Thriving on Change

We are in times of change.  We are always in times of change.  Everything changes.  Nothing is constant but change.

But we don't like change.

Not really true.  We don't like being told to change.  And we don't like things to change when we like or feel comfortable in the current situation.  So when an organization needs to make a change (which happens a LOT), employees may be uncomfortable with the change, fear it for a variety of reasons, and, therefore, resist it.  That resistance looks like disengagement, conflict, negativity, or sabotage.  And it results in low productivity, performance issues, and stress.  It may even lead to decreased sales, dissatisfied customers, or relationship issues with suppliers.

It is possible to be OK with change, though.  In fact, you can even thrive on change.  It takes some skill.  And mindfulness helps.

First of all, mindful leadership means the top down directives, decisions, and program roll-outs are compassionate towards what the employees may feel during changing times.  Organizational leaders communicate well and are considerate of the impact the changes have on employees.  They do not walk away from the difficult discussions or decisions and are transparent about what is really going to change... or what is unknown.

Secondly, a mindful culture will allow employees to be calm in the midst of chaos and be accepting of changes.  Additionally, because they are calm, they are more rational minded and can approach decisions and problems with a solution based attitude rather than a fear based one. 

Mindfulness is not all about going to a meditation room and zoning out to get some Zen... in fact, that isn't it at all.  It is about being able to be in the present moment without ignoring it, fighting it, or clinging to it.  It is about being open to change, because change is all we can count on.

If your organization is going through changes, you can begin to alleviate the problems that go along with change by helping your employees express how they feel without judgement and begin meditation groups or other stress relieving activities.  Training employees in mindfulness can help them cope with the changes and have a problem solving attitude.  

You can also help your organization by giving your leaders mindful leadership skills and attitudes and having open, transparent conversations about what THEY are fearing too.  Leaders do not purposefully try to hurt employees and make their lives difficult by changing things. Mindful leadership is about leading with heart.  And when that happens, even if a huge downsizing is the change occurring, employees will respect the leaders and continue to be cheerleaders for the organization.

Difficult changes are inevitable in business.  Resistance resulting from the changes is not.

How Leadership Creates Workplace Bullies

Today is anti-bullying day.  Often we think of kids bullying each other in school and in social media when we consider the impact of bullying.  On this day, kids wear pink shirts to school to support the end of bullying.  It is a wonderful method for building awareness, compassion, and respect amongst children.

However, bullying happens everywhere.  At work.  At home.  In social settings.  Everywhere.

The work bully may antagonize, yell, scream, criticize, and insult others - and I've worked with people like this.  There is another kind of work bully that I've also had experience with, though; and they are much worse.

A bully that is more detrimental to an organization seems cooperative and works hard.  People may admire them because they succeed in their work.  They are good influencers and negotiators.  Most times, they come across as good leaders because people listen to them.  Introduce a situation that they do not like, though, and their bullying nature emerges.

Because this kind of bully is liked and admired, it is difficult to identify that they are bullying.  It may seem they are simply being assertive, maybe a bit aggressive, but not quite bullying - at first.  Those that are bullied by this person may feel they are to blame for any conflict.  It may be difficult to even understand what is happening because the bully seems like a nice person, others like him, but the person bullied knows something is awry.

The person bullied may begin to shrink from working with the bully, may leave his/her job, or may refuse to be bullied and stand up to the bully.  When that happens, the bully comes out in full force.  He/she may lie and try to sabotage others' work, undermine authority, and do whatever he/she believes needs to be done to maintain his/her reputation - and that might mean tainting the reputation of others if necessary.

This kind of bully gets to a point where they CAN do these things without repercussions because of poor leadership.  This kind of bully often IS in a leadership role.  How does that happen?

In the case I witnessed, the bully was placed in a leadership position because she got results.  She was technically good at her job.  She brought in money.  Her projects were successful.  She was rewarded with compensation and responsibility... until she was in a leadership position.

The problem was that no one called her on 'how' she got results.  Because she got results, nobody cared what happened in order for her to get them.  The fact that complaints were made about her and others refused to work with her flew under the radar.  Because she could be aggressive and had the inclination to destroy someone's career with her lies and innocent nature, most people did not speak out against her.  Those that did, did not 'win' because her 'leader' saw results and wanted those results to stay.

