Talking Story

Starting new conversations in the workplace!

  • Rosa’s Books
  • ManagingWithAloha.com
  • RosaSay.com

The Writing Habit: Best Gift You Can Give

December 14, 2008 by Rosa Say for Say “Alaka‘i”

2010 Update: I made the decision to bring Say “Alaka‘i” here to Talking Story in late May of 2010 when the Honolulu Advertiser, where the blog previously appeared, was merged with the Star Bulletin (Read more at Say “Alaka‘i” is Returning to the Mothership).

Therefore, the post appearing below is a copy of the one which had originally appeared there on December 14, 2008, so we will be able to reference it in the future when the original url it had been published on is no more…

Hibiscus

The Writing Habit: Best Gift You Can Give

Preface:
Welcome to Sunday Koa Kākou. Sunday is the day I answer questions you send to me. If you have a question connected to management and leadership, leave a comment here, or email me.

From the Say “Alaka‘i” mailbox:
I want to give my employees a gift this year that is practical and very useful. With budgets as they are it has to be fairly inexpensive, and I’m sure they’ll be pretty understanding about that, but I also don’t want it to be a token gift; I want it to mean something. Do you have any suggestions?

I think the best gift you can give is a Starter Kit for the Writing Habit.

Chances are that at any given time, no matter what else is going on in the market, in your industry, or in the entire world, more investments need to be made in the communications which power up the healthy energies of your organizational culture. I firmly believe that we don’t talk to each other enough —even in the very best workplaces. There is no such thing as too much talk, just too much talk on the wrong things, so what great leaders and managers do is seed better talk with lively communication systems and intriguing on-going conversations.

For example, yesterday’s suggestion box needs to be today’s business blog, one where transparency and two-way communication is valued, and anonymous complaining is banished forever in favor of collaborative conversation. You can keep it internal for your staff only to start ”“ just use free blogging software that can be password protected or tabbed onto your existing intranet ”“ then invite vendors and partners as guest posters when you are ready for them. Later, you may decide to open it up for your customers too.

Writing habits are another integral part of organizational culture communications, and it is one that is often forgotten or ignored. The best tool you have in any workplace ”“ bar none ”“ is good old paper and pencil, AND the expectation that everyone has both with them at all times, and they use them well. The reason is simple: Paper and pencil quickly and easily capture the ideas we have, big and small, that we will otherwise forget later and then fail to act on.

This is what goes in your Starter Kit for the Writing Habit:

1. Put together a pocket-sized writing kit: The idea here is to have something they can carry with them at all times. Assorted index cards work really well, and if you have those company logo’d telephone pads, insert one of those too. Include assorted post-its and reading flags, and other small stationery-type writing goodies that will make your gift colorful and fun.

2. Include pencils with great erasers instead of pens so you can give a whole box of them, printed with either the company name or even better, personalized with their names. Also; pencils don’t leak like pens will; people will stick them behind their ears or in hair buns and you will have the visual “we write here!” message that triggers (sounds a bit corny, but actually works in a magical way). They will share pencils readily when someone else needs one. Then there’s the eraser: The pure subconscious wonder of “I can always change my mind if I want to.”

3. Remember those old plastic pocket protectors? Bring them back to hold everything. Today you can find new ones that have an extra clear sleeve for business cards, or better still ”“ a picture of the ‘Ohana carried around as the reminder of how personally important work really is.

4. Absolutely Crucial: A personal letter from you. Explain why you are giving the Gift of a new Writing Habit (give it a name), and how you are hoping to see the art of writing begin to flourish in your workplace. Tell them you value them and every thought they have while they are working so hard on the work which has become so very meaningful and valuable to both of you. You know they are smart and creative, and you want them to know that every idea has the possibility of becoming a great idea, no matter how small it starts out. End with an invitation to send a note to you at any time, and tell them you will begin to send more messages to them to.

