We enjoyed meeting with you and discussing the primary and practice fields at South High School.
We’ve discussed the situation and developed the following recommendations:
1. Practice Field
a. The field is uneven, has rocks, glass, and even chunks of concrete in it, causing an extremely unsafe environment for athletes and students who use the field regularly for phy ed classes. There is little bluegrass or desirable grasses to work with. The field is mainly knotweed, which will need to be killed off prior to seeding. Without an irrigation system, new grass isn’t likely to live therough a hot summer. The field is very uneven with mud and standing water in many locations making it unusable on most days. On our second trip to the site, there were 30 Canadian Geese feeding in the standing water, leaving plenty of droppings that no student would want to play in, not to mention carrying this material into the school or ruining clothes. The field needs to be leveled to promote grass growth, allow rain to runoff, and keep geese off. We can save money by seeding, which will provide just as high quality field as sod, but students will need to stay off for 4 weeks. The seed will need to be fertilized regularly, and broadleaves need to be sprayed 2-3 times per year to get the grass established, thick and green.
b. The Irrigation system has been removed. Since all sprinkler heads but one have been taken out, and the system hasn’t operated in 10+ years, water has almost certainly leached into the pipes and frozen, causing the pipes to break lengthwise, making them impossible to repair. There is an irrigation controller and a 2 ½ or 3” backflow that could probably be used, and looks like hooking up to the existing line might be relatively easy, although we’ll have to dig and test the connection to know for certain.
c. The cost for a new irrigation system using the present hookup should be under $10,000 depending on the pressure and gallons per minute available to use in the system.
d. The weeds need to be sprayed prior to installing the black dirt. Cost for application is $450.00
e. The field needs about 80-100 yards of screened black dirt. We discussed grading the present field. The field was used as a dumping ground while the school was being buit, so grading might just expose more waste and concret. Adding dirt, and creating a crown that allows the water to runoff, will make for a long lasting solution. Cost $4,800
f. The next step is to seed the field. We’re suggesting a tall fescue-bluegrass blend that can withstand heavier traffic than bluegrass alone. Cost for seeding $2,150
g. Fertilizer for starting the new grass seed. Cost $425
h. 2 more applications of fertilizer and weed control Cost $650
Total Cost for Practice field renovation: $18,425
Primary Field.
This field is in relatively good shape. There are 2 problems with the field, which is used 3-4 times per week for varsity football and soccer games. We agree with Tom Wassman and Mark Sanders that the practice field needs attention now. The primary field can wait until the practice field is in good shape.
a. There is a sprinkler system, but it doesn’t have adequate pressure or enough gallons per minute to diffuse the spray and provide an acceptable level of irrigation. The present system basically creates 40’ green rings with the first 20’ receiving a lower than needed amount of water. The system needs to be separated into 3 zones, with a new controller, and 3 valves installed.
b. The other problem is the grade of the field. The grade of the crown is high on the west site, but really high on the east side. The crown is so high in the middle that a soccer player on one side of the field can’t see the soccer ball on the other side of the field. This field needs to be re-graded.
c. As for the stands and facilities, there are no lights, there is no bathrooms, and there is a need for a concessions trailer where chocolate, chili, and even tickets can be sold. This will certainly raise more than enough money to pay for the trailer and make the experience more enjoyable for athletes, fans and visiting teams.
Please call me to discuss any or all of these options. We look forward to working with you in the future.