In the end, this kind of bully gets rewarded for being a bully.  And this is detrimental to an organization. This bully may bring in results; however, those she works with either leave or lay low and do not perform at their maximum potential.  Productivity suffers.  Attitude suffers.  Culture suffers.  Customer service suffers.  Sales suffer.  Retention suffers.

A mindful leader will not tolerate bullying in order to get results.  A mindful leader would address the bullying head on and either help the person bullying deal with what is going on in his/her life (because that is what bullying is really about) or help them leave the company with dignity.

Bullying can be stopped in the workplace with compassion and courage.  Mindful leaders will face the fear of being attacked by the bully and do it with compassion and respect for the bully - because he/she is human.  And THAT is how bullying needs to be addressed for a win-win outcome.

Love At Work: Connect to be more satisfied at work

In honor of Valentine's Day and what I have always called Love Month, I am holding a contest!  Research has shown that the more mindful a supervisor, the lower his or her employees' emotional exhaustion and higher their job satisfaction.  This is great!  However, there was one caveat.  When basic psychological needs, such as autonomy and connection with others, are not met, the employee can lose the benefits of having a mindful supervisor. 

So, I am giving you an opportunity to practice your mindfulness skills with your team and colleagues, but also to practice connecting with others.  This is what love at work is about.  It is not a romantic love or fluffy, hairy fairy stuff.  It is being human, being compassionate, and connecting with people.  And the outcome can be higher engagement, more creativity, improved productivity, higher retention, and generally happier employees.  If nothing else, you have an opportunity to get to know the people you work with on a deeper level.

The Contest:

Post on my Facebook Page that you have done something to connect with another person in your workplace each day of the contest, which begins today (Feb. 13th) and ends on Feb. 28th.  Your name will be put into a draw as many times as you post.  The prize is a 1-year subscription to Mindful Magazine and a free coaching session with me:) 

Suggestions for connecting:

• Smile at someone at work whom you do not usually smile at.
• Write a thank-you note to someone who has helped you at work.
• Give your manager/boss/supervisor/mentor a compliment about his/her leadership.
• Give an employee a compliment about his/her work.
• Listen to someone who needs to be listened to.  Give your 100% attention.  Set everything aside for at least 5 minutes to just listen.
• Identify three things you love about your work and share them with someone you work with.  Ask them to share what they love about work with you.
• Sit with someone for lunch whom you do not typically sit with.  Ask them about their life.
• Ask someone at work to walk with you at lunch.
• Strike a committee to identify how you can shift your culture to be more compassionate.
• Allow someone at work to be right - even if you think you are right and they are wrong.  Tell them they are right.

What else can you think of?  Share your ideas and the impact this has in your workplace on my Facebook page... and Share the love with others by sharing this blog or Facebook post.

<3
Tina

Are you Entering the Burn-out Zone? Seven Ways an Entrepreneur can Deal with Stress and/or Burn-out

Stress.  It's a common word we use for many situations.  "I'm so stressed out!" We are stressed about money.  Stressed about work.  Stressed about the kids.  Stressed about relationships.  Stressed about the weather.  Stressed about the situation in the Middle East.  Stressed about supper.  Stressed about our schedule.....

Burnout is not as common.  However, it is much more severe.

The difference between stress and burnout is seen in the following chart (http://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/preventing-burnout.htm)

Stress vs. Burnout
Stress	Burnout
Characterized by over-engagement	Characterized by disengagement
Emotions are overreactive	Emotions are blunted
Produces urgency and hyperactivity	Produces helplessness and hopelessness
Loss of energy	Loss of motivation, ideals, and hope
Leads to anxiety disorders	Leads to detachment and depression
Primary damage is physical	Primary damage is emotional
May kill you prematurely	May make life seem not worth living
Source: Stress and Burnout in Ministry

A few years ago, I was stressed... really stressed.  I was working all hours in the night and up early to work again.  My life revolved around my daughter (which, thankfully, I never lost sight of), my job, which I was extremely passionate about, and my sideline business, which was failing.

I had many of the symptoms of stress.  Interestingly, I was calm on the outside most of the time, but I experienced heart palpitations, neck pain, and frequent headaches... and eventually, fatigue.  Over-engagement was an understatement.  I lost sight of what was truly important in my work.

