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Hello. Hello. I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your session last week at the ASTD Conference. It is truly wonderful to see that there are others who are trying to keep the workplace light-hearted and fun. It is all too easy to get bogged down with the corporate rat race. We as trainers are always looking for ways to keep things excitable and fun for our participants, and it seems that you have hit the nail on the head.

Tom Heffron , Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

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Without question, you are an individual who has been blessed with the wonderful gift of being an inspiration to others through your words and through your actions. You have indeed regenerated our spirits and provided for us a road map toward more fulfilled lives at work and at home.

Harry E. (Buster) Neel, Jr. , Vice President of Finance and Administration , Boise State University

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Idea of the Month from Barbara Glanz

Create a Human Level Database

This idea is excerpted from Barbara's book CARE Packages for the Workplace--Dozens of Little Things You Can Do to Regenerate Spirit at Work (McGraw-Hill, 1996) $14.95

THE IDEA:

Companies have databases on employees that contain business level information--education, previous experience, training, etc. I suggest that you create a database that contains interesting things about your staff on the human level.

THE IDEA IN ACTION:

Collect information about all employees such as:

• Special hobbies such as woodworking, furniture refinishing, crafts, cooking
• Special interests such as bridge, golf, theater, or horseback riding
• Do they speak another language?
• Do they play a musical instrument or sing?
• Do they like to draw or cartoon?
• Where have they traveled?
• Where did they got to school?
• Areas where they have lived
• Books, movies, and music that they like
• Favorite sports
• Organizations and support groups to which they belong
• Any other significant life experiences

You might even want to include spouses' hobbies and interests.

TIPS:

This becomes a terrific way to network internally. From this data can spring informal internal classes (sharing their hobbies and interests), travel groups, and even a company chorus or band. People can find others to help them out with problems both at work and at home, and the company will discover resources it never knew it had. Best of all, employees are considered as whole persons, not just as workers!

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