Scanlon May 2006 E-zine

Greetings!

The Scanlon Conference was a wonderful opportunity to network and to learn about Servant Leadership. Our thanks to the presenters and volunteers whose support made it possible. In this E-Zine we share tools for bringing the conference message home. We also introduce two new features...get to know a member and get to know a product/service. Finally we share information on a new book ...Results Rule!...by Scanlon friend Randy Pennington that includes information on Scanlon Network member SGS Tool Company.



Lead By Serving
Servant Leadership-leading by serving to encourage collaboration, trust, foresight, listening and the use of power and empowerment among employees-was the theme of Scanlon’s Annual Conference held in Kalamazoo, MI May 1-3.

Over 240 people attended to experience keynote speakers, workshops, a welcome reception, member exhibits, awards ceremony and company tours.

“You always walk away from the Scanlon Annual Conference with renewed energy and an attitude that anything is possible,” said Dennis Morajda, Vice President, Performance Development International, Inc. and third time conference attendee.

“I invited a guest to this year’s conference. He said he learned a great deal of valuable information and was glad he took the time to attend,” said Morajda. “My guest found it beneficial being exposed to the Scanlon Principles and Processes as well as the Scanlon Roadmap to creating a High Performance organization.”

Morajda felt that the speech given by Myron Marsh, President/CEO of Thomson-Shore, Inc. and 2006 Scanlon Stewardship Award recipient that focused on his life and work philosophies to be inspirational. He also enjoyed LTC Blair Tiger’s presentation on Servant Leadership in the US Army.

Morajda said that attendees seemed receptive to the keynote speakers and various breakout sessions. Other conference highlights for Morajda were learning more about Watermark Credit Union’s recent implementation of their E.P.I.C. Scanlon Plan also and Landscape Form’s QUEST program that allows leadership and employees to maintain a fun and open company culture.

Servant Leadership Support Materials The Network will send every company delegation a CD containing the Conference workshop handouts, and servant leadership support materials. The Servant Leadership 360 degree assessment is available at www.scanlonnet.org. The Network also has purchased several videos on Servant Leadership that members may borrow. Call the Office for titles and availability. For those who missed our conference or who want more opportunities to learn about Servant Leadership, the largest conference on Servant Leadership hosted by the Greenleaf Center will occur June 1-2 in Indianapolis. Click the link below to learn more.

To learn more about the Greenleaf Conference on Servant Leadership....



SGS Tool Company Featured in Results Rule!
Randy Pennington, has just completed Results Rule! Randy was the keynote speaker at the 1995 Scanlon conference on Integrity and is a friend of the Scanlon Network. Results Rule is based on Randy Pennington's more than 20 years of experience helping organizations lead and perform more effectively. Results Rule! shows how to create a corporate culture that sets you apart in the hearts and minds of your marketplace.

When Randy was looking for companies that had cultures that were great examples of accountability he contacted the Scanlon Leadership Network...which led to an introduction for Randy to study SGS Tool Company and include them in his latest book.

Howard Putnam, former CEO, of Southwest Airlines writes, "Results Rule! delivers practical ideas that will keep your organization on course for success in a competitive marketplace. Randy Pennington offers ideas that work if you are on the front-line or in the executive suite. He has nailed the essence and importance of culture.”

To learn more about Results Rule....



Get To Know A Scanlon Service-Developing Listening Skills
The Scanlon Leadership Network recognizes that in today’s society organizational members need to possess strong communication skills. The Network offers a one-day program titled “Developing Listening Skills” created especially for members, complete with proven tools and techniques as well as research based strategies and approaches to develop the skill of listening.

“This is one of the many wonderful tools offered to Scanlon Leadership Network members and has been in use for approximately 10 years,” said Paul Davis, President, Scanlon Leadership Network. “The Developing Listening Skills program offers beneficial assessments and applications that are able to be taken back and applied directly to the organization.”

Participants in this program will experience small group discussion, lecturettes, self-assessment, experimental activities, demonstrations, result testing, behavioral modeling, practice of key actions and application planning. The course covers areas such as exploration into the value of listening for mastering challenges, examination of barriers to the listening process along with ways to overcome them, and the six principles of the Strategic Thought Process to increase listening power.

The research based strategies and approaches that are part of Developing Listening Skills are supported by both Tom Peters, author of Passion for Excellence and William Ury, who studied strategies of the world’s most successful negotiators for the Harvard Negotiation Project.

Employees of Thomson-Shore had a positive experience participating in the Developing Listening Skills Course at TG Fluids in Brighton, MI.

“Communication within an organization is something that always has room for improvement. We found the course to be rewarding and something that will be beneficial to Thomson-Shore employees as well,” said Lori Minnick, HR Manager, Thomson-Shore, Inc. “It’s nice to have free and easily accessible services such as the Listening Skills course by being a Scanlon member.”


If you would like to obtain the Developing Listening Skills program, members may download it from the members-only area of the website. Nonmembers may purchase the Listening Skills program from the Scanlon store at http://www.scanlonleader.org
Link to the Scanlon Web Site.




Get To Know A Member- A. Raymond, Inc.



A. Raymond, Inc. is a manufacturer and supplier of plastic and metal clip fasteners to the automotive industry and has been involved with the Scanlon Leadership Network for approximately three and a half years.

Located in Rochester Hills, MI, A. Raymond, Inc. is the North American subsidiary of A. Raymond, SCS, a French family owned company that recently celebrated 140 years as a specialty fastener manufacturer. A. Raymond, SCS is managed today by a fifth generation Raymond family member.

“The family culture exists through out all of the 14 worldwide subsidiaries. Many of the Raymond practices mirror those of the Scanlon Principles,” said Dave Nenno, President and CEO of A. Raymond, Inc.

“Being involved with Scanlon has given A. Raymond, Inc. the opportunity to network with companies who share similar business and management philosophies.

“In 2003 A. Raymond, Inc. utilized the Scanlon employee survey to gain a better understanding of how employees viewed the management team, their involvement in the decision making process, wages and benefits, training and customer relationships,” said Nenno. “The results of the survey allowed a better focus to be taken on the areas that ranked below average. Employees retook the survey in 2005 and A. Raymond, Inc.’s results ranked within the top three of all Scanlon companies.


“In 2006 we plan to modify a gain sharing plan as well as implement a Scanlon plan within the next two years,” said Nenno.
To learn more about ARaymond....