Blog – tecBRIDGE

Can Alcohol Put Your Business on The Rocks?

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 15:39:00 GMT

Do you think alcohol and networking mix?

Some people do Dry January, which means taking a break from alcohol. And some who participate in the Catholic tradition of Lent, give up alcohol during the Lenten Season. While others do not drink by personal preference, or are in recovery working on living a life of sobriety.

There are many situations and settings where networking happens, business is discussed, and alcohol is present. How does alcohol influence these encounters? And how does it affect the way people in recovery network?

Alcohol can impair judgment in negotiations.

According to the study “The Impact of Alcohol on Negotiator Behavior: Experimental Evidence” by Maurice E. Schweitzer, Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania and Leslie E. Gomberg of Barry University: “Often, alcohol exerts considerable influence over the negotiation process. In some cases, alcohol consumption eliminates the possibility of reaching a deal (Ruzicka, 1995), while in others it helps create agreements that probably should not have been reached. In one example, after consuming wine during a negotiation, a real-estate investor agreed to sell a property for half of its actual value (Schapiro, 1993). In a more serious example of alcohol’s influence on the negotiation process, senior American generals gave away important secrets after consuming alcohol with Soviet generals during the arms-control negotiations leading to Start II Treaty (Rowny, 1992).”

While it’s doubtful that anyone in Northeastern Pennsylvania is giving away top-secret information over happy hour, many professionals still prefer to network dry.

Bob Courtright of Courtright & Associates who also serves as president of the nonprofit group NEPA Networkers, says he doesn’t drink or eat during events because as a host, he is there to support the mission of the group, which is to help develop businesses in NEPA and help people professionally. “I’m there to facilitate connections between people.”

He says that he waits until after the event is over to relax with a drink. “The last thing I want to do in a business setting is appear unprofessional.”

A drink can remove anxiety to help some feel comfortable networking.

Others say a cocktail offers a way to lessen potential social anxiety.

Fellow NEPA Networker Board Member Jordan Fritz says, “Alcohol can play a couple different roles at networking events. I don’t promote drinking, but alcohol can help people become more comfortable talking to or approaching people they don’t know. Although, it’s important to know your limits and monitor how much you are consuming. Nerves and the environment may alter your normal tolerance.”

And typically, people know their limits. Bob says that he has not seen anyone overindulge in 13-14 years of networking events.

Explore options to network that do not include alcohol.

Whether it’s a networking event, a company picnic, an awards banquet or conversation after 18 holes, there’s likely going to be alcoholic beverages served. So how does this impact people in recovery who may feel vulnerable or triggered?

Jamie, who is two years and two months sober from addiction, says that not only can he choose to network in a variety of social settings, but networking is vital to him. He is working toward a Bachelor’s degree currently with plans to work on a Master’s degree and has earned a top scholarship to The McGowan School of Business at King’s College, where he will begin his studies in the Fall.

“Networking as a person in recovery has been greatly beneficial for me. I have noticed more opportunities open up for me to grow as a professional person and help with my sobriety. Connection is everything for people recovering from substance abuse and mental health issues!”

According to an article published by Entrepreneur.com in August 2021, there are strategies that people in recovery can use to navigate work events involving alcohol, but there are also things that employers can do to encourage bonding activities that don’t involve alcohol. Companies can create positive workplace events that are more supportive of employees in recovery by:

Making networking the focus of happy hours.
Shifting the venue for networking activities and work events to a place not centered on alcohol such as a driving range or bowling alley.
Developing more inclusive, alcohol-free company events such as a movie or book club, sports tournament, or group volunteer days.

Enjoy coffee talk.

In addition to quarterly mixers that take place in the evening, NEPA Networkers also offer regular coffee time events where professionals can meet to discuss what’s brewing in the region.

Board Member Jordan says that their morning coffee events feel more intimate than the evening events because they tend to draw a smaller group and that may help people feel comfortable opening up. She adds, “I truly enjoy the morning coffee’s because they start my day on a positive note and allow me to connect with those who cannot make evening events. Whether you are more of a morning person, have kids in extracurricular activities or you are working towards sobriety, the morning Coffee Hours are ideal for many.”

My addiction is what I wrestle with every day of my life. It is nobody else’s problem but my own. If I had an issue or an obsession with alcohol in a social setting, I would not attend.

