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The Most Effective Competitors in the 21st
century will be the organizations that learn to
use shared values to harness the emotional energy
of people.

• Noel Techy
• Prof. of Org. Behavior
• U of Michigan

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STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY IN THE WORKPLACE

• OPENING AUTHENTIC COMMUNICATION
• CREATING PARTNERSHIP IN THE WORKPLACE
• OLA SuperConference 2006 Session 1814

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APPLICATIONS

• Creating community bonds
• Maximizing employee engagement ownership
• Focusing concerted action common direction
• Lasting conflict resolution

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BENEFITS

• Anticipating remedying employee concerns before
  they become labour relations problems
• Tapping into the whole teams collective wisdom
  creativity
• Building a sense of employee ownership full
  engagement
• Creating enduring solutions to conflict

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OPENINGAUTHENTICCOMMUNICATION
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THE PROCESS

• Meet with staff (peers only)
• The Five Focus Questions
• Record provide what the staff want to say to
  Manager
• Town Hall Meeting
• Manager responds personally to all points/issues
• Town Hall Meeting
• 6 month check up

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QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION

• What would we like our Manager to know about us
  (our needs, expectations) that we feel our
  Manager doesnt already know?
• What are our hottest
• Opportunities missed?
• Obstacles in our way?
• What are the three things we would change right
  now, if we had the authority to do so?

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QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION contd

• What can/should our Manager do to help us
• Better serve our clients?
• Better serve ourselves?
• What are the three things we can do personally
  and are prepared to commit to now to
• Better serve our clients?
• Better serve ourselves?

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CREATING VALUESSeven Criteria

1. Choosing freely
2. Choosing from among alternatives
3. Choosing after thoughtful consideration of the
   consequences of each alternative
4. Prizing and cherishing
5. Affirming
6. Acting upon choices
7. Repeating

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TIMELINE
OURSELVES OUR WORK OUR COMMUNITY OUR PLANET
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
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CREATINGPARTNERSHIPIN THE WORKPLACE
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OUR TIME TOGETHER

• Review how we got to where we are today
• Where are we now?
• What is our preferred future?
• How will we get there?
• Vision
• Values
• Our declaration of interdependence planning
  acting together
• How will we sustain the momentum?
• Long term activities
• Values champions
• Values review

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TEAMWORK TOGETHERNESS

• Concerns taken to the team for resolution
  collective resolution
• No one on the team left alone to hang out to
  dry
• Collective accountability and responsibility
• Willingness to connect with each other
  (face-to-face, telecon, etc.), even when the
  issue or case is not ones direct responsibility

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PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL RESPECT

• Respect the feelings and experiences of others
• Commit to be punctual (for meetings, work, etc.)
  shows respect for all team members
• Keep common areas tidy
• Devote your efforts to planned team activities,
  avoiding interruption
• Each team member has the right to be treated with
  dignity
• Appreciate and utilize the talents and abilities
  of others

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COURTESY

• Put forth effort to go out of your way to assist
  others
• Be considerate of others in your own use of
  language and tone / pitch of voice
• Ask for assistance / help, rather than giving
  orders or coming across as demanding
• Be conscientious and tactful when interacting
  with others, always considering their feelings

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MARKHAM PUBLIC LIBRARIESSTAFF VALUES

• Respect
• Communication
• Common Focus/Service
• Teamwork

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RESPECT

• We will
• Treat others as they would like to be treated.
• Actively listen to each other and respond with
  courtesy (tone of voice and body language).
• Greet, acknowledge each other in a friendly way.
• Keep each other informed about our whereabouts,
  when it affects others.
• Be punctual at all times.
• Appreciate and endeavour to utilize each others
  unique skills, talents and backgrounds.
• Demonstrate a positive attitude with each other.

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RESPECT contd

• We will
• Have patience, wait our turn and not interrupt
  each other.
• Empathize with and affirm each others feelings
  and concerns.
• Be inclusive, not exclude others (e.g. the common
  business language is English).
• Keep our shared work areas neat and tidy.
• Not be unfairly judgmental.
• Allow each other to make mistakes and learn from
  them.
• Accept and honour our unique individual
  differences and the way in which we act out and
  process the world around us.

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COMMUNICATION

• We will
• Be respectful in tone and tactful in
  communication of any type.
• Share information openly and willingly, where and
  when possible.
• Communicate with clarity, timeliness,
  completeness, and adequate contextual detail to
  ensure understanding, to the appropriate
  audience.
• Listen actively and probe for clarity.
• Give and receive positive, constructive feedback,
  for mutual understanding.
• Provide and accept open, honest expression, with
  no fear of reprisal.

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COMMON FOCUS/SERVICE (We exist to serve our
customers)

• We will
• Treat each customer as an MPL customer, first and
  foremost single point of service delivery.
• Provide seamless service to customers.
• Ensure that all employees and volunteers receive
  system focused orientation and training.
• Discuss, share and implement best practices
  across the system.
• Champion the MPL vision.

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TEAMWORK

• We will
• Commit to one team working together for the
  betterment of the MPL system.
• Be collectively supportive and accountable for
  our outcomes and achievements.
• Help one another, even when its not ones direct
  responsibility.
• Treat each other as they would like to be
  treated.
• Support one another through all challenges.
• Build and nurture relationships within the team.

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TEAMWORK contd

• We will
• Ensure that team members feel comfortable
  expressing their unique opinions.
• Take time to have fun and celebrate achievements.
• Welcome new members to the team.
• Take responsibility for coaching each other and
  be open to being coached.
• Focus on the similarities rather than the
  differences across MPL.

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CONTACT US

• Catherine Biss, CEO
• Markham Public Libraries
• Phone [phone]
• E-mail cbiss_at_markham.library.on.ca
• David Dycke
• D.G. Dycke Consulting
• Phone [phone]
• Cell 416-995-6300
• E-mail daviddycke_at_sympatico.ca