Reflect: 30 Days to Higher Performance Through Nature

It's Day 7 of David Suzuki's 30x30 Nature Challenge!  Someone asked me if this challenge has had an impact on me.  The answer: Yes.  I'm feeling more balanced, more creative, more driven, and the brain breaks have helped me be more productive.

I've had to squeeze my connection to nature in for the past two days.  Looking at my schedule over the next few days, though, my solo challenge may have to change to family time.

On Monday I went to a bench near a pond surrounded by trees.  Birds were squawking, ducks were landing in the water, and my head was swarmed by mosquitoes!  Yes... it's finally Spring here!  It's blissful.  Most of my time on Monday was spent in self-reflection.

I've been working on my goals and vision and had to ask friends and colleagues questions about me.  Honest answers really made me think.  Thirty minutes of self-reflection after hearing how you inspire and also challenge people is a good exercise - for everyone, especially leaders and managers.  I feel better equipped to become a better leader myself and also to help you become a better leader in your work and life.


Being incredibly busy on Tuesday, I had to find something to motivate me to get outside throughout the work day.  The sun did it.  I literally squeezed a 25 minute connection to nature in between two appointments.  I sat near a babbling brook and felt the heat of the sun on my face.  Along the trail, I had a serendipitous meeting with a fellow coach from DMW Coaching and had a great chat which left me feeling settled.  Good things happen when you create openings for opportunities.

My challenge for you today is to go out in nature and reflect on your strengths and areas you need to work on in order to reach your vision.  If you don't have a vision.... start working on it.  You can't reach it without knowing what it is.  And like Suzanne Conrad from igolu says, if you don't know your own vision, you are living someone else's.

Thank-you for being my accountability partner(s) in this challenge.  If you need one, drop me a line or post on my Facebook page about how you are doing with your challenge and if it's making a difference in your performance.

Namaste

Going Off The Trail: 30 Days to Higher Performance Through Nature

It's Day 5 of the 30x30 David Suzuki Nature Challenge.  I'm sharing my journey of the challenge with you and aligning it with having a higher performance at work and in life.  I'm an outdoorsy person, so my challenge is to intentionally get more out of being 'out there'.

This past weekend we had SUN!  For those readers who do not know Newfoundland weather... sun is a rarity for us, and when we get it, we take advantage!  So going outside wasn't hard.  But getting my intentional connection to nature was just a little more difficult.

My weekends are sacred.  I spend time with my family, and this is very important to me.  However, my husband and I have an arrangement - we each get a weekend morning to spend doing whatever we want (child responsibilities go to the other person).  This past weekend, my morning was Sunday.  Before I get to that, let's go to Saturday.

Saturday morning my wee one had gym class bright and early.  After class, we went to a pond with a lovely trail around it.  I let her lead.  Instead of spending my nature time alone in silence, I watched her lead the way in nature.  She squealed in delight when she managed to get down a little step without holding my hand.  She went OFF THE TRAIL... and her curiosity resulted in us finding a grassy area next to the pond that is excellent for yoga or a picnic!  I've been running around this pond for years and have never found this spot.  Going off the trail was so much more exciting.... she already knew how to walk along the trail.  But finding pine cones to tear apart (and taste) and lumpy, bumpy, grassy spots to maneuver through was much more exciting.

Being curious is a wonderful thing.  On the one hand, like my babe, you find and learn new things by questioning and attempting and taking risks.  However, I was curious by observing.  My toddler and I didn't get very far in distance, but I believe I observed more in that 45 minutes than any other time I've been around that pond.

Be curious at work.  Seek out better or different ways to do things... even if you believe you are doing them well.   Let someone else lead the way and you watch.  It is amazing what you might learn - both about the task and the person.  And your performance will likely rise as a result.

Needless to say, my Saturday was amazing and productive after starting it in nature!

Sunday was another story.  I was up very late talking with my mom Saturday night, and then my toddler was awake for an hour throughout the night... Sunday being 'my morning', I slept it away!  What happened then?  I had a slow, lazy afternoon and didn't get what I planned to do done.  I DID get to my hula hooping class with FarOut Fitness and that WAS outside.  So I guess you could say that I did meet the requirements for the nature challenge:)

Here's to getting off the trail!