Sincerely,
Steve Hoogenakker, Tom Connors and Tom Polak
763-213-2410 – Steve@Landscape.Pro
Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association
Monday, October 15, 2007
Thursday, October 4, 2007
South High School Minneapolis gets help for it's football fields
Minnesot Nursery and Landscape Association
Hello everyone,
I wanted to update everyone about South High School. At the bottom of this email is a link to a story about a landscape company volunteering to replace a basball field for Bluffton High School some of their kids died in a bus crash! I would welcome any ideas, feedback that you might have. Here's the short story with extra details below. Tom Connors and I went out to South on Tuesday.The practice field is a mess. It's uneven, with rocks, glass, and at least one piece of concrete right in the middle of the field that's been there quite a while. There WAS an irrigation system, but it hasn't been run in 10 years. We found one brass 8280M Sprinkler head, ( a google search couldn't identify the model) and there's a Buckner 10 zone controller. There's a big backflow and it looks like 3" main. We decided that the field can't be sustained without a sprinkler system. Here's the scoop: The field is about 260' by 350'. It needs dirt, or grading by an operator more skilled than me, seed, fert and sprayed for broadleaf. A soil test would be a good idea. I think it's a sandy loam, so structure will be good. Any chunks or rocks will have to be removed as well. The school WILL close off the field or do whatever is necessary to help if someone is willing to help with the fields. After talking to Mark Sanders, the Athletic Director, we think that redoing the practice field might be enough to get the parents and boosters involved with more improvements as well as pride in the school. If anyone wants to contact the school directly, contact Mark Sanders at 612-668-4323 or Mark.Sanders@mpls.k12.mn.us , or email me. At this time, they've asked me to put a plan together to submit to the Mpls School District, because the powers that be won't allow any work to be done until it's checked over, even if volunteered. Estimates:80 yards black dirt spread and graded.300-400 pounds of seedFert - Sprayand irrigation. Looks like we're pushing for spring, which is OK because it gives everyone time to put the plan and materials together. More detail:We met with Tom Wosman, the Engineer in charge of South's Property and Mark Sanders, the Athletic Director. There are 2 fields. There is the main football field and the practice field. While both fields need work, the main field is in pretty good shape, although there are no lights, 2 porta potties (imagine this during homecoming), no ticket booth. They can't even sell hot dogs or hot chocolate. This field has such a high crown on it that the soccer players can't see the soccer ball from the other side of the field! Like I said, this field isn't bad, other than the crown and the fact that the irrigation system is composed of 1 zone with such low pressure, they can't diffuse the spray on the sprinkler headsThe practice field is another story.It's It's not much better than mud, knotweed and random patches of bluegrass. The field is uneven, and the day we were out there, there were puddles.There were rocks in it, and at least one concrete piece sticking out. The practice field is used by the students for all outside activities, so the danger of injuries is pretty good. Here's the article about Bluffton basballhttp://www.landscapemanagement.net/landscape/On+the+Record/This-baseball-field-is-not-just-any-baseball-field/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/462137?contextCategoryId=450That's All for now!Steve
Steve Hoogenakker
Teri Hoogenakker
Paul Hoogenakker
Kirsten Hoogenakker
Gerrit Hoogenakker
Showcase Landscape
Hello everyone,
I wanted to update everyone about South High School. At the bottom of this email is a link to a story about a landscape company volunteering to replace a basball field for Bluffton High School some of their kids died in a bus crash! I would welcome any ideas, feedback that you might have. Here's the short story with extra details below. Tom Connors and I went out to South on Tuesday.The practice field is a mess. It's uneven, with rocks, glass, and at least one piece of concrete right in the middle of the field that's been there quite a while. There WAS an irrigation system, but it hasn't been run in 10 years. We found one brass 8280M Sprinkler head, ( a google search couldn't identify the model) and there's a Buckner 10 zone controller. There's a big backflow and it looks like 3" main. We decided that the field can't be sustained without a sprinkler system. Here's the scoop: The field is about 260' by 350'. It needs dirt, or grading by an operator more skilled than me, seed, fert and sprayed for broadleaf. A soil test would be a good idea. I think it's a sandy loam, so structure will be good. Any chunks or rocks will have to be removed as well. The school WILL close off the field or do whatever is necessary to help if someone is willing to help with the fields. After talking to Mark Sanders, the Athletic Director, we think that redoing the practice field might be enough to get the parents and boosters involved with more improvements as well as pride in the school. If anyone wants to contact the school directly, contact Mark Sanders at 612-668-4323 or Mark.Sanders@mpls.k12.mn.us , or email me. At this time, they've asked me to put a plan together to submit to the Mpls School District, because the powers that be won't allow any work to be done until it's checked over, even if volunteered. Estimates:80 yards black dirt spread and graded.300-400 pounds of seedFert - Sprayand irrigation. Looks like we're pushing for spring, which is OK because it gives everyone time to put the plan and materials together. More detail:We met with Tom Wosman, the Engineer in charge of South's Property and Mark Sanders, the