The Positive Energy Workplace

It's easy to notice when things go wrong, and then to stir and marinate in them. It's easy to do a quick high five and move forward when things go right. What's not as easy, is to do the reverse; to bask and marinate in what's gone right; and to do a quick high five and move forward when things have gone wrong.

Both sets of circumstances warrant attention. Both impact spirit. Both influence effectiveness and creativity. The wrong will always demand attention, it will be obvious to those around it, it will sit in the spirits of those involved in it. It will stay. But the "right" - without awareness and intention - will often flee. It may be sensed for a moment, perhaps be less obvious, and get overridden by all else there is to move on to...next.

Human beings can be pretty masterful at brewing in the wrong; where they "fell short"; where they didn't meet a goal; where they could have done it better. Talking about what's not working, or what didn't work, or pointing out what needs to be better, is an easy default for some of the smartest of people who mean great and want to do even more. Talking about what's working or pointing out what's going well is not as easy. Nor is accepting the praise and recognition for things going right. Yet it's key.

And this is one of the reasons feedback can be so scary. Because so much feedback is geared towards the "bad", there can be an automatic human response of "resistance" and fear to feedback. Before the feedback is even out, the person is prepared for the "bad"; their lens and experience is already shaded. The unnatural comfort with stewing in the "wrong" is also one of the reasons that out of 10 things, if 9 go great and 1 goes bad - the 1 gets the attention. The "one" is the one that can stick with a reputation for years. The "one" is the one that keeps people up at night, inspires fear to take risks, has people get "careful." The "one" creates stuckness.

How's your New Year coming along so far? Day 5 and I've been super aware, perhaps more now than ever, of how much power we have to support ourselves and set the tone of our lives by "getting in front of it" with energy leadership.

Today I hosted a group of business owners, at my office in Rocklin, for my Biz 2012 Intention Event. A whole morning of reflecting on 2011, looking into 2012, and setting intentions for what we'll be celebrating and discussing NEXT year at this time. (After all, if you set INTENTIONS for what you want - and act of course, you're more likely to be celebrating those same things later.)

Some of the key themes that showed up for the day (in no particular order of importance) included:
1) leadership happens from the inside out; it's got to BE true to you and authentic (get that, and all the "doing" stuff gets easier),
2) the power of allies and leverage (after all, no one will do it for you - but you can't do it alone),
3) appreciation and learning for "failures/I-want-a-do-over-moments" of 2011,
4) best practices mined from the wins of 2011,
5) the power of energy leadership in creating business success (who knew pantries and clothes' closets could impact business leadership so significantly? Seriously. Or that the vibe you bring to the table can make or break a business?),
6) we're all our own best guru - we generally know what we need to do and intuitively what is "right" for us - sometimes we just need the "thoughtful space"/time/support/education/accountability/leverage to make the plan happen,
7) the power of a really good and clear "why" (and how that impacts marketing),
8 ) relationships that need mending/healing/nurturing/expanding in order to have personal and business peace,
9) the essential art of self care eating a good breakfast (no kidding), and,
10) the importance of visioning, strategic planning, belief, intention, and...ya...execution.

It's an active state...the act of becoming. Stepping further and further into yourself, becoming more and more of the person/spirit/sage/parent/leader/writer/friend/salsa dancer you want to be. It is an active act. And if done intentionally, a really powerful one.

"Adding value". A commonly used term used by people in business. You hear about it from vendors, organizations, products and services, and in employee performance conversations and sales pitch meetings. Adding value: the value added benefit this person/thing brings to the table. If you look up the definition, you'll get a bunch of finessed words, which to me all point to one simple thing - how do you make the "thing" that your contributing to...better? How do you make it shine? How do you make an extra special difference?