ArLyne's Diamonds

Budget cutbacks

noreply@blogger.com (ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 07:45:00 +0000

Creativity and Innovation

noreply@blogger.com (ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 03:45:00 +0000

I recently attended the SV Forum Conference on Innovation and it reminded me of all the research I did with C level executives asking them where they wanted creativity in their orgnaizations, where they got it, what got in the way, and what processes were in place to make sure that good people and good ideas "bubbled up."

It was interesting to learn that outside of research and development labs, little is done to foster and harness creativity in the workplace.

What are some of your strategies?

Property Rights - Are Yours about to be lost?

noreply@blogger.com (ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.) — Sun, 25 May 2008 06:16:00 +0000

Are you aware that your rights to your privat property are being eroded day by day? Did you know that "redevelopment" can decide to consider you a blight area at whim and condemn your property?
Do you realize that mom and pop shops are being torn down to make room for "modernization" which means other retailers that are more "acceptable" to the local government decision makers?

Apathy is what allows it to happen. Oh well, you say, I say, we say,it's not happening to me, sowhy concern myself. Why? Because you - and me - might be next.

Performance Appraisal - or Kindergarten Report Card

noreply@blogger.com (ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.) — Fri, 02 May 2008 06:12:00 +0000

Does your firm have a generic performance appraisal used throughout to conduct the mandatory once a year requirement? If so, do you find it helpful? Most managers/directors with whom I speak, do not. They reluctantly take the time to fill out the form, but neither they, nor the employees they review, find it helpful.

Wouldn't you like a performance appraisal system that helps you - and the people who report to you - create goals, objectives, standards, and methods of calibrating success?

Wouldn't you like to have different forms for different types of workers?

If so, contact me..... 408-554-0110

Losing our National Identity

noreply@blogger.com (ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:16:00 +0000

Listening to a speech about European countries losing therir national identity - and Islamic fundamentalism taking over in many of these countries, I got to thinking...

We love being a mosaic, melting pot, multicultural country - but are we at risk for also going too far? Is the reluctance we have to ask people to Americanize losing our core values, our edge, our "Americaness"?

My grandpzrents and their peers came to this country from all over Europe - from Russia, Poland, Yugoslavia, Austria, Germany, Ireland, Italy, etc. They proud with them proud national heritages AND the strong desire to beome Americans (without losing their love or pride in their original nationalities. They learned the language. They learned the laws. They learned the culture. They learned the way of dressing. They went to American schools. They took citizenship classes and proudly became citizens of these United States.

What has happeend? What can we do about it?

In Israel, newcomers planning to tlive there are invited into half way houses to leran the language, rules of the road, culture, laws, etc. Once they are able to be citizens and working (or school going) members of the community, they leave the protection of the half way house and go on to create their own lives and professions at Israelis.

We'd like to think we are all independent free thinking people who are quite capable of creating our own culture and rules - indeed some of my friends are anarchists, believing that there is no reason for laws or centralized government at all.

I disagree. I am firmly convincedf that most people need to fit into an externally created structure. That's why religion is so popular around the world. When the structure is not readily available to them they seek it out and become easy prey for cults (we've all seen it happen) and extremist strident views - such as radical islamic fundamentalists.

So, what are our core values? How can we once again re-introduce them into our culture - while at the same time respecting the differences of other people?

What are your ideas?

People are chess pieces, not checkers

noreply@blogger.com (ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:57:00 +0000

You cannot fit the person to the job - you must fit the job to the person.

Case in point: My bank was purchased by Wells Fargo and they absorbed many of the old bank's employees into their branches BUT - they treated people like checker pieces instead of chess pieces.

For example, the former bank manager, a warm, friendly, patient and outgoing woman was given a back-room supervisory position instead of putting her out front as a branch manager where she excelled.

A woman who:
- didn't speak English well
- had limited comprehension
- could not multi-taks
- learned new things very slowly
Was put on a Business Services desk which requires a wide range of knowledge, flexibility and excellent communication skills.

Assuming that years of service was the criterion, people were not evaluated for personality, solf-skills, or the ability to handle different types of situations.

I find this lack of consideration is all too common - the most important variables in considering where to place a person if often overlooked because they are being evaluated on
- years of experience
- academic degree
- typing speed
- # of computer programs they've learne, etc.

We need to look at people as chess pieces and see how they move before placing them randomly on the board.

