Horizon Point Consulting

Author: Mary Ila Ward

What do teachers really want for Christmas?
It’s that time of year again. As you prepare to do your holiday shopping, don’t forget about the wonderful teachers in your life! With that being said, where do you begin? What do teachers really want for Christmas?

My sister is a teacher and I recall her saying once that teachers like to receive gifts that can be used up not items that sit around (think candy or other food items, lotion or hand soap, or candles).

In preparation for writing this blog, I surveyed a few of my teacher friends and got some great insight. Consider these 3 top picks while you’re making a list and checking it twice:
1. Gift cards (restaurants especially!) Darden gift cards can be used at several restaurants.
2. Movie tickets (You can’t go wrong with a Fandango gift card!)
3. Handmade gifts from students (Check out Teacher Gift Ideas on Pinterest for handmade & other ideas.)
Having been a homeroom mom more than once for my children’s classes, I remember always receiving a “favorites list” from PTO about the teacher. I always sent that out to all the parents so they were in the know on what the teacher liked if we weren’t planning a group gift. So, you might also consider contacting your homeroom mom if you have elementary/middle age kiddos. If not, just ask! Create your own “favorites form” to be completed by the teacher you are shopping for. Knowing what the teachers like always makes the job easier.

Happy shopping!
December 1, 2015
Count Your Problems and Be Thankful

An employee of yours is late for the third time this week; you know you are going to have to have a discussion with him. Your company has had a stellar year. Now you’re worried about what size check you are going to have stroke to Uncle Sam come April 15th. A customer calls mad because their name was spelled wrong on a letter you sent to them. You realized you sent a marketing piece to print containing incorrect numbers. To top it all, your computer crashed and, ouch, you don’t have your files backed up.

Leaders deal with problems day in and day out and better yet, we’re responsible for fixing them. The buck stops with us.

Yet good leaders realize that most of the problems that they deal with are of the fancy variety (as Editor and Chief of Southern Living, Lindsay Bierman describes in his November issue letter). No one is dying; no one has maliciously been harmed.

This doesn’t negate the fact that the problems still have to be handled and can be stressful to deal with, but it is the realization or perspective that most of our problems are of the first world variety means that we are better equipped to handle them in a proactive and effective manner.

During this week and month of thankfulness, count your problems, realizing most of them are of the fancy variety, and give thanks.

November 24, 2015
Scholarship Search – Where do I begin?

Whether you are a freshman in high school or closing in on your junior year, scholarship searching should be at the top of your to-do list. Paying for college is expensive and scholarships are a great way to help soften the financial blow for students and parents.

Here are a 7 few tips to help you get started:

1. Keep track of your high school activities. Well-rounded students are favored when scholarship boards are sifting through hundreds or thousands of applications. If you aren’t already, get involved! Join clubs in school, volunteer in your community and/or get a part-time job. These will all be helpful when preparing for scholarships (and life).

2. Develop a master essay for ease of applying for several scholarships. Check out How to Write a Killer College Application and/or Scholarship Essay.

3. Proofread and have others proof your essay and application.

4. Check with your parents’ employers. Often times, employers offer scholarships for children of their employees.

5. Utilize free scholarship search sites. Fastweb and Unigo are a couple of good ones.

6. Check with your high school counselor for ideas on scholarships that would be a good fit for you.

7. Don’t miss the deadline! Be sure you are aware of due dates for applications. This is crucial. You don’t want to waste your time applying if you have already missed the cut off.

In addition to following these tips, check out these are helpful articles on scholarship searching:

Where to Find College Scholarships

10 Tips for Finding College Scholarships

12 Tips on Winning Scholarships

November 17, 2015
A personal account of performance management that works… and doesn’t

My take on performance management is quite different than it was 10 years ago. I once worked for a company that basically rewarded all employees for their continued employment, and performance was not really taken into consideration when we all received a 5% raise. Regardless of how fabulous of a job I was doing or how not-so-fabulous my co-worker in the cubicle over was doing, we both received the same reward. This was not motivating me to be a better employee nor was it motivating for my mediocre colleague.

Fast forward well over a decade. Not only has the world of work changed in many ways, so has my career and thoughts on performance management. As I reflect on this past year with Horizon Point Consulting, I think about what has been motivating. What have I enjoyed? What have I really not enjoyed? As I’m asked to reflect on these things in preparation for plans for another year with HPC, I’m so very thankful for an employer who seeks my input and is genuinely concerned about how I see my career moving and my ideas for furthering our mission.

First, I will say, my personality is that of a planner and one that needs plenty of notice concerning a change. When I think about what has been most stressful this year, I would have to say it was my very first week on the job. I was given a project that involved computer codes and website administration. I thought, what have I gotten myself into? I was stressed to the max to say the least, but I completed the project and am thankful for the learning opportunity it provided. I’m also thankful for an employer who asked me how I liked working on this and other work concerning marketing and website management. When I shared how stressful it was for me and that it just wasn’t what I felt was the best use of my time where my strengths are concerned, my employer listened and began thinking of better ways to get those projects done.

I’ve learned so much this past year. The ability to select what professional development I wanted to do was wonderful. I’ve received three credentials and am working on completing a course to be an instructor for one of the courses we offer. All of this was so rewarding.

I’ve also been motivated by the type of work I get to do. I especially love the program development and one-on-one coaching I do. And, of course the commissions that come along with some of the projects are always motivating.

In the end, what matters most is that I have career that I love and have the flexibility to get the work done when it best fits my schedule. That’s huge for a mom of two and allows me to do my best to live out my mission statement:

I will strive daily to present the best version of myself to clients, family, friends and others. I will work to empower others and help them in their journey to lead better lives.

What are your thoughts on performance management? Are they in line with how your current employer sees performance management?

October 27, 2015
How Simulated Work Environments Can Drive Performance in the Classroom, and Ultimately the Workplace
Continuing with our theme this month, we wanted to reflect on performance management in another arena – the classroom. After all, students are future employees and shouldn’t performance management in the classroom prepare them for performance management in their future careers?

First, I want to share a thought from a local employer when asked about industry needs concerning current and potential programs that are developing the future workforce. The quote reads:

“While there appears to be attention given to communication and employability (skills), these areas remain our greatest problem. We are looking for hard working individuals with a strong work ethic that do not have to be reminded of the basics, like showing up for work on time.”

With that in mind, why not consider simulated work environments in school classrooms? Creative Teaching Site shares the following concerning simulations in the classroom:
- They simulate an activity that is “real”, and so it can be said that they are “virtually real”. They simulate the activity so well that there is little difference between the simulated environment and the real one, and the same kind of learning experience can take place.
- They are “hands-on”, involving students so they become participants, not mere listeners or observers. Students learn better from their own experiences than having others’ experiences related to them.
- They are motivators for learning. Student involvement in the activity is so deep that interest in learning more about the activity or its subject matter develops.
- They are tailored to the student. When simulations are designed specifically for their audience, they can take developmental requirements into consideration.
- They are inspirational. Student input is welcome and activities are designed to encourage students to enhance the activity by contributing their own ideas.
- They are developmentally valid. Simulations take into account the students’ developmental level.
- They are empowering. Students take on responsible roles, find ways to succeed, and develop problem-solving tools as a result of the interaction.
I love that the last bullet points out that students take on responsible roles. This ties back in to the concern voiced in the quote from our employer mentioned earlier. When students are empowered to make decisions and take on responsibility, they are becoming prepared for their future roles as employees.

What are your thoughts on simulated work environments in the classroom?
October 27, 2015