Cardboard painting by Shreveport artist Steven Soffer - 2012 (detail)

Cardboard painting by Shreveport artist Steven Soffer - 2012 (detail), originally uploaded by debchrisjoseph.

Click on image to see more original artwork by Mr. Soffer.

Integrity, Competence, and Caring are the Key Factors of Trust

Source:   http://congregationalresources.org

Photo:  Debbie Buchanan Engle

...what are the components of trust? How can they be planted and nurtured? What resources might help you to do that? 

"Expert" voices from diverse disciplines tend to agree that (1) distrust is widespread; (2) over time, trust can be eroded by small blunders as surely as by major violations; and (3) the basic components of trust include integrity, competence, and caring.

A report from Robert Hurley, "The Decision to Trust," notes that half of all business managers do not trust their leaders. The reason? Surprisingly, it's usually not tied to some egregious wrongdoing. Rather, it's often tied to leaders' little half-truths—along with their secrecy, their failure to keep their word, their unfounded claims of competence, and their ultimate lack of "benevolent concern" for employees.

With these clues about what erodes trust, what have researchers concluded about the factors that build it? While they call them by different names, they consistently cite integrity, competence, and caring as the key factors of trust.

Cathleen McGrath and Deone Zell's study in MITSloan Management Review, "Profiles of Trust: Who to Turn To, and for What," defines "trust" as "the willingness to take risks or be vulnerable to another person when there is something of importance to be lost." 

Naming the attributes of trust as "integrity, ability, and benevolence," McGrath and Zell portray eight kinds of "trustees," based on the varying degrees to which they demonstrate these attributes:

1. Moral Compass—high integrity; shows strong sense of right and wrong;
2. Star Player—high ability (or competence); is skilled and talented;
3. Cheerleader—high benevolence (or caring); gives unconditional support;
4. Harsh Truth-teller—high integrity and ability; demonstrates sharp clarity;
5. Loyal Supporter—high integrity and benevolence; is honorable and supportive;
6. Dealmaker—high ability and benevolence; wants what will "work" for all;
7. Trustworthy Partner—high integrity, ability, and benevolence; most valued;
8. Average Joe—middling but not very high integrity, ability, or benevolence.

Each type demonstrates admirable qualities, but trust can go down if one attribute consistently trumps another. The "cheerleaders" who compromise their integrity, or the "star players" who don't care for others, will lose trust sooner or later.

Perhaps you recognize yourself, your colleague, or an employee in one of these portraits. But you also recognize that each of you can move toward the "trustworthy partner" portrait by building and communicating integrity, competence, and caring.

Websites going black to protest anti-piracy bills in Congress

The Artwork of Leonard Maiden

Shreveport artist...amazing person...check him out NOW.

His work + music by Shreveporter Alan Dyson = fantastic video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IncV7gI9XlQ

Internet Censorship Act + Chamber of Commerce = NO FREE SPEECH

Sponsored by:  CREDO Action

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is at the forefront of efforts to pass the Internet Censorship Act, which fundamentally threatens the internet as we know it.

If the bill passes, corporate copyright holders would be able to demand the government shut down a website based on nothing more than an allegation that the website contains copyrighted material. And the government could do this even without a court order.

The free speech implications of this kind of extra-judicial government censorship of the internet is chilling. It's nothing short of an outright attack on our free internet.

Google, which is strongly opposed to the Internet Censorship Act and has an unofficial motto of "Don't be evil," is a member of the Chamber of Commerce. But the Chamber's all-out support of this incredibly dangerous legislation has reportedly caused Google to consider quitting the right-wing organization in protest.

Tell Google: Quit the Chamber of Commerce.

If Google leaves the Chamber, it will further reveal that the Chamber is nothing more than a front group for a small handful of wealthy corporate special interests. And this will further chip away at the Chamber's grandiose claim to broadly represent the interests of the American business community.

We've already seen a number of big corporations including Yahoo and Apple leave the Chamber, and it's a very big deal that Google is reportedly considering the same thing right now.

This is a case where the business interests of Google align with the needs of all of us who depend on the free and open internet.

Tell Google: Quit the Chamber of Commerce.

