Most of you in the professional work force have most likely been through some sort of performance evaluation or review. Some companies review once a year, while some companies review their employees twice a year. Whatever the frequency, I think we can all agree that from the perspective of the person being reviewed, we go through the evaluation in hopes that the work we have done for the company was good enough to be recognized by upper management, and good enough to earn a merit increase.

Every year our company reviews our performance evaluation process in an effort to improve the format of the review. For years, the format of our review has consisted of a number of open-ended questions that we are expected to extrapolate upon with essay style answers. Then we sit down and review our answers with our assigned manager.

It is that time of year again, at i.d.o. Incorporated. A committee of us are sitting down to evaluate our performance evaluation process with the intentions of developing a format that all of the employees will like. We are reviewing evaluation processes from other companies to find something that could work for i.d.o.

Which leads me to ask all of you: What evaluation format does the company you work for use? What format for evaluation would you most like to use? Do you want to review yourself or do you want someone else to review you? Do you have any other thoughts about performance evaluations?

A trio of i.d.o. associates (Jill, Amanda, and Lee) attended NeoCon 2010, and we’d like to take this opportunity to share with you some of our favorite new innovations! Amid our tightly-packed schedule of tours and educational seminars, here’s what we discovered in the world of new products:

Designtex WriteUp h2o: a water-based writeable surface paint that can be applied to any prepared surface—for example, conference room walls. It’s a clear coat that will show paint color through, so no limitations to color and your overall design! This product contains low VOCs too, only 45 grams per liter. It works with any dry erase markers and can contribute toward LEED points!

Steelcase Node chair: This is a chair-desk-backpack holder all in one. The chair makes classroom arrangement and rearrangement easy. The desk portion is in the form of a tablet arm, and is comfortable for right-handed people and “lefties” too! The basket below the seat is a great place to store backpacks and books, leaving aisle ways clear.

Durkan Hospitality Synthesis: a new technology from Durkan that features customizable choices for pairing pattern and texture together, with the option to do a custom pattern. This product is a great alternative to woven carpets, being that it’s at a better price point and has better stain and soil protection.

Bernhardt Curio table: an occasional table, introduced to us by the designer himself! The table is available in many wood finishes and some fun color finishes as well. The top allows for inserts made of glass, leather, or COM materials such as solid surface or stone. The table is available in three different sizes.

Davis SITE table: a new approach to conferencing. The SITE table is a beautiful piece of furniture as well as a technologically-smart product. It allows for collaboration—its 20” height lends itself to a more casual conferencing environment.

Tandus Powerbond technology: Tandus has introduced a new product—not necessarily a carpet, but a VCTT (Variable Cushion Tufted Textile). The product has a layer of resilient sheet goods fused to a nylon wear layer. It’s been used in various market segments.

Falcon Lucky chair: The Lucky chair features a single-body shell with two-color finish on the front and back and a non-slip texture on the seat. The chair is available in regular height and stool height. It comes with or without arms and is available with glides or a leg base. The backside is available in six colors.

Coalesse Power Pod: The Power Pod is a clever solution for covering technology access and storage. The technology piece offers six outlets. The cover piece offers storage for pens, pencils, a small notepad, etc. and conceals the outlets when they’re not being used. The Power Pod is portable and can be used on any work surface or table.

Among other favorites, the aforementioned were some of the most memorable ones.

If you attended NeoCon 2010, what products/innovations sparked your interest? Do you have any other information to add to the above products? Thank you very much for your interest and feedback!

Submitted by: Lee Boyland

Images at top:
Bernhardt Curio table
Steelcase Node chair
Coalesse Power Pod
Durkan Hospitality Synthesis
Falcon Lucky Chair
Designtex WriteUp

Twitter, Facebook, My Space, Bebo, Ava Living, LinkedIn, etc. What do all of these mean to me, what can they do for me, and what in the world is it? Social Networking can no longer be considered a “fad” and has quickly become one of the preferred methods of communication and connection for the masses (or at least those who actively maintain an account on one of the aforementioned entities).

