Costumes, Candy, and Caring

This is my favorite time of year. While I love the warmer weather and extended daylight hours of summer, the colors and aromas of the fall season can’t be beat as far as I’m concerned.   Pumpkin pie, cinnamon, apple cider, and banana bread.  These are a few of my favorite fall things.  It’s also the season of Halloween, a holiday that I’ve adored since childhood.

I mean, what’s not to love about Halloween?  Children and pets dressed in adorable costumes, the ability to be someone (or something) else for a day, ghost stories, and the seemingly endless flow of sweet treats.   But for all its awesomeness, I’ve found in my conversations with people throughout my life that Halloween is a holiday that they’re either “all in” for or don’t care for at all.  As hard as I’ve tried over the years to convince the latter group, I just couldn’t bring them over to the “spooky” side.  But I think this year might be the year I succeed.  I have an activity that I think will win even the most-stubborn of you over to the candy corn and Jack O’ Lantern way of life.   For those of us who are already subscribers, it’ll make you love it all the more.

Operation Gratitude is a non-profit that collects leftover Halloween candy which they use to create care packages for American troops deployed overseas.  The candy is included in the packages with other necessities which arrive in time for the holidays in December.   Candy is also sent to the troops for distribution to children in the cities where they are stationed to help show good will on behalf of the US military.

This is an amazing organization that has been sending packages out to troops since 2003.  We’ve been running the Candy for Heroes drive at my company for the last 8 years.  It’s amazing the amount of candy that we are able to collect.  Let’s face it, how much candy can we really eat?  Most of it is thrown away after the 31st. Candy that otherwise would have been wasted (or eaten!) can be put to good use.  Operation Gratitude also sends 200,000+ care packages throughout the year to veterans, first responders, new recruits, wounded heroes, and military families waiting at home.  Since its inception volunteers have shipped 1.6 million care packages.  Amazing!

In addition to candy, you can write letters to the troops for inclusion in care packages as well.  This is a great activity which parents can do with their children, teachers can do with their classes, and companies can do with their employees.  Follow the link below more information on the 2016 Candy for Heroes drive:

https://opgrat.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/halloween-candy-for-the-troops/

So to recap, you can donate leftover candy instead of eating it (always a plus for me!) and brighten the day for a soldier who is far away from home at the holidays.  

What’s not to love about Halloween?

Connect, Inspire, Empower. Rinse. Repeat.

Today I was thinking about how many times I’ve exchanged a “How are you?” with someone in passing and we actually stopped to hear each other’s response.  Sadly, not many times come to mind.  The era of go, go, go has taken its toll on human connection.  Ironic when you think of how connected we are from a technology standpoint.  Social media and apps keep us plugged in, tuned in, and checked-in to everything that is going on around us 24/7.  Yet more and more people are feeling isolated, depressed, and lonely.  This is concerning because human connection and social interaction (in-person interaction) is necessary for mental and physical health. 

Emma Seppälä, Ph.D. who is the Science Director of Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education, and author of "The Happiness Track" (Harper One, 2016) discusses this in a 2012 article for Psychology Today entitled “Connect to Thrive”.  The article states that “decline in social connectedness may explain reported increases in loneliness, isolation, and alienation and may be why studies are finding that loneliness represents one of the leading reasons people seek psychological counseling. Those who are not socially connected are more vulnerable to anxiety, depression, antisocial behavior, and even suicidal behaviors which tend to further increase their isolation.” 

Clearly connecting with others is important in maintaining a happy and balanced life, not to mention a healthy one.  So why are we doing less of it?  People I’ve spoken with about this topic cite crazy schedules and too many other “responsibilities” as the reason why they don’t see their friends or family as often as they once did.  “There’s just not enough time in the day anymore” or “I’m exhausted when I get home from work, the last thing I want to do is go out” seem to be recurring themes in conversations I have with friends, family members, and colleagues.  When it comes to work it’s even worse. We run from meeting to meeting.  More people are eating lunch at their desks than ever before or working through lunch to keep up with projects and workload. This has led to less interaction and increased isolation among employees.  So it's important for leaders to be present and aware of what their teams are feeling.

Social interaction and connection is as important in the workplace as it is in our personal lives, for the same reasons cited in Dr. Seppälä’s article.  The issue is that many leaders believe that being “connected” is the same as having a “connection” with their people.   The reality is that the two couldn’t be more different.  Texting and Skyping may be good ways to stay connected, but they don’t hold a candle to meeting in person.  The increasing popularity of working remotely only adds to the challenge of staying connected.  Now more than ever, it is important for leaders to promote an environment of collaboration and social interaction by taking an active interest in their direct reports.  That means talking about non-work related topics as well as projects and goals.  Travel for leaders with remote teams in other locations must be budgeted for and should be encouraged. 

Great leaders know that they can achieve outstanding results by forging strong relationships with their people.   It may seem like a given, but you’d be surprised just how many managers fail to grasp this seemingly obvious fact.   Strong leaders invest their time in mentoring and teaching.   These individuals understand that a leader is as much a teacher and coach as she is a supervisor.   

