Lesson in Leadership: Is Honesty the Best Policy?

Nike just announced it will eliminate 745 jobs at its Oregon headquarters.

And it got me thinking about honesty in business. (No, I have no issue with my favorite shoemaker.) More specifically, honesty in leadership.

For years, I spent time in the ad agency world. Layoffs were part and parcel of that business. Lose an account and lose some employees. Lose another account and lose more employees. And so it went with the bad times of every economic cycle.

Now if you were an employee in one of those agencies, you were always thinking one thing during these times:

Am I next?

Which brings me back to this honesty thing. You see, during those two decades (read: several boom and bust cycles), I never heard directly from the president or creative director of any agency where I worked that "layoffs were coming."

Everything was left up in the air.

As a result, cruel and unnecessary angst permeated the work environment sometimes for hours, sometimes for days. That is, until that ax finally fell.

My thinking was and is now that all that negative fog could have been avoided simply by being honest. Simply by being direct.

In other words, the leader of the agency could have immediately gathered all staff, looked everyone in the eye and said, "we've lost a big chunk of business and we will need to lay some people off."

Think about how much stress and anxiety that would have eliminated. Think about the positive feeling an employee might have had toward the leaders of that agency for "telling it like it is."

No doubt, there will be a grieving process for employees whether it involves a layoff or a restructure. Feelings of denial, anger, depression and acceptance are certain to surface. And from my own personal experience and observation, it takes awhile to get through that. So give employees the time it takes to go through these very human experience. If anything, now is the time to overcommunicate.

Just one caution.  By telling folks up front, they will naturally be stressed and productivity may go down. Great leaders understand and allow this by sharing their employees’ pain and helping them position themselves for their next chapter. 

Many of you know that my business partner and I are getting our new book about the benefit corporation movement ready for publication. In it, we interview 11 enlightened leaders who live by the 3 P's of People, Planet and Profit.

They know about and practice transparency and honesty every day. It's the commitment they've made to their employees, customers and vendors.

And here’s the thing: their stakeholders always know where they are coming from in good times and bad.

Can you imagine how much trust they garner by simply being honest? By speaking the truth in a fake news world? By having respect and compassion for another soul who travels on the same planet you do?

As Frank Sonnenberg says on his most excellent leadership blog, "Honesty means that you respect others enough to tell them the truth and that you value your opinion of yourself enough to never live a lie."

Never live a lie. How refreshing is that.

So here’s to the rise of the benefit corporation. And to the honest communication it fosters.

Without a doubt, it is the best policy.

~hcollaborative.com~

Open Your Eyes and Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

“ A desk is a dangerous place from which to view the world.”
 – John Le Carre

Explore New Perspectives
We do get set in our ways. Our own glasses filter and color our perceptions and approach to work. Yet, it can be a dangerous and limiting reality. 

I remember a wise boss once told me to stop looking for ideas within our own profession but rather look at different industries and disciplines for sources of inspiration.  He even encouraged all of us to take a few hours each week to deliberately get out of the office and visit an art museum, talk with someone in a different career path, or buy a magazine outside of our field of expertise.

It's important to stay fresh, stimulated and broaden our view. It fosters creativity and makes our work so much more interesting.  We just have to open our unfiltered eyes and be open to new perspectives.   

Leadership Lessons of "Yes" and "No"

Over the years I’ve learned a lot from my mistakes.

They became valuable lessons, that have made me a better leader.

And the scars remind me that it is the journey that ultimately makes us stronger and better managers and people.

Here are few insights I’ve gained on this path.

Learned To Say ‘Yes’ To:

·         Staff ideas that may be different from yours

·         Mental health days for employees

·         Flex time

·          Different work styles and values

·         Team performance reviews

·         Creativity and Innovation as key metrics

·         Allowing daily time for health/fitness activities

·         Simple, clean language

·         Honesty and transparency

·         Humility and “sservant leadership”

·         Short, stand-up meetings

 Learned To Say ‘No’ To:

·         A “cookie cutter” approach to all employees

·         Analytics trumping creativity

·         Email as the dominant form of communication

·         Discounting conflict

·         Not admitting mistakes

·         Not giving people the benefit of the doubt

·         Assuming you always know best

·         A culture of working long hours, as productivity and creativity fall

·         Speaking without listening

·         “Spin”

·         "Us vs them" mentality vs win/win

The lists of ‘Yes” and “No” can go on and on… as I learn each day and often from others. 