The primary focus of these sites is to be a tool for communication and connectivity. They allow us to keep “tabs” on old classmates, friends, colleagues, and, for some (go ahead and admit it) keep an eye on our children. Some of these social networking sites are committed to specific niches such as collegiate athletics or specific professions. For instance, “Ava Living” is dedicated to connecting Interior Designers. Facebook tends to be more for personal use, but with the ability to create “Pages,” it is becoming more of an avenue for businesses and organizations to advertise and reach a larger pool of people. LinkedIn remains a good site for Professionals to network through “degrees of separation”. It is also great for creating and maintaining business contacts, job searching (with the ability to have access to a “living resume”) and both personal and business references. Additionally, there have been instances of entrepreneurs who have been able to grow their businesses through use of these tools.

If you are looking to get “connected” and join the ranks of those who are already working the cyber network, my advice would be to research what you feel would most benefit your needs and keep just a few manageable accounts. Here is an article I found on listing the “Most Popular Social Networking Sites for Business Networking” that you might find helpful: Social Networking Reviews

What social networking sites are you using and what are your favorites? Do you have any success stories where the use of Social Networking has benefitted you or your business? Check out the i.d.o. Incorporated social networking efforts here. We hope you will become a Fan!

Submitted By: Amanda Medlen

Merriam-Webster defines RECOGNITION as acknowledging an individual’s due diligence or effort(s) with appreciation … (i.e., with a special emphasis on “appreciation” – that’s my personal add-on). I’m sure that over your career, at one time or another, you have heard the words … “Great job!”, “Well done!” or even better, “You are such an awesome teammate, I just love working on projects with you!” Doesn’t it just feel great to hear those few simple words filter through your ears – from time to time by a colleague, superior, boss or client? Yes, it sure does … I know it does to me. After receiving those complimentary words, we usually get a spring in our step, run a little faster and jump a little higher. Receiving positive comments and/or rewards normally helps us to maintain a sense of motivation, strive for improvement and continue to do the best we can possibly do.

By dusting off and referencing my old Management Psychology text book from college, (yes, many, many years ago Amanda & Lee), I remember studying about “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs”. Psychologist, Abraham Maslow developed a five (5) step theory on the needs of human beings which lay out the basic components of life that people need in order to survive and thrive. Maslow went onto theorize that these needs have to be fulfilled before an individual could move on to the next level or stage.

In case I have peaked your interest and you want to know more about “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs”, the progression of these needs are as follows:

1.) Physiological Needs are biological related items that you need to stay alive … air, food & water. Needless to say, these needs rank as the strongest needs of all because an individual requires these things to survive.
2.) Safety Needs – After fulfilling physiological needs, individuals seek security. While adults usually display security conscientiousness during emergency siuations, children on the other hand constantly demonstrate signs of needing to feel safe … on a more regular basis.
3.) Needs of Love, Affection and Belonging – To satisfy this phase and in order to move on to the next level, individuals must promote self worth and value by giving and receiving attention, care and support to and with others. This display of affection creates a positive sense of belonging.
4.) Self Esteem Needs – After satisfying the physiological needs, safety needs and needs of love etc., the need for self identification becomes important. Naturally, all individuals possess a desire for self-respect as well as a need for respect from others. On the contrary, when these needs are not satisfied, there is a feeling of frustration, inferiority, weakness, helplessness and worthlessness.
5.) Self-Actualization Needs are realized after the previous four (4) needs are met. Maslow further characterized self-actualization as an individual being and doing what he or she was born to do.

Food for thought:
o So, how does RECOGNITION play out in your workplace?
o Do individuals seem to be motivated less by basic needs and more for something that creates personal fulfillment, esteem and self-actualization?
o Are individuals motivated by things other than money often through other rewards?

Our hard work and efforts result in paycheck compensation which helps us to survive in society. However, the opportunity for an individual to thrive and demonstrate his/her ‘best side’ is an incredibly powerful motivator.
Recognition is not only good for your career but it’s also great for your health.

