Spirit of Purpose · 2 Ways to Refresh & Reset People are the heart of business. Their intellect, positive energy, drive, mutual respect and commitment contribute to a healthy workplace and a business’ ability to thrive in its marketplace. On days when we’re firing on all cylinders, it’s easy to deliver our best. On days […]
Read More →Spirit of Purpose · COVID-19 & the Struggles of Diverse Workers We’re all experiencing significant COVID-19-related challenges. And across the diversity spectrum of black, indigenous and people of color, women, LGBTQIA community members, people with disabilities, and working parents, issues are particularly acute. A McKinsey survey says across demographic groups and geographies, workers are struggling […]
Read More →Spirit of Purpose · Validating Emotions Impacts Productivity Have you ever shared how you’re feeling about a situation and the person with whom you’re speaking responds with “Yeah, but…”? “Yeah, but it’s not so bad. Yeah, but that’s not how it really is.” Even if their intentions are to be helpful, the likely impact of their response is […]
Read More →Spirit of Purpose · Many Shades of Microagression As we engage with members of culturally marginalized groups, our words and actions can cause hurt and do harm. In his book, “Microaggressions in Everyday Life,” Derald Wing Sue teaches us about our impact, whether intended or not, through three types of microaggressions. Micro-insults. Micro-assaults. Micro-invalidations. Micro-insults are rude, insensitive […]
Read More →Spirit of Purpose · Look for Learning Opportunities Learning opportunities abound, especially when you’re in culturally diverse groups. To wake up your awareness of the disparate impact of certain behaviors on people of color and white women, take a more objective look at the dynamics that occur during meetings, in public spaces, even in personal relationships. […]
Read More →Spirit of Purpose · Challenge Your Biased Assumptions A few days ago, I went to the hardware store in search of four M4X16 screws. While I needed expert assistance, none was available. Another shopper – a white man – was searching through a neighboring rack of fasteners. His sleeveless shirt and shorts revealed heavily tattooed arms, shoulders, neck […]
Read More →Spirit of Purpose · Unintended Impact of Bias & Prejudice In any context in which we find ourselves, bias and prejudice are harmful. A sponsor of indifference, exclusion, unfair treatment, hardened divisions, even violence, bias and prejudice hinder teamwork, diminish workplace productivity, detract from customer satisfaction, and devalues those who are the subjects of such injustice. […]
Read More →Spirit of Purpose · Reach Out and Break A Colleagues Pandemic Bubble 2020 has brought forth unprecedented change in the ways we work and live. The transition process — the emotional and psychological process we step through as we let go of the familiar, struggle with uncertainty about the future, and hesitantly embrace hints of the […]
Read More →Are you regularly late for work, for special engagements, or to pick up your kids from daycare or after-school activities? If you are and this is a chronic situation where you’re struggling to figure out why, here’s a helpful process for exploring the deeper cause of this pattern. Start with intentional reflection. Look for the deeper […]
Read More →Undo Your Brain’s Natural Tendency to Make Snap Judgments Science now confirms that you only get one chance to make a first impression. That impression takes hold more quickly than you might think. Psychologist and neuroscientist Dr. Bastian Schiller and researchers in Switzerland have discovered that subconsciously, we decide within milliseconds who or what we […]
Read More →Are you in tune with yourself – your thoughts and feelings? Do you know what triggers a positive reaction from you? Do you know what makes you smile or offer an affirming nod? How about what elicits feelings of compassion, or what compels you to make eye contact that expresses warmth and encouragement? Can you […]
Read More →Over the course of my life, I’ve restricted the flow of my creativity. I’ve done so in numerous ways. By not laughing and playing enough. By always being serious. By being appropriate and well mannered, always too conventional. By resisting the whisperings of intuition and the gut-feeling guidance of Spirit – that energy that animates us all. Over the years, I […]
Read More →The roles of mentors and sponsors, although closely aligned, are also different. While a mentor supports your development, a sponsor connects you to actual job opportunities. Sponsors are people in positions with enough clout to recommend you for promotions they learn about. It’s also not uncommon for one person to be both mentor and sponsor. […]
Read More →To take a few new steps on your journey to inclusion, journal your responses to the following three questions. As you write, consider how your behavior might show up in the experience of others who are culturally different from you along any number of dimensions of cultural diversity: When it comes to inclusion, my habit or […]
Read More →Many people in our country have been hurt and are hurting for way, way too long. Yes, wounds are inflicted as people engage in the broader society. And we have to be honest and say, they’re also inflicted in the workplace…in your workplace. You, especially if you’re a leader, have the power to make significant, […]
Read More →According to Gallup, by 2025, Millennials will make up 75 percent of the workforce. They will be the majority of the rank and file and hold the majority of leadership positions. This bodes well for companies that are embracing diversity and inclusiveness. Gallup contributors Camille Patrick and Ella Washington say Millennials are uniquely positioned to advance this workplace […]
Read More →The benefits of diversity in the workplace have long been studied and found to make excellent business sense. But often we leave the execution and follow through of our company’s diversity efforts to others. Sometimes, competing priorities means that your company may not be as fully engaged as is required to actually reap the benefits. No matter what […]
Read More →Spirit of Purpose · The Real Reason You Might Miss the Office If you went to an office or another workplace every day, one of the things you may have taken for granted is the opportunity to switch gears. According to the Wall Street Journal, many people are experiencing a lack of separation between their home […]
Read More →The ease with which an email can be sent, and the rush to move on to the next task, can be a dangerous combination. The result can be emails that fuel the fire rather than move the process forward. So, if you haven’t read the sender’s entire email and understand the message, pause before you […]
Read More →When you feel stress or anxiety, do you double down by also feeling guilty about it? According to the Harvard Health Blog, that can contribute to poor, long-term psychological health. Contributor Dr. David R Topor sites a study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, which concluded that people who accept feeling bad fare […]
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