Progressives have any number of reasons to want to see the influence of the Chamber of Commerce diminish.

As the election season heats up, we'll almost certainly see the Chamber run vicious smear campaigns against people running against any number of right-wing extremists.

But more fundamentally, whether it's shilling for Big Oil or the tobacco companies or media giants, the Chamber is the poster child for how wealthy corporate money corrupts our system of government.

We have a chance now to help Google to do the right thing and quit the Chamber. Now's the time to speak out. 

Tell Google: Quit the Chamber of Commerce.
 
PETITION:  http://www.change.org/suggested?petition_id=174719

_________________________________________________________________
FOR MORE INFO ON S.O.P.A.:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Online_Piracy_Act

25 Rules for Mothers of Sons

Joseph, Zator, and Lee...The Boys

Former school-teacher = Deputy Secretary of the Louisiana Revenue Department??

"Crony capitalism...is the name of the Republican game." ~Robert Scheer
 

 January 07, 2012--3:12 PM CDT

Former State Rep. Jane Smith, a term-limited state representative from Bossier City who lost a contentious battle for a state Senate seat, has a new job with Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration, the Shreveport Times reports.

Jane Smith, a Republican whose term as the District 8 member of the state House of Representatives ends Monday, is taking an appointment as deputy secretary of the Louisiana Revenue Department, it was announced today. Smith's hiring is drawing fire from political watchdogs who say that Smith is not qualified for the job. 

Shreveport demographer Elliot Stonecipher said that this is "more evidence of what we said all along up here about how Teepell / Jindal were in charge of her campaign for the Senate, and how much she's been in on what they've been doing for the last four years."

This no-doubt high-salary will be on top of her teacher retirement.

"All of us, of course, have to worry now about her tampering with our state income taxes, I guess. I hope that's a joke, but I'm not sure."

In an email sent to his subscribers, good-government watchdog C.B. Forgotston said that Smith's hiring was proof that "The 'Roads Scholar' (Jindal) is continuing to reduce unemployment in Louisiana."

Forgotston wrote that "Today, we learn that another soon-to-be, unemployed, politician will be quickly employed by the taxpayers of Louisiana.

Term-limited and recently defeated for the state senate, Rep. Jane Smith will not miss a single feeding from the public trough.

Despite mid-year budget cuts to Higher Ed and Healthcare, there's always room for another "good ol' boy" or in this case a "good ol' gal" at the public trough.

The more things change..

This latest political hiring follows the hires of Kevin Davis who was term-limited as St. Tammany Parish President, and Craig Taffaro who was defeated for reelection as St. Bernard Parish President.

It's yet to be confirmed what Smith's salary will be, but it the previous political hirings are any indication it will be six-figures. All will be getting increases from their previous feedings at the public trough.

In addition, Smith currently draws $64,000 annually from the Teachers Retirement system and her husband is being paid $94,000 a year as Assistant Superintendent of Bossier Parish Schools.

A good guess is that starting next week, the two Smiths will draw from the public trough approximately $250,000, annually. Not too shabby for a couple of school teachers.

Outrage?

If Edwin Edwards was the governor cutting Higher Ed and Heathcare while employing out-of-work political cronies like Jindal, there would be a huge public outcry. However, with Jindal, there is nothing but deafening silence.

Forgotston wondered, "Where's outrage?"

http://www.thedeadpelican.com for updates
(C) THE DEAD PELICAN 2012

Mussels from locally-owned Shreveport gastropub: Anvil

All photos by Debbie Buchanan Engle

Anvil's Executive Chef is Stuart P. Dyson.

Alan showing Joseph the ropes.

Joseph takes his first bite.

Freshly-baked bread for "sopping."

Anvil is owned by Shreveport restaurateur, Joe Fertitta

...Like butterflies.

'Don't be afraid, everything will be alright' by Ben Javens

Source:  http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/page/2/

'Ignore both of them' by Eleni Kalorkoti

Source:  http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/page/2/

A List of Don’ts for Women on Bicycles Circa 1895

By: Maria Popova
 
We’ve already seen how the bicycle emancipated women, but it wasn’t exactly a smooth ride. The following list of 41 don’ts for female cyclists was published in 1895 in the newspaper New York World by an author of unknown gender. Equal parts amusing and appalling, the list is the best (or worst, depending on you look at it) thing since the Victorian map of woman’s heart.