Athletic Director. There are 2 fields. There is the main football field and the practice field. While both fields need work, the main field is in pretty good shape, although there are no lights, 2 porta potties (imagine this during homecoming), no ticket booth. They can't even sell hot dogs or hot chocolate. This field has such a high crown on it that the soccer players can't see the soccer ball from the other side of the field! Like I said, this field isn't bad, other than the crown and the fact that the irrigation system is composed of 1 zone with such low pressure, they can't diffuse the spray on the sprinkler headsThe practice field is another story.It's It's not much better than mud, knotweed and random patches of bluegrass. The field is uneven, and the day we were out there, there were puddles.There were rocks in it, and at least one concrete piece sticking out. The practice field is used by the students for all outside activities, so the danger of injuries is pretty good. Here's the article about Bluffton basballhttp://www.landscapemanagement.net/landscape/On+the+Record/This-baseball-field-is-not-just-any-baseball-field/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/462137?contextCategoryId=450That's All for now!Steve
Steve Hoogenakker
Teri Hoogenakker
Paul Hoogenakker
Kirsten Hoogenakker
Gerrit Hoogenakker
Showcase Landscape
Friday, September 21, 2007
Choosing the Most Reliable Personality Assessment Tool
Choosing An Accurate And Reliable Personality Assessment
Ever wondered why you always end up in the wrong job or the worst relationships, even when they seemed so promising going in? It can be especially confusing when there doesn't really seem to be anything wrong with the work or the other person, just that things never did seem to take off or click. Well, maybe it's not the work or your prospective partners - maybe you just don't have a clear understanding of who you really are in the first place - your personality type, your risk aversion levels, your tendencies and the underlying assets, preferences and issues in your make-up that you may not be taking into consideration. But how do you go about "finding yourself" without embarking on a navel-gazing and soul-searching journey of epic proportions (which, face it, few of us have the time for)?
One of the best places to start is personality assessment. There are literally thousands of different assessments available, often on the Internet where they are either free (although often in an abbreviated form from their full fee access) or at a reasonable charge. A quality test can help you map your personality makeup as a whole and perhaps tease out previously hidden factors in your mindset or behavior that may affect your decision making, your overall job and life satisfaction in given situations and your choices.
There are many website and hard-published assessments which can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, and where your personal gifts lay. However, you have to pay attention and steer clear of "recreational" assessments and quizzes if you are looking for an accurate and predictive overview, especially on the Internet. To be truly useful, a personality assessment must meet three criteria:
It must be empirical and accurate This means that the test is based on scientifically designed questions that are proven to be predictive (by having known personality types take the test, and checking for correlation in the results).
It must be normed This means that when the assessment results are tabulated as a group, the number and pattern of personality types it presents must be representative of the general population who are likely to be taking the test. This is done by testing a representative sample, graphing the test results and then matching the results against a scientifically predicted bell curve for that particular population. Note that if an assessment is designed for a specific, narrow population (such as law enforcement cadets, engineers or abused women), it will produce results that are skewed from the general population norm, but which can be internally predictable and normed within that narrowly defined group.
It must be reliable and consistent This means that the test must return the overall same pattern of results for the same person taking it repeatedly, even if their answers differ slightly from day to day due to normal moods and perceptions. This also means that the greater the number of questions, the more likely it is to be accurate (assuming it was created by trained individuals). A large pool of questions (from which the actual test is randomly generated) allows a little "wriggle room" for slightly different answers, plus allows for plenty of "cross-check" questions which ask essentially the same things, but from different perspectives and with different wording. Often an assessment will be tested for internal consistency by giving the same individuals half of the test questions (say, all the odd numbered questions). The test result is tabulate, and then the other half of the questions is given and the results compared. If both halves produce essentially identical results, the test can be considered internally consistent.
There are innumerable "fun" tests out there, from "Are you a good kisser?" to assessments designed to look scientific but which, in effect, tell you what you want to hear (along the lines of fake horoscopes and palm readings at the fair) and only after you sign into their "members-only results" area, as a means to procuring your email address. Or they give you a free low-content, vague and essentially useless answer, and then offer to send you the full results if you sign up for their product or course. Of course, there are several respected and reliable assessment companies that also offer a two-tiered membership approach (free scaled back test, and membership-fee full service and content version), so you need to be able to differentiate between the two.