Jamie Monahan, Business Development Representative at ENX2 Legal Marketing

NEPA Organizations and Individuals Collaborate to Fight Social Injustice

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 23:44:00 GMT

TecBridge prides itself on creating connections in northeastern Pennsylvania—from every event we host, to each conversation our Executive Director Don Webster initiates. We work to facilitate these connections because we know that they will help strengthen not only our region, but each individual working in collaboration. With that in mind, we felt compelled to share with you examples of impressive interdependence taking place that are literally saving lives in some instances.

The Opposite of Addiction is Human Connection

British/Swiss author, journalist and TED speaker Johann Hari , who has his own story of addiction, has become popular within the recovery community for his thoughts on addiction. He is noted for saying, “The opposite of addiction is not sobriety, it is human connection.”

And those connections were being created and nurtured this Fall in an incredible way by our friends at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre. Led by the college’s Shoval Center staff and some faculty, the college has launched an initiative that is creating connections and fostering the kind of collaboration that every entrepreneur should take note of.

Thanks to a grant from the AllOne Foundation, King’s College has undertaken an educational marketing campaign on campus and within the community to help remove the stigma around opioid use disorder. The campaign was named About-Face because the team wants to help people do an about-face…a change in their views on addiction and people who have substance use disorder. Other goals of the campaign are: to educate on what addiction is and how it occurs; change the language used when talking about addiction; and to communicate the resources available to help people with an addiction. About-Face is on Facebook and Instagram.

In October, King’s worked with New Roots Recovery Support Center , with locations in Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton and Tamaqua, to host “Stop the Stigma Wellness Recovery Festival.”

Over a dozen organizations from Northeastern Pennsylvania were represented at the Festival, along with local musician Kris Huber providing entertainment and three compelling and brave speakers who shared their powerful stories of recovery.

Members of King’s College’s About-Face Team listen to learn what Luzerne County Community College is doing on campus to help those with substance use disorder.New Paragraph

New Paragraph “The campaign is essential, especially now that Luzerne County has witnessed the highest number of substance use disorder deaths in our history—205 people in 2021 alone. As we come out of the pandemic, college-age students and the larger community need to make connections and get the help we all need to get through life. Reducing stigma and making resources available without shame is a crucial part of this task.”

Bill Bolan, Director of King’s College’s Shoval Center and About-Face Team Member

Connecting People Globally through Art

The Interdependence Hexagon Project was represented by founder and executive director Beth Burkhauser who facilitated additional connections through creative expression. The Hexagon Project endeavors to promote a sense of belonging to a broader community and common humanity by emphasizing socio-cultural, political and economic interdependency and interconnectedness among the local, the national and the global communities.

Nearly every visitor to this event–whether a King’s College student, a faculty or staff member of the college, a community member or staff from participating organizations–engaged with Beth at the Hexagon Project’s table and created a hexagon inspired by the spirit of the event, speakers’ powerful messages and prompts Beth created on a display board.y board.

Hexagon Project’s Executive Director Beth Burkhauser talks about the strength and power of community collaborations with Luzerne County Community College’s representative.

The Hexagon Project has international participation from schools and community members and has a presence at events throughout NEPA to encourage people to decorate or express an idea, a feeling, etc. on a blank hexagon that is later displayed with other hexagons. In the case of the Wellness Recovery Festival, Beth encouraged people to think about what it means for them to feel connected and what practices they put into place to feel that way.

The creative expressions included words, decoupage, collage, stampings, drawings and original illustrations beautifully and thoughtfully drawn. One hexagon in particular stood out with the amazing message: “Even a broken crayon still colors.”

Hexagons created at the Recovery Festival became a focal point to exemplify the value of connections later at King’s College’s Widmann Art Gallery in November and December with an opening reception during “Hunger for Justice Week.”

King’s College coordinated displays that educated about homelessness, food insecurity and substance use disorder. The exhibit also included the authentic photojournalism of Focus Journalism , a tree-shaped display of canned foods by King’s engineering students to be distributed to the food pantry at New Roots Recovery Support Center and educational PSAs about substance use disorder designed and animated by graphic arts students from Dr. Karen Mercincavage’s class using research conducted by King’s healthcare graduate students of Dr. Michele McGowan.

As if this wasn’t already a robust embodiment of connection and collaboration, another generation was brought in to learn from this example. Middle school students who participate in King’s College’s Hispanic Outreach Program visited the gallery to learn about social injustice and become educated about the many individuals and organizations working hard together to create solutions to improve the lives of many in northeastern Pennsylvania. Their visit sparked thoughts on ways they can contribute to social change. Many students expressed their ideas through the hexagonal art they created in the gallery during their visit. And another link is added to the chain.New Paragraph

Burkhauser points to the artwork created at the Recovery Festival and discusses how it connects with the other displays in the Widmann Gallery.

