Laughter, Learning and Communicating

Laughter and Learning (and Changing the World) Allan Hancock Community College presents Dave Caperton with

What’s in it for You?

The missing piece of your mission that will energize staff and students.

Three things all staff needs (besides a paycheck) that everyone can help provide.

The brain’s learning switch and how you can activate it.

How to change your world in 5 steps.

A Learning Philosophy

“ It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”

-Albert Einstein

“ Positive IONs”

MISS- ION

Your unifying purpose

PASS- ION

The fuel that drives the efforts

COMPASS- ION

How you get others to go with you

COMMUNICAT -ION

How you share the experience

Understanding what people really want?

High pay

Job Security

Opportunity for promotion

U.S. Department of Labor survey Employers said:

Understanding what people really want?

Recognition for the job they’ve done (Sincere Gratitude)

To be treated as a valuable part of the organization

That someone CARES about them

U.S. Department of Labor survey Employees said:

Your Mission

SERVICE - Who you serve

SUCCESS - How it is defined

JOY - How do you create it?

STRESS! “ The body’s response to any demand placed upon it.” -Dr. Hans Selye ( The Stress of Life )

Learning is primarily an emotional experience Memory formation occurs in the emotional centers of the brain

The BIG QUESTION

WHAT identifies the objective

HOW is procedure

WHY is where change happens

E + MOTION The only place where “ DOING ” comes before “ FEELING ” is in the dictionary.

From 12 Mind-Brain Principles (Caine and Caine, 1991)

1. The brain is a complex adaptive system.

2. The brain is a social brain.

3. The search for meaning is innate.

4. This search occurs through patterning.

5. Emotions are critical to patterning.

6. Every brain simultaneously perceives and creates parts and wholes.

7. The brain processes directly and peripherally.

11. Learning is enhanced by challenge and inhibited by threat.

The HUMOR RESPONSE

Smile

Laughter

Violent Laughter

PEE!

Face-to-Face Communication

WORDS = 7%

VOICE = 38%

PHYSICAL = 55%

The Duchenne Smile

Has real perceived emotional value

Involves the muscles around the eyes

Stimulates a neurochemical response consistent with joy

PESSIMISM “ The difference between optimism and pessimism lies in how we explain adversity to ourselves.” -Martin Seligman (Univ. of Pittsburgh)

ADVERSITY “ Adversity is like a strong wind that tears us away from all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are.” - Arthur Golden

The 3 Ps of Pessimism

PERSONAL - It’s all about ME!

PERVASIVE - It’s not one thing, it’s everything

PERMANENT - Rats-in-a-cage

OPTIMISTS see adversity as:

RANDOM - It’s not my luck, it’s just my turn

LIMITED - Something is wrong, but not everything

TEMPORARY - This too shall pass

The A,B,C,D,Es of MOTIVATION

A is for ADVERSITY

B is for BELIEF

C is for CONSEQUENCES

D is for DISPUTE

E is for ENERGIZE

Your Mission Revisited

SERVICE - Leading by serving emotional needs.

SUCCESS - Realize the potential of an emotionally nourished team.

JOY - “ awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”

Changing the Filters and Improving the Flow of Communication Allan Hancock Community College presents Dave Caperton with

PERCEPTION is _______

O.P.E.N. Communication

O ther

P eople’s

E motional

N eeds

Mutual R-E-S-P-E-C-T (this is what it means to me)

Seeks understanding

Honest

Acknowledges other’s point of view

Listens actively

Focuses on issues

Consistent with actions

How clean are your FILTERS ?

Emotions

Attitudes

Grudges

Groups you belong to

What you take in

Can make negative attitudes intractable

Negative if shared cynicism is a prerequisite for membership

Can be a forum for discontent

Creates powerful situational forces that shape human behavior

Groups and the Desire to Belong

Elimination is the Key

What we take in determines what we get out when we’re under pressure.

What do we read, watch and listen to?

What thoughts do we entertain?

What words do we speak?

What company do we choose?

The Power of Focus JOY PAIN

3 Keys to Robust Living

A Sense of Humor - compassionate humor reduces stress, boosts immunity

Unconditional Love - Servant’s attitude

Community - Connections are crucial

L.A.F . Soft issues at the heart of hard problems

Love - Unconditionally

Accept - What (and who) you cannot change

Forgive - Whether they deserve it or not

Compassionate Humor:

Is a COPING STRATEGY

Provides a PERCEPTION OF CONTROL

Is associated with JOY

CONNECTS PEOPLE like almost nothing else

A HUMOR Inventory

How does AHCC make work enjoyable?

How do YOU make work enjoyable?

Share a humorous experience from your life (work, family, etc.)

What is one challenge or adversity that you could better handle with a sense of humor?

The Primary and Secondary Directives First: Do what is right Second: Do what works If doing what works contradicts doing what is right, no good long-term effect can be accomplished.

www.happinessisafunnything.com