Spirit Systems, Inc. - Encouraging Spiritual values in the workplace

p a s t p r o g r a m s

2004

December: Spirit Book Exchange!
Members brought a book to exchange that touched their lives and left with one that was new to them—discussion and connection with Spirit Systems luncheon members was enjoyed along the way.

November: Spiritual Selling
Mattison Grey is the productivity director at Brooks Ballard GMAC Real Estate and also the owner of a coaching business. She offers frequent seminars, such as “Coaching for Leaders,” “Getting Your Fantastic Out!”, “The Power of Acknowledgment”,“How to do What you Love for a Living, and “Power Selling.”

Does the word SELLING strike fear in your heart? Do you avoid selling because it seems disrespectful, based on how you have been sold to in the past? Do you pray that your marketing program works so you won’t have to sell? You missed a good one--this half hour presentation looked at sales in a positive way, transforming “selling” into “service.”

October: State of the American Spirit
Dan Krohn, (www.krohnlaw.com)

Dan Krohn, attorney with an emphasis on technology and Internet matters.

With the election looming, Dan shared his sobering observations of an America populated by a lazy electorate, slippery business ethics, blame-game litigation and what the future might have in store.

September: Merging Native American Spiritual Traditions into the Workplace
Neal Sutton, VP of Administration and General Counsel of Smith Int’l, an international oil and gas service company, with a Peace Sound Chamber he built on his Texas farm.

Neal discussed his experience with Native American spiritual traditions, and how they can be applied to a workplace environment.

August: Creativity in the Workplace
Chris Welch, President of Mastery of Learning, which specializes in accelerated learning, project management, creativity, and change management.

This participative presentation challenged participants to dig deeper, rather than broader, in their creativity. Individually, each person picked a subject to write about for five minutes. After that, we identified the “nut or core concept", and wrote again for five minutes, starting with that point. Finally, we found the core concept of this draft and wrote again, often ending up with an idea that had not occurred to us at the beginning of the process.

July: Living Spirit at Work - Panel discussion
Bruce Anderson (www.thinkingpartners.com) leadership and organizational consulting
Cindy Vanover: Spiritual Care and Values Director, Methodist Healthcare System
Sabrina Watkins: Advanced Technology Manager, Conoco Phillips
Susan Harting: commercial insurance and risk management consultant

How does one look, sound, think or act when living spiritual values in the workplace? What are the joys, challenges and growth that result.

We shared our own stories and insights and asked questions of the individuals who spoke openly about their commitment to and experiences of living spirit at work.

June: Resolving Conflict Through Peacemaking
Steve Scholl (www.solveconflict.com) is a “reformed” trial lawyer who now uses the title, Peacemaker, to promote a healing model for resolving business, family and community disputes without litigation.

Steve explained that many legal disputes are less about the law and more about something else entirely and that forgiveness and completion become a factor in resolving business disputes. We also learned what is neuroscience teaching us about legal conflict.

May: Spiritual Intelligence: Why Business Would Care
Cindy Wigglesworth (www.consciouspursuits.com)

Cindy has developed a spiritual intelligence (SQ) model and on-line assessment tool, which will be deployed at MD Anderson Cancer Center this summer.

Have you heard of emotional intelligence (EQ), which is a more powerful predictor of success than IQ? Spiritual intelligence is manifest in a wealth generation of joy, health, relationships, and abundance. Cindy shared her Spiritual Intelligence model and why businesses might care.

April: Connecting to the All: Body/Mind/Spirit - Panel discussion facilitated by Judith O’Connor

Kathryn Watson (www.relaxforsuccess.com): massage and bodywork, meditation, visualization
Mary Beth Smith (www.houfeldenkrais.com): movement re-education to reconnect with natural abilities to move, think and feel.
Frieda Hamilton Fox: teaches Conscious Breathing and Adding Juice Playshop to add energy and creativity.

The panel shared the meaning of the body/mind/spirit connection, and what can happen when it is out of alignment. Each panelist gave examples of successful realignment from their own practice areas.

March: Being More in 2004
Pamela Grant (www.lifecallings.com)

Pamela Grant is a business consultant and coach. Having a career that “lights up one’s life” is Pamela’s passion and purpose in life. To this end, she developed the Career callings workshop.

Loosely based on Dan Millman’s best seller, The Laws of Spirit: Simple Truths for Making Life Work, Pamela showed us ways to blend Spirit and the workplace.

February: There is Plenty for All
Merlyn Fance-Douglas (www.prosperitysystems.biz) is president of Transformative Technologies, a company focused on leadership, management, supervision, and teambuilding.

Merlyn discussed how we create, maintain, and increase a mindset of abundance. And asked what we would do if our financial resources doubled this year? Do we really believe that abundance is meant for us?

January: Future planning for Spirit Systems
Spirit Systems is a cooperative organization, and your wishes for future activities are important:
We discussed the types of programs, amount of networking time, and other ideas. We utilized the services of a skilled facilitator in the creative process to elicit participants’ ideas, and at the same time, learn a creativity skill we are able to deploy at work and home!