May 2005 Newsletter
The Broken Plate
An elderly man lived with his son who had become a successful accountant after working through college.
The son's wife, however, didn't like the arrangement. The old man's hands trembled so much that he clattered the silverware and dropped food on the tablecloth. When he tried to help around the yard, he often pulled out her new flowers. "I can't have this," she said.
Thus, she banned him from her flower beds, and her husband purchased a special chair and gently set the old man at a separate table where he could still join in the conversation.
One day, the old man's hands trembled rather more than usual, and his plate fell and broke.
Determined to find some solution, the daughter-in-law bought a large plastic tray for the old man.
One day, the young accountant found his four-year-old son playing with some bits of wood. "I'm making a trough," the boy said, looking up for approval, "to feed you and Mama out of when I get big."
The man and his wife looked at each other and didn't say anything, but they took the old man's new chair and moved it to the kitchen table. From that day forward, the old man ate with the rest of the family, and nobody complained about the clatter or the spills.
Honor becomes most difficult when we must face the harsh realities of others' needs. Make an effort to value others, even when it costs you something.
Smart Business
Respecting each person paves the way for a successful enterprise.
Customer Relations
A business should communicate value to each customer. Train workers to honor their customers when on the phone, behind the sales counter, in the check stand, waiting tables, repairing equipment, selling products, managing inventory, or fulfilling any other responsibilities within your company. Good listening habits and discrete conflict resolution will improve customer retention and satisfaction, which is good for anyone's business.Teamwork and Productivity
A distinguished businessman said, "It's amazing what can be accomplished when no one is concerned about who gets the credit." Instead of honoring yourself and your achievements, work to advance the purposes of your organization and make your managers, coworkers, and shareholders successful. This builds teamwork and productivity.Chain of Responsibility
Honor also allows the chain of responsibility to function smoothly within an organization. When directors make a decision, they rely on those under their jurisdiction to implement the plan. If the employees do not cooperate, the result would be chaos. Honor among the management and staff allows an organization to function efficiently.Honor is good business.
Character-Based Correction
When young people need correction, look beyond surface problems to the heart of the
matter—their character.
1. Prepare the Way
Build positive relationships before correction is needed. Give clear instructions and praise students for their good character so that they know exactly what is expected. Warn them of the consequences for disobeying instructions or doing wrong.2. Approach Wisely
Deal with problems when they occur instead of allowing them to grow worse. However, do not act in anger because anger will provoke a reaction rather than restore the relationship. Use a calm, serious tone of voice, and speak to students one-on-one instead of embarrassing them in front of a crowd.3. Deal With the Heart
Once you clarify what happened, trace a student's actions to a specific lack of character. Appeal to the conscience by asking questions such as "Was that truthful?" or "Were you attentive?" or "Was that showing self-control?" or "Was that the responsible thing to do?"4. Restore With Forgiveness
If a student admits wrongdoing and you see a change of heart, give the student a chance to make it right. "I was wrong. Will you forgive me?" These words are difficult, but they are necessary for the student to restore his or her relationships.After the student seeks forgiveness, you will probably still need to administer consequences or encourage the student to make restitution as a reminder of the gravity of the offense. However, you can focus positive attention on future action by asking, "What should you do the next time you're in this situation?"
5. Remember the Key Questions
Here are 6 Key Questions to guide you when correcting your students:—"Can we step aside and talk for a minute?" (Deal individually and not in anger.)
—"Can you tell me what you did?" (Establish what happened.)
—"Was that being ______?" (Appeal to the conscience by applying the standard of character.)
—"Do you see why this was wrong?" (Look for a change of heart.)
—"Would you like to make it right?" (Restore relationship with forgiveness.)
—"What should you do the next time you're in this situation?" (End on a positive note.)
By Robert Greenlaw
Exhibiting Character
Besides watching the lions and the black bears, families visiting the Topeka Zoo on April 23 got an extra treat.
The first 1,000 families through the gate received complimentary copies of Achieving True Success: How to
Build Character as a Family, which lists 49 character words, defines them, and uses a particular animal to
illustrate each concept. Inside the zoo, the book doubled as a field guide, helping families complete a
"Character Quest" scavenger hunt. Participants matched character traits with the animals in the zoo and
turned in their sheet for the chance to win a grand prize.
The Topeka Character Council hosted this first annual "Family Character Fair" as part of their Topeka City
of Character initiative. The Council teamed up with local businesses, media outlets, and other organizations
to bring whole families a "day filled with fun" and promote awareness of good character. The event started
at 10 A.M. Saturday and lasted until 4 P.M.
Attendees received a discount for admission to the zoo if they could name the month's character quality, and participants had fun eating free cotton candy, getting their faces painted, jumping up and down on the tiger moonwalk, and sliding down the big inflatable slide. Pony rides and carnival games added to the festivities, and numerous prizes were drawn throughout the day.
Participating community organizations were on hand to interact with zoo visitors. Organizers were grateful for the sunny, though chilly, day, and zoo officials reported above-average attendance.