And I have learned to be humble, as there are teachers all around us!

What are on your Yes and No lists – the lessons you have learned to become a Conscientious Leader?

Stay "True to Self" for More Engagement and Connection

Peel the Onion to Reveal Your True Self
We often pretend. We wear different masks to please others, to belong, to get ahead. And too often our authentic self remains hidden. It happens in the workplace. It happens at social events and it even happens at home. Yet as we know, and research backs it up, people generally are more attracted to authentic people, honest people.

I also believe there are more genuine connections and stronger relationships when we share our true selves. And it is so much easier and comfortable to be “real.”  It’s about owning and taking pride in who we are, using our unique gifts and strengths, and sharing our vulnerabilities and foibles. None of us is perfect. Learning to accept who we are as we “peel the onion,” and then be willing to change and learn is what makes us authentic. Stay True…it’s a journey of self-discovery.

The Powerful Secret Leaders Use To Communicate Effectively

Every leader needs to communicate effectively. Whether it’s with employees, clients, partners or donors, you want to make sure you get your audience’s attention.

But as one of my favorite ad gurus David Ogilvy is known to have said, “You can’t save souls in an empty church.”

So how do you really make sure that does not happen?

Is there a single action you can take to all but guarantee you have open ears and eyes ready for your message?

Yes.

Become empathetic!

Plain and simple, empathy is the cornerstone of emotional intelligence, a powerful trait of the conscientious communicator. All of which starts with the ability to really put yourself into someone else’s shoes.

You feel their aches and pains…

…their stresses…

…their hopes and their desires.

Fact is, research tells us that business success comes with higher levels of emotional intelligence and not just analytical intelligence.

Yet, according to recent studies, it seems to be getting harder and harder to find leaders who exhibit empathy.

According to author Roman Krznaric in his recent book “Empathy: Why It Matters and How To Get It” empathy in the world is rapidly declining.

From the online world to college campuses, the executive suite to wealthy neighborhoods in America, research points to the declining ability to empathetic.

When interviewed by Time magazine in 2014, Krznaric cited the following stats:

• Over 70% of adults experienced online harassment and trolling
• Studies show a long-term decline in empathy levels among college students of nearly 50% in the past three decades
• The wealthier you are the less empathetic you are likely to be and
• Senior executives are four times more likely to resemble psychopaths who are devoid of empathy than the average worker

But any conscientious communicator worth her salt knows the starting point to being empathetic. And that, quite simply, is to get inside those flats or sneakers of the audience. Then walk a mile in them.

Easier said than done, you say?

Okay, here are three ways you can do just that:

1. Listen Up: Ask your key stakeholders what is there biggest worry? Focus Groups are great ways to help you uncover what keeps them up at night watching Jimmy Fallon as opposed to dreaming those high REM-dreams. Not sure a structured focus group is where to start. Use social media ( see number 3) or even an email to ask and then LISTEN! Perhaps offer them a simple “kicker” for their participation. Maybe a contribution to their favorite charity…a Starbucks gift card…or just a heart-felt thanks.
2. Take a Trip: Another way to get inside their hearts and minds is to ask them in person about what their thoughts are. Maybe it’s at a conference, workshop or trade show. Or local business event. Nothing will get lost in the translation when you’re doing a face-to-face.
3. Dig Deep: If both options 1 and 2 aren’t so easy for you (say you don’t have a list or don’t have an opportunity to connect face to face)think a bit strategically and go online. Visit blogs or join social media groups (think LinkedIn or Facebook) where your peeps hang out. In several of the LinkedIn groups I belong to, I see these kind of questions posed on a regular basis. Remember: people want to help people. Just be honest and straight with them.

