Thursday, February 28, 2008

Professionals and Lay Leaders: Together Again

Every time I get a call to do a training session on "Lay Pro Relations" this is what happens:

1) I get excited because I love the topic
2) I ask the organizer of the event to please change the title of the session

Why? Because I think Lay Pro Relations already implies that there's something wrong, something that needs fixing, something that's inherently tough. It kind of sounds like "Marriage Counseling" -- which I am sure can and should be used to strengthen good marriages, but it just sounds...problematic.

While on my website, I use the header "Lay Pro Relations" so that people can find it using their language, I call the session "Lay Pro Partnerships". Partnership implies something collaborative, healthy and constructive, don't you think? And that's what I teach -- how to make the volunteer and professional partnership one of communicated expectations, role clarity, shared vision, attention to how the relationship is working, understanding and appreciating differences, collaboration, recognition, etc. Not hand to hand combat. Not geared up for battle. And not assuming guilt until innocence is proven.

Deborah
www.myjewishcoach.com
www.jewishorganizations.blogspot.com
www.myjewishcoach.blogspot.com

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Today's My Birthday!

As a Jew, I observe Rosh Hashanah as a chance to set goals for the New Year.
As an American, I observe January 1st as a chance to set goals for the New Year.
As a coach, I observe every day as a chance to set goals for a New Year.

Of course, today is my birthday, and it's another terrific opportunity.

When I work with my clients on behavioral change, we usually break it down into three categories:

Start
Stop
Continue

Here's mine for my "Double Chai"* birthday:

Start: Writing thank you notes more consistently
Stop: Hoarding my frequent flier miles -- and USE them
Continue: Not taking phone calls or checking emails when my kids come home from school

What would you like to START, STOP and CONTINUE?

Deborah
www.myjewishcoach.com
www.jewishorganizations.blogspot.com
www.myjewishcoach.blogspot.com

*Thanks to Debbi Roshfeld from UJC's Mandel Center for Leadership Excellence for framing my 36th birthday so Jewishly and beautifully!