I was a team leader.  I was a good leader.  But I began to lose sight of serving my customers and my team.  My days began to be about managing my own stress.  I had an amazing team who I could delegate to, but I lost my inspirational leadership abilities.

I was also a business owner.  I am not sure I was very good at that at the time.  However, I learned a lot.  As I became more and more stressed, I became less and less interested in leading my staff and business.  Eventually, the doors closed.  The team members were laid off.  And I was $100,000 in debt.

The following few years were an emotional roller coaster.  I'd met the man of my dreams, sold my house to pay of debt, travelled to South East Asia for the experience of a lifetime, had a baby, and got married.  I also had family illness, family conflict, difficulties re-entering the workforce, and increasing neck/back pain.  Then I started a business doing what I love to do - helping people be holistically well and lead with inspiration.  So life was overall good.  But a bunch of negative emotions bubbled into some of my days until I eventually couldn't get off the couch.

I was not able to bring myself to be excited about my business.  I often just lay down in the middle of the day and, really, had no emotions.  I had a lot of knowledge about what was happening and why, but I couldn't seem to bring myself to move.  I wasn't sad.  I wasn't happy.  I was nothing.

I hit the wall.

And my business suffered.  I am over two years in business now, and sometimes it feels like I just started.  But, like in my past business, I learned a lot.  Following are some of the lessons I learned. Some of these have nothing to do with business... and they have everything to do with business.

1. Allow yourself to feel whatever emotions you are feeling.  Pushing them away simply prolongs the suffering... and may make it worse.  I pushed away anger, hurt, sadness, loss... because I knew I had to be happy and positive to attract happy and positive to my life.  Well, folks, we are human, and we are not wired to be happy and positive all the time.  We need to experience the whole range of emotions if we are to be alive and well. 
2. That all said, become aware of the negative emotions and begin to shift them.  This takes time.  If you feel sad... feel sad.  Allow it to move through you.  Then allow it to leave.  Begin to find happier than sad.  That may not be 'happy'... that might be 'not sad'... and that is OK. Identify what makes you feel happy and do it.  Think it.  Experience it.  This begins a true shift in your brain and you will begin to feel happy again.  I began to keep my toddler home from daycare some days and have Mommy and daughter time.  Seeing the world through a child's eyes is one of the greatest forms of joy.  I also began to walk.  Outside.  Every day I could.  It brought lightness to me.  Over time, I added more things to my happy list, and over time, I climbed out of the emotionless pit I'd fallen into.
3. Breathe.  Just sit and pay attention to your breath.  This calms your mind and helps you see more clearly.  We are often bombarded by our own thoughts.  We create chaos and stress in our lives because it is in our minds.  Calm your mind and calm your stress.  Meditation and yoga provided true healing for me.  And then I started my training to be a meditation instructor AND a yoga teacher.  Everything happens for a reason:) 
4. Be with people who are truly kind and compassionate.  There are many positive people and groups out there. These may not be the best groups for you to be with when you feel burnt out - although they may.  I needed REAL.  Going to a group in which everyone was happy and positive made me feel awful - because I wanted to feel that but I couldn't.  I also did not feel good going to a group that was like a support group, where everyone shared their problems and cried with each other (you may need that, though).  I needed real people who were indeed happy, but they were non-judgmental.  They listened.  They did not try to fix me.  They did not have a need to flaunt their own happy or their own emotional distress.  They were truly kind. You will know them when you meet them because they make you feel good - not bad.  Now that I've left the burn-out zone, I can be with all the other people and groups without the emotions affecting me.  I needed attention and I needed kindness.  I needed a reprieve.  I needed real.  I needed to be able to say what was truly on my mind without fear of it affecting my business... because, afterall, I was in the business of mindfulness, leadership, and wellness, yet I was not being much of a leader and I was unwell.  
5. Be kind to you.  So this piece of advice was given to me by a friend.  She just said these words and they resonated with me.  I was pushing my emotions down.  I was trying so hard to be what people expected of me - a great wife, a great mom, a smart business owner, a compassionate coach, a loving daughter/sister/friend.  But I struggled with all those roles because I wasn't listening to myself.  If I didn't feel happy and positive, I beat myself up because I knew better.  I needed some time to heal.  I was burnt out and it had been going on for years!  I finally needed to just rest.  Now, don't get me wrong, I still fed my children:)  But if I couldn't cook the healthiest meal, I didn't beat myself up about it.  If I didn't complete my tasks for the day, I didn't beat myself up about it.  If I felt bad... I didn't feel bad about feeling bad.  This was where I needed to begin.
6. Investigate what is really going on.  You can do this through contemplation during meditation, journaling, or simply thinking about it while walking or resting.  For me, I experienced loss and hadn't dealt with it.  I left my job, closed my business, and then couldn't find a job for a long time when I lived in Singapore.  Upon my return to Newfoundland, I also did not have a job because I had a baby, but I searched for one even though I really wanted to be home with my baby.  Part of my loss was a loss in identity, which resulted in a loss of self-esteem.  I had been defining myself as a promising organizational leader.  But I was no longer that.  Once I recognized this, I could begin to shift it.  I began to let go of this identity.  I realized it was not WHO I was.  I intellectually knew all of this... but experiencing it brings a deeper level of understanding.  Once I got that, I could create my new vision and goals.  I could get excited about this new chapter in my life and I could say good-bye to the old one.
7. Talk to another Entrepreneur or Business Leader or someone in your field or a Coach... who is non-judgmental.  I sought out fellow business owners ever since I first started my business.  I joined groups.  I met one-on-one.  I networked.  And I shared my challenges and successes.  But I did not always feel supported or encouraged.  In fact, I sometimes felt completely torn down.  Of course, I know this is not my problem but theirs.  However, as I entered the burn-out zone, this was detrimental to my confidence and courage as a business owner.  Slowly, I began to remove myself from all business groups.  In fact, I withdrew completely for a while.  It may not sound smart from a business point of view, but would you speak with a group of investors without preparing your speech?  I needed to prepare me.  So I did.  I took care of my mental state and was very selective about who I met with, who I took on as a client, what events I participated in.  I continue to find my tribe - my group of fellow colleagues who are open, caring, non-competitive, and real.