It’s been our experience that once you’ve completed any of these simple yet practical information gathering methods, you’ll be walking away with deep insight about what makes your audience tick.

You’ll understand why they feel the way they feel.

Which will go a long way in helping you engage with those souls in your church.

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

Double-Down on Kindness

"Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, 
kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate."   -Albert Schweitzer

Fear. Hate. Anger.  While simmering below the surface for decades and centuries, today they are boiling over and rearing their ugly heads with a new vengeance.  These symptoms have always been there, as evidenced by police brutality to minorities, policies that perpetuate injustice, and inequities in health, education, labor and justice.  And I still struggle to get my head around the fact that people openly discount and loathe others because they are different, because of the color of their skin, the religion they choose, or the gender they prefer.  We see it in Portland, Charlottesville, and across the country.

If ever there was a time to shift consciousness it is now. EVERY person can aid this effort by doubling down on efforts to be kind each and every day, and as a friend shared, “Step up into your work as a warrior of love, justice and freedom.” 

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
 -  Aesop

How To Measure What Matters (Lesson from a Habitat Build)

"Measure what matters."

- B Corp Website

It strikes a resounding chord in me.

And I bet I'm not alone.

Your product can only be improved and optimized when you measure what matters.

It's a point that was brought home to me a few weekends ago while working at a Habitat for Humanity build site in Portland's Cully District. My team built porticos over a front porch and back patio. To make sure the roof over each area was level, the team leader did a double and triple measure of what really mattered: the posts and support beams.

Which got me thinking about how this measuring philosophy also happens to be part of the benefit corporation movement. It's all about putting metrics to what is called the 3 P's, or People, Planet and Profit.

In our soon-to-be released book, "Putting Soul into Business," you will find just how this powerful legal structure now available in two-thirds of the U.S. can become a force in your own business, no matter how large or small.

The good news for you is that it's something your customers and future prospects are demanding. And it's something the planet needs.

"People are waking up, driven by a personal purpose, wondering how they can run a business and give back to the greater community," said Hussein Al-Baiaty, CEO of The Printory, and one of 11 business professionals interviewed for the book. As a benefit corporation, you tell the world your business is no longer solely about making money. It's about making a positive impact on your employees, community and the environment.  

You gather the appropriate metrics and share with your stakeholders through an annual benefit report on your website. Stakeholders see what you're doing in regard to social justice, equity and environmental issues. "I can't see a scenario where this structure would not be appropriate. We all want to build healthy communities," said Shannon Keith, CEO of Sudara, Inc., another business professional we interviewed.

To learn more, you can visit the Oregon Secretary of State's website or read our recent article about benefit companies in the Portland Business Journal. You can also take a simple test to find out if your business is a good candidate to become a benefit company by going here. Watch for the release of our book "Putting Soul into Business" coming soon.

Putting Square Pegs in Round Holes...Employees Aren't All the Same

“Never try to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and it annoys the pig.”  – Paul Dickson

The Beauty of Different Styles
Sometimes I think it would be so much easier if everyone just was like me. Easier, maybe. But so very boring if we all were identical square pegs, fitting nicely into one work style. There would be no surprises and expectations would always be met. Yet, we all know this would be a sad workplace without innovation and creativity. But many of us still get frustrated and annoyed when colleagues just “don’t do things the way we would.”  I know I’ve been guilty of this and it only creates stress.

We all bring to the workplace our own style and approach.  Comparing others to ourselves, against our own yardstick is just foolish. One of my favorites sayings is “The sum is greater than any one part.” It takes diversity of thought to achieve the best solutions and our differences need to be celebrated and respected. When people are performing in their own stride with permission to use their own personal approach, productivity and job contentment rises.

“Strength lies in our differences, not similarities.”  – Stephen Covey

Are you Following Your True Career Path? Some Clues...

There are many detours. There are many starts and stops.

And many jobs, companies, bosses, career experiments before we find that career path that just feels right. It’s a sweet spot, when joy returns and you look forward to coming to work, each and every day.

