“First, there are things happening in our world that are of serious concern.”
–The Wonderful Life Project (banner and website courtesy of Madison Elliot)
This is classic Midwestern speak. We excel at understatement in America’s Heartland. In Main Street communities like Grand Island, Nebraska (pop >50,000), we’ve got solid reasons for being concerned. A few of the reasons cited by the Wonderful Life Project:
- Our most expensive health care condition—depression—is now affecting 10% of the population (19% in the Midwest) and is costing more than the war in Afghanistan.
- Wealth has dramatically increased over the last 60 years; happiness has not changed at all.
- Roughly 75% of people say that they have moderate to severe stress.
- Forty-four percent of our children are having trouble sleeping due to stress.
- Only 12% of workers say their company’s leaders can be trusted.
- Only 34% say other people can be trusted (this is a leading indicator of per capita income).
But there’s good news.
Inititally tested by a local Grand Island hospital wanting to reduce staff turnover, a combination of coaching and training within the hospital produced remarkable results:
- Turnover dropped 40% (21% in FY2000, 12,7% in FY2011)—estimated savings $2M per year
- Job vacancy dropped 50% (4.5% in FY2000, 2.3% in FY2011)
- Frequency of destructive conflict dropped nearly to zero. A dramatic increase in the quality of conflict was apparent.
- A substantial increase in frequency of conflict but significant drop in number of conflicts reaching impasse (suggests an apparent increase in willingness to address conflict, not just avoid it).
- Work environment that is recognized as a preferred place to work, a place of happiness. Visitors commented on employees’ apparent “happiness.”
- Mental health claims were reduced (tracked until health insurance plan design was changed).
- Several employees with substantial performance issues turned around and become model, top-performing employees that the managers speak of with considerably higher levels of trust.
- Many managers working more effectively and addressing more complex issues without need of input from supervisors (as reported by their supervisors).
With such positive evidence at the hospital, the Wonderful Life Project expanded to the community. Roughly 1,700 Nebraskans participated, representing 102 employers: manufacturers, construction workers, teachers, nurses, farmers, professors, ministers, attorneys, engineers, retailers, government workers, dentists and others. Some college students also participated.
While the final research report for the 2-year community project is forthcoming, preliminary results show that lives are enriched, people are happier, work cultures and families are strengthened. Focus groups garnered feedback that told a powerful story: better listening; more able to diffuse conflict; worry less and forgive more.
The Wonderful Life Project was made possible with th help of a community coalition, donors, public and private Nebraska universities, and a local community college’s support. A total of 1,644 people attended trainings and 100 people received 1:1 coaching (1,650 hours).
Project group skills-building training centered around topics like: Resilience and Hope, Conflict/Grudge-Busting, the Psychology of Good and Evil, and Trust. Individual coaching involved creating a personal strategic plan and Becoming Exceptional. One exercise, writing a personal mission statement, is similar to the manifesto I encouraged you to create in January.
Don’t just take my word for it, for more information please check out www.wonderfullifeproject.org . The organization’s banner and this blog’s content is drawn from the website, along with news articles published in the Grand Island Independent newspaper, see www.theindependent.com/wonderfullifeproject/ .
Now, how about your Main Street? Need some good news? Take action! A Wonderful Life might just be waiting.
#PeaceHug, Jone
P.S. I’ve reached out the Wonderful Life Project Director Lee Elliot and will be happy to share further information when it becomes available. I just couldn’t wait to share the good news!
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