World Business Chicago’s Post

What if your job actually encouraged you to be more involved in your community? That's what #CivicTimeOff is all about. Companies are finding that when they give employees time to volunteer at polls or participate in local government, everyone benefits. The community gets much-needed help, and employees feel more connected and engaged. Interested in fostering this kind of understanding in your workplace? Learn how the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation can help: 

Explore the 5 key strategies to boost civic engagement with ClearGov. From transparent capital projects to inviting public input, learn how your local government can foster trust and build a more informed, engaged community. #ClearGov https://lnkd.in/e5wdDAFy

Getting involved in your #union can be a rewarding way to support your colleagues and make a difference in your workplace. Here’s how you can participate: ➡️ Attend Meetings: Start by attending union meetings to stay informed about current issues and initiatives. Your presence alone strengthens the collective voice. Only about 20% of union members regularly attend meetings, yet these gatherings are crucial for staying informed and voicing concerns. Your participation can significantly strengthen the union’s effectiveness. ➡️ Join Committees: Many unions have committees focused on specific areas like health and safety, negotiations, or community outreach. Joining a committee is a great way to contribute your skills and interests. ➡️ Volunteer for Events: Unions often host events such as fundraisers, educational workshops, and social gatherings. Volunteering at these events helps build solidarity and raises awareness. A survey by the AFL-CIO found that 45% of members who volunteer at events feel more connected and engaged with their union. ➡️ Become a Union Steward: Stewards act as liaisons between union members and leadership. This role involves representing members in discussions with management and helping resolve workplace issues. ➡️ Engage in Advocacy: Participate in lobbying efforts, rallies, and campaigns that support workers’ rights. Advocacy is crucial for driving policy changes that benefit all workers. ➡️ Spread the Word: Use social media and other platforms to share union news and successes. Educating others about the benefits of union membership helps strengthen the movement.. According to a Pew Research Center study, unions with strong online presence see 25% higher member engagement rates. Active participation in your union not only enhances your work environment but also fosters a strong, supportive community. Get involved today and make a difference! #Union #Volunteer #Pinear #Workplace

Explore the 5 key strategies to boost civic engagement with ClearGov. From transparent capital projects to inviting public input, learn how your local government can foster trust and build a more informed, engaged community. #ClearGov https://bit.ly/3Vi1N70

Explore the 5 key strategies to boost civic engagement with ClearGov. From transparent capital projects to inviting public input, learn how your local government can foster trust and build a more informed, engaged community. #ClearGov https://lnkd.in/e5wdDAFy

MEN ONLY SPACES I was reading this article. My immediate (knee jerk?) reaction was that I don't see the problem with men only clubs and spaces. I personally think that there are spaces where certain groups and identities will connect and align. Be it gender, race and ethnicity, religious, class, etc and do so because there are certain needs being met in those spaces that they can't/won't get from wider groups. I sometimes host men only dinners. Sometimes Black men only dinners. I am part of a couple of groups that are spaces for men. I have been on men only events and considered men's retreats. I honour the fact that there are many women only spaces, retreats and groups, where conversations and alignments would leave me discombobulated. Or that for several socio-economic and cultural reasons, men are not welcome. But I wonder if the pushback here is more about which men are members of this group. Is this more about power? Proximity to power? Personally I can think of nothing worse than hanging out with many of the men listed in this space or even remotely wanting to be part of a club. Yet still, amidst the protests I am curious as to why there is so much pushback? Like who would really want to be part of this club? Welcome thoughts

Community involvement can be one of the most rewarding aspects of running a business. Whether businesses sponsor community organizations, offer scholarship programs or schedule a service day as a team, their contributions can make a powerful difference. Some organizations may question whether they are big enough in size or have sufficient resources to contribute. Fortunately, every business has a way to give back. In doing so, businesses can build their corporate culture, promote networking and offer employees a platform to positively impact the community.

Thank you Creatives for Climate for the super connect last week at The Conduit Oslo. Lucy von Sturmer and Dickon Bonvik-Stone I admire your drive and passion for using the power of creative skills. In a world that’s constantly changing, creative thinking isn’t just an asset; it's a necessity. Creative skills propel massive movements and are pivotal in driving successful transformations. How can your business leverage creativity to innovate and adapt? Are you encouraging lateral thinking to navigate complex challenges and seize new opportunities? 🤩 Innovation as a Differentiator: Creative thinking fuels innovation, setting businesses apart in competitive markets. It's crucial for developing unique products, services, and solutions that meet evolving customer needs. 🤩 Adaptability to Change: Creativity enhances a company’s flexibility in response to market shifts and challenges. Businesses that foster a creative culture are better equipped to pivot and adapt strategies quickly, maintaining relevance and continuity. 🤩 Problem Solving Efficiency: Creative approaches in problem-solving lead to more efficient and often more sustainable solutions. This not only improves operational efficiency but also drives better outcomes in project management and conflict resolution, crucial for scaling businesses. I find these principles underscore the partnerships I have with organisations to drive growth and transformation. #CreativeThinking #Innovation #BusinessTransformation #LeadershipSuccess

Networking in action! This is how we help our community become Cybersecurity safe; working together and making sure you have the right partner to help you with your business information technology and cybersecurity!

Have you ever seen business networking events or conferences proactively include or engage with professionals who have disabilities? With the government putting increasing pressure on people with disabilities to find work, but I'm not getting into those specific issues here, is the business world even ready to include and support? Of those who are working hard behind the scenes doing just that, how well are you communicating this to the specific individuals it will benefit the most? I've only ever been to two separately organised networking events, since being reliant on a chair, and whilst the organisers did everything they could to welcome and support me, I wasn't able to make the most of it like everyone else. From making your communications and website electronically accessible, to physical accessibility and proactively engaging with the business professionals who have a disability, and would benefit from attending networking meetings, conferences and exhibitions. Whilst the bigger conferences and exhibitions tend to be step free, though we all know this isn't the 'be all and end all' of considerations and issues involved with making something accessible, the more general type of meetings dont appear to be. This isn't a blame game or some form of 'name and shame', in fact its far from it. Like I try to achieve with all I do, my aim is to, ✅️ Enquire ✅️ Educate ✅️ Empower What I've usually found is either, ❇️ Businesses simply hadn't thought of it OR ❇️ Are doing great work, but for whatever reason, aren't managing to communicate this and engage with the relevant people. What are your thoughts and experiences? Thanks to Jake Riches, I'll be joining Milton Keynes and Northampton Chambers of Commerce, where I'll do what I can to show the work they're doing and engage with fellow professionals, who happen to have disabilities. Please do tag in the individuals involved with the chambers and Business Buzz - Local Business Networking who ran the networking in Daventry last Friday. Video description in comments. #Networking #DisabilityAdvocate #Accessibility #AccessibleBusiness #DisabilityAwareness