This was not the first time I witnessed the smartphone “quick draw” at a meeting. Somehow over the past few years, it has evidently become acceptable to allow attendees to ensure they don’t miss a text or email during a meeting. This was formerly considered rude behavior. There was a time when the content and presentation at meetings superseded the “all important” text, tweet or email.

In fact, just about everywhere one looks, the smartphone is taking control and impacting and interrupting face to face conversation. It’s the new addiction and most people don’t seem to care. And, if it’s not the smartphone, messages sent from laptops, desktops and iPads are serving as the core of our daily business and personal communications.

The increasing attraction and dependence on electronic communication is easy to understand, because it is simple, fast and convenient. Yet in so many instances the true content and context of the intended message gets lost in cyberspace. This can lead to misinterpretations and breakdowns in communication.

In the workplace good communication is still an essential ingredient to success, teamwork and morale. If you and/or members of your staff are electronic communication “addicts” and believe that good business still relies on excellent communication, here are a couple of ways to break the habit:

Implement S.E.N.D. – Stop Emailing Now Dude(ttes) is a tough program for many business people to go through. Try it for thirty (30) days in your company. The concept is simple, the implementation is difficult. Request that all internal emails cease unless there is an attached file that needs to be reviewed. In lieu of an email or text, ask employees to actually get out of their chair and meet with the individual(s) to discuss the topic. This is an excruciating endeavor for some and may require employers to support electronic communication detoxification with crutches like chewing gum and stress balls. If successfully accomplished, the S.E.N.D. program re-ignites human interaction, supports teamwork and can enhance morale. It takes a heck of a lot more time to engage someone in person than “shooting off” a quick message, but the end results can be game-changing to your company.

Advanced S.E.N.D. – If you survived thirty (30) days of S.E.N.D., then you are ready for the next step. Now you are prepared to start using the telephone for conversations with people outside your company location, in cases where you would have historically sent an email or text. Practice is encouraged first if you have been relying heavily on electronic communication. For some, practicing verbal communication and telephone etiquette is a great intermediate step before attempting face to face conversation. Also, practice with friends, family and significant others is encouraged.

S.E.N.D. Master – Individuals who graduated to this level, need to pass several final tests to achieve conversation enlightenment. Mastery of S.E.N.D. is only reached when individuals have the ability to turn off their smartphones while working, operating a motor vehicle, during meetings and while in conversation with anyone other than themselves.

There was a time in the not too distant past when people at work did not have the means to communicate electronically. We actually met in-person to discuss business challenges and share successes.

Compared to today’s technology, face to face communication took much greater effort and time. Yet, not much was lost in the message and human emotion was expressed. We knew a great deal about people as we got to know them over time, rather than relying on Facebook, Linked-in or other web-based databases to judge or be judged. We laughed together rather than exchanging LOL’s.

It was a different time that’s for sure. There will be no turning back and that’s a shame. Today we have information coming at us at lightning speed with no ability to manage all of it very well. Our culture has evolved to being a bunch of button pushers to work, buy, play, date, communicate, eat and live. In the name of speed we have sacrificed our most precious attribute which is the ability to be truly human.

There is one button on our electronic devices that can save us though and get us back to basics at work and at home. It’s called OFF.

• Take some risks this year. No reason to wait for someone else to get the economy going. It starts with each one of us. Innovate and create. Stick your neck out.
• Hire an intern or two. And pay them. Low cost labor with tremendous returns. Interns are the gift that just keep on giving.
• Buy value and not price. The old adage “You get what you pay for” continues to stand true.
• Focus on your top performers in your workplace. They are driving your positive organizational results.
• Say goodbye to average or poor performers. They are holding you and your company back.
• Support workplace wellness. It works…period.
• Work on developing and maintaining a great workplace for top performers. Do this and your company will continue to succeed.
• Make a difference each and every day in someone’s life. You can change the world.
• Make your place of work better each day. Be part of the solution.

If it takes a turn of the calendar page to re-adjust attitudes so be it…just remember, yesterday is gone and tomorrow is not promised. Concentrate on today…each and every day of 2011 and make it your year…then repeat.

Last Friday we had our annual ERC Holiday family function with a visit from Santa. I looked around the room and it was filled. Children were everywhere and our staff has grown substantially. It has been pretty cool to watch many of our employees get married, buy houses, have children and expand their life outside of work.

I also recognize that with the passage of time comes responsibility for family and household for all of our employees. Those employees I hired as interns so many years ago are finding out that life is not simple anymore. As we know, some of what life throws at you is great, sometimes not so great. How people manage life outside of work often impacts their ability to perform on the job.

I marvel at how resilient people are at ERC and at so many other organizations we engage. Notwithstanding complexities of personal life, most people show up day in and day out to work and work hard. Whether it is battling a recent snowstorm or returning to work after the loss of a loved one, top performing people seem to just keep delivering no matter the circumstances.

As we approach the holidays, it provides an opportunity to take a step back and truly appreciate Northeast Ohio workplaces and those that make them tick. Often we are reminded to count our blessings and for sure there are many to be counted. At ERC we are blessed to provide support to so many organizations in our region, and thank you for that opportunity.

Wishing you peace and simplicity during the holidays and New Year.

- Pat

When you come back to our place tonight, what should we do?

Should we politely clap and be good sports?  Should we boo since that’s what you’re expecting? Should we have a “Zydrunas Ilgauskas night” since he left our town with class? Should we all throw powder up in the air to the basketball “gods” and hope you “air ball” every shot against the Cavs? Should just cheer our team on to a victory?

What should we do LeBron?