I often wonder, however, why it takes so long to uncover our professional path that brings out our best. A place where our unique gifts and talents are revealed and shared in a positive way. A place of “work flow” , defined by psychologists as “that feeling you have when you are exhilarated, euphoric, and have a deep sense of enjoyment characterized by a positive mood.” 

Although I’ve experienced this a few times during my career, it’s never been consistent. I have seen glimmers of job fulfillment when I’ve been creative and productive, and time flies by, but then with ambition, I was on to “better” things, better titles.

Because something gets in the way. And it’s not just monetary needs – that extra salary. Sometimes it’s our own egos, and so we forsake those lesser jobs that fulfil us.

And we “sell our soul” seeking prestige instead of passion.

We give up our dreams.

Researchers, sociologists, and healthcare workers tell us that many terminally ill people state one of their biggest regrets is that they pursued ambition and money rather than following a job path that brings happiness.

But it’s not too late. There are clues from the following questions that may point you toward you true career path, of fulfillment and creativity.

Forget the personality tests. These generally indicate some of your strengths and align them to a job that features these strengths, but these don’t necessarily reflect what you really enjoy.

Do you volunteer? You have a choice of hundreds of nonprofits. Ask yourself, given your talents and interests, which one of them would bring joy into your life.

Think back to when you were a child or adolescent, what did you tell people you were going to do when you were grown up.

Think of a day, when time literally flew by. What were you doing?

In what work environments do you find yourself smiling, laughing?

Who are your heroes? What do they do?

When you doodle, what do you draw?

When you are at a social occasion, and find yourself in a deep conversation, what are you talking about?

What is your proudest accomplishment in your current career?

And finally… if you were able to say a few words at your own memorial service, what would you say about yourself?

Find your TRUE path... and you will serve yourself and others!

Who Says the Grass is Really Greener on the Other Side?

“Maybe ‘the Grass is greener on the other side’ depends who was standing on it. Sometimes you have to just go over there and look.”

 – Lynne Rae Perkins

Time to “Lighten Up”
My smart sister is one of the most avid readers you will ever meet. She is also funny, curious and enjoys a good laugh.  When she sent me the above quote from one of her readings, I had to chuckle.  “It's so real, instead of being a platitude or a lofty quote that's impossible to follow all the time,” she said.  I definitely agree. We often read inspirational sayings and think I’ll try to follow the guidance. And so we furrow our brows and really concentrate and try ---only to face reality the very next day.  But that’s okay because it is a journey after all. And truth be told, we often take ourselves way too seriously in our search for perfection and “enlightenment.” 

Perhaps we need to enjoy the opportunity to chuckle at ourselves, our foibles, our imperfections and take life with a little more joy without all the intensity. Let’s try and see a little more humor in life. Laugh more. It’s good for our health and our minds.

Maybe it is time to lighten up.

9 Ways to Become More Resilient and Thrive

Have you ever visited a desert and wondered about the cactus and its ability to survive?

I often visit the deserts of Baja, and in my wanderings the stark and quiet beauty of this ecosystem creates an awe that defines “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 desert cultures. 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-connectedness, 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 9 tips to help us become more resilient and thrive during change as Conscientious Leaders:

1.  Don’t take things so personally. It’s not always about “me.” That is the ego.
2. Develop a “thicker skin” like the cactus. Throw off negative challenges with positive energy and action.
3. When challenged by major change, think of the long term bigger picture, not just the short-term impact.
4. Find ways to make lemonade out of lemons.
5. Use your energy to be proactive vs spending time being defensive and trying to maintain the status quo.
6. 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.
7. Create an ecosystem of support among your peers and colleagues that creates a buffer against adversity.
8. Counter stress by giving and kindness—an antidote to anxiety,  that ultimately makes you stronger.
9. Take accountability and ownership for the situation and mistakes, and then move on with action.

We can build resilience and create 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.

Go with the Flow...You Don't Have to Fix Everything

 “Be still like a mountain, and flow like a river.”  - Lao Tzu

The Leadership Lesson: Letting Go
Recently, a lot of research hit the streets around the value of “finding the flow” in the workplace.  Psychologists currently define flow as “that feeling you have when you are exhilarated, euphoric, and have a deep sense of enjoyment. It is an optimal or peak experience characterized by a positive mood.”  When someone finds that “sweet spot” at work, time flies by, creativity sparks and high productivity ensues.