These Shoes Were (NOT) Made for Walkin': 30 Days to Higher Performance Through Nature

Day 2.  I was up late last night putting final details on a facilitation I was delivering this morning.  I didn't really plan my 30 minutes of nature into my day since I was focused on the morning session and then getting other work goals met this afternoon.  It's definitely not an established habit yet.

After my morning session and grabbing a bite to eat (trying to do 'clean eating' - another challenge) I hopped in my car to go to a coffee shop and write.  Then I realized I would not be able to get my 30 minutes of nature in without my toddler if I didn't do it before the end of my work day.... but I have a work suit and dress shoes on!

I sat in my car wondering what to do... go home and change my clothes?  But I have another meeting later.  Get my sneakers?  But time is of the essence.... so I decided to get with nature with my dress shoes and work suit. I quickly concluded that my goal here is a daily dose of connection - and I can do that no matter what type of clothes I'm wearing.

I found one of my favorite trails in the middle of the city.  It has a resting place along the way next to a babbling brook.  You feel 100 miles away from the city - but you're right in the middle of it.  It's one of the beautiful things about living in my city.  I was happy the resting spot wasn't too far along the trail because I quickly realized these shoes were NOT made for walking!

I was forced to walk a little slower and for a shorter distance.  In order to fulfill my 30 minute commitment, I would have to just sit at the resting place.  And I did.

While I sat, my mind whirled.  I can't help it.  I really did chant for a few minutes and just listened to the babbling brook and chirping birds.  That made ideas come even faster.  So I allowed them to come and I allowed them to leave.  A few stuck.

1. A challenge is something that challenges YOU.  I get out in nature.  I love it and consider myself an outdoorsy person.  So this 30x30 challenge is not just about enjoying nature for me.  It's getting a dose of it every single day - no matter what (dress shoes or not).  John Maxwell practices the "Rule of 5" - five activities you do every single day that are fundamental to your success.  I believe connecting with nature is one of my "Rule of 5".
2. Exercise is important.  Connecting is different.  I need to do both.  Separately.  (I did squeeze my butt cheeks while walking nevertheless:)  I will combine the two at times.  But there is value in doing each alone.
3. I need this for me.  I can bring my toddler out with me and have a nature walk or go for a hike with my teen or hubby.  But my challenge and my need is to connect.  Alone.  It improves my ability to serve others in work and life.
4. Leaders need this.  The best leaders lead themselves first.  How can you lead yourself without calming the mind and finding that powerful place from which you lead?  Lead self.  Lead others. Create leaders.  That's what a leader does.

I also became a little more clear on my own business vision.  That alone was an amazing thing for me at this juncture in my business (less than a year old).

Your challenge?  Go visit nature and if you're boots/shoes are not made for walkin', just sit... or change your shoes.

Namaste

Be a Tree: 30 Days to Higher Performance Through Nature

Last night I went to a drumming and crystal bowl session for May Day (organized by Regina Wright and Katie Power from Alive Adventures and Discovery).  I arrived excited and I left with my mind buzzing.  It was truly magical.  When I arrived home, my husband wished he came with me - he was bogged down with work and felt wound up.... bogged down and wound up.  Not a great place to be when you have a lot to do and it seems you don't have enough hours in the day to do it.

Well, there is another kind of bogged down that could help with that feeling.  It's the real bog.  Natural bog.  Nature.

Yesterday, I committed to taking on David Suzuki's 30x30 Challenge - 30 minutes in nature every day for 30 days.  I said I'd share my journey with you.  So here I am.  Sharing.

My morning started late.  My toddler woke an hour later than usual and was up through the night.  As a result, if all went well, I would sit at my desk an hour late.  It was rainy.  And cold.  I have three deadlines over the next week and I've taken on so many things for the month of May that I don't know how I'm going to get it all done.

But I committed.

So I decided to take on an easy nature walk for 30 minutes to start my day - otherwise, I probably wouldn't get my 30 minutes of nature in!  Then I'd be out of integrity, guilt would seep in, I'd be less productive..... and on and on.

I started my walk excited!  I was out in the rain.  It was cold.  I was pumped.  I felt fantastic that I was doing what I said I'd do AND who else was out there??  I passed two people, a dog, numerous ducks, two crows, and a squirrel.  They all seemed perfectly at peace with the weather.

As I walked quickly (may as well get my heart rate up!), I decided to squeeze my butt cheeks.  Yes!  Another challenge from my fitness group (Far Out Fitness) getting done!  Accomplishing two things at once!  My mind raced with ideas for my business.  I was loving the rain on my face.  Life was good.

