The Positive Energy Workplace

The quality of our relationships, partnered with our willingness to be real, take risks and be vulnerable, dictates the quality and results of our leadership. Our willingness to be real, take risks and be vulnerable makes us human and relatable. Our care, attention and nuturing of people and relationships makes us worthy of trust and being related to. Creating trust - true trust - in relationships is key. High quality relationships are built on that trust. Leadership is about relationships.

When people think of health, they tend to think of physical and emotional health. Energy, vitality, healthy eating, exercise, etc. are all very important things and something that I've been integrating into my leadership work with execs for years. But there's also the "organizational health" --- the health of the whole organization.

Of course there's the physical component and benefits - less lost time, injuries, health care costs, etc. but there's also the mental, spiritual and leadership component. If you look at the DTE Bootist Leadership® Model, and specifically "Tenet Three" of Bootism™ (to receive my latest publication please opt in on the right hand side), which is about "health, vitality and personal nourishment of the leader and organization," you'll see that creating a healthy organization means not only that you're attending to your own health, and your employees' health, but also to the health of your organization as a whole, its spirit, and relationships.

We are in the midst of an exciting, nerve racking and pivotal time right now. I see this in the economy, in business, in leadership, in politics, in families, and in peoples' senses of purpose and personal values. There's a lot happening. On one hand I notice a lot of complaining, blaming, making excuses, and fear. And on the other hand, I see a lot of positive and productive percolation, reflection, and action. I notice a lot of dismissing "hype" and inauthenticity, and instead, see people really looking at what matters, what's real and what's the bigger purpose - in business and in life. And I feel the buzz. Can you feel it?

I see it as a real opportunity right now. 2010 has been referred to as the year of "making it or breaking it" - meaning it's the year to DECIDE what will happen for each of us. Do we "give in" and succumb to "more challenging times," do we get sucked in to "story", do we blend in, go "beige"? OR do we get into action, ask different questions, work our mindsets and create a new way of "being" in business, a new way of engaging with people, and a new level of energy and success? It's a decision point year. How and what are you deciding?

Using 3 very different and specific examples of people choosing how to move through their lives and businesses right now, I've written an article sharing 3 things to help you explore these questions and your own situation in order to help move your mindset and your organization in the right direction.

For someone, with a high value in connection and quality, I only work with a small number of people privately at a time. I do this in order to give my clients the amount of TLC, time and energy I feel good about, to take care of my own psychic and physical energy, and to leave room for the other things I love to do in my life.

I also love working with small groups and teams and speaking to larger groups as I love the energy, connection and learning that takes place in community.

I love to write and design and be creative. I love to spend quality time with family and friends. I love to get my workouts in and have "white space." And I love to contribute...among many other things that I love to do. Put this all together, continue to add to the list, and before you know it - the cup is full. When my cup gets full, and I start to "feel" it - it's time for bigger questions.

Some of the work I do with clients is hard to "put in a box"/get a handle on/make it really tangible. Afterall, when I work with people, everyone's different, and it's not like I can say "here is this gadget I'm going to sell you." Or "here's exactly what you'll have when we're done with our work." It's actually quite the opposite; the client determines the "gadget" and what we have at the end - by getting really clear and then achieving his/her specific outcomes they wish to make in our work together. No one is the same. It's not an exact science. Just about 100% of the time they get more than they bargained for and find things they didn't even know they could work on, and that add tremendous value to their lives and leadership. The whole point of the work is to help them become even more effective at being THEM. Finding their truth. Following their path. Increasing their influence (both externally and internally - important!) And leading in a way that is congruent for them. You can't put that in a box.