As an Entrepreneur or Business Leader, we often feel alone.  Stress is something we can handle with coping mechanisms if we are aware of and kind to ourselves.   The symptoms of stress can often be managed with lifestyle changes such as exercise, sleep, relaxation, nutrition, nature, art, healthy rituals, and setting boundaries.  Burn-out is much more difficult and business can suffer greatly when it comes along.  It is emotional and mental exhaustion.  It sometimes requires a complete change in career or job in order to deal with it.  But, you CAN pull yourself out of it.  Reach out for some help. Meditate.  Train your brain.  Find something good.  Celebrate feeling better than yesterday - even if that is angry because yesterday, you may have felt nothing.

<3 

Leading with Spirit

Christmas is a perfect time to practice leading with spirit.  We talk about how we want the world to be... how we want our lives to be... how we want our employees and coworkers to be.  The best way to do that is to be the way you want others to be.

Like Mahatma Gandhi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world."  It's such a common quote, but how do we live it?

Like anything, start where you are.  We have eight sleeps until Christmas.  If you would like your workplace, employees, colleagues, leaders, suppliers, and any stakeholders to have spirit, start being the spirit.

I have a Christmas Spirit Challenge ongoing now on my Facebook page that you can take part in (and enter to win a meditation CD for your workplace).  Make a list of things you can do to spread the Christmas spirit and commit to doing one thing (or more) every day from now until Christmas Day.  Get your employees and coworkers involved.  Post photos on my Facebook page and enter to win!  Be a Leader with Spirit.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Buy a coffee/tea/hot chocolate for a coworker.
• Leave a note on an employee's/coworker's desk about how great a job they are doing (be specific).
• Gather a group together to sing Christmas carols at a senior's home.
• Give your employees the day off to volunteer.
• Smile - at everyone.
• Give a delivery person a card with a personal note.
• Spend an afternoon with your team identifying ways you can help each other out with work or even personal 'stuff'.
• Commit to really listening to someone - without any need to be right or respond.  Just listen.

Add to the list... share your ideas and post your photos.  Let's have some fun and find the true meaning of Christmas in the workplace.  Be an elf!

"The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear."  ~ Elf, from the movie Elf

Merry Christmas... fa la la la laaaa la la la la... 

