Leading in Uncertain Times

Alright, I have a new one for ya. I am currently finishing my Master's in Public Administration. Most of the classes focus on leading organizations or managing the people therein. In line with these course objectives, I have taken a long hard look at the organization I am working in. I sort of have people working under me, but I am not the "boss". So, I have implemented various new systems and ideas to improve the productivity of the staff, and myself. The hard part is getting the staff, who have been at the organization for many more years than I, to actually use the new systems. I tried everything. One of my professors told me that a great way to train people to do the work and motivate them to do it, is to take them out for coffee or something and ask them what is the best way they learn and also to ask them what I can do to make their job easier.
The problem with that is we need to get the work done. How practical is it to get these people in a separate place to theorize with them on how to motivate them or get the tasks accomplished? In other words, how do these theories of "leading" match with the practical world?

Also, I considered that one of our weakest areas is the fact that we do not work, think or act as a team (or a cohesive unit). To succeed in our goals, it is necessary that we work as a team. So one idea I had was to implement a new "program" called "Goodwill Messages". These messages are meant as a way to give each other positive feedback, which will be revealed at the weekly staff meetings (which will also take place).

I am hopeful that this small program will be effective, but who knows? My question, then, is: what are non-corny programs/systems that will have the effect of "team-building"?

Any thoughts will be extremely helpful.
Thanks.

BAR TAKER

Hello my lovely readers.

Alright, I just finished two months of gruesome studying and a 3 day (6hours per day) Bar Exam. That was the first time I have ever taken the Bar and it was stressful, agonizing and of course scary.

I do not want to do that again, but I will not know if I have to until May 25. AAAAHHH. So I will keep you posted.

Now, I get to go back to living, working, eating, sleeping, traveling, etc. Let's hope I do not have to take another two months off to study again!

Anyhow, I am presenting a paper on March 23, at ULV. The paper topic is on the institution of marriage. I thoroughly analyzed the radical feminist position on the institution and offer an alternative to the total abolition of the institution. That is, I suggest that marriage should become a contractual relationship. (Yes, that takes the love out of it). But not so much that people can no longer get married. By all means get married. I believe that people should have the option to enter into a contractual form of partnership. After all, it is a joint enterprise of sorts, which should be approached in a business frame of mind.

What do you think about that? I believe that people who go through the dissolution process would have a much easier time of dividing assets, etc, if they had gone into the marriage as a business, with an exit strategy (something we all know and love to think about).

Let me know your thoughts.

I'm BACK!!!!!