connecting and paying forward

Here is the actual manifesto,
this is information About the Author

Michael Lee Stallard is a leading authority on employee and customer engagement. He is the president, CEO and a co-founder of E Pluribus Partners, a consulting firm that specializes in helping leaders create “Connection Cultures” to form strong bonds among the management, employees and customers of an organization. Prior to founding E Pluribus Partners, Michael was chief marketing officer for businesses at Charles Schwab and Morgan Stanley. He was formerly an executive in investment banking, marketing and finance at Barclays PLC , Van Kampen Investments and Texas Instruments. Additional information can be found at
www.EPluribusPartners.com , www.FiredUpOrBurnedOut.com and www.MichaelLeeStallard.com.

Change this manifesto- Connection Culture

First, connection is a powerful force that creates a positive bond between people based on
both rational and emotional factors.

Second, connection contributes to bringing out the best in people—it energizes them,
makes them more trusting and resilient to face life’s inevitable difficulties.

Third, connection can vary tremendously across organizations depending upon local culture
and leadership.

What is it about connection that makes it so powerful?”Without going too far into the psychology of connection, let me just summarize by saying simply that we are humans, not machines. We have emotions. We have hopes and dreams. We have a conscience.We have deeply felt human needs to be respected, to be recognized for our talents, to belong, to have autonomy or control over our work, to experience personal growth, and to do work that we feel is worthwhile in a way that we feel is ethical. When we work in an environment that recognizes these realities of our human nature, we thrive. We feel more energetic, more optimistic, and more fully alive. When we work in an environment that fails to recognize this, it is damaging to our mental and physical health.

The core elements of a Connection Culture that meet these human needs
are Vision, Value, and Voice.

It is connection that makes America so productive that with a mere five percent of the world’s population we produce 30 percent of the world’s economic output.Who would ever guess that a country made up of people from every corner of the world would come together like that? Imagine what could be done if more people were connected at work. Connection is the key. It makes a difference in families, in workplaces, in schools, in volunteer organizations, in communities, and in nations. No one can thrive for long without it

Wow this is pretty powerful stuff! Now to talk about paying it forward a bit, because this article has actually touched my life in the last week by having read it about 3 times now. I have been struggling with a decision to give a person who seems pretty needy a Vehicle. We have at church a Jeep that was part of a larger donation from an estate that we were the beneficiaries of. This is not " my Property" but by virtue of being the senior warden - it falls under my purview- we have a couple of members that are needy and one in particular could really use this automobile. I have been struggling about making this decision, because this person sometimes comes across as manipulative, or aggressive in his desires for the church to help him. I think my community should help others, and I have had the blessings of my church helping me to get by in tough times too.... so why am I so conflicted with giving this person the vehicle? I have an ability to read people and I am generous and gracious to everyone, until they prove to me that I am wrong about their truth or life, then I am wary, I do not often pre-judge others, I believe that people are inherently good ( for the most part) and there has to be a big todo to make me change that opinion. So in the long run, i am thinking I will pay it forward to this person, because I have received so many gifts of blessings from my church home, there is just nothing else I can do but to PAY it Forward.

So to tie it all up, I need to give of myself and make a connection. Then maybe the best will come from having paid forward the goodness I have known. :)