Lesson from the Cactus: How to Become More Resilient

Growing up in the Northwest, it’s easy to love the outdoors. Hiking, snowshoeing, camping…drop me off in the ‘woods’ and the trees, the green of the forest gifts me with calm. It’s my favorite “zen” place where I can shut off my busy mind.

Then I visited the deserts of Baja.

The stark and quiet beauty created an awe that defined “mindfulness.” A potent experience of stillness and balance between the mountains and sea. 

And the regal cactus reigns over all.  With lessons about survival and resilience.

There are many legends and stories about the cactus plant–often revered within the desert ecosystem. It is a tree that survives with little water in a dry and hot environment, providing sustenance and shelter to many desert animals and insects.  

Like many of Nature's wonders, which teach us about balance and inter-connected-ness, cacti have adapted and thrived over time. Here are a few fun facts from Science and Kids:

• Cactus thorns are highly modified plant leaves. The sharp spines and the thick tough skin of the stem protect the cactus from animals who would otherwise have easy access to the liquid inside.

• The cactus collects water using a large root system. Small thin roots grow near the surface of the soil and collect rainwater as quickly as possible during the few times it rains. A taproot, which grows much deeper, reaches underground water supplies when the top soil is dry.

• Cacti can gather and hold water in their stems. The water is not pure, clear water but viscous. The fluid is drinkable however, and has saved people’s lives in the desert.

The bottom line: the Cactus is Resilient!

“The ability to recover from or adjust easily to change, misfortune, adversity  or stress.” Merriam/Webster .

Here are a few tips to help us become more resilient as Conscientious Leaders:

-          Don’t take things so personally. It’s not always about “me.” That is the ego.

-          Develop a “thicker skin” like the cactus. Throw off negative challenges with positive energy and action.

-          When challenged by major change, think of the long term bigger picture, not just the short-term impact.

-          Find ways to make lemonade out of lemons.

-          Use your energy to be proactive vs spending time being defensive, trying to maintain the status quo.

-          Find an internal space of strength – that you can tap into with confidence and remember that feeling when confronted – a “bank” of positive feelings and successes that you can draw from when faced with negativity.

-          Create an ecosystem of support among your peers and colleagues that creates a buffer against adversity.

-          Counter stress by giving and kindness—an antidote to anxiety- that ultimately makes you stronger.

-          Take accountability and ownership for the situation and mistakes, and then move on with action.

Little things to remember, to build resilience and opportunities to thrive.

Just like my friend, the cactus.

 To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" FREE, go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.

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3 Ways To Measure Your Organization's Soul

As the world moves at warp speed and things change in mere seconds, how do you plan for success?

How do you really know if your organization will survive in the 21st century?

Are there clues?

Metrics?

Trends?

Well as any enlightened leader or marketer will tell you, you start by going to the source. Meaning, of course, looking at your customers and prospects.

Because if you understand their values and motivation, you have your road map.

In our leadership and marketing workshops, clients hear our sermon about how things are clearly changing in the marketplace.  Consumers want and expect more from organizations other than just an excellent product or service.

The good news is that many businesses not only have recognized this but have made critical decisions to keep their organizations alive and well for decades to come.

You see, they've become what is called a  Benefit Company, a new and growing business structure allowed now in more than two-thirds of states. They focus their mission on what consumers are not only seeking but demanding to see in a business today.

It's called the "3 P's."

People: The First "P"

Companies with souls have always invested in their people, but today the faces within our workforce look very different and think and act different. They no longer reflect the “traditional” American values of “mom, God and apple pie." These companies believe in a much more inclusive workplace, allowing for more freedom and choice and busting stereotypes.  This is something to celebrate as it means we are developing a more creative society.  Yet, this means investing in people with a whole new understanding, sensitivity and empathy --- different cultures, different generations, different lifestyles and abilities.

Planet: The Second "P"

Another way to measure a company's soul is its impact on the planet. Future generations depend on the ability of businesses to practice sustainability and put into place policies that save our natural resources.  The planet must not be sacrificed solely for profit. Conscientious organizations incorporate this philosophy into their mission, vision and operating principles. And then practice them diligently.

Profit:  The Third "P"

Finally, profit is the last way to measure your organization's soul as we believe that if you follow the first two P’s, profit will be a natural result.