Liberty - for all

noreply@blogger.com (ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:45:00 +0000

I recently attended a political event. The keynote speaker emphasized that we were the party of liberty - libertarian - republican - Lincoln - free the slaves - equality for all - free choice - "In liberty and justice for all."

Prior to the keynote speech, someone came up and asked the audience to sign a petition. He was adament in his belief that we should stop any possibility of gay marriage. In his strident and repeated talk, he talked about being a good Christian - with Christian values. I always thought Christian values included tolerance and kindness.

I was offended for several reasons, not the least of which is because the speaker was Jewish, there were many Jews (including me) in the audience and this guy kept talking about "Christian values".

Doesn't the notion of liberty for all mean tolerance and acceptance of people who believe differently from us? Doesn't that include a gay couple's right to marry?

I can understand the church, temple, or mosque refusing to marry anyone they don't choose to marry. That's ok...but the government?

The legal status of marriage is for the protection of health, insurance, financial rights, right to inherit, etc. It's a business contract for heaven's sakes. Why deny gays this right?

Didn't our ancestors take the same offense position about inter-religion and inter-racial marriage? Haven't we gone far beyond this????

While he was spouting forth his beliefs - I found myself wondering why he, and others signing his petiion, were so afraid. It takes a lot of fear and energy to actually create and promote a petition. It's one thing to have a private opinion - but to go these lenghts? What's the fear?

Chicken Little - The Sky is Falling Down

noreply@blogger.com (ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 07:56:00 +0000

Sycophant

noreply@blogger.com (ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.) — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 20:41:00 +0000

Webster defines a sycophant as someone who is a self-seeking servile flatterer, or a fawning parasite. When executives surround themselves with "yes" men and women, that's who they are attracting.

When people are so sensitive to anyone disagreeing with them, they surround themselves with people who flatter and please. This is dangerous for them as individuals and especially dangerous for the organizations they lead/manage.

If you have to be the center of attention, the "queen" or "king" or "prince" or "princess" you never assume an adult role and responsibility for the organization you serve - or anything else you are doing with your life.

Sycophants are the one's who designed the new clothes for the emperor.....

Diversity doesn't seem to include strong women!

noreply@blogger.com (ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.) — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 20:30:00 +0000

When reading the San Jose Mercury's account of the evidence against Colleen Wilcox, it would appear that her assertive strong and perfectionistic tendencies were what got her in trouble. Have we gone so far in political correctness that only the kissy sweet survive?

If so, I'm in deep trouble. I say what I believe and take stances. I expect the people with whom I work to do what they have committed to do - and to do it well in a timely manner. I expect the same of myself as well.

As a New Yorker, I know I can come across as "strong" and that is sometimes intimidating to some people - especially those who have been raised to fear any disagreement at all. BUT, does that make me wrong, or make them a little too thin skinned?

If we honor and accept diversity, can't we also respect and accept those who are strong, outgoing and direct?

Call Center Response done Correctly

noreply@blogger.com (ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.) — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 17:52:00 +0000

Thank you Joy at Eastman kODAk. As i told both you and your supervisor Lie, having you help me on the phone was pure pleasure. You did everything correctly, in a timely, intelligent and courteous manner. Among all the good things:

*** You listened to me before asking me your qualifying questions.
*** You understood what I was asking, and as a well trained active listener, you repeated back to me in your own words what you understood me to say.
*** When I gave you information, you double-checked to make sure you had it accuratley - e.g. the spelling of my name, my model number, etc.
*** You gave me correct and appropriate information to solve my problem without forcing me to go through what is usually an unnecessary protocol demanded by other call centers.

Everyone - this is the way it should be done!

To All Business Owners of Any Size

noreply@blogger.com (ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.) — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:31:00 +0000

It seems to me that people need to learn how to protect themselves better in the workplace (and every place else, I guess) There are some significant pieces to it:

Attorneys typically are the ones offering sexual harassment training - and they use scare tactics, are pedantic and boring and nobody really pays attention. They don't do a good job about explaining people's sensitivities and how to respect them.

Today, because everyone is trying to save money, they are apt to use a cheap on-line training program - also relatively worthless in really dealing with the issues.

The people investigating are not neutral. They are looking for evidence to support their client's case. They are not trained in conducting neutral investigations.

There are no standards, no statute of limitations, or anything else that would protect CEOs and other excutives from being condemned.