Yet, there is another type of flow in the workplace. This is the ebb and flow that allows and gives us permission to let go and observewhere we watch without agitation, anxiety or a driving need to fix things. Which happens to be my Achilles' heel. It is also a common trait in "Type A" personas. I often feel compelled to jump in to remedy a situation, find a solution and make things right, at work and at home.    Learning to flow like a river over rocks and bumps smoothly, with a rhythm that creates calm, is something many of us need to work on. That is letting go and what I call leadership flow!

“Rivers know this: There is no hurry, we shall get there someday.”  --  A. A. Milne

Content Writer's Heaven: 24 Hours Off the Grid

"In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks."

- John Muir

I suffer from occasional brain fog.

You know, where your best content ideas seem so long ago and far away.

Where you can't think of a concept to save your worthy soul.

Where you seek out mindless, distracting activities (read: tons of time scrolling my FB feed) so you don't have to deal with the unending pain of getting your grey matter to fire on any cylinder.

And my bet is that I'm not alone here.

So I want to share a recent cure I found thanks to a birthday gift from my girlfriend.

Last month, she took me to a 14-acre parcel of countryside beauty not far from where I live. And the only sounds I heard for 24 hours came from a babbling brook, a few moos sent out by dairy cows off in the distance, and dozens of sweet-singing birds without a crow among them.

Even better, there was no cell phone service.

Now I'm not part of the survivalist movement but this living off the grid thing was quite fulfilling.

First of all, I got reconnected to nature. That primal yearning that calls to us urban dwellers from time-to-time whether we admit it or not.

But that wasn't the only by-product of my nature boy weekend.

I was able to "still" my mind.

I was able to think clearly.

And I was able to think creatively (sparking several new ideas for upcoming blog posts including this one).

Now such a trip may not be feasible for you the next time you're coming up empty for ideas. But you're more than likely near a park of some kind. (For example here in Portland, Oregon, we have 144 parks on over 10,000 acres.)

So here's an idea: seek out a patch of park the next time your right brain is giving you hell.

It may just be the heaven the content writer in you is seeking.

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

Be Brave, Be Bold...Don't Wait for Life to Happen to You

Be Brave, Be Bold

 

“Don’t wait for your ship to come in…swim out to it .”  – Anonymous

Take the Leap
It’s easy to sit back and wait…for the right moment, the right opportunity, the right job, the right relationship. Waiting for life to happen to us versus opening our hearts and minds to the mystery of life and taking the step to experiment and experience new things. Of course, sometimes it takes courage and bravery to “swim out” into the unknown. And too often, we play it safe and stay in our comfort zone and simply react to what comes our way.

Admittedly, it’s sometimes hard to be bold and take the leap. It’s always important to use some left-brain analytics to flush out ideas to avoid making an irrational decision. Yet, if we create a mindset that many things are possible, we won’t stall out toward inaction and just end up floating through life, our careers, our relationships, waiting and not acting. Talk is easy, ideas are easy, but I for one, love the journey of “swimming out” with the belief that taking thoughtful risks creates growth and ultimately fulfillment. Maybe it’s time to be more proactive. As Harry Truman once said, “Imperfect action is better than perfect inaction.” 

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:

• High work ethic, that becomes compulsive in terms of doing everything for everybody, at all times
• 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
• Desire to keep everyone happy – women especially prone to this- so we feel pressure to try to fix everything
• Desire to be well liked by everyone – with anxiety generated when something we do may tarnish that image
• Lack of trust with others --- that they can’t do their job or function without you
• 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?
• 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 your 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 anxiety producing thoughts.  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.

Pause for a Moment...for More Creativity and Productivity

“Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day…
is the rest we take between two breaths.”  – Etty Hillesum

A Time to Re-Charge
So busy -- juggling, prioritizing, getting things done, responding to demands, requests and fulfilling and meeting expectations. Seems many of us are driven by our “to do” lists of tasks, obligations and assignments. Is something wrong with this picture, when we rarely even have time during the day to pause and take a moment of respite, let alone our lunch break?