So does your company have a soul? If so, congratulations. If not, do not despair. Our new book coming out in the summer of 2017 goes deeper into the how's of making your company anything but endangered in the 21st century.

 To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" FREE, go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.

Stay the Course and Persevere

As long as you think you're green, you'll grow.
 As soon as you think you're ripe, you'll rot. 
- Scott Horton

If you are anything like me, I often worry about whether I am doing enough. Was I sensitive, respectful? Did I listen and check my biases, my privilege? Did I demonstrate kindness and humility?  And often when I feel I am lacking, I promise myself I’ll do better, but I berate myself anyway -- feeling like Sisyphus pushing my ignorance up the mountain. Seeking knowledge and insight, only to fall back.

I will make mistakes, say the wrong things, perhaps alienating colleagues, friends and family…but I commit to listen and to LEARN. It’s important to persevere, committed to the journey and not the destination.  In fact, if I think I am there, at the end of the trail, I am probably operating from Ego.

So, during this busy holiday season, I’m going to try to be a little kinder to self, without seeking perfection…admitting my mistakes, as showing vulnerability is honesty, acknowledging imperfections and flaws is humility.  I think I’m still very green, but I’m growing.

So You Think You Practice Real Teamwork? We Can All Do Better

I thought I was a pretty good example of a team oriented leader, with my open -door policy and commitment to advocating for my people in a corporate setting.  And when work was intense, I would try to pitch in and help with any team member’s projects or work.  That’s the spirit of Servant Leadership, right?

Well, I learned a lesson about true teamwork and leadership this Thanksgiving Day weekend…working retail at a popular lifestyle store during one of the busiest times of the year.

Eye-opening.

Revealing.  I watched managers doing the “humble” work, all day long, all weekend. Managers on call for us, on their feet for 8+ hour shifts.

Whatever we needed they were there.  We wore walkies and could summon them at any moment to help with the register, check back-stock for items, do online price searches, answer phones, get boxes for customers purchases, fill in for us during breaks.   To use a cliché… our request was their command.

It was a role reversal.

Many of us have experienced in the corporate or nonprofit world, the luxury of having amazing administrative help or executive assistants to help with the little things, the detail work, the “grunt work”, the tedious work that had to get done behind the scenes.  Always there at our shoulder to make us look good.  This is the role our managers played on the store floor during Black Friday and the rest of the Thanksgiving Day Weekend. 

Their whole function… to be a resource to us. To make our lives easier.

It humbled me.

Our success in meeting our sales goals for the weekend and providing exemplary service was a result of one of the most - high functioning teams I have ever observed.   And it was driven by managers rolling up their sleeves, busting through any traditional hierarchical lines between the boss and staff. 

The true spirit of Teamwork.

The true spirit of Conscientious Leadership.

To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" FREE, go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.

The Curse of Immobilization: How Leaders Break Free

No leader worth her salt likes it.

It renders one feeling frustrated, angry and completely stuck.

As in first gear. As in glued to the ground. As in no movement forward.

I'm talking about being "immobilized."

The problem is that it occurs with a great deal of regularity in all organizations, no matter how good the service, how creative the strategy, how powerful the team.

Funding declines. Employees leave. Negative PR spreads.

Whatever the case, feeling stuck and helpless is in my honest opinion the worst feeling of all. After all, I'm a doer not a dreamer.

And for me there is only one tried-and-true way to get out of that quicksand.

Take action.

Sounds so simple doesn't it?

But it's anything but easy as Amazon attests to. Currently, you will find 2,313 books with "take action" in their title or sub-title. That is a lot of writing about moving past stuck-ness. A lot of advice about battling lack of movement.

I realize though that wasting time feeling that way does not do me or my work any good.

Even as that empty Word page and blinking cursor stare back at me.

Which brings me to some simple advice a kindred spirit offered some time ago:

"Start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible

and suddenly you are doing the impossible."

- St. Francis of Assisi

So that's what I do.

In my own case, I force myself to write anything even if it stinks. I make the necessary phone call. I meet with the client as soon as possible.

As soon as I do it, I feel an immediate sense of relief, as I ask myself "why did I wait so long?"

I get a surge in confidence.