Middle school students were motivated and inspired by the collaborative work on display in the Widmann Gallery to create amazing work of their own; two hexagons they created are featured above.

Why You Need Strong Emotional Intelligence in Your Entrepreneurial Toolbox

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 17:04:00 GMT

Stephanie Gresh, Ph.D., Assistant Teaching Professor at Penn State University World Campus & Wilkes-Barre Campus, doesn’t let criticism bother her. She understands quite well how to process feelings and respond when people dislike something that she says or does, probably because of her extensive research and work on emotional intelligence.

She would like to pass this on to young people so they can do the same…to acknowledge, identify, and manage emotions. Gresh says she’s not afraid to push her students a bit to get them to do the hard work necessary–even when they don’t like an assignment she gives them–because she is helping them create an entrepreneurial mindset.

As the opening Keynote Speaker at this year’s Entrepreneurship Institute Conference (EIC), Gresh will share her expertise with the audience as she presents on Emotional Intelligence and Entrepreneurship. In her presentation, she will define what emotional intelligence is and why it is so essential in being a successful entrepreneur.

Emotions affect consumer purchasing behavior from social media influencers to local small businesses. The questions to ask yourself are: Are you able to recognize emotions in yourself and others and can you respond to them effectively? Are you aware of the emotions of those you hope to earn as consumers of your ideas? Managing emotions as a skill is essential for all aspiring and successful entrepreneurs.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre students meet with a faculty member. Gresh says in-person interactions are vital, especially for a generation so accustomed to looking at a screen.

Gresh’s definition of emotional intelligence is straightforward. She says, “It is the awareness of my emotions and how they affect others and the awareness of others’ emotions and how they affect me.”

While that may sound simple, it is important to understand that operating at a high level of emotional intelligence can be challenging and it takes practice. That is why young people need to learn it now.

Given the role that digital interactions play in the lives of young people today, it is vital that they push themselves to engage with people in real-life situations and learn to recognize emotions in themselves and others, Gresh says. The pandemic created more walls and young people had already spent a great amount of time online where she says the interactions are more superficial. The emotions are not real.

A study done by Common Sense Media in 2013 showed that about 38% of children under the age of 2 regularly use iPads or tablets before they can even speak.

But first, they must learn what emotional intelligence is and understand how it factors into their lives. Gresh says that to gain their interest, she will put emotional intelligence into a context that is relevant to them. She will hone in on the subject of social media influencers and how they’re able to be effective entrepreneurs by driving likes, getting people to engage and watch their videos, etc., through the use of effective emotional intelligence.

“What I’m going to focus on is to really get students to understand the connection between emotion and how our brain functions around emotion and the ability to effectively innovate, be an entrepreneur, and why that skillset is so essential.”

Emotional Intelligence Is Important Inside and Outside the Classroom

While there is a need to reach young people now, emotional intelligence is a skillset that is necessary for entrepreneurs of every age to master, and Gresh is passionate about that. She wants students to understand how it will serve them well in their personal and professional lives, but she can also speak to more seasoned audience members as well.

Gresh’s experience spans across several change-based organizations as well as within the higher education industry. She has been recognized for working with organizations to help restructure their business processes. What she has witnessed is that people who possess a higher level of emotional intelligence seem to move through change more easily, whether it is organizational, internal within themselves or in relationships.

Skills like adaptability and resilience are vital to the entrepreneurial skillset and fall under emotional intelligence. Those were essential once the pandemic hit and made it easier to pivot and adjust. We highlighted examples of this in a blog article earlier this year.

The Invent Penn State initiative helps to make many programs Dr. Gresh brings to campus and out in the community happen. It is all thanks to partnerships that Gresh and TecBridge believe are vital to getting things done!

Partnering to Reach and Teach More Young People

TecBridge is always working to support and prepare young and aspiring entrepreneurs. We are pleased to have Gresh (and Penn State) as one of many valuable partners working to create more opportunities for young people to engage with experts and learn –well beyond the EIC. Gresh worked with TecBridge’s executive director Don Webster over the summer on various initiatives and continues to work on creating competencies for a Youth Credentialing Program that will offer robust learning opportunities to continue developing the entrepreneurial mindset and putting it into action.

While our conference has reached maximum in-person attendance capacity, you are still welcome to join us online to learn about Emotional Intelligence and gain knowledge from the amazing line-up of experts speaking on topics that are valuable to high school and college students, aspiring entrepreneurs and curious learners. Email info@tecbridgepa.org for conference credentials to attend virtually.