I was almost back to where I started and realized only 17 minutes passed!  Eeep!  So I slowed down.  And that's when it hit me.

The trees were drinking it in.... just being.  They grow strong and can weather any storm.  And all they do is 'be'.

I walked slowly... sauntered down a path to a bench near a pond and simply watched the rain land in the water.  I spent my remaining time just being.  My mind cleared.

I started my 30 minutes in nature excited and enthusiastic.  I created tons of ideas.  But how can I perform when I'm in that state?  You need the excitement and high energy to create and even execute at times.  But you need the calm and peace in order to execute with intention... to be aligned with your vision... to know what is a priority and what you can delegate or let go of.  I finished my 30 minutes in nature at peace and REALLY ready to take on the day (and wet from the rain:).

Today, I challenge you to BE A TREE in order to have a higher performance at work.  Get out there in nature and get to a tree-like state.  Then go back to work and perform with intention, passion, and clarity.  (Let me know how it goes!)

Namaste

What Do You Tolerate?

A friend and business woman had her car broken into last night and her computer was stolen.  A professional photographer had her car broken into a couple of weeks ago and had her photography equipment stolen.  There have been numerous accounts of car break-ins over the past month or so... and the local police are telling the owners of the vehicles they can't do anything about it.

This is not new.  I had a business partner a few years ago who had his truck broken into and his tools of his trade were stolen.  The police said they could not do anything about it.  My father, and long-time business owner, has had crime at his office a few times over the years.  What do you think the police told him every time?

My friend is taking a stand.  She is not tolerating the lack of response from the police.  She is spreading the word and creating ideas to help change a culture to stop crime in our city.  It's true, as business owners particularly, we fear the opinion of others when we voice our intolerance and follow through with it.  We fear that others won't do business with us anymore.  We fear what people will think.

But here is the dilemma when you let fear stand in your way:  What you tolerate stays - and gets worse.  If the police tolerate crime in St. John's, it will continue.  Period.  Like my friend stated, if we tolerate the police doing nothing about crime, our culture will become one of crime.

This applies to everything.  In life.  In business.

What do you tolerate at work?  Are you tolerating lack of integrity from people you work with - employees, managers, clients, suppliers?  Gossip in the workplace?  Low quality work?  Poor performance?  Your culture will evolve based on what you tolerate.

What culture do you want?  What can you NOT tolerate to intentionally create that culture?  Yes.  Culture can be created by intention.  Or it can be created by not intending.  The guarantee is that it WILL be created.

Will you take a stand for creating a culture you want in your city?  Workplace?  Life?  Will you NOT tolerate behaviors that are not in alignment with the culture you dream of?  Or maybe the real question is, what culture do you dream of?  Really?  Then don't tolerate anything less.

Tina Pomroy is a leadership, management and culture consultant, coach, and facilitator.  She helps create the culture, systems, and attitudes needed to bring an organization to life!

Committed to Engagement (a question answered and a question for you)

A few weeks ago I asked my social media community to submit employee engagement questions and I would answer one in my blog.  Interestingly, I received several likes about the idea (and verbal comments that it was a good idea), but only three questions were submitted.  Thank-you to all for your submissions!!

The purpose of social media is to have an ENGAGED community.  I'm skilled at engaging a team, a group at a workshop, or a leader in a coaching conversation.  However, social media is a new way of marketing for me, and I am still learning (I have an amazing marketing coach, Jennifer Trask,  helping me along the way).

All this made me think about the question selected for my blog and how my experience related to it.  The purpose of my blog is to give relevant guidance and ideas to people and organizations that need it.  It is an opportunity for me to share what I know, to contribute in a way I was meant to, and be engaged in my world, while serving and benefiting you.

Below is the answer to the question.  However, I am following my own advice and asking my readers to share: what do you enjoy about this blog and what topics would inspire you to read?  All comments are valuable to me.  I thank you for reading, and very much appreciate your responses in order to create a more engaged community that benefits everyone in it.  I foresee an amazing future of sharing and learning from each other.  You can post your comments here on the blog, on any of my social media sites, or email me at tinapomroy@hotmail.com.

The question selected for response (and the questioner won a signed copy of Karen Martin's book, "The Outstanding Organization"):

How do recognition and rewards benefit the company in terms of employee engagement?

