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Issue 13 December 2006
December’s Perform is here! A special shortened edition this month as we all have three weeks in which to do four weeks work! Sadly, Sonia our artist is now too busy to continue creating the drawings for Perform.
 This is her final contribution and we would like to offer thanks for her help.
This card, designed by Chris Thomas of Milton Contact is on the theme of Team building. We rarely give referrals but suggest you investigate a bespoke card from Chris.
He is a pleasure to do business with and a very talented artist and photographer.
My great leader this month is more inspirational than a leader. Even his name brings This man has been around a long time. His work is very secret but the results of this work are widely known. Top-secret work in the wild of the country creates an infinite curiosity amongst many people. He has inspired his work force to work only for their pleasure and a roof over their heads. They are so motivated that they work seven days a week for fifty weeks a year, taking their holidays out of season. They are multi-skilled and always cheerful. Their construction work is excellent and their work rate is phenomenal. These people are even good at looking after animals. The animals in their care are so happy and energetic. When the animals are allowed to exercise, they fly around the place at great speeds. This inspirational person leads his team of elves and reindeer to work all the year to bring happiness and joy to everyone, especially children, all around the world on just one day a year. The man whose full name is St Nicholas is generally known as Santa Claus. Don’t you wish your inspiration could produce this level of commitment in your people? But you would not like to go into the red! Merry Christmas to you all!
This month we look at issues around the art and science of planning. We all know the “fail to plan, plan to fail” maxim but do we all plan in enough detail? Recent research on people with heart conditions showed that seven out of eight failed to adopt a healthier eating and exercise regime despite clear communication of the likely consequences. Perhaps we have a belief that we can bluff our way through when it comes to it. Is abhorring managerial professionalism another symptom of the English disease?
Plans allow us to achieve something new. Without thought, without plans we are prisoners of our past. Plan to be different in 2007. You probably have a few days away from work over Christmas. What do you want to achieve at work, how will you achieve it, plan for it. Likewise in your personal life, plan for it. Write your plans down. A written plan is more likely to be carried through. Be bold, plan to improve the performance of your organisation in 2007. Email us here to make those plans a reality. The crazy, hectic, commercial circus of Christmas is here again. The Christian religious significance is more hidden this year.
Bombarded with calls to buy gifts to please our nearest and dearest, we fear being
 thought mean and uncaring if our presents are not appropriately expensive.Away from the commercial helter-skelter, there is the thought that “expensive in money” gifts are a proxy. A proxy for “I care enough about you” to spend this money.
It is nice to get expensive presents because it implies a lot of “care about you”.
Of course, we all complain these days of being cash rich and time poor. What we really treasure is our time. Would it be more valuable to give our time to someone about whom we care?
The time to pick a very special present, the present that is just right. The present only you could find because you listened, you thought and cared.
The present of time directly says I care for you. It is not a proxy. Only you can give your thoughts and time.
Make this Christmas special for your family and friends by giving your time.
When you are back at work in 2007, give your time to people there too. Show you care and they will respond.
Make a note to ask us how we can help make the time for you to do that.
Have we made you stop and think about your own organisation and what could be gained by improving things? If you are curious about the improvements in performance that are possible, or you would like to know how to solve specific performance problems, then resolve to make a difference this minute. Call us now on 01787 378851 or email performance@motivationmatters.co.uk to start improving performance. You pay people to come to work. What they do when they get there depends on their motivation.
We hope you enjoyed this Perform. Please forward it to anyone you feel would enjoy it. Please look at the information on our website for more details and articles. The next Perform will be in the middle of January.
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© Motivation Matters 2006
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excitement when spoken in certain circles.
Plans have their place in any organisation’s life and in our personal lives too.