Many well-respected assessments, especially the popular ones such as the MAPP (Motivational Appraisal of Personal Potential), the Myers-Brigg Type Indicator or the DISC (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Conscientiousness) Profile, charge quite a bit for the full service. But this is only fair, as they are the result of literally years of research, proprietary information gathering, intellectual property creation and relentless testing, not to mention countless man-hours of work. Also, many of these high-quality and scientifically validated tests are so complicated, and the results so open to misinterpretation by the layperson, that in order to get the full benefit and usefulness of the test it needs to be administered by, and the results personally reviewed and discussed with, a trained administrator.
The results you get from these fee-paid assessments are generally worth the money, if you have it. If you don't, you can still find several small or scaled back assessments that give reasonably detailed and accurate results for free, or for a nominal registration fee. Another way to get a proper assessment on the cheap is to take one offered in a book, either purchased or loaned out from your local public library. Many assessments can be found in hardcopy form and even if they lack the depth of a professionally administered version, they can be taken and the results studied and interpreted at your leisure. Of course, as with the Internet versions, you have to critically judge the content and accuracy of any book-bound personality assessment you take.
What you find out about yourself once you've competed a few assessments may shock you. Or it may simply confirm suspicions you've had all along. Either way, by actively and consciously using the information you have gained, you will stand a far better chance of creating and maintaining a quality and style of living that works for you rather than against you - and that's an assessment we can all live with.
About the Author Steve Hoogenakker provides a solid, common sense approach to solving problems and answering questions relating to consumer loan products. His website seeks to provide free online resources for the consumer, including rate-watch, tips and articles, financial communication, news, and links to products and services. Visit: www.Landscape.Pro, you can email Steve at Steve@Landscape.Pro or Steve@MrHomeLoan.com. Steve Hoogenakker, Minnesota, Showacse Landscape, MHA, MNLA, CAI, CIC Midwest, Taylor Made Landscape. You may reprint or publish this article as long as Steve Hoogenakker and all contact information and links are included. http://www.showcaselandscape.com
Ever wondered why you always end up in the wrong job or the worst relationships, even when they seemed so promising going in? It can be especially confusing when there doesn't really seem to be anything wrong with the work or the other person, just that things never did seem to take off or click. Well, maybe it's not the work or your prospective partners - maybe you just don't have a clear understanding of who you really are in the first place - your personality type, your risk aversion levels, your tendencies and the underlying assets, preferences and issues in your make-up that you may not be taking into consideration. But how do you go about "finding yourself" without embarking on a navel-gazing and soul-searching journey of epic proportions (which, face it, few of us have the time for)?
One of the best places to start is personality assessment. There are literally thousands of different assessments available, often on the Internet where they are either free (although often in an abbreviated form from their full fee access) or at a reasonable charge. A quality test can help you map your personality makeup as a whole and perhaps tease out previously hidden factors in your mindset or behavior that may affect your decision making, your overall job and life satisfaction in given situations and your choices.
There are many website and hard-published assessments which can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, and where your personal gifts lay. However, you have to pay attention and steer clear of "recreational" assessments and quizzes if you are looking for an accurate and predictive overview, especially on the Internet. To be truly useful, a personality assessment must meet three criteria:
It must be empirical and accurate This means that the test is based on scientifically designed questions that are proven to be predictive (by having known personality types take the test, and checking for correlation in the results).
It must be normed This means that when the assessment results are tabulated as a group, the number and pattern of personality types it presents must be representative of the general population who are likely to be taking the test. This is done by testing a representative sample, graphing the test results and then matching the results against a scientifically predicted bell curve for that particular population. Note that if an assessment is designed for a specific, narrow population (such as law enforcement cadets, engineers or abused women), it will produce results that are skewed from the general population norm, but which can be internally predictable and normed within that narrowly defined group.
It must be reliable and consistent This means that the test must return the overall same pattern of results for the same person taking it repeatedly, even if their answers differ slightly from day to day due to normal moods and perceptions. This also means that the greater the number of questions, the more likely it is to be accurate (assuming it was created by trained individuals). A large pool of questions (from which the actual test is randomly generated) allows a little "wriggle room" for slightly different answers, plus allows for plenty of "cross-check" questions which ask essentially the same things, but from different perspectives and with different wording. Often an assessment will be tested for internal consistency by giving the same individuals half of the test questions (say, all the odd numbered questions). The test result is tabulate, and then the other half of the questions is given and the results compared. If both halves produce essentially identical results, the test can be considered internally consistent.
