Subject: GEA Newsletter #29 December 22, 2022

Newsletter #29 December 22, 2022

ARTICLES of CHRISTMAS PAST

Permanent Christmas Tree vs. the Real Tree, White Lights vs. Different Color Lights, etc...


My wife and I purchased our first "permanent" Christmas tree this year.  It is a beautiful tree with the same look as a real fir tree but without all of the watering, falling needles, and allergic reactions.  It has only taken thirty-two years to convince her, at least temporarily, to the benefits of the permanent Christmas tree.  We can put it up anytime we want without spending hours looking for that perfect tree by visiting the local tree lots or tree farms with the annual comments of "It's too big, too small, too dry, too many holes in the limbs,  or not straight.


I love the new tree but I will forever remember the quality time that I spent with my wife and children finding that perfect tree every year.  Laughing at each other when we would go out to the tree farms and wait to see who would trip over all the stumps first.  Dealing with frustrations of hours of looking but ending up laughing as we struggled to cut the tree down with a hand saw which is the real reason I bought a chain saw.  But somehow after all those trees we would always end up saying, "That may be the prettiest tree we have ever had."


Then the other night as we completed the process of putting the ornaments on is when I realized what I really like about our tree.  It is not the tree but it is the memories, which are a culmination of years of having ornaments given to us by special people or made by our family for us and remembering the time when these ornaments were made or the people they represented.  Pictures of the boys, our first ornament, ornaments of our family dogs, and this year having our grand daughter kiss an ornament with a squirrel on it as she puts that ornament on the tree are all examples of these memories.  And, in some cases, shedding a few tears as I remember those who will not be with us this year.


At this point some of you are  probably asking why is he writing about Christmas trees in the GEA newsletter.  The answer is simple.  As the old preacher once said, "Nobody on their death bed wished they had spent more time at work."  Remember that both as an employee and an employer. 


Take off if you can, hug those around you, tell them you love them and care for them.  If you are an employer who will have people working during the holiday season, remember to thank your work family for their efforts and commitment to you for working during the holidays.


As for some of you, like my wife, who will have to work on Christmas eve and Christmas day, take the time to celebrate when you can.  It is not about the day, or about the tree, or about Santa, presents, real or permanent tree and whether your lights are white or different colors.  It is about creating memories with those you love and remembering the One who is the reason for this celebration.


If you are alone this holiday season, volunteer to help someone, do something to see someone smile, visit a nursing home, hospital or those less fortunate than you.  You just might create the best Christmas memory you will ever have. 


By the way, we have the prettiest permanent tree we have ever had.


Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Holidays!!!


Buddy McGehee, SHRM-SCP

Director of GEA


Meeting's 101


I was reading the SHRM Magazine the other night when I came across an article concerning scheduling and conducting meetings by Dorothy Meinert, Senior Writer/Editor, HR Magazine, titled "7 Steps to Running Better Meetings."


She referred to a recent survey of 1,000 employees by Accountemps which found an average office worker spends 21 percent of their time in meetings and and felt that 25 percent of that time was wasted. An earlier University of North Carolina study, researchers found a link between how workers feel about the effectiveness of meetings and their job satisfaction.


Some time honored thoughts were mentioned were:

  1. Prepare - Meeting purpose and desired outcome.

  2. Limit the number of participants. - Eight or fewer.

  3. Send agenda material in advance -  Time to think and prepare.

  4. Start and end on time.

  5. Make sure attendees can participate.

She references some practices by Paul Axtell, corporate trainer and author of Meetings Matter (Jackson Creek, 2015.)


Axtell recommended that in planning for meetings, as a leader, you should delay your views until giving others the chance to express their views.  Focus on listening, and stay out of the discussion as long as you can, he says.  You might learn something.  In addition, don't take up a majority of the time presenting and leave only a few minutes for questions and comments.




TRAINING UPDATE

Save the Dates

for our 2023 Virtual Leadership Training Series


We have the dates set and registration will be opening up by December 26th. Please be watching out for an announcement early next week for links to register.


Virtual Leadership Series Workshop Dates


02/15/23  Leadership I 

03/22/23  Leadership II 

04/26/23  Leadership III 

05/03/23    Leadership IV 

06/07/23    Leadership V 

07/12/23  Leadership VI 


Georgia Employers' Association

Phone: 478-722-8282


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