<3

Why Managing the Highs is Important for Entrepreneurs

Last year I hit a low.  I had many months of lows.  I'd experienced burn-out three years earlier and over the next three years had two international moves, a marriage, a baby, sickness in the family, personal health issues, family relationship challenges, unemployment, and a new business.  Needless to say, I didn't really have time to deal with burn-out.  Then, last year, my business transitioned from HR consulting to mindful leadership and wellness, and what one would expect to be an exciting journey turned into some of the lowest moments of my life - but they contained some of the most valuable lessons.

My mind, body, and spirit just would not allow me to take any more and I literally crashed. Strangely, I was in a very happy place in life - life was truly wonderful in all the important ways. Yet, I was struggling with getting out of bed and managing my day to day roles as a mom, wife, and business owner.  I beat myself up about not being in a 'happy place' when life was so good. Underneath it all, I was actually happy and grateful for such amazing love in my life.  I just couldn't muster up the energy to behave that way consistently.  I wanted so badly to have a 'productive' day.  I saw other business owners passing me by as my business stalled.  I observed others being happy and successful and wished I could be in that place.  I decided I had to remove myself from social situations because they made me feel worse - and I stopped almost all professional networking and declined nearly all socials.

My personal wellness journey then began, and it was necessary for business success.

Thankfully, I have progressed to a wonderful place and have begun to network again.  Business is increasing - you really do attract what you feel and what you can handle at that time.  I have moments of floating on a high again, and I'm realizing just how important it is to manage your highs both in business and life.

Through these experiences, I learned two key things:

1) It is critical to manage your highs if you want to be successful in business.

Yes, I said 'highs'.  As my energy floated around a 1-2 out of 10, it felt like everyone around me was a 12.  Interestingly, I began to observe how unmanaged some of these highs were and how distracted and absent some of these people were from the present.  Their way of being was centred around their successes and even challenges - it was self-centred.  I was honoured to be part of their journey and that they wanted to share their celebrations with me.  However, when I needed to have their attention, they were focused on their own successes and achievements and their own evolving journey.

I wondered... "Was I like that when I was on a professional high in the past?"  And I decided that, yes, I was.  But I didn't want to be like it in the future.

I knew I had to help other entrepreneurs not be like it too - because we don't know what we don't know, and an entrepreneur can't get away with behaving on this level of self-importance and be successful on a long-term basis.  An entrepreneur puts her/himself out there and needs to be able to   accept her/his imperfections and actually feel grateful when others point them out so you can then improve on them.  Perfection does not mean having no flaws.  It means not being offended when someone points out yours.

Everyone has highs and lows in life and business.  Imagine peaking in your business.... it's a celebratory time.  But there will always be people around you that are on a low or struggling in some way.  They may celebrate with you, but they may need something else from you.  Imagine if those people were your employees or your customers or your suppliers?  How do you think the relationship would evolve if they needed your attention and presence, yet you were on a high that took all of your energy to that place?

Now, how do you think the relationship would evolve if you were present with these people, regardless of where you are and what you are experiencing?  When they need you, they have your attention.

Who becomes the loyal employee that recruits other great employees?  Who becomes the cheerleader customer?  Who is the supplier that works with you to meet deadlines rather than giving excuses for not meeting them?  Yeah... it's the one who gets your attention.

And, remember, you will drop into a low again.  The highs do not last forever.  It is the ability to not cling onto the highs and accept the lows that brings true happiness in life and success in business.

Being an entrepreneur can be exhausting.  You are leader.  You are confidante.  You are representative in your industry.  You are sales person.  You are connector.  You are problem solver. You are 'financer'.  You assume the risk and give away authority.  Not to mention, and more importantly, you are partner/spouse, child, parent, and friend.  Your presence is required - all the time.

The only way to not burn-out is to manage it all - the lows AND the highs.

2) The answer is here.  Now.

It is common knowledge that we must manage our lows.  I use mindfulness strategies to help clients manage them and build focus, awareness, and whole wellness.  However, it is not as common to manage the highs.  We are encouraged to celebrate the highs.  The poised leader manages his or her highs while celebrating them.  The poised leader does not even need the so-called highs in order to feel successful.