The importance of making emotional connections as leaders was also cited in a 2012 Harvard Business Review article entitled “Three Ways Leaders Make Emotional Connections”. The article highlighted engaging people in discussion and giving your employees your undivided attention as key ways of building strong relationships that foster engagement and teamwork.   And while a leader’s ability to connect with his employees is key to their development, growth, and willingness to stay, the ability for a leader to connect employees to each other is just as important.  

Initiating conversations between employees and encouraging cross-department collaboration is another very important skill that leaders must master.  Encouraging and empowering employees to share knowledge with peers in other departments who could benefit from the information breaks down walls, eliminates silos, builds trust, and forges strong relationships.

Giving Is Receiving (Just Give Something People Would Actually Like To Receive)

If you’ve ever purged your closets in preparation for the next season, then you are familiar with the “donation pile”.  You know what I’m talking about, right? That little mountain of clothes, shoes, and accessories that starts forming on the bedroom floor as you go through your drawers, shelves, and bins.   Things that no longer fit or stuff we look at and wonder “what was I thinking when I bought this?”.   If you have kids, the pile is even bigger.  They’re constantly moving from trend to trend.  Last year’s “must have” is this year’s cast-off. 

The good news is that there are plenty of great non-profits that accept donations of clothing and accessories for people of all ages.  Big Brothers Big Sisters, Dress for Success, Bottomless Closet and Career Gear are just a few.   Many soup kitchens, shelters, and places of worship also accept clothing donations.  Check your local community for a non-profit near you.

Items don’t have to be brand new, and “gently worn” is ok.  There are definite no-no’s, however.  Stained or dirty clothing, and items that are torn, excessively worn, or have holes in them are not acceptable. A good rule of thumb when assessing an item’s donation-worthiness is to ask yourself this question: “Would I let one of my family members wear this?”  If your answer is “no”, then toss it. 

If you’re really stumped, you can call the non-profit and inquire about their donation guidelines.  I recommend this because guidelines sometimes vary from organization to organization and some may be stricter than others depending on the type of items they collect.

The worst thing you could do is just put everything you don’t want in a bag and drop it off at the non-profit for them to sort.  This is bad for many reasons:

1.     It takes a long time to sort through clothing and accessories (I know this first hand having performed this task as a volunteer). It takes hours to go through bags of clothing donations

2.     The non-profits are not staffed with enough people to go through literally hundreds of bags of donations to separate the wearable from non-wearable items

3.     The time it takes for volunteers to sort through items and discard things that cannot be worn is time taken away from another important task a volunteer could be doing

4.     It's a matter of dignity.  The people who receive the items deserve to have clothing that is not stained and ripped

You know that great feeling you get when you put on a brand new outfit for the first time?  The boost of confidence it gives you?  The extra spring it puts in your step?  That’s the same feeling the person who receives your clothes will feel when they put on their “new” outfit.  Think of that as you gather your donations. 

Remember that someone who is in great need will be receiving your items. Something that may be “old” to you will be brand new to them. 

Giving is good. Let’s give good things.

We Remember

Today the world joins together in remembrance of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the USA.   A day that started like any other day quickly turned horrific as the news broke of the nightmare that was unfolding in New York City.   As a New Yorker, this day is particularly difficult.   While I am very lucky that my family and friends who worked at the World Trade Center made it out ok, I realize that my family is one of the lucky ones.   For many others, Tuesday morning was the last time they saw their loved ones.

On this 15th anniversary of September 11, we honor the more than 3,000 lives that were lost at The World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, PA.

If there is something positive that I can draw from that horrible day, it is the way that the global community came together immediately after the attacks.  The incredible unity, empathy, and compassion that was displayed by everyone around the world.  In the USA, the feeling that together, we would rebuild.  Together, we would be strong.  That we could overcome anything – together.

In 2009 September 11 was declared a National Day of Service and Remembrance by Presidential Proclamation.   Many observe the anniversary of this day by volunteering in service of others.  It is a wonderful way to honor the lives of the first responders who raced to the scene to help save lives and made the ultimate sacrifice.  

Hug your families.  Call your friends.  Tell the people that are special to you how much they mean to you.  Say “I love you”.  Spread kindness. 

God Bless America.  God Bless All Who Were Lost.

We will never forget.

It Starts With Us

We have the power to make a great impact in our community.  By “we”, I don’t just mean individuals.  I am talking to corporations with the ability to provide resources and talent to non-profits in need of hands-on help.  All the fundraising and collecting of products and donations are in vain if there aren’t people available to help non-profits run critical parts of their operations like distributing donations in the community. 

Case in point:  Yesterday I volunteered at United Way of Long Island with a group of amazing employees from my company.  We spent most of the day sorting and boxing up school supplies which United Way has collected as part of their annual “Stuff-A-Bus” campaign.  The supplies collected will be distributed to school districts in underserved communities.

