First Annual Women's Leadership Retreat
"Under the Tucson Sun"

I am not one to brag, unless it's about my husband, children, grandchildren, or where I live. Right now, I'd like to brag about where I live - Tucson, Arizona. Yes, it's hot in the summer, but it's a "dry heat." Seriously though, Tucson is a very beautiful and unique spot. In fact, it is a perfect location for like-minded women to come together to share, learn from each other and reenergize.

Over the years, I have been asked by many of you to consider having a women's retreat. I think it's a great idea and I am now ready to put something together. Based on the fact that men and women often see things differently, an all-women retreat would let female leaders discuss issues that might not come up in a coed setting. Also, women often learn differently than men and are more inclined to want visuals and to share personal anecdotes about failures as well as successes. This aspect of a women-only event - with the privacy and confidence implied - would be different than mixed gender forums.

Within this forum there will be a blend of issues covering such topics as communication, management and leadership skills, along with health and well-being. The entire program would be designed to give women more confidence and knowledge in balancing their personal lives and creating more success in their business lives.

I am planning this retreat to not only be educational, but relaxing, a little decadent and a whole lot of fun. We will have many options to choose from including superb dining, drinks and conversations by the pool, golf, full-service spa treatments, and much pampering.

The date is tentatively scheduled for mid-September, 2004, and will take place at one of our luxury resorts here in Tucson. All the details will be finalized once I get your input. So, if you have any desire to treat yourself "under the Tucson sun", please click to let us know if you are interested in participating. (This does not obligate you in any way.)

I look forward to seeing you in September!

Mind Your Manners In Business

For the ninth consecutive year, etiquette expert Marjabelle Young Stewart has named Charleston, South Carolina, the best-mannered city in America. Stewart cited Charleston's friendly, wholesome, and kind residents as the reason for the city's lofty reputation.

Good manners and proper business etiquette also can improve relations with your customers and employees. Here we present some Southern tips to get you started.

Please try the following suggestions:

Excerpted from South Carolina Employment Law Letter, written by attorneys at McNair Law Firm, P.A.

Random Drug Testing Question

Dear Debra,

I am seeking information concerning random drug testing. I do not have a policy in place, but suspect it is occurring "after lunch." It would be helpful if The Communicator could address this issue. What are the steps required by law prior to and during implementing this testing.

Thank you!
Suspicious in MN

 

Dear Suspicious,

If you chose to implement a drug testing policy, I would suggest you develop your policy and have it reviewed legally for both federal and state compliance. I will send you a document which was posted on the Society for Human Resource Management website. This is a white paper that discusses the nature of drug testing, a release form that may be helpful and a proposed company policy. The information should help you shape that policy, but remember each state has different rules.

Once you are ready, I would provide notification to all employees that that policy will be included in the updated employee manual and will become effective at a designated future date. I would recommend that you also obtain a written acknowledgment from all of the employees that they have read and understand the new policy.

If you follow these steps, you should be OK legally to implement your policy. Then of course you have the issue of following through on the consequences once you detect a problem.

Good luck!
Debra

If anyone reading this would like a copy of the white paper mentioned above, you will need to email your request directly to shari@tgassociates.com.
You must provide us with your name, your company name and all contact information. Thank you!

Training Has Direct Impact on the Bottom Line

Top leaders understand that the only way to improve organizational performance is to improve their people." When you invest in your employees, it will impact your bottom line," said Amy Lane, director of the office of Corporate and Community Services at Kent State University's Start Campus. "Employees who receive training have higher morale and tend to stay with an organization. And there is also a link between satisfied employees and satisfied customers."

So why is it that when financial decision-makers review the books in search of expendable expenditures, one line item always seems vulnerable - employee training? Downtimes are the worst times to cut training and the perfect time to increase training. This is the time to prepare for the future so when the economy turns around, you can hit the ground running.

 

Here are a few suggestions to help organizations keep up their training efforts and still control costs:

The number one reason most top talents join an organization is the opportunity for professional and personal growth. Where organizations are not investing in their people, I am witnessing good employees leaving to take jobs where they will have an opportunity to learn and develop new skills. If you are not teaching them, but they want to learn, they will leave you for greener pastures.

Training should no longer be thought of as a business luxury. Training is something you need to do in order to differentiate yourselves from the competition. This is what will have a direct impact on the bottom line.

A free article "Training is Vital for business Success"

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"Organizational improvement is impossible with unimproved people."
- Wayne Saunders, former executive, Burger King