Yet, research supports the idea that the most productive, creative people work fewer hours. For example, even though having among the shortest work weeks in the world, workers in the Netherlands are more productive than average workers around the globe who put in more hours. I suggest for our health, for the health of our companies, we reclaim the right to pause during the day, take some deep breaths, quiet the mind and recharge…even if just a moment. 

Lesson of Life: Finding Your Way with a Boomerang

Have you ever found yourself wondering how you got to where you are? Where you really took a deep dive and started turning over rocks and getting introspective?

Here's my story...

Some really good things have been going on in my personal and professional lives. And I finally took the time to try and find out why that was the case.

During the past 5 years, I've felt in constant battle mode with my mind. Initially, the battle was all about the "bad" things that have happened to me.

Dumb decisions I made.

Idiotic projects I chose to work on.

Dysfunctional relationships I entered into.

But then...

... things started "going my way."

My work got better.

My relationships improved.

I started working on a deep, meaningful project changing me and possibly my mark on the world. (Hint: The 3 P's)

Was it just dumb luck or something else? I really wanted to know.

So I went through a process of asking important questions to myself. Then I would let things "marinade" for a bit. I continued this for a couple of weeks. And then I came across this quote:

"Life is a boomerang. What you give, you get."

- Author Unknown

I paused.

It got me thinking about how I've pooh-poohed this concept a good majority of my life. After all, the universe could not be that predictable could it? Too many life mysteries abound and it couldn't be the case where something that seems so black and white could possibly be true?

I know awhile back I made a concerted effort to shift my mindset where gratitude and kindness became operating principles almost out of default. Because the plain and simple reason was that being angry and judgmental did not serve me well.

But outside of that, I was stumped.

So I started dissecting the last few years of my life.    

I realized how much I have been putting myself out there to help others. Things like feeding the houseless, helping friends, doing public service work, lending my ear, being a mentor, pushing myself to be a better human being.

To my family.

To my friends.

To my community.

Which I'd unconsiously been doing since that change in mindset.

And then it hit me...

...just like a boomerang in the back of my head.

This getting what you're giving thing has a whole lot of credence to it. In fact, I am living proof.

Which is why I suggest you do that if you find yourself lost on your life's journey. 

Try giving a bit more of yourself by putting your heart and soul into things. Don't do it expecting anything in return. Just be grateful for the experience. For the opportunity to be helpful. To be kind.

My bet is you'll end up not only feeling things are turning your way but you've actually found yourself. And using a GPS has nothing to do with it.

A boomerang works just fine.

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

Why Benefit Corporations May Save the Planet

A recent article from the Portland Business Journal about the powerful business movement sweeping the country. And it's actually smaller businesses not just the Fortune 500 behind it. Read more here.

Why You Should Take A Risk Today!

With Risk Come Rewards

“Go out on a limb. That’s where the fruit is.”
— Jimmy Carter

Ah…summer time, full of adventures. A lovely break,  when we try new experiences, getting out of our normal routine, often in the outdoors. With friends, family, or alone it seems summer weather makes it easier for us to step out of our offices and out our comfort zone. Trying new things-- Hiking, rafting, cycling, road trips, or even just sleeping outdoors under the stars. It’s a time to shake things up! 

And it’s a reminder to us year-round, of the wonderful benefits we experience when we take a risk and do something outside of the norm, from reaching out to new partners or colleagues, to taking a class about a subject we know nothing about. We learn, discover new competencies, create resiliency. As Eleanor Roosevelt once stated: “Do one thing every day that scares you.”  This is the path to growth and richness of experience that make us who we are.

6 Tips to Help You Practice Teamwork and Collaboration: Lessons from the ASPEN tree

We feature on our company homepage, H Collaborative: Conscientious Leadership & Communication, an image of an Aspen Tree grove.  It’s a special image we deliberately selected as a metaphor for our philosophy. This unique tree is also included as part of our new logo.  

              Our New Logo

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.