We are constantly bombarded these days with messages about how to survive during these difficult times – that somehow if we just hang in there and hunker down, we’ll recover and everything will return to normal. The hard reality, though, is that organizational life is evolving on multiple fronts – financially, technologically, environmentally, politically, to name a few – and the need to adapt to those changes is greater than ever. Those unable to adjust are left behind, or worse, become obsolete.

What can organizations do to avoid such a fate? Clearly an organization’s ability to learn and implement change quickly are key, but instituting organizational change is a whole systems endeavor – everyone must play a part – and nothing will happen if the organizational culture doesn’t truly support everyone in the effort. Organizational change involves taking risks, and most employees won’t take risks unless there is a certain level of safety to do so.

Creating a collaborative environment is a basic premise for establishing learning organizations, and it is sometimes the hardest hurdle to get over in the quest for becoming a learning organization. The organizational culture is what determines the level of safety employees’ experience, and underlying assumptions, which drive behavior, create that culture. Although managing culture is a leadership function, shifting the culture cannot happen without the effort of everyone involved. The following example will help us examine this process of creating a healthy environment from both the leadership and employee levels:

A nurse manager has found out that there have been two exit interviews with RNs who have left her unit because of bullying behavior. Several long-term and full-time RNs have been implicated. Some behaviors have included not helping, excluding, talking behind backs, rolling eyes, and muttering snide remarks, all aimed at newer staff. The manager is concerned about the bullying behaviors as well as the veil of silence surrounding incidents. She suspected that the nurses who quit were unhappy, but her efforts to find out why were unsuccessful. Read the rest of this entry »

It is our responsibility to create safe environments for our kids where they can play and learn. One of the challenges that we face is how to keep the kids entertained and content. In this article we will be looking at the use of play rugs and carpets as a method of creating safe, secure and entertaining play areas.

Kids carpets have improved considerably and one is spoiled for choice. The carpets and rugs that are used for kids and play areas have been manufactured in such a way that it is durable, safe for kids and easy to clean. Play carpets are available in a variety of designs, colors and shapes.

Types of Play Areas that you can Create:

The Puzzle Room
Create a fun play area with the use of puzzle rugs, kids puzzles and puzzle games. This type of play area will keep kids entertained for hours and they will learn about shapes and their hand and eye co-ordination will improve.

The Travel Room
Allow kids to travel the world in their imagination by creating a travel themed room. Use one of the world atlas themed play rugs, world charts against the walls and educational toys. Games can be played based on locations on the atlas and kids can learn about the world, various cultures and their own uniqueness.

The Kids Town Room
Town and city themed rooms are ideal for boys. They can play with their toy cars and use the roads printed on the rugs. Lego sets and building blocks can be used with great success to entertain the kids and allow them to create their own towns. Let them set-up their own shops and play act.

The Artist Room
Every kid is an artist in his or her own right. Sheets of white paper, crayons, clay, water based paint and crayons themed kids rugs can create an area where kids can build, paint, draw and create. Allow kids to express themselves, have fun and improve their self confidence. Read the rest of this entry »

Do you engage in products and services or even in a whole list of them? Having people to invest in the list can be difficult. You must gain the trust of your followers to get any chance of this happening.

Before you can get people to invest in your list you must first build trust in them. Starting will require an environment that endears trust.

Most people do not like unwelcomed surprises in their dealings. People stick to safer and known options than things out of the blue. This is normally due to how the brain functions.

People will spend money and countless hours to generate safer environments for themselves. People normally encounter enough challenges in their daily activities to want to add to it.

Safe environments give the impression of control. This can be false however but it is still calmer and enjoyable knowing that you can control almost all things around you.

Safe conditions are not only wanted in our near environs. People require the same safe atmosphere with the people they do business with. You can go ahead and create this condition through communications like creating newsletters or sending out various email communications.

To create this state of calm and peace you can organize an event or program for free for your followers. These events or classes can also be at a small fee to them. Organizing meetings with them is also another way. You can get to communicate with them through face to face opportunities.

People like predictability. What they know already they will believe in. Whenever you find something that works out for your organization keep doing it. Continue it and it will cause to be predictable. People will then trust in you because they know what you are about and what to expect from you. Read the rest of this entry »