I become more of value to both my team and my clients.

And I continue to move in the direction every Conscientious Leader loves.

Onward.

 To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" FREE, go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.

Gratitude for ALL Peoples of the World...

Today we thank you for your imagination, innovations, creativity and contributions.  You make the world a better place. 

One of the Simplest Ways to Make a Difference...

It was a rainy evening and there weren’t many people at the shop.  I busied myself, straightening the shelves where we sold our journals, which is one of my favorite places in the store.  The candle’s scent of citrus and vanilla, along with the mellow tunes of  Alina Baraz from our sound system, lulled me into a place of contentment. 

A modestly dressed woman in her sixties walked into the store and began to browse.   Now I love browsers, because I am one.   Often it is more about the experience of shopping than buying -- the creativity and imagination of colors, fashion, function.  

And I’m curious about people – knowing there is often a place for a connection.

I smiled and asked her if she was looking for anything and mentioned today was the last day of our home goods sale with linens, candles, and ceramics 20% off.  She returned my smile, and shared she had just randomly come into the store.  “I thought I would treat myself to something special,” she said. “I just need a little pick-up.”

Of course, my job is to sell, but “poof” that went out the window in a heartbeat, and I stopped to listen.  

We walked through the store together, as she told me about her life, her loneliness, her estrangement with her daughter living across country.  So, we talked about daughters for a while, and before too long we were in deeper discussions about letting go and flirted with topics of spirituality.

I’m a talker, but I listened and listened some more, and a few tears fell from her eyes.  Soon we were at the perfume counter and she asked me which one was my favorite.  I told her – an old-world scent of jasmine and blood oranges, that reminded me of Sicily, and her tears dried as she tested the scent.  Soon we were laughing, talking about silly things and she touched my arm and said, “Thank you,I just needed to talk with someone who would listen. “

I was humbled.

I left her side when another customer asked for my help.  But I watched ‘my friend’ who continued to shop the store.  Soon I saw her at the check-out counter, her hands full and I waved to her as she held up the bottle of my favorite cologne.  Then she stepped aside and walked to me and said, “Every time I wear it, I will feel better, knowing you care.”

Sometimes it’s the little things, of connecting by listening from our hearts when we can make the most difference to someone. It’s what Conscientious Leaders do.

 To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" FREE, go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.

How to Be Empathetic: Walk a Mile in My Shoes

 

"Try seeing life through my eyes...try walking a mile in my shoes... Unless you’ve done that, you have NO idea." 
 - Anonymous

Listening to Others with Empathy
I often find myself, all wound up in my own thoughts – MY feelings,  MY opinions, MY beliefs.  Although I try to be giving, to share, to love others with respect, as a talker, I hear myself speaking loudly, trying to influence others, pushing my perspective.  And sometimes it works.  And I pat myself on the back. But the question is -  did I really connect?

I’m beginning to realize that it is through fewer words, listening with an open heart that we truly hear the other person and connect…on an emotional level.  This is where understanding can begin…as we feel and experience what it is like to walk in another’s shoes. This is where empathy begins.  Time to zip the lips and open our eyes and ears. 

"To see the world with new eyes - open eyes - loving eyes.
To choose compassion and understanding …
for our community, for the whole world."
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie
 

"Be the Change"

“Be the Change You Want to See in the World." 
- Mahatma Gandhi

Our Path as a Catalyst for Change: Profound and deep commentary, wisdom, and guidance -- the voices of friends and families and within our communities are helping us understand the reality of the election. Many of us with tears have gone through the classic mourning process:  denial, anger, bargaining and depression.  But we have stopped and paused at the last step of acceptance and said NO!  We do not accept this vision of our country. We do not accept bigoty or misogyny- from whatever source.    We do not accept hatred towards others.   WE do not accept that others are less than ourselves. We can say NO.

As I retreat to ponder and meditate, in addition to LOVE, the one concept that keeps pushing into my thinkingis the word “Catalyst.”   According to Webster Dictionary:

“The word “Catalyst” is a fairly new word, which appeared at the start of the 20th century . It was formed from the word catalysis, a chemistry term which is an increase in the rate of a chemical reaction.  In the 1940s, the figurative sense of catalyst was: someone or something that quickly causes change or action.”