There are innumerable "fun" tests out there, from "Are you a good kisser?" to assessments designed to look scientific but which, in effect, tell you what you want to hear (along the lines of fake horoscopes and palm readings at the fair) and only after you sign into their "members-only results" area, as a means to procuring your email address. Or they give you a free low-content, vague and essentially useless answer, and then offer to send you the full results if you sign up for their product or course. Of course, there are several respected and reliable assessment companies that also offer a two-tiered membership approach (free scaled back test, and membership-fee full service and content version), so you need to be able to differentiate between the two.
Many well-respected assessments, especially the popular ones such as the MAPP (Motivational Appraisal of Personal Potential), the Myers-Brigg Type Indicator or the DISC (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Conscientiousness) Profile, charge quite a bit for the full service. But this is only fair, as they are the result of literally years of research, proprietary information gathering, intellectual property creation and relentless testing, not to mention countless man-hours of work. Also, many of these high-quality and scientifically validated tests are so complicated, and the results so open to misinterpretation by the layperson, that in order to get the full benefit and usefulness of the test it needs to be administered by, and the results personally reviewed and discussed with, a trained administrator.
The results you get from these fee-paid assessments are generally worth the money, if you have it. If you don't, you can still find several small or scaled back assessments that give reasonably detailed and accurate results for free, or for a nominal registration fee. Another way to get a proper assessment on the cheap is to take one offered in a book, either purchased or loaned out from your local public library. Many assessments can be found in hardcopy form and even if they lack the depth of a professionally administered version, they can be taken and the results studied and interpreted at your leisure. Of course, as with the Internet versions, you have to critically judge the content and accuracy of any book-bound personality assessment you take.
What you find out about yourself once you've competed a few assessments may shock you. Or it may simply confirm suspicions you've had all along. Either way, by actively and consciously using the information you have gained, you will stand a far better chance of creating and maintaining a quality and style of living that works for you rather than against you - and that's an assessment we can all live with.
About the Author Steve Hoogenakker provides a solid, common sense approach to solving problems and answering questions relating to consumer loan products. His website seeks to provide free online resources for the consumer, including rate-watch, tips and articles, financial communication, news, and links to products and services. Visit: www.Landscape.Pro, you can email Steve at Steve@Landscape.Pro or Steve@MrHomeLoan.com. Steve Hoogenakker, Minnesota, Showacse Landscape, MHA, MNLA, CAI, CIC Midwest, Taylor Made Landscape. You may reprint or publish this article as long as Steve Hoogenakker and all contact information and links are included. http://www.showcaselandscape.com
Primitive Instincts of Landscape management
The Primal Instincts of Landscape Management
Mastering Skills in Personal Relationships
98% of conversations are positive & can provide for a sharing of ideas that are neutral or that improve our lives. The few conversations that are emotionally charged or serious will have the biggest impact on our lives. In this article, I hope to give you the understanding to change your life by being your best at these critical moments.
Honing & perfecting your relationship skills is probably the most important skill you’ll ever learn and one you can use every day of the rest of your life.
Let’s discuss Primal Instincts and what happens when we get into a critical conversation with others.
Let’s take the example of deciding on a new irrigation division inside our company.
A critical conversation happens when 3 things are present:
1) Stakes are High – The division can generate millions of dollars over it’s lifetime
2) Emotions run strong – Your operations people are strongly against it, your salespeople for it.
3) There are differences in opinions Sales dept. says the customers are demanding it, we might lose clients to competitors plus loss of revenue (and commission). Ops dept. says we are barely keeping up with present needs.
A critical conversation can occur spontaneously and catch us off guard. When we’re under pressure, such as from an argument, our body pumps adrenaline. We didn’t ask our body to do this, but it’s hard wired into our system. Blood is sent coursing to arms and legs to fight or flee, and our higher reasoning centers are starved. We are then forced to think on our feet with the brain equivalent of a potentilla and we’re stuck with the consequences. In our doped up, dumbed down state, when we need our intelligence most, we’re at our worst. Add to that our learned response from watching just a few Jerry Springer shows and we can be in trouble.
OK, it’s important to understand what is happening to us during this critical conversation. but even more importantly; we’re learning the skills to know what’s happening with the other people in the conversation.
We have 3 choices when faced with an important conversation.
Ignore the problem, go silent and hope it goes away
Deal with the problem poorly
Deal with the problem well.