• Don’t be a fright.
• Don’t faint on the road.
• Don’t wear a man’s cap.
• Don’t wear tight garters.
• Don’t forget your toolbag
• Don’t attempt a “century.”
• Don’t coast. It is dangerous.
• Don’t boast of your long rides.
• Don’t criticize people’s “legs.”
• Don’t wear loud hued leggings.
• Don’t cultivate a “bicycle face.”
• Don’t refuse assistance up a hill.
• Don’t wear clothes that don’t fit.
• Don’t neglect a “light’s out” cry.
• Don’t wear jewelry while on a tour.
• Don’t race. Leave that to the scorchers.
• Don’t wear laced boots. They are tiresome.
• Don’t imagine everybody is looking at you.
• Don’t go to church in your bicycle costume.
• Don’t wear a garden party hat with bloomers.
• Don’t contest the right of way with cable cars.
• Don’t chew gum. Exercise your jaws in private.
• Don’t wear white kid gloves. Silk is the thing.
• Don’t ask, “What do you think of my bloomers?”
• Don’t use bicycle slang. Leave that to the boys.
• Don’t go out after dark without a male escort.
• Don’t without a needle, thread and thimble.
• Don’t try to have every article of your attire “match.”
• Don’t let your golden hair be hanging down your back.
• Don’t allow dear little Fido to accompany you
• Don’t scratch a match on the seat of your bloomers.
• Don’t discuss bloomers with every man you know.
• Don’t appear in public until you have learned to ride well.
• Don’t overdo things. Let cycling be a recreation, not a labor.
• Don’t ignore the laws of the road because you are a woman.
• Don’t try to ride in your brother’s clothes “to see how it feels.”
• Don’t scream if you meet a cow. If she sees you first, she will run.
• Don’t cultivate everything that is up to date because yon ride a wheel.
• Don’t emulate your brother’s attitude if he rides parallel with the ground.
• Don’t undertake a long ride if you are not confident of performing it easily.
• Don’t appear to be up on “records” and “record smashing.” That is sporty.

"12 to watch in 2012" via www.How-Matters.org

...I couldn’t resist sharing my top 12 people, trends, sites, and organizations to watch in 2012!!

In no particular order…

1. @InnovateAfrica – About to unleash the philanthropic and intellectual capital of the African Diaspora for collective social investment on the continent!
2. Re-Action – A private-sector endeavor to change the way we look at monitoring and evaluation in our sector.
3. USAID FORWARD – A reform effort by Raj that we’re all watching closely. (And yes, I someday hope Dr. Shah and I can be on a first name basis.)
4. The Broker Online – Sound thinking on the future of aid from an independent international magazine on globalization and development.
5. The Listening Project from CDA Collaborative Projects – They’ve got data on listening exercises with over 6,000 people in societies on the receiving end of aid. So they’ve got lots more to say!
6. WiserEarth.org – helps the global movement of people and organizations working toward social justice, indigenous rights, and environmental stewardship to connect. I love to watch the number groups registered on their site grow! At last count, now up to 113,740.
7. hiiDunia – Where do all of those research papers that were written for professors or donors go after they’re submitted? No longer just to the dusty shelf but to hiiDunia! They’ve got a really comprehensive blogroll as well.
8. Mathare Valley Blog – I’d love to see more and more sites like this one in the coming year and see more of the power of web 2.0 tools in action at the community level.
9. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg of Can? We? Save? Africa? – Her organization, Akili Dada, is (dare I say?) putting Oprah’s school to shame!
10. whydev.org – Want to know why I’m hopeful about the future of aid work? Just take a look at this thoughtful and reflective site created by and for students, graduates and young professionals in development work.
11. Sparks Microgrants – A great example of locally-responsive aid. Appropriate scale. “Beneficiaries” as change makers.” This is what is possible, folks. And finally…
12. This space right here – It’s the time for how-matters.org to up its game. Stay tuned for future opportunities to join in! Exciting stuff ahead in the new year!