The answer for not burning out from the extremes is being in the present moment.  Regardless of where you are in business, when you are sitting across from an employee discussing a challenge or success they are having, making that the most important thing in your life right now (because it is the only thing at that moment) is how you prevent the crash.  You manage it all by managing the only thing you can - the moment.

This doesn't mean you don't celebrate and share your successes with others.

When you are on your next high, enjoy that moment.  Enjoy it for everything it is.  And then move into the next moment.  When the high is over - the good news has been told, the contract has been awarded, the financing has come through - it no longer exists.  Wishing the feeling could last forever or chasing the next high will not make you happy or any more successful.  The great high experienced is no more successful than the next moment when you are taking out the trash.

And that is the answer.  Everything... every moment... is where success lies... when you don't cling to an experience as being more or less successful or important than the previous one and you don't chase after another experience in order to feel more successful.

Simple.  But not easy.
<3

Why the Law of Attraction is Important for Entrepreneurs & Business Leaders

I watched 'The Secret' when it first came out in 2006 and read the book as soon as it was released.  Ironically, the video I watched was a burned copy of the original.  Someone gave it to me before I knew what it was about.  Once I watched it, I was worried that the fact I watched a free, burned copy of the video meant I was going to attract people and situations to my life that did not value me, used me, or some other negative consequences would come my way.

Because the law of attraction is all about attracting into your life what you put out, right?

Well, over the years I have learned so much more about this stuff.  I'm not an expert on this topic, but, I know it can help entrepreneurs and business leaders.

There is a phenomenal amount of research being done on our thoughts and the impact of our thoughts on our beliefs and actions.  We know that positive thoughts attract positive beliefs and positive behaviours.  We also know that when we behave in certain ways, we attract similar people and situations to our lives.

All that seems true to date, and much of it is scientifically proven.

However, what is not yet known is how to control the original thought that enters our minds.  I have not read any research to date that states we can control this.  The Dalai Lama himself believes it is impossible to stop a thought or emotion from arising.  But what the Dalai Lama and other experts know is that we can control what we do with that thought or emotion once it arises.

So, let's get it straight.  You are not going to fail in business when you have a fear or negative thought about success.

One of the ways I have learned to deal with negativity or stress is to not feel bad about feeling bad.  That simply leads to more stress.  Many mindful leaders know about law of attraction, so they feel bad about feeling bad... because then they believe they will attract failure and negativity... and this simply exacerbates the negative feelings.  We are human and will feel bad sometimes.  We will have negative thoughts and emotions.  Period.

Being mindful and attracting the business and life you want does not mean you are free from negative thought and emotion.  However, to be successful in business, the law of attraction can be very useful.

I help my clients to shift perspective into more positive, healthier, and more motivational mindsets. It's not because I think their thoughts alone are going to change their businesses to be more successful.  And it's not because I believe the shifts will make them an overnight success.  It is because of what happens after the shifting occurs.

Here are three ways the law of attraction can help entrepreneurs and business leaders:

1. Perception

If you look at any successful entrepreneur or leader, you will see that their perception of things is positive, solution-oriented, and one of possibility.  Even when a disaster happens, they see it as a learning experience or they springboard off of it for a greater success.  Their perception allows them to see opportunities for success more clearly.  They will have just as many (or more) failures.  They will feel bad about them.  But they will perceive them differently, which will make them behave differently.  And THAT is what makes them successful.

2. Choice

When we think about failure or something negative, we are naturally inclined to seek out situations to prove what we think.  However, when we think about success, we seek out situations that may bring success.  We choose differently.  Whatever it is, we are motivated to prove ourselves right.  So as an entrepreneur or business leader, if we think a project or venture will fail, we will naturally seek out proof that it will fail... and it probably will.  So thinking of success will motivate us to choose differently - to seek out proof that it will succeed.  It doesn't mean it always will, but because you are choosing actions and making decisions to prove success, it increases the chances.

3. Awareness 

Have you ever thought about finding a parking spot in an area where it's near impossible, and there was one there - right in front of the building you were going to?  Some call this the law of attraction and feel that because they thought of it, it appeared.  That, to me, is magic.  What I think is more likely is the fact that you thought of it, therefore it was in your awareness, and when one was available, you noticed it.  You also noticed that it was near the building you were going to.  When something is put into our mind, we begin to notice it more and more.  For an entrepreneur or business leader, this can be very useful.  There are an unlimited number of opportunities that are just waiting to be discovered and created.  When an entrepreneur/leader thinks about opportunities and possibilities, they begin to appear.  It is not that they weren't there before... it is more about noticing them.  If you are not allowing positive, creative, possibility thoughts into your mind, these opportunities will go unnoticed.  Or if you are ruminating on thoughts about there not being any opportunities, well, there won't be any opportunities.