The law mandates that firms with over 50 employees conduct training. I firmly believe the time has come to train everyone that has even one employee - or one customer.

OK - so you know where I'm going with this - I'd like to offer a group training SOON to members of smaller associations - or small businesses.

May we talk about this??????

Harrassment or Witch Hunt?

noreply@blogger.com (ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.) — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 01:15:00 +0000

As some of you might recall, many years ago I was one of the whistle blowers against the false child sexual abuse industry. At that time there were many so-called evaluators that would over-zealously find molest at the slightest hunch. Things like a little child's drawing of the sun with rays radiating out of it was interpreted by these zealots as a penis with hair. Others clearly fabricated evidence because there was lots of money to be gained from treating children who were found to be the victim's of violent crimes. I went against them - and was practifally burned at the stake because of it.

Today, I am taking on the silliness of some of the findings of harassment recently reported in the San Jose Mercury. The allegations were that a comment or two was made over a period of years or a woman manager had a temper and occasionally yelled.

We wanted to protect vulnerable women and men who were being bullied and exploited. That was the intent of the laws about sexual harassment. We wanted to protect the more fragile and conservative among us and so created the concept of a hostile work environment - so that all could feel psychologically safe.

Look at what's happening now! Have we gotten out of control? Are we suggesting that the world has to work in a "hot house" environment where no emotion, no fun, no frivolity can ever occur? Are we suggesting that an expletive once in a blue moon creates so hostile an environment that people ought to lose their jobs because of it?

Or, has a new industry developed? Do we now have a cadre of investigators who make their money by finding reasons to get someone fired?

Let's get sensible. A hostile work environment is one in which a "reasonable person" would be uncomfortable. The legal standard is about reasonable-ness - not just finding that once in a long while someone did something mildly inappropriate.

We are not pure. None of us is perfect. We all slip once in a while - how can we fire someone for such minor infractions?

Am I going to be burned at the stake again - for now taking this one on?

Without an I there is no team

noreply@blogger.com (ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.) — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 03:27:00 +0000

Have you heard the expression "There is no I in team"? It's a bad slogan. It is a bunch of "I"s that make up a team. If individusals didn't count for something, than where's the desire, motivation, rewards for trying, etc.? Why bother. IfI am not important as an individual, if I am only one small cog in a big wheel - as unfortunately many people believe themselves to be - why bother - why try - why not just go through the motions?

It is our individuality, our egos, our desires to succeed and to be curious and to find and try new things that motivates us to be creative and to perform well.

There are many "I"s working cooperatively in a great team.

About to be trapped

noreply@blogger.com (ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.) — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 09:26:00 +0000

What safety. Once the door comes down, the enemies cannot come in.

Or

What a horrible feeling it must have been - to walk through that gate and know that the door was going to come down - and trap you inside.

Emotions, according to Nathaniel Branden, are "instantaneous psychosomatic responses to value judgments."

In other words, what you experienced before will determine your reaction to a new event.

If you belong inside the castle, the door coming down provides safety. If you are being imprisoned within it - as in The Tower of London - that same door coming down, portends doom.

A Picture is worth a thousand words, they say

noreply@blogger.com (ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.) — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 01:35:00 +0000

Call Center Hell

noreply@blogger.com (ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.) — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 19:36:00 +0000

I just wasted an entire morning trying to resolve two simple problems - that should have taken about five minutes each. The first one wasn't too bad, only 20 minutes of hold, disconnect, and then finally the right person - who was a manager and really helpful. That was with Iron Mountain, the paper files storage company.

The second though made me crazed. I was repeatedly transferred, left on hold, and then the call was dropped and I had to dial again. I was transferred to six (yes 6) different agents, all of whom were "the wrong person to help me" and all I wanted was to talk with the billing department. I was on the phone with Office Depot's call center hell for over 45 minutes. Eventually I was connected to a billing clerk named Christine. I told her what I wanted. She promised to fax it to me .... and she faxed me only one small piece of the itemsized statement i requested./

Call centers need to clean up their act. Hiring cheap labor who don't liten well, only know how to read scripts, and never have enough information to really help you, costs these companies oodles of money in the long run. It costs them customers too.

Call center agents who tell you "not my department" or "I can't access that information, it requires another department" leave the caller frustrated. There needs to be cross-training and access to a wider range of computerized information.

Furthermore, if they have to transfer you - after all you've already gone through hold ad button pressing hel before getting to them - they should get you a LIVE human being with an IQ over 100, who can actually help you.