HOW DO WE HANDLE THIS PRIMAL RESPONSE?
We apply the most basic of primal reactions: WE CREATE SAFETY!
Safety short circuits the primal response. Make people feel safe in the conversation. This means safe in expressing their true feelings or thoughts, even if they are angry. You might have to work hard to draw the thoughts out. This allows people to contribute to the conversation, and keeps their adrenal glands in check.
If we don’t provide safety, then an individual WILL provide their own safety by clamming up and going to silence, or they’ll resort to verbal violence as another defense for personal safety. This ONE skill will improve your personal and professional life and pay for your membership to MNLA.
We create safety by following a few simple principles.
1. Check your motives at the door. Ideally, you should already know what you want out of the relationship or conversation. So start with heart. Stick with what’s important. In a heated conversation, you might subconsciously want to be sarcastic, humiliate them or put them in their place, especially if they attack you first. If you start to feel this way, take a breath and remember what’s most important.
2. Stay Focused. Crucial conversations have a way of taking us off of our game. “Once we name the game, we can stop playing it.” If our goal is to “Keep clients happy, provide services that can meet our high standards and make a profit”, then that’s the name of the game. It isn’t “promote me to Jerry’s job”, or “the rainy weather prevents me from doing that” While those might apply, they are NOT the name of the game. They are primal instinctive defenses, suckers choices and somewhat off topic.
3. Most importantly, Create safety for the other individual, even if they don’t “deserve” it.
A master landscaper starts a critical conversation by creating a dialogue with
1. A clear goal
2. Honest motives.
Then, he/she:
Watches the conversation
Thinks about their own style of conversation and what their own body is doing
Remember what’s important
Stays Focused
Stops problems BEFORE they become BIG problems.
If we find we’re starting to slip out of dialogue, we can get back in the game by asking 4 questions:
What do I want for myself
What do I want for others,
What do I want for the relationship, and my favorite question;
How would I behave if I really wanted these results?
THE SHARED POOL OF MEANING
A skilled professional will find a way to get the free flow of relevant information out into the open, It’s the principle of the “Shared Pool of Meaning”. This is the synergistic pool of ideas and feelings of the entire group Getting ideas into the “pool” have 3 major benefits:
The larger the Pool, the better the decisions.
The time you spend up front is more than made up by faster, more committed action later on.
People who don’t get their ideas into the pool are rarely committed to the solution & silently criticize the decisions. People that have at least a small part of the decision will work to make it succeed.
We aren’t saying we want a consensus opinion, or that the landscape company owner doesn’t make the final decision. Whoever makes the decision will benefit by having the most information available.
As a matter of fact, a good idea is to state up front that there will be 2 phases to the conversation. First, a Discussion or Dialogue phase where all of the ideas are added to the pool of meaning. Second, after all ideas are shared, discussion is shut off and the Decision phase begins with decisions made by whoever is in charge.
Using these skills will make you a better communicator and leader in the Green industry. It will give you insights into others that you never would have received any other way. It will help you to listen and respect others in ways that 99% of the rest of the population will never truly understand
Steve Hoogenakker
Showcase Landscape
Steve Hoogenakker has 20 years in the landscaping and leadership field. He can be reached by email at Steve@Landscape.Pro. Much of this information can be found in the excellent book, Crucial Conversations.
Steve Hoogenakker, MHA, CAI, CIC Midwest, MNLA, PLANET, MTFG, Showcase Landscape
Mastering Skills in Personal Relationships
98% of conversations are positive & can provide for a sharing of ideas that are neutral or that improve our lives. The few conversations that are emotionally charged or serious will have the biggest impact on our lives. In this article, I hope to give you the understanding to change your life by being your best at these critical moments.
Honing & perfecting your relationship skills is probably the most important skill you’ll ever learn and one you can use every day of the rest of your life.
Let’s discuss Primal Instincts and what happens when we get into a critical conversation with others.
Let’s take the example of deciding on a new irrigation division inside our company.
A critical conversation happens when 3 things are present:
1) Stakes are High – The division can generate millions of dollars over it’s lifetime
2) Emotions run strong – Your operations people are strongly against it, your salespeople for it.
3) There are differences in opinions Sales dept. says the customers are demanding it, we might lose clients to competitors plus loss of revenue (and commission). Ops dept. says we are barely keeping up with present needs.