Of course, it is all up to you.  That is what is so great about all of this stuff... it is completely your choice.

More Multi-tasking, Less Productivity

Have you ever written or seen a job description with the following words:

"Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment.  Must be able to multi-task."  ??

If you have ever looked for a job or promoted a job opening, you have very likely seen something like this.  I have even written it myself... it was many years ago.  These statements are problematic for two reasons.

1) Aren't all work environments 'fast-paced'?
2) Multi-tasking is actually impossible, so when asking someone to multi-task, aren't you really asking them to make more mistakes, be more stressed, and get less done?

Fast-pasted work environment

Fast-paced, hectic, busy, flat-out, crazy, chaotic, messy... the list goes on.  I have not seen a work environment that couldn't be described with one of these words.  Telling a candidate they must be able to work in that kind of environment sets the stage for stress before they even begin working.

It is true that if the culture is fast and hectic, the person working in it must be able to work in it.  However, slowing down is actually the best way to handle a fast pace.  So what if we began using words like, "must be able to slow down in order to effectively manage the work day," or "it is an asset to be able to address stressful situations in a calm manner?"

Because, really... if your employees do not have the ability to calm down in a fast-paced situation, they won't be effective at their jobs.

Multi-tasking

Our brains can't multi-task.  Our brains are actually switching from one task to another, not focusing on more than one task at a time.  This leads to lack of attention, errors, and increasing stress on the individual.  Some researchers say that productivity is reduced by about 40% when trying to multi-task!

Distractions in society and workplaces are producing a loss of the ability to pay attention.  And it's costing our organizations time and money and talent.

So what if we changed the idea of "must be able to multi-task" to "must be able to focus?"  And what if organizations implemented training programs to help their employees and managers and leaders build their focusing skills?

Mindfulness training helps people calm down and get focus.  The only two purposes of mindful meditation are in fact concentration and awareness... or attention and meta-attention (awareness of paying attention).  All of the other benefits are spin-off outcomes (and they are all pretty awesome!).

Get Started

Here are few simple tips to begin growing mindfulness amongst your employees without having to hire an outside facilitator (yes, like me:):

1. Get educated and educate your team on the detrimental effects of always rushing and multi-tasking. Join groups on social media (join Pomroy Harmony & Wellness, Going Om, Search Inside Yourself or search for others) for free resources and information.
2. Give your team the autonomy to create pauses throughout their day to simply sit for a few minutes and do nothing or meditate or go outside for a breath of fresh air or do a few yoga stretches.
3. Tell your team to create a reminder for themselves to stop and breathe every hour.  This is a mindful breath and a simple deep breath in and then out calms the mind and helps bring the person to the present moment.  The breath in activates the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the fight, flight, or freeze responses, and the breath out activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for physiological responses when relaxing and calming.  So try to breathe in for 4 counts and out for 8 counts, and the net effect is relaxation and calm.

Try it on.  There is no evidence that this stuff is not good for you... and there is lots of evidence that it is good for you.  So why not?

Let me know how it goes..... 

<3

Walk Your Dog, Not Work Like a Dog

Earlier today while on my nature walk, I passed a former colleague who's been retired for three years.  We had a lovely little catch-up and one of the topics we chatted about was that he still enjoys being actively involved in projects, but he wants to do only the work he enjoys and, more importantly, he wants to spend time with his loved ones, live the life he wants, and walk his dog... because you never know when your day is up.  His friend recently passed away.  He had just retired and was only 62 years old.  He led a healthy life, had worked like a dog his whole life, and was just about to begin enjoying his cottage.

And I said... that's why I do what I do.  

I want people to enjoy their work.  I want businesses to succeed, and I get a huge sense of satisfaction when I see an entrepreneur flourish in business or when a team leader truly inspires his or her team.  But, underlying all of that, I want people to be well and live life now and not wait for retirement to enjoy life and live their dream.  When entrepreneurs flourish and team leaders inspire, it trickles into the PEOPLE contributing, being engaged, and being well.  Because business is not a successful business without contributing, engaged, and well people.  Period.