Please please please - let's hire better and train better - customers on this end are so frustrated.

The Making for Peace

noreply@blogger.com (ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.) — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 05:32:00 +0000

Tonight the President announced that we are staying in Iraq for a while - and lot's of my friends have exclaimed that he is an idiot and we should pull our troops out immediately. I disagree. Once we decided to enter the fight we should stay and win and help them form a working democracy.

No one wants war. No wants to see human lives wasted. But peace does not come about by wishful thinking. Peaceful nations - those that trade and cooperate - have evolved over time. I firmly believe that we can achieve world-wide peace when what we do is help other nations become free and economically advantaged. The middle class has much too lose in a war and much more to gain in peace time.

I'm old enough to remember that this is the recurrance of the same seesaw we've ridden about all other wars. We get in for what at the time is considered good reasons and then there is a hue and cry because of the costs - the costs in lives, emotions, and money. There are those who want to quit before the job is done.

I don't know what wars we should have gotten into and which we should have left alone - and that's not the discuss I want to have here. My main thought is to talk about what it takes to bring about peace.

Let's work for peace - but not go belly-up. Let's educate, set good examples, bring different groups of people together so they can learn about each other and stop hating due to prejudice, let's help build constitutional systems, create sustainable economies and be good neighbors.

And, most of all let's stop polarizing within the United States as badly as we've been doing lately - let's lay down our invective towards those in in "the other party" and start cooperating again as one team with somewhat different ideas from time to time.

Steve believes in revolution. My vote is for evolution with very active involvement.

Happy New Year

noreply@blogger.com (ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.) — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 05:41:00 +0000

On the eve of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashonah, I wish you all a happy, healthy, and wealthy New Year. As I told some of my friends and family, I've made a commitment to keeping this blog lively - and want your comments and ideas to add to it. For now, though, I think I am brain dead. It's been a long day and tomorrow, which starts early will be filled with doctor appointments - UGH.

It is the tradition of cleaning house, of mending fences, of forgiving self and friends. It is a time to be kind, thoughtful and generous to self and others. It's a starting over - a new leaf - a new beginning - and hopefully one that will make each of us a better person.

I wish you and youts a Shana Tova - Happy New Year

Harry Potter Fans take note

noreply@blogger.com (ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.) — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 22:12:00 +0000

Hi everyone - I couldn't resist sharing this picture with you. It was taken at midnight at King's Cross in London, Platform 9 3/4. Note that we are almost through, about to board the train for Hogwart's. Don't you wish you could join us there?

Evolution or Revolution

noreply@blogger.com (ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.) — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 05:44:00 +0000

An on-going argument among Objectivists is whether change should be allowed to happen by evolution - or whether revolution is not only required, but is the only moral alternative.

I believe in evolution. To be trite, you move mountains one pebble at a time. As I look at the changes in politics, philosophy, and economics, just in my lifetime, I see thousands of examples of incremental changes that over time became a monumental change in the manner in which we think and act.

When younger, existentialism was the belief most prevelant among the college set. Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism - which said reality was knowable and that A is A changed that belief and now her views are commonly accepted.

I raise this point because we are in an election year and not one of the candidates perfectly fits my beliefs. Yet, I am actively and strongly supporting one - one who comes the closest - even though he is not perfect.

Perhaps we did need revolutions from time to time - in the founding of our country, during the civil war, and even the civil rights movement - but this strategy should be employed when all attempts at persuasion and small changes growing into big ones have failed.

What are your views?

Innocent Until Proven Guilty

noreply@blogger.com (ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.) — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 05:36:00 +0000

You'd think this was a new concept - but it is how our body of law has been created. Yet, over and over again I see examples of the presumption of guilt.

Investigators looking only to confirm the point of view that the person alleged to have done something wrong is indeed guilty - ignoring all information that would provide an alternative point of view.
Homeowner's associations, particularly mine, who listen to a complaint and without investigating it, send a sanctioning notice to the persoin being complained about.
People on jury's saying "I know he is guilty, because the case wouldn't have gotten this far if he was not guilty."
A willingness - maybe even an eagerness - to listen to bad things about others and automatically assume they are true - yet on the other hand we look for the feet of clay for anyone held up as a hero - or good guy.