The events over the past couple of weeks can serve as a catalyst; a potent wake-up call to reinvigorate our efforts to further social justice and create a culture from a place of the conscious rather than from power. This may be the spark- the lightening needed to energize ourselves and others -- reaching out to change the minds and hearts of others, one by one.  There is a place for peaceful protest.

A fellow traveler on our journey toward equity, the NW brilliant poet and activist, Alberto Moreno, posted an old saying: "Hope had two daughters: Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things were and the Courage to change them. Together, we can make it so!  We can despair. Or we can repair.” (Thank you Alberto!)

"There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice. But
there must never be a time when we fail to protest."- Elie Wiesel (Holocaust Survivor)

How To Obliterate Fear: My Personal Mantra

It's a nasty four-letter word I detest.

But one I've learned not only to confront but actually move past. Although getting here was anything but easy.

While I always considered myself a confident person, I found myself freezing up in epic fashion at various stages in my life. Big presentations...personal relationship challenges...parenting challenges all come to mind.

So it's been both the personal and professional sides of my life.

And then one day, I came across this quote from the Dalai Lama:

"The more you are motivated by love, the more fearless and free your action will be."

A light bulb went on.

And I asked myself these questions: Do I not love this client organization and all it stands for?

Do I not love my partner in life?

Do I not love my children?

Suddenly this fear thing all made sense to me.

And that the only way to deal with it was to bring my heart into the equation.

Which I now do on a regular basis. (In fact, for a presentation I'm giving to about 50 people in 7 hours.)

So next time you find yourself paralyzed by fear, or rattled by anxiety, look at what you're facing and see if you can't be motivated a bit by love.

Love of the situation.

Love of the individual.

Love of life.

Because as His Holiness the Dalai Lama says, you will discover the more fearless and free your action will be.

And that fear thing will just go "poof" and be gone with the wind.

To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" FREE, go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.

Reaching for the Heavens: What's Stopping You?

I’ve always been curious. Couple that trait with an active imagination, and I have a million ideas for new businesses.

Are these ideas all practical? 

No.

Are they realistic?

No.

Are they in the realm of possibility? 

Maybe.

Dreams are the natural output of creativity. And these ideas, these dreams, may hold within them a  kernel of hope and inspiration. When combined with the additional imagination and ideas of others, that dream may be actualized.  

What I have learned during my career is that moving forward on a “good” idea is best done in collaboration with others.  Certainly, we can all point to  individual geniuses, who alone in their lab or their office came up with a brilliant break-though, and through perseverance, successfully launched a new product or service without the input of others.

But I maintain, Conscientious Leaders understand the value of ‘brainstorming’, group buy-in and shared accountability.  Plus ideas when finessed, tweaked and evolved create a “better mouse trap’ and become much better versions of the original idea.

So, my plea to you is reach for the sky, keep those ideas coming, but ground them with  reality via others.  Let go of the belief that you own the idea.  You may have planted  the seed, but it needs to be nurtured, and fed and fertilized through others.

Maybe the sky is the limit…but for me I’ll do it with a partner or a team.  

To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" FREE, go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.

Dangers of Isolation: Lesson from a Habitat Build Day

If you've ever doubted the idea of one being a lonely number, you most likely have never worked on a Habitat for Humanity build site.

Last week, I spent my Saturday with a dozen other volunteers finishing up two new and affordable homes in Portland's Cully district. In fact, the house I helped paint was to be occupied by its new owner and family three days later.

Everywhere you looked on the site, the Habitat staff teamed up with the volunteers to see to it that the necessary tasks were performed with excellence. No one-man-bands in sight. Just the teams of painters, sawers,  and cleaners as they went about their business being accompanied by Brazilian music on one boom-box and old Steve Miller tunes on another.

Yes, there was the occasional volunteer doing a little rumba step thanks to the music tickling his backbone.

From time to time, one of the Habitat leaders would remind us of the need for hydration. "Take a break...get some water in you," we would hear on occasion. After all, these passionate folks were out on this site known as "Helensview" 5 days a week, week-after-week.  

Clearly the work completed during those six hours could not have been done without that strong esprit de corps.

What I mean by that is that isolationist thinking serves no one. No community, no organization and no country. Certainly, not in this day and age.

