Welcome to the November 24, 2004 issue of The Total View

Your resource for cutting-edge news, tips, and tools to help you hire, manage,
and motivate top-performing employees.

If you are receiving this issue as a forward, and want your own subscription, visit
http://www.chrysaliscorporation.com/newsletter.htm

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In This Issue
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1. Cooking Up Your Favorite Thanksgiving DISC!
2. Tips You Can Use - Background Checks - 2 Recent Examples.
3. Perfect Labor Storm Alerts #291 to #295.
4. A Thanksgiving Gift For You.

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The Total View is written and published each Wednesday by Ira S. Wolfe, founder of Success Performance Solutions. (Yes, Ira writes every article, every week!) and is distributed with permission by The Chrysalis Corporation.

Ira S. Wolfe 2004 - All Rights Reserved. Reprints and other distribution by permission only.

To learn more about The Chrysalis Corporation or to read back issues of The Total View, visit our web site at http://www.chrysaliscorporation.com/totalview_backissues.htm

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1. Cooking Up Your Favorite Thanksgiving DISC!
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In a just a little over twenty-four hours, many of us will have our bellies full of turkey, stuffing, cranberries, pumpkin pie and who knows what other goodies. How we will get that way is the topic of today's column.

Many of you are familiar with personality tests, particularly the DISC Behavioral Type assessments. DISC is an acronym standing for Direct, Influencing (or Interacting), Steady, and Compliant (or Conscientious) - in other words, how people respond to problems, people, pace and procedures. While many people try to avoid "taking these tests" in an attempt to hide what they feel are their deepest, personal secrets, let the truth be known that these behaviors are very obvious even to the casual observer.

DISC is the universal, observable language. Even if you never have heard of DISC before, you willl certainly recognize a few relatives, friends or acquaintances who exhibit these classic behavioral styles, representing D-I-S-C.

To High D behavioral types, Thanksgiving dinner is an event. The guest list is figured out on the fly, and likely will include several strategic business guests. In fact, Thanksgiving dinner is the perfect venue to discuss a few business deals that just can't get done during working hours. High D behavioral types shop for groceries without a list. The fact of the matter is they don't have any idea what they'll serve for dinner - they'll know a good deal when they see it. If the long lines at checkout are too long, they may decide to make reservations at a local restaurant or country club or even order take out. Where ever and whenever they eat, they chose the place, meal and time. To high D's recipes are only guides. They add and substitute ingredients at will and use gravy and sauces to cover up the "mistakes". Microwaveable foods are a stable. If D-types actually do any cooking, the kitchen is a mess but they know exactly where everything is. If your host is D behavioral style, don't be surprised to get a call on your mobile while on your way to stop for ice. When the D is ready to eat, he/she tells his guests where to sit. During dinner, expect a blow-by-blow description of each course. You'll hear how much time, money or effort it took to prepare it. Recipes are described as "best", "special", "can't be beat", and "secret".

High I behavioral types don't prepare dinner, they plan a party. They insist on only one rule - NO business talk! Grocery shopping is an experience - they go to the store at the busiest time so they can socialize and meet people. I-types may spend more time in the party store picking up holiday table cloths, napkins, dishes and decoration more than they do in the grocery store. They carry dozens of coupons, torn (not cut) from newspapers and magazines, stuffed in no particular order into an envelope or purse. I types know where everything is in the store, whether you ask them to tell you or not. The guest list includes family, friends, neighbors and anyone who might otherwise have to eat dinner alone. The list resembles the yellow pages. I-types can't remember everyone they invited so they set extra places just in case extra people drop by. What time is dinner? Just drop-in. A menu? You've got to be kidding. The menu is potluck and the I-type just asks everyone to bring something along. I's use recipes but never measure ingredients and substitute freely. They may even experiment with a new recipe. Foods are selected for color, texture, and whatever looks good in their favorite bowls and dishes. They describe each course by how much fun it was to make it or a history on who gave them the recipe. Seating? Sit wherever you'd like.

High S behavioral types prepare dinner for the entire family. They begin weeks ahead by preparing a list, Next, they begin to clip coupons, even ones they don't need, just in case they meet someone at the store who doesn't have the right one. This list takes weeks to prepare. S-types begin making desserts and appetizers weeks ahead of time. They prepare invitations for guests in Publisher or Print Shop. Every course is prepared from scratch using his/her favorite recipes, including special foods for the kids and anyone on a special diet. There is always extra food for guests to take home in doggy-bags. They rarely use the microwave. Guests are seated by family and friends. During dinner they offer to share the recipes with everyone and likely have copies already prepared for distribution.