The key to engaging employees with recognition and rewards is to know who your employees are and provide recognition and rewards that engage them.  Offering public praise to someone who gets embarrassed or does not value that kind of recognition will not get the results you're seeking.  In fact, the employee could become disengaged as a result.

Any kind of appreciation needs to match an individual's values.  Ask your employees what they value.  Ask them what motivates them.  Ask them how they would like to be recognized when they do a good job or when they go beyond what is expected of them.  Not only will your recognition and rewards then match what they desire and value, but they will know you are listening.

Employees will be more engaged when they feel connected emotionally, cognitively, and behaviorally.  They are most engaged when they connect to their organization and team in mind, body, and spirit.  High engagement results in higher innovation, excellence in customer service, reduced conflicts, and higher productivity - this all leads to higher profits.

High engagement will also result in higher attraction and retention rates.  When people feel they are making a meaningful contribution, they will stay and talk positively about the organization.  That leads  to others wanting to be part of it.  In a tight labour market, knowing your employees and matching recognition and rewards with their values is one of the greatest ways to address your skills shortage challenges.

When recognition and rewards are used effectively to engage employees, employees will most likely be happier and more energetic as well.  Who doesn't want to work in an environment like that?

Lessons from a Young Sandwich Artist

My daughter is a typical 19 year old - going to post-secondary school, creating goals and dreams, planning travels with friends, and working part-time.

At 16 years old, she got her first real job.  She landed a job as a Sandwich Artist in a submarine sandwich restaurant.  She worked there for four weeks (we left for Asia after four weeks but she probably would have left the job anyway).  Within a week, she figured she was absolutely, hands-down continuing her education after high school because she had no intentions of working there forever.

She hated the job.  But she learned something valuable about management.  Here are her lessons:

• You have to train a new employee.  If only someone showed her the proper way to make the sandwich, she would have had less problems making them and would have made less mistakes.... and had fewer upset customers.
• The work environment should encourage questions from employees.  When a colleague who has more experience takes over the task a new employee asks about, it not only leaves the employee uninformed about what to do in that situation, but it also results in a little chip being taken out of his or her confidence... and the new employee will be less inclined to ask a question next time - hence, the rate of error will likely increase.
• The manager really should know how to manage.  When a person is left to manage a team of people and doesn't have the skills, people leave.  And they did.

For a 16 year old's first job, this is impressive learning.  What I learned was that the new generation of kids aren't so different from us.  They want to do a good job... and they need to be shown how to do that.  The difference today is that with technology advancements, a 20-something's world is way bigger than ours was at that age.  They WILL leave if not treated and lead well.

My daughter's second job was with an organization that valued its employees, and she stayed for over a year and a half.  Her boss was supportive of her learning and treated her with respect.  So when my daughter decided she wanted a new challenge and applied for a job more in alignment with her dreams, she gave a month's notice and worked two jobs throughout her Christmas vacation so her boss wasn't stranded and had time to hire another person.  Her boss told her the door is always open if she wanted to return.

As leaders, we need to adapt to the new generation... but the new generation is not so different from us.  When they are treated well, they'll treat our business well.  Having a strong management foundation and Human Management systems will increase your chances of having engaged employees.

The Mechanic with the Broken Car

You know the story about the mechanic who has a broken car?  Well, yesterday I was the mechanic.  I teach people how to be more conscious.  To have a higher emotional intelligence.  To breathe in the good and out the bad.  To create clarity from the beginning of a project or task.  And yesterday, I did not listen to me!

As soon as a colleague forced a change onto me - mostly because of unclear expectations in the beginning - I reacted instantaneously with defensiveness.  I found several reasons why I could not make that change as requested.  Then I realized I was being completely unconscious.  If I didn't stop this twirling into oblivion (OK, it wasn't that bad:), I was going to not only probably lose a job, but also reduce my own reputation on something I teach!  Whoa!

I switched my line of thought and gave my ego a talking to.  It's all good now.  I've opened the way to something different, and maybe better.  I've allowed flow into my world.  And I did it because I was AWARE of my unconsciousness.

This is my challenge to you today.  Allow flow into your world.  We all have unconscious moments (some last longer than others).  And we all have the ability to redirect the thoughts and attitude and open to the possibility of a greater opportunity.