In closing, President John F. Kennedy once said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

In our 2 year old home we have a two-story stairwell that has been waiting to be painted since the day we moved in. I was able to talk my father into making the 2 hour trip to our house to help us with this challenge.

He brought with him a heavy duty extension ladder, a very sturdy 2” x 12” x 12’ plank and a gallon of Floetrol. I already had in my arsenal all of the paint brushes, rollers and paint that would be needed. One new item I had recently purchased, but had not used yet, was a Shur-line adjustable extension pole I purchased at Lowe’s. The pole attaches to the end of a paint roller handle in order to reach taller heights.

My father set the ladder on one of the stair treads and leaned it back against the back wall of the stairwell. Then he set the plank on one of the ladder rungs and the other end of the plank set on the stair landing. To raise the height of the plank up a little more to be able to reach the top of the wall, we then gathered a few scrap pieces of 4”x 4” posts that we had recently cut and set those under the end of the blank on the landing.

We did some patching and sanding of nail pops and other imperfections on the dry wall before starting any painting. Then he proceeded to trim around the tops of the walls at the ceiling and around the doorframes. Because of his years of experience he could do this freehanded, but for most people, you may want to tape your baseboards, doorframes and the ceiling where it meets the top of the wall. He then rolled on the first coat of paint and let it dry over night. The next day he took the Floetrol and mixed it with the paint and then proceeded with the second coat.

This was the first time I had heard of Floetrol, but I got to see it in use. Floetrol is a latex paint additive. It helps to eliminate brush and roller marks and allows paint to adjust to extreme hot or cold temperatures and even high humidity (great for bathroom applications). It also extends the drying time of paint, which can be handy when you are trying to create faux finish effects on a wall, or in the case of my project, paint a wall that spans two floor levels.

FLOETROL AT LOWE’S

My father used the brand new Shur-line extension pole to reach all the way up the wall to the ceiling. After he used the adjustable pole, he said that it really made this particular job much easier. He was able to reach all the way to the top of the wall and as he drew the roller down toward the stairs, he was able to retract the pole to a shorter length in the narrow stairwell. He liked it so much he wanted to know where I bought it because he was going to go pick one up.

SHUR-LINE EASY REACH EXTENSION POLE

In short, when tackling a hard to paint area do your research, tap the minds and experiences of those you know with more knowledge about painting challenging spaces and have the right tools.

Like so many people I wanted to do my part on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Since the weather forecast was not so rosy, I looked for another option and found Planet Indy: Gestalt Gardening with Felder Rushing. Irreverent, humorous and knowledgeable, Felder spoke of Horticulture versus Gardening and his gestalt approach to enjoying his own sacred place.

Horticulture is linear, planned, regimented, processed and goes by the book, which is full of Latin. It requires chemicals, weeding, watering, fussing, mowing, trimming, backaches, headaches and heartbreak when plants won’t grow.

Gardening gives people the right to lighten up, be outside the box, plant what they love and what grows naturally, requires low maintenance, little to no watering, weeding, chemicals, mowing or trimming. A true garden is a place of divine beauty as it reflects the spirit of it’s’ owner. The Gardener’s Bill of Rights proclaims:

 You can have as many wind chimes as you can afford to buy
 You are free to miss-pronounce names of plants or not know the names at all
 You are allowed to place clashing colors together just like nature
 You can plant in clumps not rows or plant just one of something
 You are allowed to pronounce the “H” in herb
 You are free to grow NO GRASS AT ALL
 You can create a garden anywhere
 You must accessorize
 You are free to plant Bottle trees – they are beautiful!

