Learning Opportunities for our Leaders

Last week, our mid-level managers spent a few days away from their busy schedules to sharpen their skills in a Situational Leadership course.  This interactive event combined employees from across all companies as they worked together to better understand the benefits of adjusting leadership style to those they lead.  Based on the situation, that style should change continually to meet the needs of others in the organization.  According to one participant, "With a new department, new tasks/new role, new people this will help me to have a much more organized way of moving around tasks and providing support to my team.  This was a very relevant training topic at this time.”  As you can see from the pictures below, the learning was also fun!

Having Fun with Accounting at Throwback Thursdays

ETA hand2mind team members took a break this past week for Throwback Thursday - a monthly activity hosted by a select department with the sole purpose of adding a little fun to the work day.  July's event was led by the Accounting department and featured ice cream sundaes and a fun quiz about little known accounting facts.  For instance, did you know that an accountant invented bubble gum?  Huh... who knew?

What does bungee jumping have to do with leadership?

A lot!  Move out of your comfort zone, even just a few inches, and you may plunge off a tiny platform with a long elastic cord tied to your feet.  With any luck, you'll also learn a little more about yourself and the leadership you can bring to your team.  Our very own Rick Woldenberg, CEO of Learning Resources got to experience this first hand.  Besides a great vacation story, Rick also shared his insight.  "Bungee jumping makes you confront your fears and not let them define you.  That's an important skill as a manager," he said.
Okay, Leaders... jump!

Continuing to Make a Difference - Volunteer Event

This week, members of our team spent some time giving back at Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), a non-profit organization in Libertyville, IL.  During their two hour shift, our volunteers helped package a whopping 33,696 meals that will feed 93 hungry kids for a year!  Way to go team!

Fox News Chicago Features Learning Resources in Four (count 'em!) Four Morning Segments!

Check out the video below for a peek at one of four interviews conducted on site this week by Joanie Lum of Fox News Chicago.  During her visit, she chatted with our CEO Rick Woldenberg and also spent some time with our Learning Resources founder, Jane Woldenberg as well as Tom Runtz from our product development team.  They even talked about our Tent Sale this weekend!  For all four segments and the full story, see http://www.myfoxchicago.com/story/25759262/made-in-chicago-learning-resources

FOX 32 News Chicago

It's Tent Sale time again!

Fans of our fantastic Learning Resources and Educational Insights products will be excited to hear of our next Tent Sale!  Save up to 80% on select classroom and educational toys/games starting Friday June 6th at 9:00 am sharp!  Other sale dates and times are listed below.  Stop by our 375 N. Fairway Drive, Vernon Hills, IL building and save big - see you there!

Our Spirit of Innovation Award Earnest Enjoyed Take Your Child to Work Day too!

At our round of monthly Town Hall meetings this week, our team members were able to revisit moments from our Take Your Child to Work Day event in April.  It turns out that our Spirit of Innovation Award Earnest was in on the action as well!  In addition to hanging out with our young visitors, he also spent some time with Learning Resource’s CEO Rick Woldenberg.  They both agreed that challenging conventional wisdom, taking educated risks, and being a champion of new ideas creates a high functioning work environment while achieving spectacular results. From earlier posts, you may recall that Earnest is awarded each month to a team member nominated by their peers for demonstrating these traits in the spirit of innovation. 

High five, Earnest!