Better Meetings for Everyone

Volume 15, Issue 1
Publisher: Jana M. Kemp

1. Today’s Agenda: Decision Dishonesty
2. Seen Elsewhere
3. Tools & Tips
4. Meetings@Work

Decision Dishonesty
By Jana M. Kemp

Decision dishonesty includes waffling in indecision. It can also happen after making a clear decision, that is followed by a second clear decision, followed by a third decision that negates the second decision and is the opposite of the first decision can both be labeled as disrespectful at best and intentionally deceptive at worst. We’ve all run into decision-makers whom eventually we stopped trusting because of their indecision, changed answers, or outright dishonesty.

Decision making is a part of every day. Beginning with what to wear, which route to take to work, and following with what task to tackle first, what problems to solve today, and eventually leading to what energies to expend at all. So, when is changing your mind actually being dishonest and deceptive?

Changing your mind becomes dishonest at the point in which you begin to change your mind and don’t tell anyone likely to be affected by the changed position. It also becomes dishonest when a new decision is made and the person or people affected are not told.

Going a step further, changing one’s mind and not communicating clearly the change becomes deceptive when you withhold information for a period of time that allows you to participate with others who believe you are still working with them from your original position. All around creating distrust, causing harm to the work at hand, and destroying a team’s ability to work together in the future.

Careful decision making is part of each day’s commitment to building trust, accomplishing work, and living with integrity. Make each decision carefully. Mean what you say, say what your decisions are, and be honest. Enough said.

"Another Meeting? Good. Another Chance to Hear Myself Talk” by Jared Sandberg for The Wall Street Journal on March 11, 2008

NO! by Jana Kemp reviewed in Europe by Nadine Van DerLinden, of the newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws (over 1,000,000 copies published daily). www.hln.be

“Nothing’s going to get changed if you’re silent and if you’re willing to just put up with an environment that shouldn’t be. Perseverance is the only way that we’re ever going to change things. We have to just take a stand.” – Anocha Browne Sanders quoted in the April 2008 Essence magazine.

“Never feel you don’t have a space; you create your space.”- Brandy K. Cruthird

“If you’re not educated, you’re not empowered.” - Brandy K. Cruthird

Prepared Not Paranoid

by Jana Kemp and Doug Graves. SPRING 2008 release!

Ready to learn how to be prepared for great living every day rather than being paranoid? This book combines Jana Kemp’s 2002 police academy experience with veteran officer and police trainer Doug Graves’ and produces a readable book for keeping yourself and loved ones safe every day. www.amazon.com

Tools for Team Decision Making by Jana Kemp

Commanding Collaborators in Chief – are in demand! They master both coming to consensus and command-and-control decision making approaches because these decision tools are equal. Learn why in this new book (Praeger/Greenwood) that also introduces a tool for reaching consensus when a team or group is so stuck that chaos or indecision are the most likely results. To Buy, visit: www.greenwood.com or www.Amazon.com

By Jana M. Kemp and Ken Baker

If your organization is building or remodeling office space, this book provides the HRD2 Model for creating productive and creative workspaces that encourage employees to shine. Released in late 2006, this book includes models, surveys, good-example photos of buildings and resources to help human resource and training professionals positively impact the architecting and design of built spaces. To Buy – visit: www.greenwood.com or www.Amazon.com

Looking for a meeting facilitator, a conference speaker or a workshop presenter on the subjects of meetings, time management or decision-making? Then, visit www.JanaKemp.com for information on these services and conference presentations.

SPEAKERS LISTS

www.trainersandspeakers.com provides a roster of Pacific Northwest experts who can deliver keynotes, workshops and one-on-one coaching.

www.MVPSeminars.com provides a roster of speakers trainers for your organization and conferences. Jana Kemp and others are listed here as potential helps to your audiences.