A critical conversation can occur spontaneously and catch us off guard. When we’re under pressure, such as from an argument, our body pumps adrenaline. We didn’t ask our body to do this, but it’s hard wired into our system. Blood is sent coursing to arms and legs to fight or flee, and our higher reasoning centers are starved. We are then forced to think on our feet with the brain equivalent of a potentilla and we’re stuck with the consequences. In our doped up, dumbed down state, when we need our intelligence most, we’re at our worst. Add to that our learned response from watching just a few Jerry Springer shows and we can be in trouble.
OK, it’s important to understand what is happening to us during this critical conversation. but even more importantly; we’re learning the skills to know what’s happening with the other people in the conversation.
We have 3 choices when faced with an important conversation.
Ignore the problem, go silent and hope it goes away
Deal with the problem poorly
Deal with the problem well.
HOW DO WE HANDLE THIS PRIMAL RESPONSE?
We apply the most basic of primal reactions: WE CREATE SAFETY!
Safety short circuits the primal response. Make people feel safe in the conversation. This means safe in expressing their true feelings or thoughts, even if they are angry. You might have to work hard to draw the thoughts out. This allows people to contribute to the conversation, and keeps their adrenal glands in check.
If we don’t provide safety, then an individual WILL provide their own safety by clamming up and going to silence, or they’ll resort to verbal violence as another defense for personal safety. This ONE skill will improve your personal and professional life and pay for your membership to MNLA.
We create safety by following a few simple principles.
1. Check your motives at the door. Ideally, you should already know what you want out of the relationship or conversation. So start with heart. Stick with what’s important. In a heated conversation, you might subconsciously want to be sarcastic, humiliate them or put them in their place, especially if they attack you first. If you start to feel this way, take a breath and remember what’s most important.
2. Stay Focused. Crucial conversations have a way of taking us off of our game. “Once we name the game, we can stop playing it.” If our goal is to “Keep clients happy, provide services that can meet our high standards and make a profit”, then that’s the name of the game. It isn’t “promote me to Jerry’s job”, or “the rainy weather prevents me from doing that” While those might apply, they are NOT the name of the game. They are primal instinctive defenses, suckers choices and somewhat off topic.
3. Most importantly, Create safety for the other individual, even if they don’t “deserve” it.
A master landscaper starts a critical conversation by creating a dialogue with
1. A clear goal
2. Honest motives.
Then, he/she:
Watches the conversation
Thinks about their own style of conversation and what their own body is doing
Remember what’s important
Stays Focused
Stops problems BEFORE they become BIG problems.
If we find we’re starting to slip out of dialogue, we can get back in the game by asking 4 questions:
What do I want for myself
What do I want for others,
What do I want for the relationship, and my favorite question;
How would I behave if I really wanted these results?
THE SHARED POOL OF MEANING
A skilled professional will find a way to get the free flow of relevant information out into the open, It’s the principle of the “Shared Pool of Meaning”. This is the synergistic pool of ideas and feelings of the entire group Getting ideas into the “pool” have 3 major benefits:
The larger the Pool, the better the decisions.
The time you spend up front is more than made up by faster, more committed action later on.
People who don’t get their ideas into the pool are rarely committed to the solution & silently criticize the decisions. People that have at least a small part of the decision will work to make it succeed.
We aren’t saying we want a consensus opinion, or that the landscape company owner doesn’t make the final decision. Whoever makes the decision will benefit by having the most information available.
As a matter of fact, a good idea is to state up front that there will be 2 phases to the conversation. First, a Discussion or Dialogue phase where all of the ideas are added to the pool of meaning. Second, after all ideas are shared, discussion is shut off and the Decision phase begins with decisions made by whoever is in charge.
Using these skills will make you a better communicator and leader in the Green industry. It will give you insights into others that you never would have received any other way. It will help you to listen and respect others in ways that 99% of the rest of the population will never truly understand
Steve Hoogenakker
Showcase Landscape
Steve Hoogenakker has 20 years in the landscaping and leadership field. He can be reached by email at Steve@Landscape.Pro. Much of this information can be found in the excellent book, Crucial Conversations.
Steve Hoogenakker, MHA, CAI, CIC Midwest, MNLA, PLANET, MTFG, Showcase Landscape
Sunday, April 1, 2007
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