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Thriving Through the Ongoing Pandemic

Family laughing together at home

As the pandemic moves into year two, would you say that overall you are thriving, barely surviving, or hanging in there, treading water, but feeling worn down or worn out some days? Is thriving even possible in the midst of this period of adversity, when life has been so disrupted by a persistent and mighty virus, we’ve experienced heartache and loss, and worried about our own future and the future of our democracy in the U.S.? I believe that we can thrive, especially when we do so together. The individuals who will look back when the pandemic is finally over and feel they did more than just make it through will have several attributes in common.

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Two Great Conference Opportunities in February

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I’m happy to share that I will be giving keynote speeches at two exciting virtual conferences this February. I hope you will consider joining me.

Campus Community Conference: Better Together 2021

If you work in the field of higher education, then this event is for you. Campus Community’s inaugural conference will take place on Thursday, February 25. I will be sharing specific examples and strategies for connection across higher education. Learn more about the event and register.

Knowledge Resources Conference: Organisational Development Conference 2021

An international event hosted by Knowledge Resources, the Organisational Development Conference 2021 will bring together speakers from around the world. The main conference sessions will take place February 24-25 and are designed for professionals in the human resources and development fields. I will be sharing how connection gives organizations a competitive advantage.

My readers can receive a 20% discount off the registration fee by sending an email with the subject line “20% Chair/speaker discount” to busie@knowres.co.za or magdeline@knowres.co.za. Learn more about the event and see the full program.

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Watch the Recording of My Recent Webinar With getAbstract

Michael Lee Stallard speaking with getAbstract webinar host

Recently, I had the privilege of being the guest speaker for a webinar hosted by getAbstract, one of the leading book summary organizations in the world.

Our topic was “Remote Work, Rising Stress and the Critical Need for Connection” – a timely discussion for today’s environment. The webinar was attended live by 2,004 professionals eager to learn how connection can help their teams to thrive this year.

If you missed the live webinar, you can now watch the recording on demand. I hope the conversation sparks some ideas to keep you and your colleagues happy and healthy in 2021.

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The Role Connection Plays in a Democracy

Lincoln memorial in Washington D.C.

Can we embrace the spirit of E Pluribus Unum and move forward in 2021 as people who value connection, cooperation and making progress together toward the common good? Whether your political leanings are toward the left, center or right, whether you identify as a conservative, moderate, progressive or liberal, the political divisiveness and social strife that marked 2020, and were on full display in the troubling events last week in Washington, D.C., underscore the need for cultures of connection to become the norm in our communities, workplaces and governing bodies. 

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Ours Was One of the “Most Read” Articles on SmartBrief

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I was delighted to learn that an article Katie Stallard and I wrote, titled “Why Relational Connection is So Important During the Coronavirus Pandemic,” was one of the most read articles on SmartBrief over this last year.

If you haven’t read it, you can find the full article here. Thank you for your support and for helping us to share the connection culture message!

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Exciting News About My Latest Book

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I am thrilled to share that two of the leading book summary organizations in the world – getAbstract and Soundview – have just published summaries of the second edition of my book Connection Culture: The Competitive Advantage of Shared Identity, Empathy, and Understanding at Work. Even better, getAbstract rated the second edition as 9 out of 10 and it was selected as an “Editors’ Picks” representing one of the “best of the best”! In addition, Connection Culture is included in the Best Practice Institute’s Holiday Book Recommendations.

You can check out both of the summaries, as well as a Q&A interview with me published by the getAbstract team, at these links:

If the abstracts pique your interest, why not consider giving the book as a holiday gift this year – to yourself, a colleague, or a loved one who would benefit from the message? You can purchase the paperback or audio book edition through Amazon or find the paperback at other retailers.

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A Year-End Gift to My Readers

LinkedIn Learning Course Access

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To close out what has been an unpredictable and challenging year for all of us, I’d like to present you with a gift—one that, like many things during the Covid-19 pandemic, has taken twists and turns in the making, including a timetable that changed more than once. 2020 has been a year that has asked all of us to be adaptable and open to new ways of going about life. Case in point, the LinkedIn Learning course that the Connection Culture Group team is so pleased to share with those of you who are LinkedIn members. 

“GovExec Daily: Fostering a Culture of Connection in the Workplace”
by Adam Butler, Ross Gianfortune, and Michael Lee Stallard

GovExec Daily
October 16, 2020

Recently, I had the pleasure of being a guest on the GovExec Daily podcast produced by Government Executive. We talked about how government leaders can foster a culture of connection for a better work environment and better results, even in the pandemic.

If you or someone you know works in the public sector, I hope this podcast sparks some ideas on how to make a positive impact in your workplace during a difficult time.