Practicing teamwork builds more than houses. It builds satisfaction and esteem.

And it truly is how things will always get better as every Conscientious Leader knows.

Which means, of course, better product, better marketing and better(happier) employees or team members.

It's clearly what Millard Fuller saw when he and his wife started Habitat for Humanity in 1976. And I think it embodies what Helen Keller wrote when she penned the words, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."

To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" FREE, go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.

How Our Thinking Patterns Create Stress (And The Solution To It)

Busy day, busy mind.   That pretty much sums up my daily experience.

I’m a doer, a list maker, a type A “go get em” gal, a baby boomer with a high work ethic.

I may get a lot done, and others might say I’ve had a successful career, but I also always feel a little on edge.  And I’m often stressed, worried that I may not be delivering, meeting my own expectations.  What's even worse, sometimes I sadly mirror and reflect my style and values onto others, and then they don’t meet my expectations either. 

This is not a good place to be. 

This is NOT conscientious Leadership!

So these days I’m learning to slow down, pause, share more, and to use an overused cliché, “Stop and Smell the Flowers”. And it’s amazing how it creates at work and home an environment of calm and joy, without all the stress.

So my new mantra is reflection about self, as I re-commit to being a conscientious leader.

I am going to catch myself when my mind gets into that dang loop of:

·         Problem solving incessantly, trying to fix things

·         Criticizing others, particularly their behaviors

·         Blaming circumstances and people when things don’t go as planned

·         Worrying and stressing about things out of my control

·         Believing I must prove myself

·         Comparing myself to others, the grand gurus or other perceived leaders

I’m going to create another video in my head… that will help me as a conscientious leader by:

1.       Choosing to let go… do my worries and concerns matter in the bigger scheme of things?

2.       Picking my battles.  I often am the one creating the urgency, not everything requires all of me

3.       Accepting what is out of my control

4.       Accepting people for who they are. (Heaven help us if they were all like me!)

5.       Letting go of being right all the time

6.       Enjoying the moment more

7.       Sharing the work… I don’t need to be the “hero boss”

8.       Laughing, playing, enjoying the camaraderie of fellow workers

We would probably all feel more energy and evenexperience CONTENTMENT, if we would reflect on our patterns of thinking, and check them when theygo down those negative loops. 

Let’s tweak them towards a more positive and conscientious direction.  I’m going totry to do so this week!

For more ideas and inspiration get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization".  FREE download atwww.hcollaborative.com or go to Amazon to get our Kindle or print versions.  

The Dangers of Status Quo: How Organizations Become Extinct

If you worked in ad agencies during your career (as I have), you quickly learn about being different.

Building a brand, developing a strategy, creating an ad is ALWAYS about differentiating.

Doing things as usual is almost never a good idea.

So why is it we see so many businesses and organizations not clearly setting themselves apart in the "how" or "why" they do what they do?

I think it can be summed up in two words: comfort zone.

We all love our comfort zones.  We feel safe, confident, and it's easy to lead when we can fall back into the familiar.

Going out and exploring the unknown is scary. It's not a predictable investment of your time or money.

Yet, today with a global economy, an internet driven world of social media being increasingly led by Gen Xers and Milliennials, classic business thinking may no longer be a sacred cow. 

Organizations, at their very core, change rapidly. You see it every day as new models make old businesses extinct.

Think Uber, Airbnb and Netflix.

So how is that so many organizations and their leaders continue to practice the status quo? More importantly, how do you recognize the "trappings" of favoring such thinking?

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you find yourself becoming more defensive than usual  when staff suggest new ideas?
• Do you find yourself taking more "air time" at meetings and sharing the merits of your own ideas?
• Do you find yourself retreating into policies and procedures when a different opinion is expressed?
• Is your open door policy becoming more closed door as you retreat?

If you answer yes to any of these, you definitely need to rethink things.

To get you started, here are 5 tips from Stillettos on the Glass Ceiling, a site whose mission is to unite, empower and support women. 

1.  Learn to Ask Good Questions:  Asking the right questions can lead to eye-opening insights that are right there waiting to be found but that no one has taken the time to find out.