When you feel physical signs of anxiety or anger, frustration or overwhelm, you are out of flow.  If you allow the physiological symptoms to continue, you could reach levels of unconscious that become irrational.  Pay attention to your physiological symptoms and when they start to show signs of anxiety or other out of flow emotions, change your thoughts.  Ask yourself: what if you allow this option to happen?  What opportunities could arise?  Have a risk assessment and plan in place if necessary, but be open to flow and allowing things to naturally occur.  And be OK with someone else being right.

Namaste

Steeped

My grandmother used to keep her teabag in her teacup the whole time she drank it.  She liked her tea strong and steeped.  I've recently begun leaving my tea bag in my green tea.  I like it steeped... it extracts the flavors and all the good stuff green tea has to offer.

I've also found myself steeped in my business.

When you start something new, it's like steeping tea.  Your brain is permeated with ideas and new thoughts.  Life and/or work is infused with excitement for this change or new thing introduced to it.  Your passion is ignited.  All the good stuff is extracted from your brain (the tea bag).  You are steeped.

I have created a busy schedule meeting with potential new clients and colleagues and current clients.  Having been in business less than a year, things were moving forward well.  I thought about my business all the time.  I was accessible and responsive at all hours.  Ideas flowed easily and my mind's wheels turned with excitement.  I added new projects.  I wrote proposals offering services.  I developed new programming.  I built my networks.

Then we had a snow storm.

We were without power for a day and my daughter was out of daycare.  That one day put me back two.

Then my daughter got sick.

I had two full days of caring for my sick baby.  My full attention was there.  And now I'm behind another three or four days.

At some point, if you leave the teabag in the cup, it becomes bitter.

Like starting something new in life or work, if you focus solely on the infusion of new thoughts and ideas and excitements, the result isn't so exciting. Infatuation fades. The best cup of tea is steeped just the right amount.  You either have to drink the tea or remove the bag.

Getting in too 'steep' is not only for new projects or ideas.  For example, if your role is to provide leadership to your staff, and you are constantly spending your time managing project budgets and timelines, attending management meetings, and writing reports, are you providing effective leadership?  Is your team engaged and productive as a result?  Do you need to take the teabag out, make a new cup of tea, or simply drink the steeped tea?

My challenge to you is to ask yourself, are you too steeped in something?  Has it made you bitter instead of better?  If so, sit back for 30 minutes or so and re-prioritize.  Get aligned.  And, most of all, leave room in your schedule for a nice, hot, steeped cup of tea....

Even better... have tea for two with an employee or a loved one.

Pomroy Consulting Inc. provides consulting and coaching services in Human Resources Management, Leadership, and Organizational Development.  Contact Tina Pomroy at Pomroy Consulting Inc.  for a free consultation and add Pomroy Consulting Inc. Facebook page for more frequent ideas, tips, and guidance.

I'll be OM for Christmas

Christmas is a beautiful time of year.  I've heard the bah humbug story over and over.... Oh, the traffic!  The line-ups!  Can't find what the kids want!  No time to get it all done!  I used to be on of those bah humbugs.  My gift to you is a reminder....

Christmas is not about presents.  It's about presence.  The hustle and bustle of shopping, looking for the perfect gift, attending parties, and decorating is supposed to bring joy.  And you can choose for it to do exactly that.  Simply stop seeing it all as a pain in the you-know-what!  Start looking at it for what it really is.  And be OK with simplifying.  It's a choice.

Indeed Christmas is a Christian celebration - in fact, a birthday party!  I have chosen to use Christmas as a time to celebrate life and love.  Being with your loved ones... REALLY being with them... will have long lasting effects and will be remembered much more than that box of chocolates (although, I really love chocolate) or even the latest version of the iPhone.  Sit down for a cup of tea and a good chat.  Listen.  Laugh.  Reminisce.  Celebrate!  This time of year brings sadness to many, too.  Do something to make the season for those people more manageable.  

People want to be surrounded by love.  Your employees, team members, or colleagues are no different - they are human too.  This Christmas, I challenge you to bring OM to your organization or team.  Bring awareness of the meaning of Christmas - whatever that is for you and your team.  Instead of getting caught up in the Kriskringle gift exchange, get caught up with bringing presents to those in need or presence to each other.  That doesn't mean don't have a gift exchange.  It simply means, be conscious of what it all means.  Your team will remember the calm you gave them.

Merry Christmas!!   (and, if possible, give your employees some time away from work to be with their loved ones:)

Namaste and thank-you for reading!  2013 will be a great year!