Work is simply a part of living life.  Almost everyone needs to do it to pay the bills.  However, it does not have to be meaningless, mundane, or stressful.  And it does not have to eat up the other areas of your life.

Work can be one of the greatest contributions you give when the workplace has a culture designed to cultivate that and the individual has the mindset to live the dream now.

A workplace culture that nourishes mindfulness, mindful leadership, and individual growth and development can make even the most mundane task feel meaningful.  It can also make the present moment be the dream that you are living.  That is not to say you don't have other dreams and goals... but you can be living your 'now dream' when you live and work on purpose.

Whether you are a team leader, a front-line worker, or an entrepreneur, don't wait for retirement to live your life.  Work is part of your life and can be used to cultivate your dreams and nurture your wellness.  Begin to shift your perspective from work is so much work to work can be the way you fulfill your dreams and aspirations.

<3

Make Mondays Fabulous - Find Harmony & Happy at Work

Have you ever heard people talk about employees at their workplaces are happy, engaged, calm, collaborative, productive, creative... and wonder if it's true?  Really?  Are people at work really that happy and healthy?  Is that even possible in your work environment? Sometimes I hear my clients and colleagues working in industries such as oil and gas say it might be possible for that company, but not theirs.

The belief much of society has is that work must be stressful and chaotic.  Managers must be authoritative in order to make employees do what they need to do to get the job done.  Helping employees be happy and fulfilled is not the company's or manager's responsibility - do it on your own time.  Deadlines and budgets are more important than ensuring an employee is feeling OK.  Time is money.  Business is money.  This business is tough and if you can't handle that, leave.  And we have an EAP anyway, so what's the big deal?  We are helping our employees be happy and healthy.

However, we often hear employees say, "TGIF!"  Every week.  And their unhappiness is not helping business.

I believe it is absolutely possible to have a harmonious and happy workplace in any industry or workplace.  I also believe work in any industry can be messy and workplaces are dysfunctional. What I don't believe is that an employee must decide whether they want to tough it out every day, slogging through the daily pressures of messy work and potentially cranky customers or colleagues, or leave and take a 'less stressful' job in order to have a good and successful life.

Why must anyone choose between work and happy??

This, to me, is like telling a woman she must choose between work and family.  Of course you can have both!  And being happy at work is not only possible, it is what will create a more effective workplace and more fulfilling life.

Note:  Happy does not mean always elated, laughing, and smiling.  Happy means fulfilled, content, and at peace, which results in engaged, collaborative, and confident.

So the question remains... HOW can such a messy, stressful, dysfunctional workplace create a happy, healthy atmosphere and culture?

The process for culture change is looonnnnggggg.  Leadership needs to be hugely committed.  Every decision needs to be aligned with the culture you are seeking.  There will be ups and downs. Transition of culture will often mean transition of staff.  However, there is no better way to change your environment than by changing yourself.  When you begin to 'be the change you want to see in the world,' others begin to change around you.  When they begin to change, others change around them.  It's the ripple effect.

There is no quick fix for making an unhealthy or toxic culture healthy and productive.  However, you can quickly begin to change how you respond to your work.  I challenge you to begin by taking the words 'I am stressed' out of your vocabulary.  Instead, you can say, 'I am dealing with a stressful situation, and I allow myself to be in it without feeling anxious/ stressed/ overwhelmed/ angry/ agitated/ insert negative emotion here.'  Instead of reacting with feeling stressed, take a moment to breathe.  Go for a walk (walking to the bathroom helps).  Yes, count to 10.

These things all work by inducing a calming effect and are a great place to begin.  However, to truly make a change, you must understand what the trigger is and why it triggered you in the first place. Otherwise, you will continue to be triggered and will have to do a lot of counting.

This is where mindfulness can help.  Reflecting on the situation and identifying a more helpful and positive response will help change how you will respond the next time.

For true organizational culture change, I recommend going through a program of assessment, clarity, development, creation, and transformation.  The Create Your Culture program does that.  However, no matter what role you have in your organization, you can begin with you.

Make Mondays Fabulous.