Just got a snarky comment to comment I made on IHE about a term I used. The term was “empathy engine activation;” the comment was akin to: “never use those words referring to students.” Ponder engines of empathy....the longer term for empathy engines, right? This commenter (initials PC) misunderstands the term empathy engine and assumes it is anti-human; it is the opposite. I could just say google. But instead, I want to focus on why this term is so important and so apt and so central to human engagement. Empathy is a key quality in humans and for developing human engagement. We often don’t show empathy. So we need to make sure empathy can be generated — activated. An engine is not a negative term. It is like a generator. Think about the phrase “engines for change” — a good descriptor. Demeaning “engines” demeans engines as if they were “just” for mechanics and mechanics aren’t worthy. Pooh bah. Engines are amazing. We are human engines. Activation is a positive word. Look at first three letters: ACT. The key is to not just talk about empathy but actually make it live in people. To return to the phrase I used: We want to activate empathy engines. Seems wise to me. And necessary. And valuable. Thoughts? Anyone like mirror neuron activation better? …see more

Any of my London Contacts please follow the link to attend one of our CPDs in the London Showroom. https://lnkd.in/ewe3_kx Free course's for Installers, Security Managers, Lock Centres, End users and Specifiers. #security #securitymanagement #digitization #abloy #compliant #firesafety #compliance #safety #locking #digitaltransformation #accesscontrol …see more

https://lnkd.in/gZyBUcA The security landscape in the transport and logistics sector is changing as technological developments progress. Any pause or interruption of this service can mean a serious security challenge, costly loss of revenue, a violation of health and safety regulations, customer dissatisfaction and a ruined reputation. ABLOY provides digital, electromechanical and mechanical safety solutions such as access controls for the entire transport ecosystem, including air, land, sea and rail transport providers. With connectivity and management of the ABLOY Digital Portfolio product range, you'll have all your critical access points ready to be tracked or grant access rights from wherever you are with the availability of a full audit trail and report every move in your operation. #securitymanagement #securitysolutions #facilitiesmanagement #transportsector #safetyandsecurity#transport #abloyfortrust Contact me on 07880 456738 or Neil.hughes@abloy.co.uk to find out more. …see more

Yesterday, I got to speak with Botkeeper Founder and CEO (and my boss!) Enrico Palmerino about entrepreneurship and the road to Botkeeper. He said that "the nice thing about not being an accountant is that I didn't have a preconceived notion of how things should be done. I went into it with a clean slate and with an obsession for trying to do as little manual bookkeeping as possible." Listen to the recording below for the insider's view of starting and growing a successful company, and raising capital virtually during a pandemic! https://lnkd.in/ewEuHVJ #accounting #accountants #CPAs #CPAfirm #RadicalCPA #CPALove #accountantlove #accountingtech #botkeeping #botkeeperfordummies …see more

I wanted to update my contretemps w/ my alma mater. I observed, w/ anger and disappointment, that the new Culture of Care plan for fall students didn’t mention mental health, trauma responsiveness or even trauma. It only addressed physical safety, important tho that is. W/ the President copied, the head of mental health services shared the many mental health programs Smith has. She shared recent hires. She shared ongoing connections w/ students during the Covid-gap. Unfortunately, the response was fraught w/ generalities. While it noted trauma training of staff, there was no mention of trauma training for faculty. The response didn’t address why the Culture of Care failed to mention mental health. And the response did not share how they would help students, faculty and staff at the start of the new semester; they didn’t mention a trauma responsive plan or approach. It was typically Smith-like: kind words at beginning and end and self aggrandizement in the middle. Does Smith have nothing to learn about restarting? I wrote back, noting the omissions. Smith has trained women to think well. Being that I’m Smith educated, why do they take me for a fool? Smith’s lack of openness to improvement and its self-satisfaction is pitiful. Doesn’t speak well for my alma mater. …see more

This piece focuses on how to think about the future of education and whether we can even make predictions. Useful I hope for educators but also business people and others trying to figure out what is happening in the coming months and years. Comments welcomed as always. …see more

If you like to know more about the eCliq systems give me a call or follow the link. Neil.hughes@abloy.co.uk or 07880 456738 #accesscontrol #securitysolutions #securitymanagement #accessmanagement #safetyandsecurity #facilitiesmanagement #accesscontrolsystems #keymanagement #estatemanagement #abloy …see more

Here's another update on my contretemps w/ Smith and the notification of its creation of the Culture of Care but without ANY reference to psychosocial wellbeing. Oxymoronic. In any event, I had an excellent phone call w/ the head of Mental Health and I must say, it was surprisingly good. She listened well. I had 5 questions to probe regarding what they were or weren't doing. She responded to each and indicated to whom she would forward information or try to make inroads. She indicated that she thought there would be a new email on the import of mental wellbeing soon. She did not exhibit arrogance or dismissal of an alum's ideas. She was open and receptive. That said, the proof is in the proverbial pudding. Will her words turn into institutional action? The acid test. We will have to wait and see. If there is prolonged radio silence, then I will reach back and know that the words were just that: words only. On the other hand, if I see movement forward in tangible ways, I will share that too. It is easy to talk; it is harder to act. I eagerly await the next steps -- and am willing to say at present that I have more than a glimmer of hope that there will be some improvements/additions/changes to benefit students' return experience to the campus at my alma mater, Smith. …see more

Moving right along to our next guest! Welcome @jimbourke , a technology thought leader! @intuit @b0tkeeper @voiceamericaTRN #AICPAEngage #RadicalCPA

Check out the full range of Products available form Abloy. So much more then just Electric and Mechanical Locks.

Check out some of the UK case studies and see what Abloy can do to suit your site or market you target.

One of my favourite vignettes of childhood was the arrival of the ice cream truck with its savory frozen treats. Here’s the Good Humour backstory. …see more

I think this piece might be of interest to all those concerned with school reopenings, the risks and benefits, the idea of learning pods and hope for the future to benefit ALL children.

“We’ve seen a number of partners evolve their technology to really adapt and build products specific to the new world we live in.” - Craig Cohen of ADP , from #letsgetradical live session yesterday. Missed it? I've got your Friday night viewing right here. Thanks so much to #ADP for sponsoring this discussion. https://lnkd.in/dZSvjzQ #radicalcpa #adpmarketplace #technology #covid19 #coronavirus #cpa #accountant #cpalove #accountantlove …see more

Consider these tools for dealing with the trauma of our time. They give me hope for students, teachers and parents.

Ponder this masks and mirrors project. Yes, it can be done with young students. It can also be transported and used in colleges and workplaces with slight adaptations. Visual imagery and art installations are central to our processing the complexity of the world around us. Comments welcomed as always. And, consider how walls and halls in all places and spaces can be improved and message if such projects were done with students, faculty, employees. https://lnkd.in/eQVHqS8 …see more

As more and more colleges and schools move to online learning or move back to online after outbreaks, I hope this piece gives concrete doable suggestions to improve the academic and psychosocial experience. Thoughts welcome. Try the ideas. They can be adapted, adjusted and used in a myriad of educational and business settings. …see more

Special thanks for the recognition. It is, sadly, a book for this moment. Learn how institutions can become trauma responsive. Help teachers help our students succeed. Book available as ebook and PB @Amazon and @tcpress.

"Poetry has the ability to grab us and speak in the most urgent terms. It's a very physical language. It calls us to action." Rafael Campo, poetry editor of The Journal of the American Medical Association

A strategy for connecting kids in a time of COVID when some schools reopen in person. Try it. Share thoughts (non-snarky please).