Blog Post: Hello, Hola, Dobar den, Ciao, Guten Tag!

For as many differences as there are across cultures and geographic locations, there are some things I have found to be consistent.  In each city and town I meet mothers and fathers who love their children and want to provide a better life for them.....regardless of the language or dialect, there is always a word or series of words to say hello, please, thank you, you're welcome and it is nice to meet you.  Consistently, within any populations there are those willing to reach out and help a complete stranger --- including those who do not look like, sound like or act anything like they do.
 
On my current journey (which started in Denver and went through Canada, Germany, Hungary and Serbia to Macedonia), I continue to meet people who will reach out their hand to help a stranger.  Lifting a suitcase into the overhead bin, offering translation assistance in shops and kiosks, demonstrating how the beds of a sleeper car fold down, sharing their meal, providing directions...the list goes on and on.
 
For the past few days I have had the pleasure of working side-by-side with members of the Habitat Global Village Team (13 from across North America) and we partnered with locals to build a home for a family in Veles, Macedonia.  Essentially, these people are strangers to one another having been introduced a few days or a few minutes before working together.  Together this team dug trenches, cleared brush, loaded/unloaded lumber, cut re bar wire, etc.  What a wonderful experience to be able to part of this incredible team and witness their interaction firsthand!
 
The team ranges in age from 22 to 75.....is comprised of men and women who represent multiple countries and even more religions ....together they laughed, joked and worked in the heat of the Macedonian sun.  All for the good of a family we met only a few days ago......or is it?  Perhaps the true purpose is to learn from one another ---- through our differences we build a stronger, more functional and innovative team!
 
It's amazing how much has been accomplished thus far --- by twenty strangers working together.
 
Are the differences on your team drawing you together or forcing you apart?  Learn how to connect with those who have difference approaches to life in my engaging, energetic and insightful workshop "Meetings of the Minds : High Impact Communication Through Emergenetics" --- you'll be glad you did!  
 
For a preview of Emergenetics and my facilitation style click here (or simply search YouTube for "Insightful Endeavors"   ** Discounts for early registration (45 days prior), groups (5 or more) and non-profit organizations **

 
All my best,
 
Nora A Burns, SPHR
www.insightfulendeavors.com
 

Nora A Burns, SPHR is founder and president of Insightful Endeavors International, Inc.  IEI is focused on building sustainable, innovative teams that drive bottom line results!