5. Those are the essentials. If you have some cash remaining add a package of thank you notes and envelopes that they can give each other when they appreciate something that has been done in the course of the workday.

6. Find some clever packaging for it, and wrap it all up as the gift it is. Handwrite your gift tags ”“ no printed mail-merge labels in a Writing Habit gift!

Last, go back and read the last sentence of number 4. Set a plan in motion that will help you keep that promise you just made. Send more letters, and trace dates on your calendar to remind you: A follow-up as a Happy New Year’s message would be a great start. Make sure you send a letter at least once every quarter.

Be sure you have a kit for yourself too, and immediately start to demonstrate how you use it. Be the person they would like to copy; as Mahatma Gandhi reminded us so well, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

And when people start coming to you, notes in hand, be ready to listen, and listen well.

Filed Under: Columns: Say “Alaka‘i” Tagged With: appreciation, communication, expectations, gifts, holiday, ideas

Search Talking Story your way

RSS Current Articles at Managing with Aloha:

  • Do it—Experiment!
  • Hō‘imi to Curate Your Life’s Experience
  • Kaʻana i kāu aloha: Share your Aloha
  • Managing Basics: The Good Receiver
  • What do executives do, anyway? They do values.
  • Managing Basics: On Finishing Well
  • Wellness—the kind that actually works

Search Talking Story by Category

Talking Story Article Archives

  • July 2016 (1)
  • April 2012 (1)
  • March 2012 (6)
  • February 2012 (6)
  • January 2012 (10)
  • December 2011 (1)
  • November 2011 (4)
  • October 2011 (17)
  • September 2011 (8)
  • August 2011 (6)
  • July 2011 (2)
  • June 2011 (2)
  • May 2011 (4)
  • April 2011 (12)
  • March 2011 (16)
  • February 2011 (16)
  • January 2011 (23)
  • December 2010 (4)
  • November 2010 (1)
  • October 2010 (1)
  • September 2010 (4)
  • August 2010 (1)
  • July 2010 (4)
  • June 2010 (13)
  • May 2010 (17)
  • April 2010 (18)
  • March 2010 (13)
  • February 2010 (18)
  • January 2010 (16)
  • December 2009 (12)
  • November 2009 (15)
  • October 2009 (20)
  • September 2009 (20)
  • August 2009 (17)
  • July 2009 (16)
  • June 2009 (13)
  • May 2009 (3)
  • April 2009 (19)
  • March 2009 (18)
  • February 2009 (21)
  • January 2009 (26)
  • December 2008 (31)
  • November 2008 (19)
  • October 2008 (8)
  • September 2008 (11)
  • August 2008 (11)
  • July 2008 (10)
  • June 2008 (16)
  • May 2008 (1)
  • March 2008 (17)
  • February 2008 (24)
  • January 2008 (13)
  • December 2007 (10)
  • November 2007 (6)
  • July 2007 (27)
  • June 2007 (23)
  • May 2007 (13)
  • April 2007 (19)
  • March 2007 (17)
  • February 2007 (14)
  • January 2007 (15)
  • December 2006 (14)
  • November 2006 (16)
  • October 2006 (13)
  • September 2006 (29)
  • August 2006 (14)
  • July 2006 (19)
  • June 2006 (19)
  • May 2006 (12)
  • April 2006 (11)
  • March 2006 (14)
  • February 2006 (14)
  • January 2006 (7)
  • December 2005 (15)
  • November 2005 (27)
  • October 2005 (22)
  • September 2005 (38)
  • August 2005 (31)
  • July 2005 (34)
  • June 2005 (32)
  • May 2005 (27)
  • April 2005 (28)
  • March 2005 (36)
  • February 2005 (33)
  • January 2005 (35)
  • December 2004 (13)
  • November 2004 (24)
  • October 2004 (22)
  • September 2004 (28)
  • August 2004 (8)

Copyright © 2021 · Beautiful Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in