All the boos, rants and chants will do nothing but echo off the walls of the “Q” – because you don’t care.  You hurt the feelings of a lot of fans…inconsequential in the whole scheme of life, but nevertheless meaningful to many.  Except you.

What should we do LeBron?

Maybe we should just be role models.  Now that might get your attention.

Go CAVS.

Folks…you just can’t make this stuff up!

The article continues, “Over the last few weeks, the proposed ban caused a stir online and on cable television, with supporters arguing that it would help protect children from obesity.”

Really? I guess in San Francisco, parents are no longer responsible for their children’s health. Thank goodness the San Francisco board of supervisors are around. I can’t wait for their exercise video to come out.

So if you find that it is hard to say “no” to your children, move to San Francisco, California. Their board of supervisors will be glad to help you out.

And, not only was the Happy Meal affected, but Ronald McDonald was replaced with a bunch of clowns in the San Francisco local government.

What was even more impressive was the excitement and spirit reflected on the Browns’ sidelines by the coaches and players.  Several players splashed a bucket of Gatorade over Coach Mangini at the end of the game.  This ritual is typically relegated to playoff or Super Bowl victories.  It is apparent that the players and coaches are rallying around the Head Coach who is putting together winning game plans and living up to his promises.  It was also interesting to see a somber Coach Belichick befuddled…I am sure he was expecting a decisive victory over the Browns.  As he and his players looked across the Browns’ jubilant sidelines, I am sure many of their players were a bit jealous at the camaraderie displayed by our players with their coaches.

With 3 victories and 5 defeats it is difficult to imagine the Browns in a playoff hunt yet.  But in a few weeks we could all be singing a different tune.  I hope so.  The region loves the Browns and the way the management team and Coaches are assembling a winning attitude.  Let’s hope this keeps up.

Along with the Cavs, the Browns are assembling a winning TEAM.  It’s been a long time since we have witnessed the real possibility of a major sports championship in the next few years.  Keep the faith, and support the teams.  They deserve it.

• Evidently candidates no longer need to have any sort of platform to win an election.  Today’s campaign strategies focus on taking attention off the candidates and sling stretched truths about opponents to the public.  Apparently the candidate that is less distasteful wins.
• Relative to the mudslinging, if the propaganda thrown back and forth amongst the candidates is true we just elected a bunch (maybe not all of them) of liars and thieves.  I guess that is not really new.
• We can all sit back now and watch jobs get created.  Isn’t that what EVERY candidate promised?
• The power has shifted in the House of Representatives.  Should be a real hoot watching this gridlock for the next several years.
• Our votes still count and our voices were heard.

Now the yard campaign signs will go down, advertisements are over and the “robo-calls” to our homes and cell phones will cease.  A welcome change for many people including me.

At the local, regional, state and national level political transition will occur with a new composition of elected officials in place come January.

How cool would it be if at least a quarter of them lived up to at least some of their hype to create jobs, reduce taxes, reduce the size of government and lead by example.  That would certainly get my vote.

Here is the link: http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/nikebasketball/en_US/

Now…click here for my suggestion for a new slogan for the former Cavs player…

Like so many other presidents, you are travelling around the country helping your fellow party members either get elected or re-elected.  This taxpayer is respectfully asking you to stay in Washington D.C. during election season.  Here are a few non-partisan reasons for you to stay “home”…

• It saves taxpayers a ton of money.  Flying Air Force One around, the advance teams, security details, overtime for local law enforcement, etc. is costly.  If you have not noticed, the economy is struggling and the government is bleeding money.  We can’t afford your travel.
• You cause a lot of disruption in the cities you visit.  Traffic is snarled and many people are inconvenienced by your visit.  If we never see you again in Northeast Ohio, you will not hurt most of our feelings and we won’t feel neglected.
• There have to be more important things that take priority in your job.  These might include items such as the economy, unemployment and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to name a few.
• Spend more time with your family.   If you have time to “stump” for your party then I bet you have time to spend with the ones who really love you.

How cool would it be for you to lead by example.  Be the first president in history to be mindful of our tax dollars, our time and our priorities.  You were the president that got voted in on the platform of change.  Now is your chance to show us that you can.

Too many organizations today wait for an industry leader like Apple to innovate. Then these companies go to work to quickly develop products and services nearly as good as the innovation (like the iPhone). Organizations that spend their time and energy attempting to mirror other companies remind me of the Remora -  sometimes called a suckerfish or shark-sucker – these are the fish that hang onto sharks and feed off of them. “Remora Organizations” are just pesky little pains in the butt to industry leaders.

In this day and age of economic turmoil where price sometimes rules over quality, “Remora Organizations” have sustained as they have commoditize products and services – something that some market segments appreciate.  In essence they have cheapened the original innovation…never quite as good…but good enough. They are happy with corporate scraps which provide them a modest profit.

For both the individuals and business consumer, “Remora Organizations” help confuse and overcrowd an already crowded marketplace, making buying decisions more difficult.  Unfortunately, what our local and national economy needs is a lot less “Remoras” and a heck of a lot more innovators willing to take risks and advance their industry.  Make no mistake…innovation moves economies…copying does not.

Executives can complain all they want about the economy.  They need only need to look in the mirror if they are part of the problem or solution.  They are either a Remora or an innovator.

In an era where bailouts and government spending have gone haywire, the “Remora Organization” population is seemingly increasing at an alarming rate.  There are not a lot of incentives to innovate or take risks – attributes that great American businesses were founded.

If we keep heading in this apathetic direction, there will be too few sharks and too many “Remoras”, a condition that will certainly stagnate the business world we live and work.