Monthly Manager Meeting- 7-23-26 - Jul 27, 2026

meeting

Loudoun County Board Committees and Advisory Boards 1h 35m 8 agenda items transcribed 3 days ago official recording ↗

▲ 0

Transcript

jump: agenda · find in transcript

Transcript

Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.

What announcements and recognitions were made at the start of the meeting?

Shauna (Unknown) 0:34

You know the back bit doesn't. What about it?

Shauna (Unknown) 0:54

Always have the show.

Abby Kimball 1:11

Yeah.

Shauna (Unknown) 1:25

Yeah, I went yesterday.

Shauna (Unknown) 1:34

Are you good?

Steve (Unknown) 2:13

All right, it's ten o'clock. Good morning everybody. Let's go ahead and get started. Um a couple quick announcements. One I just wanted to let you know there's several of us that are gonna have to um roll out about eleven o'clock. We are highlighting um with a ceremony this morning some folks that uh um are graduating from the Lead Loudoun program. So congratulations Andrew and Jessica who are in the room. So um Uh had a few others that are are on vacation, so uh great program. And if you have the opportunity, um uh I would encourage you to go through that program. Um also tonight we have uh at the Planning Commission, just so you know, uh we are taking up the Western Loudoun Recreational Complex, which includes our fourth recreation center and a pretty significant size park.

Steve (Unknown) 3:10

So uh we're anticipating it's gonna be sent to work session, but uh but that is something that is moving forward. Right now we are trying to stay on track to break ground on that project this coming spring. So another really big thing that we have going on uh here within the department that we can take a lot of pride in. Um reminder that Um. In the fall of twenty twenty seven. Uh all nine positions on the Board of Supervisors are going to be up for reelection, which means that starting probably now, uh there will be election activity going on. And just a reminder for everybody that uh that happens at our facilities a lot, and that is perfectly acceptable. Uh just make sure that you're communicating if there is some type of political activity that's

Steve (Unknown) 4:01

going on uh at your site. But uh we are um we host a lot of of activities as we move into election season and just a reminder that that is perfectly acceptable, uh just make sure that we're communicating that up. So, connection before content this morning. Um, when I talk with the new staff on their first day as a part of orientation. One of the things that I give to them as advice is every single day find a way to laugh. I say that to every single person that comes in. And I got to thinking about that the other day. Why do I say that? And so I did a little research and I want to share with you the importance of laughter in the workplace this morning. So when we laugh. Brain doesn't just register amusement, it releases a cascade of neurochemicals, dopamine, serotonin, and dwarphins.

Steve (Unknown) 5:01

That reduced cortisol, which is the body's primary stress hormone. But it also sharpens alertness. Mirthful laughter. That's not my word. Belly laughter. is n is mez it measurably decreases cortisol. And this is a measurable hormone shift that changes how your brain functions in the minutes and hours that follow. The cognitive effects compounds from there. The reduced cortisol loosens the grip of threat focused thinking. So your prefront frontal cortex The part of the brain responsible for creativity, problem solving, decision making. It operates more effectively when those stress hormones aren't flooding your system. In other words, a well timed laugh. Before a difficult brainstorm isn't frivolous. It's actually neurologically sound.

Steve (Unknown) 6:02

The positive effect broadly speaking. predicts better health outcomes, faster recovery from stress, greater resilience over time. Laughter is one of the fastest and most accessible ways to generate that positive effect. And in a work context. This translates directly. People who feel good. Think more clearly, engage more fully. sustain their efforts longer. And the connection between finding joy at work and measurable performance gains Isn't just soft psychology. It's actually neurochemistry. Three things physiologically, psychologically and organizationally. Physiologically Laughter activates the immune system and reduces inflammatory markers. Positive emotions, including those generated by humor. Our length in research literature to better cardiovascular health, faster wound healing, and longer life expectancy.

Steve (Unknown) 7:02

That's the long game. In the short game. A single good laugh.