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Reflections of a University Instructor

December 14, 2010 By Gina DeLapa

I wrote this last week for the USD (University of San Diego) counseling program newsletter. It’s a glimpse into what I do when I’m not promoting top performance in the workplace. Enjoy!

On Tuesday, Dec. 14th, my students and I will gather in a sunlit boardroom at Urban Corps, and enjoy one last group-supervision meeting. Warm smells of breakfast food will fill the air, holiday music will play in the background, and there’ll be lots of excited chitchat. A few of us might even dance.

We’ll do some actual work too, of course. But if anyone’s earned a celebration, these students have.

Practicum supervision gives emerging counselors a safe place to vent their concerns, reflect on their personal and professional growth, and share victories.

Some victories I’ve observed:

• Watching students go from shadowing their supervisors to meeting with clients on their own (and finding they much prefer it this way)

• A student’s chance encounter with a client in recovery, one that offers hope and encouragement, and quite possibly makes the difference in that client staying sober

• Seeing a lightbulb go on as students discover one more way to integrate theory into practice

• Reading in a student’s journal, “Last night’s process group rocked!” and “I guess I really am cut out for this work.”

I’m not giving up the paycheck, but I think it’s safe to say these victories are priceless.

Filed Under: Random Musings, Uncategorized

Thank Yous: 3 Ways to Make Them Count

November 24, 2010 By Gina DeLapa

Most of us understand, “It is in giving that we receive.” But have you noticed how the reverse is also true?  It is in receiving that we give.

When we don’t receive well, we rob someone else of the joy of giving — and, I’m sorry to say, we set ourselves up to be mocked. This is especially true in the workplace.

The Fruit-Basket Incident

Years ago, a bunch of co-workers in another department pooled their modest savings to buy their new boss a beautiful holiday fruit basket. They were proud of themselves for selecting such a nice gift, keeping it a surprise, and having it delivered to the boss’s house. You could hear them buzzing with excitement to see his reaction the next morning.

Big problem: There was no reaction. Just business as usual. Someone even called the company to make sure the thing got delivered. Yep, someone signed for it at 5:37.

At which point, the whole thing became funny, in a derisive, “Holy cow!” sort of way. The department was all but taking bets on when this guy would start munching one of his Harry and David pears right in front of them. Now instead of whispering about their excitement, they were whispering about every stupid thing their boss had ever done.

Is that kind? No. Is it reality? I think so. Imagine how deflated you would feel if you had been one of the contributors.

3 Ways to Give the Gift of Gratitude

1. Acknowledge. Whether it’s a gift basket, a letter of reference, or simply a job well done, acknowledge the good thing someone did for you. Even if it’s part of their job. Who doesn’t take pride in their contributions?

2. Be timely. In the case of the fruit-basket-receiving boss, even if he had thanked them later that week (which he didn’t), it wouldn’t have had the same impact. Don’t keep people in suspense.

3. Share your joy. One night last week, I shared my pizza with Thomas, the doorman in my building. He must have thanked me three different times, and told me how appreciated that made him feel. Who knew? Again, it’s in receiving that we give.

What are your workplace stories of giving and receiving? Please share them in the box below — the heartwarming and the horrific, the lessons in what to do and what not to do. We want to hear from you!

Filed Under: Communication / Etiquette, Random Musings, Uncategorized

A Time to Work, and a Time to Chill

October 2, 2010 By Gina DeLapa

So the other morning at Mass, we heard that incredible passage from Ecclesiastes, and I’ve been pondering it ever since. Here it is again, just for you. I encourage you to read it slowly, and to let it sink in:

There is an appointed time for everything,
and a time for every thing under the heavens.
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to tear down, and a time to build.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them;
a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away.
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
a time to be silent, and a time to speak.
A time to love, and a time to hate;
a time of war, and a time of peace.

What advantage has the worker from his toil?
I have considered the task that God has appointed
for the sons of men to be busied about.
He has made everything appropriate to its time,
and has put the timeless into their hearts,
without man’s ever discovering,
from beginning to end, the work which God has done. (Eccl 3:1-11)

I was so moved by this passage, I went home and scheduled a massage! I’m sure the author had something nobler in mind, but hey — I was just getting over an airplane-induced Nazi death cold, and my body was still stiff from the quick trip to the East coast and back. I’ve been pondering more serious questions ever since, like how to contribute more while traveling less.

What is it time for you to do, or stop doing? Where are you being called to let go? (I saw a great sign the other day — it said, “LET GO OR BE DRAGGED.” Amen, dude.) Leave me a comment, and let’s help one another lead exceptional lives of joy and service!

P.S. In case you’re a music fan, here’s that same passage in the song made famous by the Byrds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4ga_M5Zdn4

Filed Under: Personal Effectiveness, Random Musings, Uncategorized

Friday Quote for the Day

July 23, 2010 By Gina DeLapa

“I naively believe that self-love is 80 percent of the solution, that it helps beyond words to take yourself through the day as you would your most beloved mental-patient relative, with great humor and lots of small treats.”

Anne Lamott, Operating Instructions

Self-Care and Coaching

As a career coach, I have three goals: 1) to help you achieve more of what matter to you, 2) to help you succeed with my coaching in ways you might not have otherwise, and 3) have the whole thing be more fun and rewarding, not less.

Think of coaching as custom business training tailored to your exact needs — no wading through material that doesn’t apply, just you and I talking about whatever matters most to you. And in case you’re not able to see that last link, just click on Custom Coaching Programs at the top of this page, or go to http://maestroconsultinggroup.com/custom-coaching/.

Filed Under: Personal Effectiveness, Quote for the Day, Random Musings, Uncategorized

iPod touch to the Rescue

May 27, 2010 By Gina DeLapa

The other morning, during a long dental appointment that rendered my mouth immobilized (i.e., propped open as wide as Montana), I realized I was soon going to need to make a restroom stop. What’s a girl to do?

After thinking for a moment, I took my iPod touch, held it up to eye level, and used the Notes feature to tap out “Bathroom? Not urgent (yet).” Then I showed it to the assistant. “Perfect timing!” she said. And within a minute, I was happily making my way down the hall, sans mouth props. Problem solved. Thank you, Steve Jobs!

Tell us about a time when you had to communicate creatively. What was the challenge, how did you solve it, and what was the result?

Filed Under: Communication / Etiquette, Random Musings
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