2.  Embrace Golden Silence: After you’ve asked a question and the person responding pauses in their answer, don’t jump right in with your next question. Give the person space to add more

3.  Check Your Assumptions at the Door: Assumptions can be some of the most detrimental thoughts we have because they limit our potential for growth and change.                                                                            

 4.  Shift Your Perspective: Like with assumptions, if we never change our perspective we will never grow. Building a project team with different and unique perspectives is one of the easiest ways to accomplish this. Just make sure to give all the people on the team a chance to voice their thoughts and insights.                                                                   

5.  Be Firm, but Don’t Be Antagonistic: Driving change with any group of people can be difficult. It is sometimes easier to give in to someone with a vice grip on the past than it is to deal with the pain of change. Many people fear change will lead to a loss of a job. Be firm about the need to move forward and how it will reap more rewards in the long run.

Today's successful organizations never got there by maintaining the status quo. Their leaders recognized that doing things differently whether it is a business cause or social cause was essential.

And if anything should remain the same, it should be that kind of thinking.

To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" FREE, go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.

Phil Knight's One Word for Millennials: Lesson from "Shoe Dog"

www.hcollaborative.com | Never lose sight of your calling or passion. Stay the course even when there are detours.

I just finished reading Phil Knight's autobiography "Shoe Dog." In the last five pages, he shares what I believe to be the most inspiring words of the 380 page book. It is aimed for Millennials specifically. After finishing the book, I sent that advice on to my 20-something sons.

But I don't believe his thinking is reserved for Millennials only. In fact, it makes no difference whether you're a Boomer, Gen Xer, Millennial or Gen Yer, because you will find a spark from the Nike titan's narrative that might guide your life for the rest of your days. 

“I’d tell young people not to settle for a job or a professional or even a career. Seek a calling. Even if you don’t know what that means seek it. If you’re following your calling, the fatigue will be easier to bear, the disappointments will be fuel, the highs will be like nothing you’ve ever felt.”

- Phil Knight, Nike Founder ”

 

To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" FREE, go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.

Do You Practice REAL teamwork? Lessons from the Aspen Tree

On our company's Facebook page, H Collaborative: Conscientious Leadership, you will see an image of an Aspen Tree grove. It’s a soothing, calm picture but many of you may not know that we deliberately selected this image as a metaphor for our philosophy.

Certainly, the Aspen tree is a treat for the eyes and ears.  Not only is it a lovely tree, but it is also magical as when a breeze passes and the leaves flutter a peaceful humming melody is created that quiets the mind.

But our love of the tree goes deeper than its impact on our senses.

The Aspen tree uniquely connects through its robust root system with every other aspen tree in its vicinity- some over 40 feet away.  That is what we call collaboration … sharing a collective strength and resiliency that can overcome stresses and challenges like disease and fire.

Here are some other facts – thanks to Google:  

•  Aspen trees are located throughout the world and Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) is the most widely dispersed tree in North America.  It is found growing in the high mountains of central Mexico, as well as in mountainous regions as far north as the Arctic Circle.

LESSON: Adaptability

• Some of the first American Indians to arrive in the United States used the leaves of the Aspen to treat swollen joints, headaches and burns. Meanwhile, parts of the bark were consumed to alleviate stomach ailments and urinary tract infections.

LESSON: Versatility

• Their root systems are connected and a part of a colony, sending up new trunks as older trunks die off above ground

LESSON: Connectedness (teamwork) for Survival

• Quaking aspen colonies are virtually impossible to kill. Individual stems can be destroyed by humans, wildlife, and disease, but the underground root system is resistant to almost all these external circumstances. 

LESSON: Resiliency through the collective

• When an aspen tree dies, chemical signals from the tree to the roots stimulate new sprouts to start growing. Through this regrowth, an aspen clone usually lives much longer than its individual trees.

LESSON:  Together a legacy can be created

• Given the Aspen colony is one system, they help other trees in the grove.  “ If a tree  30 feet away is thirsty, the trees where water is more abundant,  will work in unison to pass water through the root system to the tree that needs it . If another tree is lacking in certain nutrients or minerals, these will be passed through the root system from one tree to the one in need," said Gail Lynn Goodwin of InspireMeToday.com.  “

LESSON: Generosity and sharing serves all

Like the Aspen grove, we are all connected, sharing and collaborating in the spirit of “It takes a village to raise a child”.   Together we can accomplish things we cannot do alone.  Together we can support one another and thrive as Conscientious Organizations.

