June, 2018 | Presidents Message
President's Message
Happy Anniversary TLOMA and Welcome June!
I am so honored to serve as your President during our 50th Anniversary celebration! TLOMA was established in 1968, and has maintained its mission to provide Professional Development and best practice opportunities to enhance the competence and professionalism of legal management professionals through learning, sharing and networking over the last 50 years. This mission will continue on. The Board, SIG Leaders, appointed Committee Chairs, and Committee volunteers are hard at work preparing to meet the goals outlined during the November Strategic Planning meeting and February Handover transition meeting. These groups have been charged with increasing membership and participation within the Association, developing improved communication, and the promotion of professional growth and training through Professional Development sessions, networking events and our Annual Conference. I am very enthusiastic about what this year offers.
TLOMA is a dynamic Association comprised of management professionals from all areas. This Association has a great deal to offer its members and in return, each of its members have a great deal to offer in return. Whether you do so through volunteerism, networking, or sharing your industry knowledge, TLOMA is there to help. As Vince Lombardi said, “The achievements of an Association are the combined efforts of each individual.” The key to TLOMA’s success is member participation! I am excited to be working with such a dedicated and passionate group of management professionals, celebrating 50 years of TLOMA’s success, and charting our course for the future. It’s hard to believe June is upon us and I am half-way through my term as President. Hopefully, time will appear to have slowed a bit so we can enjoy summer.
Last month, I was writing to y’all from New Orleans. This time around, Tofino is my home. Of the many beautiful places in Canada I have had the privilege to visit, Tofino is at or near the top of my list. Think spectacular scenery mixed with a cool Wild West coast hippy vibe. With amazing yoga, super friendly people, surfing and Tacofino (you absolutely need to eat here). Tofino offers breathtaking vistas, true west coast beaches, hiking, hot springs, wildlife viewing, storm watching and so much more! Anyway, before I get back to daydreaming with my toes in the sand, let’s get down to some business.
I hope each of you are each planning some well-deserved summer holidays and preparing for what is predicted to be a “hot summer” which many of us are eagerly anticipating. The sun is shining, the nights are long, and everyone is happier right? Well not everyone, especially those battling long commutes on overcrowded or stuffy Go trains, streetcars, or subways (i.e., a streetcar named perspire!). Then you arrive at work and sit in warm offices from 9-5 dreaming of the weekend and it’s still only Monday. So how can you keep your peeps motivated and cool during the summer heat without giving them the summer off? As I’m hanging here on the beach, this is what’s come to mind…
1) Be flexible – If you are downtown and your staff need to navigate public transport during busy periods, consider operating a flexible work arrangement to allow staff to start early (or late) to avoid congested commutes. It’s a lot easier to enjoy being at work and be effective at what you are doing if you don’t feel like you’ve just run a marathon before you start! We have summer hours at our office and summer business casual which appears to be a hit.
2) Keep hydrated – It sounds obvious, but staying hydrated keeps the mind focused. Water is the best hydrator so ensure water bottles are filled and remind staff to drink. Skip the ‘tea/coffee run’ and replace with the water run!
3) Summer Business Casual – Businesses are operating a more casual dress code for work, but if your office is slightly more business traditional – consider relaxing the dress code for the summer. Do employees really need to wear ties, nylons, or jackets?
4) Ice cream (a personal fave) – While slightly trickier to implement and not a daily thing, from time to time, we have brought in the Dickie D man and Baskin Robbins. Consider stocking the freezer with popsicles and ice creams for Friday lunch hours. It’s always hard for me to feel motivated after lunch on Fridays, even harder when the office temperature is rising and we are all watching the clock and dreaming about the weekend at the cottage, running around town, or spending time with family and friends.
Evidence shows that as heat rises so does absenteeism. Summer sickies on Mondays and Fridays, in particular rise with employees feeling less motivated to face the commute and a long day in the office. Therefore, it’s very important to keep the office cool, consider flexible working arrangements and opt for more casual dress. You’d rather a staff member come in early and work their hours and more importantly deliver their objectives over calling in sick (which can cause further demotivation in the office if other staff members have to pick up the slack!). If you have some other ideas or have done something different at your Firm, let me know.
Now onto TLOMA Happenings:
An email was circulated to the Membership from the Board of Directors looking for members to become part of the Nominating Committee. We encourage all members to sign up! It’s only a 6 to 8 week commitment. We’d love to have you join the Nominating Committee or sign up to become a member of the Board or other volunteer position and make a contribution.
If there is anyone still wishing to participate in the TLOMA 2018 Business Services, Associate Compensation and Total Rewards Survey please contact Bridget Bohan at 1 (519) 831-1424 or email Bridget. Below are a few dates to remember…
- Friday, June 15th, 2018: Survey data is due!
- Tuesday, September 11th, 2018: 12 noon to 2pm - Results Meeting – This session will teach you about how to use the survey results and how to age the data when you need to use the survey.
Questions can be directed to the 2018 Compensation Survey Committee Chair, Katherine Mather or any member of the Compensation Committee, or Liz Barrington.
Please save the dates for the following upcoming events:
Remember, any questions you may have can be directed to Liz Barrington, Karen Gerhardt or me at any time.
Signing off on another 'Pres Mes' as the Pacific tide rises. Peace, love, and wishing you all a warm, groovy, safe summer.
Michelle xo