High C behavioral types prepare dinner for just the immediate family or may even prefer to eat alone. Guests receive a formal invitation and an RSVP is required. C-types shop with coupons which are organized by aisles. They have a budget and click off items on a calculator as they work their way up and down the aisles. C-types have a practice run throughout the preceding week by trying out each course, one meal at a time. Recipes are followed exactly as written using measuring cups, utensils and timers. C-behavioral types would never think of substituting an ingredient, not even one brand for another. Guests have assigned seats and name cards are typed at each setting. (The cards are saved after each meal and re-used at future family events.) Rarely do C-types have any food left over - that would mean they made a mistake. C's describe each course in detail including the cost of the ingredient, the best place to purchase them, the best time to shop. The recipes are available upon request, stored in alphabetical order on computer printouts in the filing cabinet. After dinner, C's refuse everyone's offer to clean up - they have an immutable routine and a special place for everything. No one can clean or put away the dishes as good as the high C behavioral type.

A most important take-away from understanding behavioral types is that no one style is right or wrong. Likewise there is not one right way or one wrong way to prepare Thanksgiving dinner.

There is, however, a right way to celebrate Thanksgiving - be thankful for the opportunity to share Thanksgiving with friends and relatives, be thankful for the food you enjoy, be thankful for whomever prepares your meal, and be thankful we can laugh at our behavior!

Feel free to pass this along to your co-workers, boss, family, and friends. You'll give them a Thanksgiving chuckle!

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2. Tips You Can Use - Background Checks - 2 Recent Examples.
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Just last week, the Arizona Diamondbacks hired......then fired their manager. Wally Beckman admitted to several "mistakes" in his past life - arrests for domestic disputes, drunken-driving, restraining orders - only after he was hired. Ken Kendrick, one of the Diamondbacks' managing partners, after the "mistakes" became public stated they will now make background checks a layer of their hiring.

The owner of a motel in New Holland PA might want to do the same. A young couple working as managers were arrested for stealing the cash payments received by guests.

If, like Pinocchio's nose, each lie a candidate told on his/her resume or during the interview became immediately apparent, business owners could easily weed out employees who cheat and deceive. So, how can you tell if an employee is lying about their work experience,

To provide our clients with one-stop shopping for employee evaluation from pre-employment to career succession, we are very pleased to introduce our new partnership with Information Architects, a leading provider of Employment Screening and Background Investigations.

BACKGROUND CHECKS. Sixty-one percent of the human resource (HR) professionals surveyed said they find inaccuracies in résumés after carrying out background checks. (Source: SHRM Background Checks/ Résumé Inaccuracies online survey, 2004)

Services include:

Employment Verification
Criminal Records Search
Civil Records Search
Workers Comp Search
SSN Verification
Credit Reports
DMV Reports
Bankruptcy Search
Degree Verification
Professional License Verification
Drug Screening

Learn more about background checks here.
http://www.ia.com/perceptre/affiliates/chrysalis.asp

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3. Perfect Labor Storm Alerts #291 to #295.
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Will Retail Workers Sell Out Their Employers? According to a recent CareerBuilder.com survey, it appears retail workers will jump ship just as hiring steps up.

Fact #291: 21 percent of retail workers plan to change job in the fourth quarter of 2004. (Source: CareerBuilder.com)

Fact #292: 49 percent of retail hiring managers say they'll add workers to their staffs by the end of 2004. (Source: CareerBuilder.com)

Fact #293; 50 percent of retail workers say they're upset with their pay and have not received a raise this year.. (Source: CareerBuilder.com)

Fact #294: 62 percent of those polled said their workloads have increased in the last six months. (Source: CareerBuilder.com)

Fact #295: 44 percent of retail workers say they're being asked to do too much. (Source: CareerBuilder.com)

Don't be caught in storm without all the facts. "The Perfect Labor Storm Fact Book: Why Worker Shortages Won't Go Away" is a must-read leading edge forecast that predicts workforce trends for decades to come. Order your copy today - $7.95 includes no shipping costs for limited time only. Follow this link to learn more:
http://www.perfectlaborstorm.com

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4. A Thanksgiving Gift For You.
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If you enjoyed reading the above examples about how each of the DISC behavioral styles would approach their Thanksgiving feast, you might enjoy reading a bit more about the DISC behavioral styles. We invite you to download our complimentary e-booklet titled: Teamworks: 42 Tips to Help Teams Thrive & Survive.

This easy reference pocket guide will provide you with a solid understanding of the DISC model in clear, concise language. You will learn:

--Four ways that people approach their work.
--Secrets to reading a person like a book.
--How to predict a person's behavior.
--What motivates your boss and coworkers

Follow this link to download Teamworks: 42 Tips to Help Teams Thrive:
http://www.chrysaliscorporation.com/disc.htm

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Contact Information:

The Chrysalis Corporation
2001 Hammock Drive
Valdosta, GA 31602
229-257-0665

To learn more about The Chrysalis Corporation, visit:
http://www.chrysaliscorporation.com