by Joe Tassinari
4/29/14
"It's smart to be positive at work by generating a positive affect."
Positive affect and positivity are used interchangeably and represent the pleasant (e.g., feeing grateful, upbeat; expressing appreciation, liking).
Based on decades-long studies, around the world, with thousands of participants, utilizing replicable and peer-reviewed experiments here is what was discovered …
by Joe Tassinari, Workplace Enrichment Developer
4/19/14
If you are ready to weave this model into your regular meetings feel free to use this Workplace Enrichment meeting agenda as a template. (see below for helpful tips)
The management staff of Mother Lode River Center enrolled in a Workplace Enrichment session January 2014. 
Since then they have utilized the WE meeting agenda template for their weekly staff meetings. Conducting meetings this way they have reported accomplishing business goals with more efficiency and success; staff are more accountable for their duties not out of fear but because their good work is being noticed. Most importantly there is as growing understanding and positive affect among ALL staff; including staff who do not attend the regular meetings!
Workplace Enrichment "A Practice of We" is presented to your workgroup with a one-day workshop followed by three coached staff meetings. If you wish to explore this practice for your workgroup please contact Business Works.
Mother Lode invited me to attend a recent staff meeting and this was their agenda:
Being Positive Opens Your Mind
Literally – when people are positive all 5 brain learning-centers are open.
By Joe Tassinari, UC Davis Instructor, Workplace Enrichment Developer
5 Brain Learning Centers
What Makes A Good Team?
Workshops offered through Business Works discover real-time data based on the collective wisdom of the participants.
So what does make a good team? This is what they've said …
Towards a Positive Workplace
by Joe Tassinari
“Keep your face always toward the sunshine and shadows will fall behind you.” ― Walt Whitman
Many workplaces operate with the notion that maximum success involves routine and diligence towards company goals. If coworkers spend too much time socializing it can seem like a time-waster, yet we are social beings yearning to feel connected and understood. Groups that have become good teams have found a way to give everyone a voice and feel included.
Using your regular meeting (staff meeting, board meeting, etc.) as a platform to deliver understanding and equal voice is a good idea. This will move your organization towards a positive workplace and positive workplaces deliver greater results.
With recent revelations in Positive Psychology and Happiness Studies there is ample evidence that positive workplaces are more productive …
Cut Hours Instead of Holidays
By Joe Tassinari
This article was published on 04.28.05
Sacramento News and Review
The degree of peace in a society is directly related to the amount of free time enjoyed by its people. More scheduled time means less peace; less scheduled time means more peace. We all enjoy the extra day off because of holidays. The three-day weekends and floating holidays offer islands of serenity in the wacky world of employment.
California state employees currently receive Labor and Memorial days, the Fourth of July, and President’s Day, along with Martin Luther King Day, Lincoln’s birthday, Washington’s birthday, Cesar Chavez Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, two days for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and a floating holiday: a total of 14.
Positive Customer Service Workshop ~ Del Norte County
Findings and evaluation results from the 2/5/14 sessions held in Crescent City, CA.
Participants – Del Norte County Health & Human Service Professionals
Workshop facilitator – Joe Tassinari, UC Davis Instructor and host of this website.
Objectives *To become better with positive customer service. *To feel more comfortable with my colleagues.
Participants set out to become better with positive customer service and to feel more comfortable around each other by practicing these two objectives during the actual workshop. There were two sessions – morning (29) and afternoon (23).
Findings
Continue reading Positive Customer Service ~ Del Norte County
Workshop Evaluation Findings 1st Meeting 2nd Meeting 3rd Meeting Coach Review
1/29/2014 – Workplace Enrichment "Workshop"
Evaluation Results – Mother Lode River Center, Leadership Team – 8 participants
1. How did it feel to attend today's workshop?
Continue reading Workplace Enrichment ~ Mother Lode River Center
How to Work As a Team
01/21/14 (18 participants)
by Joe Tassinari
As a team we made discoveries which are presented here as findings. Findings are another way to capture information and communicate as a team. You are welcome to use the “reply” section at the bottom of this post to place comments or ask questions.
Objective: To become a better team member.
Findings
What makes a good team? For our team that day, here are some items we believe make up a good team:
Acceptance of others' ideas
Communication
Role understanding
Consideration of people's time and workload
Appreciation
Commitment then Follow Through
Trust
Food
Levity
Respect
Focus on strengths of each individual
Camaraderie
Humor
Dependability
Flexible
How to Work As a Team
12/05/13 (14 participants)
by Joe Tassinari
As a team we made discoveries and they are presented here as findings. Findings are another way to capture information and communicate as a team. Please feel free to use the “reply” section at the bottom of this post to place comments or ask questions. It’s not fancy but it can be used as a forum.
Objective: To become a better team member.
Findings
What makes a good team? For our team that day, here are some items we believe make up a good team:
Open Mind
Humor
Trust
Everyone
Contributes
Have Each Other’s Back
Shared Vision and Goals
Open Communication
Playful
Commitment Beyond Compliance
Have Fun
Respect Each Other
Different Skills and Strengths
Responsibility
Observation Business Topics Closing Pictures Evaluation Results
10/28/13 – 12/18/13
by Joe Tassinari, WE Coach
Now that we’ve completed a full session of Workplace Enrichment (one workshop and three coached staff meetings) I'm sharing the following observations.
The workshop, held 10/28/13 established comfort and understanding among the participants. By the end of the workshop the executive team of Smart Building, Inc. were openly interacting and sharing views with one another. They arrived to a place of peacefulness and proved to themselves that positive interaction could be achieved.
Workshop 1st Staff Meeting 2nd Staff Meeting 3rd Staff Meeting Observation
10/28/13 – Workplace Enrichment "Workshop" Oakland, CA
Evaluation Results – Smart Building, Inc. Executive Management Team – 6 participants
1. Something I liked about today's training …
2. One important thing I learned today is …
Continue reading Workplace Enrichment – Smart Building, Inc.