Your New Year’s Resolution: Commitment

As  we grow ourselves through commitment, we are creating our destiny. Having and keeping commitments make us of greater value to those around us. As an anchor of strong belief, one is able to withstand the storm and still move forward…and move forward in life while guiding others.

Commitment in the workplace is about charting your way up the ranks of life to grow your destiny. It’s about the journey that drives you and will define your career. When you believe in what you are doing, you are self-motivated and take on the responsibility of growing your self. And, as we allow ourselves to think bigger and grow beyond our imagination, that ingenuity inspires and encourages others to do the same.

Commitment to growing oneself and one’s beliefs is not a selfish act, but a community act. The more we are committed to our beliefs, the more we grow our confidence, which in turn gives us the strength to help others and to lead.

Making and fulfilling commitments is what creates integrity within. Pause and reflect on your performance over the last year. How did you do with your past commitments? Taking the time to reflect will ignite the energy to continue honoring a current commitment, as well as bring new ones into focus. 

Why not start with “commitment” as your New Year’s Resolution and make a conscious step forward on the path ahead. Commit to advancing your own journey and see where it will take you—and those around you.  

In The Workplace: Giving Thanks Is Always in Season

Did you know that gratitude in the workplace is a cure for burnout and job dissatisfaction? “There is no limit to the way in which gratitude is expressed,” says Robert Emmons, author of The Little Book of Gratitude: Creating a Life of Happiness and Wellbeing by Giving Thanks. “We are hungry for genuine expressions of gratitude," he says. "Everyone wants to feel appreciated, valued, recognized…Most of our waking hours are spent on the job, and gratitude, in all its forms, is a basic human requirement," he says. "So when you put these factors together, it is essential to both give and receive thanks at work."* 

I can think of no better piece of advice, especially at this time of year, than to practice an act of kindness -- daily. 

I always teach people to be thankful with their peers and clients. A little appreciation goes a long way.  In one particular session, I remember discussing gratitude with a group. “Send a thank-you note after meeting with a boss! Bring in coffee for the team!”  An attendee was quick to respond, “If I did that, it would look like I am trying to brown-nose my boss!” I responded by saying, "This kind of gesture shows respect and appreciation of time others spend with us." In our over-booked busy lives, undivided discussion with another is much to be thankful for. About six months later, the same client called me to share that their company recently did a study with their employees to learn how to improve the culture and, guess what? They found that most people just want to be shown a little appreciation, given a thank you and feel encouraged in what they are doing. Their results found that the expression of gratitude was more valuable than a financial reward! 

Would you believe this story is about 10 years old? Goes to show you there is nothing new under the sun when you focus on the simplicity of respect, gratitude and kindness towards others. We are humans, after all.

*[Read more: "The Science of Gratitude and Why It's Important In Your Workplace," by Stephanie Vozza for Fast Company.] 

Power Up Burn Out

Did you walk with a friend this month to relish the change of seasons?

When was the last time you called a friend without making an appointment first?

Have you dined out for a meal—without your phone on the table?

Has technology taken over your work life and your private life?

We are living through something I like to call “the conversion of the evolution of the human being.” Technology is very quickly turning us into a burned out, self-absorbed, anxiety-ridden population.

We must consciously turn it off and hit refresh. Often.

“Without personal meaning, you’ll start to wear down from relentlessly throwing yourself into the churn and pulse of things. You can’t sustain this kind of disconnected, meaningless work for very long.  – Steve Errey, “How to Tell Your Boss Your Completely Overwhelmed,” Fast Company

The more we focus on what makes us human, the more apt we are to create and innovate rather than follow; the better our relationships will be at home and in the workplace.

Better interactions with our colleagues allows for all of us to be human again.

Allow yourself to be you. Be joyful.  Have open dialogue with others. Volunteer, go to a museum, or simply say hello.

What makes us human?

Emotion, empathy, compassion memories, 

human relationships, human connection, kindness and love.

Leadership at a Crossroads

Twelve years. Four re-organizations. Does this sound like your company?

In today’s global environment we see many companies struggling with growth. Company leadership is tasked with looking for ways to be on the cutting-edge and competitive, not only in one country, but in many throughout the world.

Leaders are continually challenged to grow their companies through developing new innovations, products, efficiencies and cost-cutting processes to generate revenue streams.   Companies will invite experts in to help them evaluate ways to improve their business model. I see many companies re-organizing their internal structure, which can be beneficial in improving efficiencies and processes; however, I am often surprised to see how fast these companies are to embrace a new organizational structure as “the fix” to challenges that are often recurring and perpetual.

