| Leadership
training with Sharma ‘very empowering’
experience
Eastern managers return to homes after
two-day Kanata event
Tuesday, November 9, 2004
- Natalie Miller
A yellow rose and card in hand, an OMNI maintenance
manager approached a colleague at Frost Manor
yesterday morning.
Doug Blair made the gesture to recognize an employee’s
extra efforts on the job. She was stunned to receive
the gift, he says. The Lindsay maintenance manager
was inspired to express his appreciation to a
co-worker after attending a two-day leadership
session last week with inspirational speaker Robin
Sharma. During the Kanata event, Robin stressed
the importance of being ‘nice’ in
the workplace.
“Hopefully it’s like the pebble in
the pond – the ripple effect,” says
Doug.
“It never hurts to say thank you. It doesn’t
cost a whole lot to show a little appreciation.
It’s a team effort here. We’re here
to make it as loving and as safe of an environment
for our residents as possible.”
About 60 OMNI managers attended the Elite Performers
Series with Sharma Leadership International. The
full-day sessions on Thursday and Friday were
based on one of Robin’s books, Leadership
Wisdom from the Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. Participants
learned about the eight rituals of visionary leaders:
Link Paycheck to Purpose; Manage By Mind, Lead
by Heart; Reward Routinely, Recognize Relentlessly;
Surrender to Change; Focus on the Worthy; Leader
lead Thyself; See What All See, Think What None
Think and Connecting Leadership to Legacy.
OMNI announced it was teaming up with Robin in
the spring and has since sent about 120 people
to the sessions.
Doug says he hopes to put into practice some
of the leadership tools he learned from Robin.
He says it begins with self-discipline. “I
can only make things better if I make things better
for myself.”
Woodland Villa’s Debbie Kitchen says the
experience “was very empowering.
“It brought emotions to the forefront,”
says the director of care at the Long Sault home.
“The end with the eulogy was hard to take.”
Robin asked participants to reflect on how they
want to be remembered by others.
Overall, Debbie says the sessions were “very
good for teambuilding” and enhancing Woodland’s
already strong team. “(Robin) was just so
sensational and a wonderful man to listen to,”
says Debbie.
She expects to put to use what she learned in
both her work life and home life.
Jeff Bedley, life enrichment co-ordinator at
Kanata’s Forest Hill, agrees Robin’s
material will help in the workplace and in personal
relationships.
“He definitely brought a lot of good ideas,”
says Jeff.
“It got us to dig deep.” Jeff says
a particular exercise that required participants
to explore their definitions of excellence, their
fears and their regrets, would not only be useful
on the job but “would be a great relationship
tool.”
Jeff says Robin’s message of focusing on
possibility instead of problem was a good one.
The LEC now intends to approach each workday with
an open mind.
He says he’s also left with the message
to “take the time for today and make the
most of every opportunity.”
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