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 Volume 4 - Report 1 August 11, 2004 Twyman L. Towery, Ph.D., LFACHE Speaker * Author * Consultant * Facilitator * Rule 31 Listed Civil Mediator Website: http://www.twymantowery.com Email: tt@twymantowery.com Trouble viewing this email? Click here. |
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| No, life is about many other things than the Hokey – Pokey and we all know it, but we all get confused sometimes. | ||||||
| “Sometimes when I get up in the morning I feel very
peculiar. I feel like I’ve just got to bite a cat! I feel like if I don’t
bite a cat before sundown, I’ll go crazy! But then I just take a deep
breath and forget about it. That’s what is known as real maturity.”
Snoopy | ||||||
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It’s been awhile since I sent out an issue of THE TOWERY REPORT, but hopefully we’ve all been maturing a little bit in the intervening period. I hope some of the quotes and/or ideas in this newsletter will be of use to you in your presentations, or just to make your day better. One phenomenon I’ve noticed increasingly over the last few years is what I once labeled as “Buddy Block” in an article I wrote. Buddy Block “He who receives benefit should never forget it;
he who bestows should never remember
it.” In short, this is the process: A person helps an acquaintance when they need mentoring, rescuing, advising, or just getting further up the corporate ladder. The mentor’s actions ultimately propels the mentoree to success, helping him to reach heights that never would have been realized without the kindness of a friend. “In giving advice, seek to help, not please, your
friend.” Some years later, downsizing, illness, personal problems, or whatever throws the mentor into troubles of this own. Now the former mentor needs a push – a new start, a chance to get back on his feet. He is shocked to discover salutations and flowery words from his former disciple, but absolutely no action. | ||||||
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“Never mistake motion for
action.” The former mentor twists in the wind, while being ignored by the one he befriended. | ||||||
| “Always be nice to people on the way up; because you’ll
meet the same people on the way down.” Wilson Mizner | ||||||
| But the mentoree never learned this basic lesson. He has persuaded himself he attained his success entirely by himself and ignores all the help he had in his ascension. We have all seen these people in the corporate world. It is an observable fact that continues to befuddle me. It makes me feel like: | ||||||
| “I’m beside myself with schizophrenia.” Anonymous | ||||||
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Annual meeting or retreat coming up? Let Twyman Towery help you make it a truly memorable event. Call (615) 370-3587 Website: http://www.twymantowery.com Email: tt@twymantowery.com | ||||||
| Some corporate “warriors” don’t really forget the people who aided them; they just don’t want to be reminded of their own vulnerabilities. They would rather not have to acknowledge the person that reminds them of their own possibility of failure. “Can’t you just go away and let me bask in my wonderfulness?” This self absorption causes them to make enemies, often hastening the very demise they fear. They have forgotten the human reaction from someone who is rejected: | ||||||
| “It is wise to forgive your enemies, but wiser to remember
their names.” Anonymous | ||||||
| Helping people is sometimes a slippery slope. As a friend of mine puts it: | ||||||
| “If you have ten applicants for a position on a commission,
only one can get the appointment. Unfortunately, you often end up with
nine enemies and one ingrate.” Bo Roberts | ||||||
| But as we all know, it is worth the effort. The greatest gift of mentoring is to oneself. Only periodically will someone acknowledge our gift: | ||||||
| “Never refuse any advance of friendship, for if nine out of
ten bring you nothing, one alone may repay you.” Madame de Tencin | ||||||
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The best, if not the only way to build true teamwork in an organization is for the participants to develop TRUST in each other. This takes time and shared experience. It does not mean everyone will be friends, or even like each other but it does mean that they all can learn to respect and trust each other’s ability and competence. Corporate retreats facilitate the teamwork process like no other
mechanism I’ve observed in my many years consulting. This allows your
organization to focus its energies on your true challengers in the
marketplace rather than engage in competitive internal struggles. Feel
free to give me a call any time and we can discuss the various ways to
help your people propel your organization to it's full
potential by developing a workable, practical type of
teamwork. | ||||||
| “Do not remove a fly from your friend’s forehead with
hatchet.” Chinese proverb | ||||||
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Planning a corporate retreat? Need a keynote speaker? Workshop facilitator? Twyman will tailor his presentation to fit the needs of your organization. Twyman L. Towery, Ph.D., LFACHE tt@twymantowery.com http://www.twymantowery.com Phone: (615) 370-3587 * Fax: (615) 661-8944 | ||||||
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If you need a gift for your
staff, family or friends, remember my motivational, management oriented, inspirational books. | ||||||
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Please feel free to forward The Towery Report to
anyone who might enjoy it. | ||||||
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CHANGES? OPT-IN and OPT-OUT | ||||||
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Twyman Towery 141 Rue de Grande Brentwood, Tennessee 37027 Phone: (615) 370-3587 Fax: (615) 661-8944 Website: http://www.twymantowery.com Email: tt@twymantowery.com |
