President’s Message – April 2022
My favorite 2022 Pacific Regional Conference (PRC) speaker, Heather Polivka, is coming to our Chapter to present our virtual April Education Program: “Marketing & HR: Bosom Buddies or Perfect Strangers.”
As a testament to how inspirational and motivational her sessions can be, I stood in a long line after her session to introduce myself and get her business card to reach out on behalf of our Chapter. Heather’s program is not to be missed, so be sure to register!
What I remember most from Heather’s session at PRC is the disconnect in today’s work culture in which most managers don’t receive leadership training and yet the #1 ingredient to a firm’s success is employee satisfaction (not client satisfaction, but that happens via a domino effect with employee well-being).
Heather dedicates her career to helping companies transform their culture and to providing leadership training for individuals. She leads an online manager training program, Awesome People Leaders, to address the prevalent gap in employee retention and engagement.
We have all been unhappy at moments in our career that drove us to seek change. If you find yourself in that situation today, check out our Job Bank page. When you start interviewing, ask if the firm will support your SMPS membership – this will speak volumes about your prospective firm’s commitment to your professional growth.
My Unhappy Job Moment
Well over a decade ago I was the target of a workplace bully who was my boss. I couldn’t jump ship fast enough, though it was an employer’s market, so I was stuck for a few agonizing months.
Shortly after I left, I met up with one of my former cubicle mates to catch up. I’ll never forget what he said to me that day: he had more pity for my former boss than he did for me! I was taken aback so I asked him to explain. He pointed out that I was able to leave the situation and move on, but my boss will continue to find new reasons and targets to prove her right to be unhappy rather than turn inward.
In time, I came to see his point. My workplace bullying situation had little to do with me, even though I felt very strongly while I was in it that it had everything to do with me. The experience made me more resilient when dealing with difficult people. I now recognize that meanness and harshness is a reflection of that person and not to take it personally and instead have empathy for that person.
When I became a manager, I went with a no-blame approach. We all make mistakes, and if you drop the ball one of us will pick it up without resorting to blame. I initially worried that this might be too permissive, but I found that this was the right approach. Almost all of us are doing our best and want to do better. I say “almost all” because I found this approach weeded out those who tap into blame to create toxicity and distract others from noticing they aren’t trying their best. Instead, the no-blame approach creates a safer and (I hope) less stressful work environment and minimizes workplace drama.
More Chapter News
With April being “Stress Awareness Month,” our Chapter is hosting a Wellness Workshop with experts in air quality, nutrition, and yoga. The workshop will return to an in-person format and will be held at The Collective’s office in downtown San Francisco. I am told the office is quite beautiful, so I am looking forward to it for both the content and the decor.
We have two important deadlines on April 15: submissions and nominations for our Topaz Awards program and nominations for our 2022-2023 Board of Directors.
Our Creative Minds series is happening next month! It will be a deep dive into the Adobe Suite. Stay tuned for registration, but here is what we have planned and when:
- Tues 5/3, InDesign for Design Geeks (Basics/Fundamentals)
- Thurs 5/12, Fundamentals of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
- Tues 5/17, InDesign for Design Geeks (Advanced)
- Tues 5/24, Using Creative Cloud Libraries with your Team
We will record these sessions and make them available for 30 days for those who miss any of them, but you need to register in advance.
Next month I will also have an update on our partnership with the nonprofit Common Vision and the Alameda Elementary School Ruby Bridges.
Shannon Daggett, CPSM
Marketing Manager, Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, Inc.
[email protected]
President, SMPS SF Bay Area Chapter
