September 10, 2001

West Des Moines, IA - Respect in the workplace is easy to talk about but challenging to act upon. A new video-based training program released today by Vision Point Productions, M.E.E.T. on Common Ground: Speaking Up for Respect in the Workplace, provides a simple yet powerful model to develop and maintain a respectful workplace. A respect-filled workplace helps reduce conflict, harassment and other problems that can lead to low morale, reduced productivity or even litigation.

M.E.E.T. develops this model through six dramatic vignettes that deftly portray how even subtle, inadvertent behaviors and comments can make others feel uncomfortable or even offended - and why it is critical that everyone in the workplace take personal responsibility to address and resolve these problems. Through these vignettes, the program presents practical techniques for recognizing and overcoming these workplace adversities.

"M.E.E.T. portrays the type of every-day workplace situations that we are most likely to encounter, ones in which there are not always unambiguous 'perpetrators' and 'victims', but rather people who may not be aware of the impact their comments or actions have on their co-workers," said Paul Shay, Vice President of Vision Point Productions. "It is these gray areas that are often the root of some of the biggest workplace problems."

According to Ken Blanchard, "M.E.E.T. takes us from political correctness to meaningful action. Using it will impact your organization and help people to create their own respect-filled workplace."

M.E.E.T. was developed in conjunction with Ben & Debra Alexander of Alexander Consulting and Training, Gloucester VA, recognized experts in creating the respectful workplace. According to Ben Alexander, "M.E.E.T. On Common Ground offers reality-situations we all know represent historical problems in our society-but without shame, blame, sermon or edict. It asks people to stop, reflect, and choose actions that are consistent with respect for individuals. And the fact that people can do this without getting into defending personal views and past actions is the key to why this program is so helpful".

The four steps of the M.E.E.T. Model include: "Make time to discuss"; "Explore differences"; "Encourage respect"; "Take responsibility."

The first of the four steps, "make time to discuss", encourages employees to talk openly about offending behavior when observing - not to "let it slide". The second focuses on how exploring and acknowledging our differences helps lead to a better understanding of one-another, thereby helping us avoid offending behavior in the first place. The third, "encourage respect", focuses on the importance of taking an active role in encouraging respect for each other's perspectives. And finally, the fourth step shows how a respectful workplace is everyone's responsibility.

"M.E.E.T. on Common Ground: Speaking Up for Respect in the Workplace" (22 minutes) may be previewed and purchased from VisionPoint by calling 800-300-8880 or by e-mailing them at sales@vppi.com.

Vision Point (www.vppi.com) specializes in creating video and multimedia-based products that help organizations improve the performance of their workforce. With over 15 years of experience producing award-winning products for the performance improvement marketplace, Vision Point routinely produces as many as 70 proprietary and custom titles per year and works with the top names and companies in the training field. Vision Point may be reached at 800-300-8880 or 515-334-9292, by fax at 515-334-9009, writing to 9379 Swanson Blvd., Suite C, Clive, IA 50325-6919 or e-mail info@vppi.com.