Newspaper Page Text
♦ SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2008
6A
Serious contemplation - thinking about improvement
I heard a story about
an old dog lying on a
wooden porch. A neigh
bor stopped by for a visit and
heard the dog moaning. He
asked the dog’s owner about
the whimpering. The owner
said, “That lazy dog’s just
lying on a nail.” The neigh
bor asked, “Why doesn’t he
move?” The owner explained,
“I guess it doesn’t hurt quite
that much yet.”
That old dog won’t move
until the pain lasts longer
or grows stronger. How
does that compare with how
improvement manifests for
you and your organization?
When circumstances and
results are progressing well,
many people invoke the cli
che, “If it ain’t broke, don’t
fix it?” Yet when times turn
hard and situations are in
disarray, the tendency may
be to exclaim, “Let’s do
SOMETHING, even if it’s
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Contributed
Feagin Mill Middle School Principal Dr. Jesse Davis, along with the help of students
Blake Forbes and Arthur Brown, present Houston County Commission Chairman Ned
Sanders - for the whole of the county - a plaque in appreciation for ensuring sidewalks
were a part of the recent street widening project in that area.
SIDEWALKS
From page 4A
and not to have to ride
down Feagin Mill road
with all the traffic. It’s
saved us a lot of time.”
Blake Forbes, a
seventh grader who
walked through ditch
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GET RESULTS!
Run your
ffsemen r
wiTH us!
Jlimtstatt
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Building Future Leaders
Dennis
Hooper
Your
Leadership
Coach
wrong!”
Two weeks ago, I intro
duced six stages of change
as described in the book
Changing for Good by James
Prochaska, John Norcross,
and Carlo DiClemente.
Those six stages are precon
templation, contemplation,
preparation, action, mainte
nance, and termination. (If
you missed those articles,
contact me and I’ll provide a
copy.) Last week I focused on
precontemplation; this week
we move to the next stage,
es and construction for
two years leading up
to the sidewalks, sec
onded that, and even
took it a step further:
“Thank you,” he said.
“I’ve wasted a lot of
money on shoes. And
it’s (now) a lot easier
and safer to get to my
Thank You Houston County
for electing me to serve once again as your
Post 3 Representative for the Board of
Education. This is always a great honor as
well as a challenge. I am lookingfonvard to
serving with my distinguished colleagues, to
make Houston County an unprecedented world
class school district. Successful School Boards
mean successful students.
PL Qiffis ‘K (Skip) Dawkins Jm
i|r. (Post }
TjM' 'J-iouston County ’Boardof 1
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offer. May not be combined with any other offer. One
coupon per visit at the listed store. While supplies last.
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contemplation.
Precontemplation is
characterized by avoiding
thinking about the situa
tion. The resistance may be
active (such as denying a
problem exists) or passive
(such as not being aware
that an improvement would
be possible or desirable).
Transition into the contem
plation stage is characterized
by an overt, active interest
in deeply understanding the
situation.
Anything that brings
about increased awareness
is welcomed. The individual
is usually eager to talk about
what led to the current cir
cumstances, seeking assur
ance from supporters that
this new interest is under
standable and has some
potential for leading toward
improvement.
At this stage, individuals
want to progress, but they
house.”
- Don Moncrief/
for the Editorial
Board
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may be reluctant to move
into the next stages (prepa
ration and action) due to the
normal anxieties associated
with change. They may won
der if the timing is right or
if conditions might improve
on their own. They may fear
the unknown or doubt they
will successfully achieve the
desired improvement. They
may lack knowledge about
the potential future state or
wonder how they’ll handle
success when they arrive
there.
Past clients in this stage
wonder, “How have I lim
ited myself in the past by
treating my direct reports
as mere followers? Would
our organization have been
stronger at this point if I
had delegated more respon
sibility and expected more
initiative? What would be
different if I had been inten
tionally stretching their
BOE honors Dyson, Cyr and Kirvin
By CHARLOTTE
PERKINS
Journal Staff Writer
In a meeting notable for
applause and expressions of
appreciation, the Houston
County Board of Education
paid special tribute Monday
to an educator, the head of a
local construction company
and a minister.
Honored were:
■ Ed Dyson. Executive
Director of Secondary
Education for the system,
mentor to many other educa
tors and longtime civic and
church leader;
■ Dave Cyr, (SEO of Parrish
Construction, whose com
pany has contributed over
$6,000 a year to help fund
special events and programs,
as well as being responsi
ble for the construction of a
number of local schools;
■ The Rev. Josh Kirvin of
First Baptist Garmon Street
in Warner Robins, who has
led the church’s efforts to
support Lindsey Elementary
Thank You
Houston
County for
your support
and your
[70667
confidence in me as
your Superior Court
Judge. I will continue
to strive to conduct
myself and your
court in a manner
that will justify your
decision.
ftMay each ,of you
have a joyful
holiday season.
With sincere thanks
and best wishes,
(fe&txpe Ttcuuir
'
leadership skills? If my
direct reports start think
ing and acting like leaders
rather than followers, what
new demands will that place
on me?”
The questions that come
up during this contempla
tion stage are rational,
but have strong emotional
underpinnings. There may
be excitement at the pros
pects of a stronger future,
regrets about past decisions,
and apprehension about
handling all the unknowns
that are likely to present
themselves.
Many people find an ally
(a friend, mentor, or coach)
beneficial at this stage. The
colleague provides an under
standing perspective, offers
unconditional support and
acceptance, and helps with
research, seeking informa
tion and greater awareness.
Together they generate pos
School. The church has con
tributed up to $20,000 a year
to its adopted school. Kirvin
said the award should real
ly go to BOE member Fred
Wilson, who is a member
of his church, and has been
strong supporter of church
support of schools in disad
vantaged neighborhoods.
■ Among others recog
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sibilities for building a future
culture that delivers better
results for both employees
and customers.
The contemplation stage
moves you from your former
denial, resistance, or lack of
awareness into a willingness
to prepare for . new behav
iors. You’re ready to move
out of the contemplation
stage when you conclude
that the advantages of mak
ing improvement outweigh
the advantages of maintain
ing what currently exists.
Please join me next week
when we investigate the
importance of the prepara
tion stage.
Dennis Hooper helps
leaders enhance their
organization’s culture.
Contact Dennis Hooper at
dhooper2@juno.com or 478-
988-0237. You may see his
work at www.buildingfu
tureleaders.com.
nized at the meeting were
Teachers of the Year Cristy
Waters from Centerville
Elementary; Anita Hornsby
from Northside Elementary;
Michael Paalz from Perry
Middle School, and Alan
Bowers from Houston
County High School, as well
as outstanding students from
those schools.
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Sat.
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