queen's passing, I opened and shared the scotch he bought on the births of Prince William and Prince Henry/Harry. It seemed fitting.

I read a few articles on work/life trends that really got me thinking. The Tang Ping movement (one of many similar movements) involves laying down at work in direct opposition to overwork; the point is to emphasize enjoying life and health. I certainly Tang Pinged (is it a verb?) during lock down. Then there is Quiet Quitting, which refers to being at work during the time you are expected to be there and doing only the work that you were hired to do without going above and beyond. I suppose it's like a union's "work to rule" policy, and it too is about not overworking at the expense of other aspects of your life. Finally (for now) there is the Great Resignation, where people are leaving their jobs with a "life is too short for this" attitude. They're not wrong, and it has resulted in many companies not having enough employees. Hopefully it has also resulted in people living more balanced, fulfilling lives.

More concerning is that in less than a week, four people told me they hope they die soon, or at least before the next big "event." To quote a friend, "People are lining up to leave this planet." I definitely see and feel the losses; I'm just not sure what to do about it. What are you seeing and how are you handling it?

Stay well, friends.

/lmwe

"With equanimity, you can deal with situations with calm and reason while keeping your inner happiness.”

— The Dalai Lama

PS: This is not me, but I'm working on it.

Culture of Trust

My deep dive into the culture of my football team (i.e., how can a flagship franchise sink so hard and fast?) took me back to "The Will to Govern Well" (Tecker/Frankel/Meyer, ASAE 2002).

Tecker's team asks what change strategies will promote trust in governance? They tell us where trust cannot emerge, and what characteristics are typical for those where a culture of trust is possible.

At the outset, boards, staff, and volunteers need to trust themselves to make the right decisions.

To be trusted by others, you need to demonstrate certain behaviours such as listening, respecting diverse opinions, being willing to share information, insisting on open communication, having confidence in the abilities of others, delegating responsibilities effectively, being transparent and accountable, admitting mistakes, knowing what you don't know, and of course honesty and integrity.

Trust in the organization is also important. Is there a ton of bureaucracy? Do you need many permissions to move ahead on something? Can people be creative and take risks without punishment?

Trust also comes from shared values (core ideology). "When leadership establishes a set of core values, it creates energy, motivation, and commitment to creating a trusting environment." Values are the critical principles upon which behaviour, decision-making, and trust are built.

We know that you can't just put the values on paper, you have to put them into action. "For trust in governance to be fully realized, those on the outside looking in must perceive it. The culture will become the combined perceptions of those actively involved and those observing from the outside." This is earned trust.

Organizational Behavio(u)rs Supporting a Culture of Trust

Hire/Elect/Choose/and/or Appoint Trustworthy People
Articulate Core Values in the Strategic Plan
Create a Decision-Making Process Founded on Knowledge Collection and Analysis
Increase Franchisement
Create Gatherings to Celebrate the Community's Accomplishments

There is still much for me to ponder with respect to the culture of my football club. Does this lens help you see your board any differently?

/lmwe

6 Energy Draining Habits

Holding onto the past
Poor diet
Too much social media
Forgetting to breathe
Waiting for the "right" time
Surrounding ourselves with negative people

Article

Habits that Invest In Yourself

Move your body
Get enough sleep
Feed your brain
Get an education
Start saving/live within your means

Article

Some People Who Made Life Better in September

Shelley Carmichael-Silins, David Cheoros, Elizabeth Coulter, Patricia Darbasie, Janis Dow, Liz Garratt, Carrie Habinski, JT Hay, Owen Kirkaldy, Julia Kopala, Billie Lang, Pat Macdonald, Doug Macnamara, Sherrill McGilvray, Scott Oberg, Mary Paul, Hector Pothier, Paul Rechner, Lori Schmidt, Joan Seath, Mike Smith-Knutsen/Chantelle Chevrier Painter, Donna Stonehocker/Jim Gwartney, Michelle Swanson, Theresa Tsoukalas, Gerry West, Gord West, Lil West, Peter Wood, Pakmail on Gateway

"Find your place on the planet, dig in, and take responsibility from there."

-- Gary Snyder