Although I am aware of the need for volunteers because of what I do for a living, it still hits me every time I volunteer that the need for “helping hands” has never been more critical.

There were thousands of items to sort through, organize, and box up.  Several hundred boxes filled with supplies that needed to be stacked, organized, and prepared for delivery.  Without the help of volunteers like ours and those of other companies, there is simply no way the staff at United Way could have accomplished this monumental task.  Non-profits are stretched to the limit as is when it comes to staffing.  It’s up to us (the corporate world) to pitch in and help them achieve their missions.

Perhaps the best part of the day was watching some of the beneficiaries of this drive come in to pick up the supplies for their school and students.   Believe me when I tell you that there is no material object or bottled spirit that could produce the sort of euphoria that is felt when a recipient of these supplies thanks you from their heart.  It’s called the “volunteer’s high”, and something you need to experience to understand.  I highly recommend it!

Volunteering is good for the community. Volunteering is good for the soul.   There is no better way to lift your spirits than to lift up another.

Positive, lasting change starts with us. Lend a hand today.

School's In!

A new school year is upon us.   The days leading up to the first day of school are filled with anticipation for most kids as they look forward to seeing their friends again.  But for many children and their parents it’s a very stressful time.   Children in underserved communities are often unprepared for the new school year.  They are not able to afford the supplies that are needed and their teachers are in the same boat.  Schools in underserved districts are not able to provide the basic necessities for these children.  It’s not uncommon for the teachers to pay for the supplies out of their own pockets.

If your donation budget is small but your desire to give is big, consider holding a school supplies drive.  Ask your employees to donate supplies and partner with a local non-profit to help distribute the donations to a school or schools in need.  Organizations like United Way have programs that focus on collecting and distributing school supplies to districts in need of assistance.

Tips:

1. Call the non-profit ahead of time and arrange for a day/time to deliver the supplies
    
2. Ask if your employees can go along with the non-profit to deliver the supplies. The benefits of this are twofold: 
   • It makes for a great volunteer day
   • Employees feel personally connected to the cause when they see the impact their donations make in the lives of these families
      
3. Provide a list of supplies for your employees as a guide. This will take the guesswork out of shopping and make the whole process go a lot smoother.

A school supplies drive is an example of an activity that costs little or no money for your company but has a big impact in the community.  Add in a volunteer day, and you’ve got a great team building event that boosts engagement.  A win on every level!

Monday, Monday

Poor Monday.   It’s the least liked day of the week.  So many people dread Monday mornings.  The start of a new work week.  The beginning of another cycle of the “daily grind”.  A new countdown until the next weekend.  Are you one of the millions of people who are “working for the weekend”?

It’s time to re-think Mondays.  I like Monday and actually look forward to it.  People ask me how that’s possible.  A friend of mine once asked me “so you’ve never had a Sunday night where you weren’t looking forward to going to work the next day?”, and I said “sure”.   Then came the next question “how did you get over that?”  My answer: “I left”

My point here is that the dreaded feeling has less to do with Monday and more to do with your situation.  Change the situation and your perspective will change with it.   Easier said than done?  Yes.  But not impossible.   You control your outcomes by the choices you make.   Choose to be in control of the situation.  Choose to make a change.  Choose to start over.  Choose to leave.  Whatever your choice – the important thing is that you take action.  As the famous Nike tagline says, JUST DO IT.

Ask and You Shall Receive

If you want to know what people are thinking, just ask.  They’ll be more than happy to tell you.  I’m a big fan of having conversations and asking questions.  You learn a lot just by showing an interest in someone’s hobby, career or point of view. 

When it comes to creating successful programs and engaging employees in general, my second favorite way to learn what’s on people’s minds is quick surveys.  You can do this via platforms like Survey Monkey for instance.   Keep in mind that surveys need to be quick and easy.  Time is precious so keep it to a handful of questions that really get to the heart of what you want to know.  If you make it too long people will either not take it, abandon it half way through or speed through it just to get it done.  You certainly want to avoid any of those scenarios so keep it simple, short and to the point.  

Another great way to obtain fast results is polling. Polls like those you see on Twitter are very popular.  I recently conducted a Twitter poll which asked people to rate the following statement:

“My company’s support of the community where we live and work is important to me”

72% responded “agree”

6% responded “disagree”

22% responded “doesn’t matter much to me”

As you can see, the overwhelming majority of respondents expect their company to be philanthropic, and this poll just reinforces how important it is for businesses to be active in their support of the community.  From an engagement standpoint, employees feel a sense of pride in knowing that their company makes giving back a priority.   Engaged employees are dedicated and willing to go the "extra mile" because they feel emotionally connected to the success of their company.  They are your company's greatest culture and brand ambassadors.  One of the best ways to engage your people and support your community is through volunteerism.

If you’re looking for some ideas to help rally our employees around a good cause visit volunteermatch.org and enter your location for events happening near you.  You can even filter by the type of cause you are passionate about (ex: animals, advocacy and human rights, arts and culture, etc.)

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!