Free your garden and yourself by trying something different. Give yourself a sacred place to enjoy. For inspiration visit Felder’s website at http://www.felderrushing.net

Presented by the Indianapolis Museum of Art Planet Indy is a monthly series of guest speakers addressing Sustainability. For more information and future events go to
http://www.imamuseum.org

By the age of seven, I had spent half of my life and most of what I remember up to that point abroad. In 1990, already working for General Motors for some time, my father was offered a three-year position at a plant in Luxembourg. My parents pondered the opportunity, accepted, and off we went! Because of the differences in architecture from what we know in the United States, I thought I’d take the opportunity to share with you some of what surrounded me at an early age.

As a child, I knew that there were some differences between Indiana and Luxembourg, such as cultural and language differences, the landscape, the food, and of course differences architecturally. My parents really took advantage of the traveling and sight-seeing that could be done, taking my brother and me along on weekend trips throughout Luxembourg and surrounding nations. For a child, I remember a good deal of our travels, whether or not I appreciated their educational value! I’ve attached some images to this blog—photographs my parents took and others found online of different landmarks around the Luxembourgish landscape!

Background:
Luxembourg is home to just under 500,000 people—up to 43% of whom are foreigners! Luxembourg has the highest population of foreigners of any European Union nation. The national language is Luxembourgish—a combination of French and German languages. It is spoken by native Luxembourgers but not my many others. French and German are the official languages of Luxembourg, spoken by most inhabitants. These are the languages used in business, in schools and in church. Luxembourg is a very small country—100 kilometers from North to South and 50 kilometers East to West, with a total area of 2,500 square kilometers or 999 square miles! The dominant religion found in Luxembourg is Roman Catholicism—with the rest being Protestants, Jews and Muslims.

What are some architectural elements that were part of your childhood? What great structures or styles of architecture have influenced you? Please share!

Photo #1:
“The Grund” (a quarter in central Luxembourg City known for pubs and restaurants but also as a residential area)

Photo #2:
American Military Cemetary and the grave of General George Patton

Photo #3:
Our home! 4 Rue Jean Schneider, Mamer, Luxembourg

Photo #4:
Another photo of The Grund

Photo #5:
The (in)famous red bridge…this was a landmark for me. During the summers, we would go back to Kokomo, and as we would fly back in for the school year, I always knew we were home when I could see the red bridge below!

Submitted by: Lee Boyland

Congratulations to the Butler Bulldogs for their successful season and NCAA tournament! The Bulldogs captured the hearts and imaginations of college basketball fans nationwide with their improbable NCAA run. Upsetting a Syracuse team that many “experts” favored to win the tournament in the Elite Eight, and Big Ten power Michigan State in the National Semifinal was not enough; Butler knew they belonged with the “big boys.”

Looking back on the NCAA Tournament, I think we all learned, or re-learned, an important lesson thanks to Indianapolis’ own Butler Bulldogs. First, most every analyst predicted Butler to lose most every game they played starting with Syracuse. At that point in time, it was understandable. Syracuse has been a national power for years led by Jim Boeheim, a future NCAA Hall of Fame lock. Butler didn’t get the message… They won. Then they faced the Michigan State Spartans led by another future Hall of Fame coach, Tom Izzo. Still, Butler won a very close game and advanced to the Final Four. Again, someone forgot to tell them they were supposed to lose. In the NCAA Final, Butler faced Duke University, a program led by Hall of Famer “Coach K” and his three national championships. Duke is home to some of the most celebrated basketball teams and players in NCAA history. Butler would surely lose by 20 points… Experts were convinced that Butler just couldn’t hang with Duke… It was unthinkable.

Butler ignored all the negative sentiments and continued to do what made them successful… They played to their strengths and nearly conquered their modern day Goliath. Butler lost by only 2 points to the team that was supposed to thrash them by twenty points or more. They even had two chances to win the game at the end… Butler proved that it’s not the size of the dog, or Bulldog in the fight that really matters.

March Madness made me wonder why can’t we all be “Bulldogs”? If we stick to what we do best, focus on our clients’ needs, customer service, satisfaction, and have fun, success will follow.