Yes, Aspens are a fitting metaphor for what HCollaborative is all about.  Please join us.

To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" FREE, go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.

How an Evolved Organization Bares Its Soul To the World

You know your organization stands for something special in the world.

But do your stakeholders?

Do they know about your plan for a better product and better world? Can they feel the passion that fuels your fire which is making the planet a better place to live?

If you're uncertain about that, I have one word for you: manifesto.

Conscientious Leaders know that a brand manifesto differs from your mission statement. Their intentions may be the same. But their language is not. While the mission statement is very left-brain and logical, the manifesto is right-brain and emotional. Well-crafted manifestos can last for decades if not centuries.

Think Martin Luther King, Junior's "I Have a Dream Speech," the Declaration of Independence and the Ten Commandments. A manifesto is your bold plan for a better world, a moral compass that will guide and define your brand to both external and internal audiences.

Is a manifesto right for your organization? To answer that, consider the following criteria we believe must be a part of one:

1.       Communicate Deep Emotional Principles. What is your organization's reason for existence?

2.       State Your Core Values. What is it your organization stands for? Protecting the environment? Embracing equity? Promoting justice?

3.       Speak the Truth. Are you authentic? Does your language and ideas reflect that?

4.       Relate to Your Audience. Are you using emotion to touch your audience's core?

5.       Differentiate. How does your organization differ from others appealing to your audience?

The manifestos we admire and that resonate with us all share some things in common. These elements include:

1.       Speaking in the Collective Voice.

2.       Speaking in the Active Voice.

3.       Looking to Change the Status Quo.

4.       Serving as Compass for Future Decisions.

For contemporary examples of well-crafted manifestos, we happen to be particularly fond of  Albertina Kerr's "Army of Angels" here in our hometown of Portland, OR. And if we may toot our own horn, we also like our own HCollaborative manifesto here.

If you feel the time is right in your organization for a manifesto with 2017 just around the corner and you need some guidance, let us know. We'll show you the next steps.

To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" FREE,  go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.

"Chill Baby, Chill" (How to Deal with Leadership Anxiety)

Boy, I am guilty here.. In fact, this blog is written for me and all those other individuals who practice the art of being a conscientious leader, and then stress out.

Not good for any one!

Anxiety.  That feeling that drives those around us crazy, and keeps us from generating the calm needed as a leader.   Now some stress is good. It can keep us on our toes, alert, vigilant and attentive to circumstances around us.  Helps ensure we function in an optimum way.  But too much stress or anxiety about the future, the past, mistakes made or concerns that maybe coming our way, is just counterproductive.

And anxiety makes us sick.  It can produce extra cortisol in the body which impacts the immune system and our health. 

So what makes us turn into worry warts?

Truth be told, some of us are just wired toward more anxiety.  And if you are one of them (like me and my mother ) we need to be aware of this predisposition and work even harder to counter it.

Too much anxiety may also be generated by:

ü  High work ethic, that becomes compulsive in terms of doing everything for everybody, at all times

ü  Perfectionist mentality – everything needs to be done exactly right – with the belief that A+ work is the only option for ALL work, when sometimes A- is just fine for the situation

ü  Desire to keep everyone happy – women especially prone to this- so we feel pressure to try to fix everything

ü  Desire to be well liked by everyone – with anxiety generated when something we do may tarnish that image

ü  Lack of trust with others --- that they can’t do their job or function without you

ü  Operating from a mindset of “the worst that can happen” vs the best that can happen. What if we assumed the best rather than worried about the worst?

ü  Lack of confidence and belief in self – doubting our own capabilities

And of course Anxiety can be aggravated by poor nutrition, lack of sleep, and inactivity!

So what is the antidote to anxiety?

1.       If anxiety is severe and debilitating, it is important to seek a professional to help you learn coping skills.

2.       Slow down – in walk and talk.  Taking the time to be in the moment, experiencing the here and now, instead of listening to chatter in your head.