Implementing the latest and greatest new business tool or academic philosophy to improve a current business model is secondary to truly understanding the foundational root cause of why the old model was not working.  

I have read about new algorithms to better understand the workings of an employee. Surveys, case studies, speakers, team-building sessions can all be used to implement the new organizational model. None of these will withstand the test of time unless the leadership is willing to guide the company and its human capital base in a new direction—starting with the core values all the way through to the day-to-day operations.

In order to define the mission of the re-organization, a company leader must first define the company. The leader must be willing to engage with all levels of its operations to learn about the impact of the re-organization, and be willing to listen to other solutions.

If the leadership is only looking at the bottom line, how can a long-standing legacy be in its the future? If a company is only looking at today’s revenue stream, it will not withstand the headwinds of the next economic business cycle.  

Remember the dot-com bubble when seasoned investors, accountants and attorneys threw everything they knew about running a business out the door to chase after the next great idea? Hundreds of millions of dollars danced off into nothingness—precisely because of a lack of seasoned knowledge merging with new ideas.

A re-organization often overlooks the company’s changing culture to support the new model and, as a result, the new direction is only temporary “window-dressing” for change. Chasing after business, rather than developing new products is history. Services or goods built with integrity and strong core values are your best market asset and the key to your company’s longevity.

Respect is So Much More than a Song

Respect is a basic principle of human interaction; it’s also part of our ethical code as human beings. “I want respect.” Do I hear that a lot! But, do you know how to give respect?

Most people today are too self involved to care, sadly.  Why is this happening? Is it because of technology? Perhaps. We have forgotten about respect as it links to trust and empathy.  Respect is not about “celebritism.” It does not go hand-in-hand with fame. It’s not about the number of followers you have on social media nor does financial wealth equal the authority necessary to gain it.

Respect has a few definitions:

1) Respect for someone who is a recognized leader or a person of authority. 

2) Respect as a form of politeness (at the dinner table), for example.

I’m most concerned about this one:

3) Respect as a form of self-respect which must then be reflected on to those who are familiar to you and on to those you encounter in your everyday life.

We all come from different walks of life. We’ve all got shoes to fill, we’ve all got to find out what shoe fits. We’ve also got to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes.

From the first interaction of your day, to the last, carry these words you:

Listen. By listening, you are not only respecting another’s insight, you are building a mutual trust. That trust builds opportunities and business. Practice saying, “I’m here for you.”

Treat others as you want to be treated.  Nothing replaces the human factor. Caring, take action and recognize your employees is

Engage with empathy. Put yourself in someone else’s shoes before responding.

Slow down and be kind.

Why is RESPECT so important?

Creating a more united friendship with someone doesn’t cost anything.

People from different sides can come together; they must come together.

You cannot earn it unless you have it for yourself.
You cannot ask for it. You can only give it.

Don't Get Stuck in Someone Else's Mud

Years ago, I dashed in to see my mentor, flustered by the challenges I was facing with a coworker. In great detail, I described the situation, sharing some of the ugly things that had been said to me. When I was finished, I waited. I was awaiting what amounted to her consolation and maybe even her sympathy. Yet to my surprise, my mentor’s response was the exact opposite.  She said in her quiet, yet direct voice, “Why did you get stuck in someone else’s mud?”

I looked at her, speechless, digesting her response and pondering her question – both were so far from what I wanted to hear.  I took a deep breath to give over my disappointment to her response and slowly answered, “I don’t know what you mean. This person said these things to me… how dare they…why would they?”

Then, somewhere, in my defensive banter, my mentor waved her hands and interjected, “Why did you get stuck in their mud?” 

“We are all humans,” she said. “We all have different emotions, feelings, experiences, uncertainties and purposes.  So the question becomes, why did you respond the way you did? Why are you getting stuck in the mud, when you can be doing what you were called to do? Why are you allowing someone else’s negative comments to influence you? Have you lost your way?”

The message was loud and clear. It was so obvious. In life, we will have many ups and downs. We will face many challenges, yet if we remain true to what we believe in and find joy in all things, we can avoid “getting stuck in someone else’s mud.”  

The more we choose to trust in our heartfelt dreams, the easier it is to jump clear over the mud and spend more time on the beautiful grassy knolls of our life’s journey.