Submitted By: Amanda Medlen

The 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, was assassinated in November of 1963, The Beatles appeared live on stage (in front of 250 screaming teenagers) on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 and the USA Olympic Hockey Team won a Gold Medal at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. When I ask my colleagues if they remember or saw any videos related to any of these significant events, they quickly respond back to me by saying, “I was minus 25, minus 22 or minus 6 when that happened.” I can’t help but chuckle to myself and immediately think about the many cultural differences and diversities between Baby Boomers (me) and the Generation Xers & Millennial (pretty much the rest of the office personnel).

So, in an effort to encourage the different generational classes to be able to work together in a harmonious manner, I researched some Generational Gap DO’s & DON’Ts to share with you. With permission from the “Walk the Talk Company,” I was granted approval to duplicate and distribute the below resource information for your review and for hopeful discussion material:

The DOs and DON’Ts for Working Effectively with Every Generation:

• DO recognize and accept that generational differences naturally influence our ideas, expectations, values, perceptions and behaviors.

• DO accept that you can learn from others’ different life experiences, perspectives and approaches – just as others can learn from you.

• Be willing to flex your natural style and preferences in order to work more effectively with all of your colleagues. Continually remind yourself that increased cooperation and collaboration result in greater success for EVERYONE.

• DO remember that each individual brings something special to the table. Each person represents a piece that must be present in order for your organizational puzzle to be complete.

• DO focus on what REALLY matters: PRODUCTIVITY; TEAMWORK; CUSTOMER SERVICE AND MUTUAL SUCCESS!!!

• DON’T “Profile” or Stereotype! Avoid judging your colleagues’ capabilities by what they wear, how they approach tasks, or what hours they seem to work.

• DON’T ridicule others. Avoid derogatory statements like “dinosaur”, “punk kid”, “bureaucrat,” etc., as these labels are disrespectful, degrading and counterproductive to group cohesion.

• DON’T assume that all members of any given generation think and behave exactly the same. While trends and similarities will exist within age groups, members of those groups still are INDIVIDUALS and should be treated as such.

• DON’T entertain the arrogant belief that your way is the BEST way and ONLY way. If you catch yourself falling into that trap, then take a moment to reflect on the successes your TEAM has experienced from diverse people and approaches.

• DON’T presume that your time, your ideas, your feelings or your individual goals are more important than those of your colleagues.

Effective interaction between all generations in the workplace is paramount to a Firm’s success. The assembly and coming together of Baby Boomers, Generation Xers & Yers, will only and truly be effective if there is open communication … with a sincere focus on the common good of the company.

Submitted by Gary K. Pino, FMP

by: Melanie Wilhelm

Every year as the winter season comes to an end and the buds of spring begin, I get excited with anticipation for planting season. I can hardly wait to visit my favorite greenhouses, seeking plants to use in my containers and landscape.
Weeks before the plants start to show up on the racks, I start thinking about colors, textures, shapes and heights of plants, how to arrange them and where to put them around the house.
Once I’ve made all of my purchases, I set up a planting bench and get to work. I get everything planted in a certain arrangement within the container, fill with soil, and then water well before setting or hanging the containers around the house.
But then, the blasting heat of the summer gets here. When it is really hot, I have to water the plants every day in order to keep them alive and healthy. I can use a lot of water in one summer just watering the plants (not to mention watering our newly planted grass). As many of us who pay a city water bill know “Water isn’t free”!
Or could it be free?
Last year, one rainy day as I was looking out the window, I observed all of the water gushing out of our five down spouts. “Wait a minute.” I said aloud to myself, “How can I capture that water so I can use it to water my plants?” So I started doing some research and found that I was not the only one wondering this same thing.
I found a plethora of rain barrels for sale on line. There are many different companies selling various sizes, shapes and colors of containers that can capture your rainwater from your home’s down spouts. I thought I would share a few with you just in case you might be interested in saving some money and capturing the free water that nature already gives us: Rain.

Home Depot
Lowe’s
Rain Barrel Source
Rain Barrels and More
Aaron’s Rain Barrels and More
Video Example of Installation