Spirit At Work Houston Purpose Honoring spirit at work Vision Business people celebrating human potential in the workplace Mission Providing inspiration and resources for the business community

u p c o m i n g   p r o g r a m s:

Spirit at Work 

Spirit at Work - Houston        Celebrating business as a catalyst to        transform global society August 2007 In This Issue September Speaker S.A.W. Exhibits at ASTD Conference Win the "Yeah But..." Game Council Notes Thank you for your continued support as we evolve into this new organization, Spirt at Work.  We are excited about becoming a beacon in the Houston community, for businesspeople committed to bringing their whole selves to work. - Tom Ferguson, Visible Applause, Council President Quick Links Register Now Past Programs S.A.W. Home   Speak your Truth without Getting Fired or Losing Your Friends   Our speaker September 13, is Laurie Weiss, Ph.D. She is the author of five books about having important conversations and developing healthy, productive relationships in your business and personal life.  Her most recent book, Being Happy Together:  How to Create a Fabulous Relationship with Your Life Partner in Less than an Hour a Week, gives tips for spouses that can be used in many business relationships too!   Click here to RSVP now!   Our luncheon is always on the second Thursday of each month, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Briar Club.  Read Win the "Yeah But..." Game by Dr. Weiss, for a preview of her presentation.   WIN THE "YEAH BUT" GAME in 5 Easy Steps You know the game, don't you? Someone invites you to help them solve a big problem and every great suggestion you make is met with, "Yeah, but that won't work because..." You finally give up, frustrated and defeated.  Next time someone tells you about a problem, use these steps.    1.      Listen politely, without offering any suggestions. Remember, it is not your problem.   2.      Affirm that the problem is really important. Just say, "That sounds like a really big problem."   3.      Ask, "What have you already tried (thought of) doing about the problem?" You learn all the suggestions to scratch off your list. And you subtly reinforce the capabilities of the person with the problem.   4.      After you hear the answer, ask, "How did that work out?" You invite the problem holder to rethink his or her own challenge. Often that leads to a solution on the spot, with thanks to you for your brilliant suggestions. (Of course, you have not made any suggestions, but that doesn't really matter.)   5.      Ask, "Is there anything you would like from me?" Often the answer will be, "No thanks, I have figured out what to do next." If you are invited to do something more, you can choose to accept or decline with a much broader understanding of the problem.   These steps will help you resist your own tendency to try to be a hero by solving someone else's problem, usually before they even ask for your help. This game usually starts by someone lamenting about a problem instead of asking for help to solve it.   The invitation you are learning to decline is really about proving that the problem is unsolvable, that nobody can help, and that the problem holder is justified in giving up and doing nothing further about the problem.   Instead, you affirm the problem holder's skill and resourcefulness, without getting involved in the game.   And you may become the hero after all.   Laurie Weiss, Ph.D., author of Dare To Say It!, is an internationally known executive coach, psychotherapist, and author. For more simple secrets for turning difficult conversations into amazing opportunities for cooperation and success, visit http://www.DareToSayIt.com Mark Your Calendar - October 11 Luncheon Fred Lowe, BMS Connections - Lifting People to Higher Levels of Performance Briar Club 2603 Timmons Lane Houston, Texas 77084 Contact Us Marla Regan, Organized Time

 

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October 11, 2007 Lunch speaker will be Fred Lowe

 

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Be sure to mark your calendar for the 2nd Thursday of each month for Spirit Systems!

**Location!**
The Briar Club
2603 Timmons Lane
(at Westheimer - see directions below)
Houston, TX 77027

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Spirit Systems is a non-denominational group of like-minded individuals with a common purpose--encouraging spiritual values in the work place, making our work lives and those around us more powerful, peaceful and productive. There is no formal membership, so the commitment you make is entirely your own, and anyone may attend.

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