When I testified in court years ago, the judges I knew tried to stay neutral. When I teach alternative dispute resolution, investigations of allegations, prevention of sexual harassment and discrimination, and other similar courses, I repeat over and over again "The Tendency is to believe the first person who comes into your office. You must resist that tendency".

Can we please go back to an American society wherein we believe person to be innocent until proven guilty - and not jump to unjustified conclusions?

Friendships

noreply@blogger.com (ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.) — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 07:45:00 +0000

Haven't you found that the making and keeping of friends is critically important to your well being as well as to those you love? I know that I cherish my friendships. Some of them go back to kindergarten days (Robert) others slightly later (Joy) and some from Junior High and High School. Most of those friends are now retired and living on the East Coast - especially in Florida, so as much as I love them and enjoy being with them, I don't get to see them often enough.

I seem to have lost most of my friends from my Los Angeles days - I don't know why - but everyone once in while I think about Ernie and Rick. Today, I saw a re-run of Queer Eyes for the Straight Guy and they featured THE Eames Chair. It reminded me of Sheldon and how he used to save that chair for me and fuss over me in it. Jim is still living in the Los Angeles, and I heard from him some months ago - but he really doesn't stay in touch.

Georg seems to have disappeared since he and Tyne broke up. I miss his friendship a lot.

Paula has been my close friend since 1979 and I cherish my time with her. She's added tremendously to the pleasure of her company by sharing her daughter Crystal (now 10) with me. I love the weekends when they come in from Modesto - just wish they happened more often.

New friendships are special too. I'm enjoying my time with so many people that are recent friends. Symphony, theater and Ballet with Bonnie and Marv are always special, as is time with Lynn at Ballet and theater. The folk at SVO are always good company and I particularly enjoy my times with Tim and Jeannie. I'm also getting to know Alan a lot better.

Lately, I've been walking in the evening with Edie. Getting to know her better is also pure pleasure. She's bright, interesting and very upbeat.

When i was a child, first, second or third grade, I think, I was in a play about Pandora's Box. My role was as "Friendship" and I recited a poem, by anonymous that went something like this:

If nobody smiled

and nobody cheered

and nobody helped us along

If every man looked after himself

and the good things all went to the storng.

If nobody ared just a little for you

and nobody thought about me

And we fought alone in the battle of life

what a dreary old world it would be.

Life is sweet because of th friends we have made

and the things in common we share

We want to live on, not just for ourselves

but because of the people who care.

It's living and doing for somebody else

on which all life's splendor depends

And the joy of the words when you hav summed them all up

is in the making and keeping of friends.

Frankly, I don't agree with all of it - I take exception to the statement "it's living and doing for somebody else ... etc." but I like the overall sentiment. I also think I've forgotten a portion of it - but you know it was many many years ago when I had to memorize and recite it.

What does friendship mean to you?

Cosntructive Confrontation

noreply@blogger.com (ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.) — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 01:22:00 +0000

This is a phrase Andy Grove used at Intel. Coming from an East European Jewish background, it comes from the manner in which Torah and Talmud are studied. It allows for the Jewish student to question, argue, offer divergent points of view. The belief is that not only does this style of learning teach you to think for yourself, it also allows for new perspectives.

We seem to be able to disagree with out political leaders - we are especially good at taking on our Presidents, but are chastised when we disagree with friends, relatives or neighbors. In our zeal to "go along to get along" we agree with decisions that are just plain wrong.

We even agree with decisions that hurt us - decrease our property values, increase our utilities bills, etc. And, those of us who dare - yes, dare - to question, are called malcontents who don't recognize how much our board are doing for us. Guess you realize by now, I'm having a disagreement with the board of my townhouse complex.

What have you learned about disagreement? Can you respectfully do it without losing the relationships? I hope so. I really hope so.

Re-activating my blog

noreply@blogger.com (ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.) — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 01:18:00 +0000

Since I re-started my newsletter last year, I forgot to post to my blog. Sorry. I am going to start again - and hope you all "tune in" and share your ideas with me.

My blog is intended as commentary far more personal than that of my newsletter - which is designed for my professional contacts. Here, with your help, we can share some ideas about contemporary issues.

My latest - why can't people disagree with each other about issues without feeling the need to withdraw from a friendship?

I had some lovely friends here in my complex - they were originally from South Africa and believed that disagreement led to heavy confrontation - and possibly violence. Consequently, they avoided what they thought of as "confrontation" and I see as mild disagreement. Too bad.

I'm going to write more about this - under a different heading.