3.       Breathe deeply and count your breaths for 2 minutes, to calm down when you feel anxiety increasing.

4.       Download a meditative App, like Headspace https://www.headspace.com/ (It’s what I use… but there are many options available),  and start a daily practice of stilling the mind, to counter anxietyproducing thought.  Recent studies show meditation and mindfulness can have a positive impact on stress, anxiety, focus, creativity and even relationships.

5.       Journal in the morning or night, and get your worries out on paper.

6.       Laugh – watch a comedy.

7.       Take time to walk in nature – and observe the little things as you walk and listen to the sounds of nature.   Walking doesn’t always have to be destination oriented.

8.       Do something for someone else… focusing on another, can stop anxious thoughts.

 Your team, your staff, those you interact with, need a conscientious leader who is both confident and calm. 

Believe in yourself and chill baby, chill!

To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" FREE,  go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding: Lesson about Balance

Just ask my kids. I’m really not that coordinated so I was intimidated by the idea of Stand up Paddle Boarding (SUP).  I’ve had the opportunity to try SUP over the past few years, but I would smile and pass, using excuses like the water is too cold… or my knee hurts.  Something so I wouldn’t be put to the test around my balance.

But a few weeks ago while in Maui for a family wedding, I ran out of excuses.  Plus, our host paid for the rental board, so I felt obligated to try it.  I was still hesitant, but when he got out into the bay and shouted the turtles are here, I knew it was now or never.

What I learned was that the key to balance is to find that special place where things are in equilibrium.  When it just feels right.  When things seem to be aligned.

Sometimes it takes a little trial and error, but when you find that sweet spot, calm reigns and you get rewarded.  And yes, I found that magic spot with SUP and soon paddled among the green sea turtles.

And I thought about balance in our workplace, and howchallenging it is to find:

- The right balance: working extra hours at the job and burn out

- The right balance: creativity and analytics when approaching a problem

- The right balance: positive feedback and “opportunities for development” when coaching staff

- The right balance: delegating tasks and doing them yourself

- The right balance: intensity and play at work

Conscientious leaders must be thoughtful – weighing the pros and cons – looking at tradeoffs and cautiously, sometimes after trial and error, finding that place where balance rules and employees thrive.  

Management is both an art and a science and finding one’s balance is a solid bridge to finding harmony in the workplace.

But the mysterious part about balance, is that only you can find that place where all things “work” and do so in equilibrium.  It takes some soul searching, but each person needs to find that spot themselves.  

My friend gave me some tips when I was trying SUP for the first time, but it was only through experience and some experimentation, that I found the spot where I could stand and watch the turtles… now where was my camera?!

To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" free, go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.

The One Powerful Trait Every Conscientious Leader Possesses

If you asked me to define a Conscientious Leader in one word, I look to Steve Prefontaine. While the great American distance runner from the University of Oregon left this world over four decades ago, he lived and breathed the most important trait of what we see in today's evolved leaders.

In a word: grit.

It was the heart and soul of Pre.

I was fortunate enough to see the majority of his incredibly inspiring races in Eugene.  At 5' 9" and 139 pounds, he would always leave everything on the track. "Somebody may beat me but they are going to have to bleed to do it," he said in one of his more famous quotes.

No matter what event he ran, no matter who he competed against, he always raced the same way. Pre led from the starter's gun and rarely ever looked at another singlet in front of him as he ground the field's legs into rubber by increasing his speed lap after punishing lap.

Now this thing grit is something my business partner and I see regularly in the inspiring and conscientious leaders we've met with over the past 9 months. People dealing with equity issues, social challenges and global environmental impact problems. They most definitely display a powerful combination of passion and perseverance.

In spite of the hurdles facing them, in spite of budget challenges, in spite of dwindling government support, these incredible women and men pursue their goals of "changing the world" with talent for sure.

But what separates the Conscientious Leader from others  is what author Angela Duckworth concludes in her book "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance" after studying high achievers in business, sports and entertainment. "Talent is not enough. It is grit that matters most if you want to achieve something spectacular."

In other words, there is simply no slowing down, no quit, no finish line in them. They continue to grind down the challenges they face as they practice day in and day out Benjamin Disraeli's belief that the secret to success is the constancy to purpose.

Just as Pre did around that oval track at historic Hayward Field.

To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" free, go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.