Share Expertise, Time, Yourself

(USA) Today a friend called me while I was at work for help with a project that was related to my professional expertise. I didn’t think the question would take very long, but we ended up on the phone for over an hour. After I hung up I was kind of annoyed because my work (that my company was being paid for) was going very slow that day and this interruption meant I would have to stay late or not finish on time. I also realized that my tone of voice was not very patient with my friend towards the end of the conversation.

I thought about The Company Cube and also the owner of my company who is involved in the EoC. What should I do? I felt as if I needed to do something concrete for this person. “Share your time, expertise, and yourself” came into my head. I dediced to call my friend back and go through a concrete example of one of my work projects that might be helpful for the question.

She was very appreciative and our second phone call was shorter and seemed to help more. I also realized that sometimes I call her when I am in the office for professional expertise, while she is at work. So maybe I didn’t get everything done today, but we both learned something and kept our relationship strong for the next phone call!

LD started its Peer Mentor Program at Faraday Elementary School by accident. On March 18th, LD was poised to begin its Peer Motivation Program at the neighboring Marshall High School. But that school was hit with a “double whammy.” Chicago Public Schools determined that it would have to administer the federally mandated Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers Test, adding a new layer of testing to a system already burdened by testing mandated by CPS, the State of Illinois, and college admissions. On March 13th, I went to Marshall to meet with teachers to select students for the program. Instead, at the entrance stood a crowd of television cameras, news reporters, police, school security and students. The media needed to film reactions to the sports brawl and suspensions at both schools. School security stood at the doorway. No media or visitors without a prior appointment approved by the principal would be admitted. The political campaign for the Mayor was in full swing. The school was in crisis control. When I met with the principal it was clear, LD would not be able to do Peer Motivation this semester. “Testing is our priority. Call us in June; Freshman Connections could be a possibility.”

With this in mind, I scheduled a meeting with the Dean of Students at Faraday Elementary School located directly behind Marshall. We agreed to a partnership. Life Directions initiated groups with 8th graders on April 15th. Three (3) adult mentors helped to facilitate three groups with twenty-nine (29) students. We used the Focolare Cube of Peace at the beginning of each group activity to select a positive value to live that day, especially during group interactions.

Our first discovery was that 8th graders preferred The Company Cube over the Cube of Peace. This was interesting in itself since the Focolare developed the Cube of Peace for elementary school classrooms:

The Cube of Peace systematically teaches students and adults to focus on the positive: to respect differences, overcome difficulties and solve problems. Those who use the Cube build a sense of community within their educational setting that increases self-esteem and respect for others who are different from them. Incidents of bullying and behavior problems decrease, and students become more mindful and reflective of their behavior. It fosters an environment that maximizes learning and helps students become co-builders of peace.¹

For the 8th graders at Faraday, this felt a little contrived. Anti-bullying language is part of the discipline code, special non-academic programs, and hallway “advertising.” So when The Cube of Peace was rolled to “Treat each person with respect” our classroom comedian rose to the occasion, using his best “Euro-American therapist’s voice” he parroted the “right” response. “We need to respect ourselves then we will know how to respect others.” His classmates giggled since his answer was for the adults in the room and not for himself or his peers.

The next week I had an inspiration. I had been studying The Company Cube for a presentation to adults as a “new way of doing business.” The light bulb went off. What if I used The Company Cube with the 8th graders? Many were already interested in applying for “apprenticeships” with After School Matters. Others had been part of sports teams. Some were even interested in being entrepreneurs. The Company Cube may have been developed to ignite the “new small business revolution” but I could see it working equally as well with middle and high school students.

At the beginning of the next session I introduced The Company Cube. “I know you are interested in jobs. I also know that many of you have already learned to be team players. So what I brought something new for today. It’s The Company Cube designed by a businessman, and is used by companies that desire excellence in persons for the good of all. If each person can fulfil his or her potential the results ripple into the wider world, interweaving of interpersonal relationships that “see” the good in everyone. Its six values are simple. If you practice them they will help you to find a job and keep a job. The key values are (1) BUILD relationships every day (2) SHARE expertise, time, yourself (3) FIRST to help others (4) SUPPORT with actions, not just words (5) VALUE every person, every idea and (6) COMPETITORS can be friends too.”

Before the groups started, a student would roll The Company Cube. Another volunteered to read it from the worksheet². In turn, facilitators encouraged their students to live it in the present moment, and challenged those not keeping the value in their interactions. Repetition and examples helped to learn the values. When one group rolled “FIRST to help others” and reported back “Some of us might not have jobs this summer. But each of us can be the ‘FIRST to help others.’ So our group named two people we could help and how we could help them” I knew we were on to something. The groups were listening and answering for themselves!

On the last day of our program, Paulina Sennett of Safety Communications, an Economy of Communion company, joined us. She shared how The Company Cube had helped her company and made a presentation on the importance of job safety for teens. Her experiences gave life to the discussion. Near the end of our time together, Paulina asked, ”What can you do to make sure you are never fired from your job.”

“Work hard.”

“Be on time”

“Do what you’re told!” they said in rapid succession.

In the back of the room, ever so slowly, one of Chicago’s best basketball prospects raised his hand. “We can start our own businesses” he said softly, not quite sure of his answer.

Paulina beamed, “You’re exactly right!” Now it was his turn to beam so pleased to have the right answer that was his.

^[1] The Cube of Peace: A Teaching Tool that Reduces Bullying and Promotes Unity, p. 3.

^[2] The Company Cube: The New Small Business Revolution, pp. 3-4, 2013.

(J.R. – Indiana, USA) – Last week I received an email, sent to a group of people that are contributors to a website. The email asked for feedback on a new design. A few people responded, and a few days later I looked at the emails, and the site, and decided I didn’t really have anything new to add. So I didn’t respond.

This morning I rolled the cube, and got “Share Expertise, Time, Yourself!” I remember the email from last week, and also thought of the person who wrote the email. She also took time to ask us, and very often only gets a few responses. I decided out of respect for her, and to also share of myself and contribute, I would provide some thoughts. As I started writing the email, I even had some new ideas that I didn’t last week.

Maybe not many read my email either, but even a simple gesture lets the organizer know I am still willing to share!

(Belen Velasco – Cochabamba, Bolivia)  We started living the Company Cube at my work place. Last week we were trying to live: Share expertise, time, yourself! So here it is what we shared:

One of my teammates said that every time he found a useful link he shared with the team, and he helped me out by sharing his expertise and experience to understand people from here since I am not Bolivian. Also he tried to help by giving examples, or tips to the teammates.

One in the group was sick last week, so another one jumped in to take over all the tests she was supposed to give that week. He was inspired by the cube: to share his time and himself. He also offered himself to check out all the computers of the lab.

Someone else realized that sharing herself meant also to ask if she has questions, so she asked the other person of the group for some information and his expertise in some topics. She felt how much we can benefit from others, and how much we can help each other.

Someone else organized the English material that we have in the drawer, so we can all take advantage of them, and we know what is in there. He also tried to make himself available to help others, and to explained things when asked.

I saw as an opportunity to share expertise and time, when the team was asked to check some English translations from the marketing team. I did this as a priority since it was a short deadline.

By asking someone else for help, I realized that also by sharing my questions about Bolivian culture I learned a lot. One day taking my dirty cup to the kitchen, I looked around for the other dirty cups in the office, and took all of them thinking that doesn’t need to be a big thing, we can always share ourselves even in the small actions.