I’m Electrically Re-Charged!

Hi everyone :)

Yes indeed I am! I’ve just returned home after presenting to a group of 40 fun and inspirational women and men at Douglas College. Yes, someone who’d attended my talk “The Power of Wellness & Extreme Self-Care” at Langara College’s Staff PD Day recommended me to someone in the Registrar’s Office at Douglas for their PD Day, and away I went. And let me tell you, this team blew me away and I left the building just a couple of hours ago feeling electrically charged. Good feeling! Still with me.

First, I discovered that this team enjoys two full Team PD days each year and that those days are organized by their Fun Committee. Yes, I like the sound and feel of that. A fun committee! And it was obvious that they knew something about fun because I could feel and hear the fun vibe coming from the Boardroom as soon as I got off the elevator on my way to join them. Good feeling. Still with me.

I asked the team leader if we could make some noise and she gave me the thumbs up and big smile. So, I challenged the group to stand up and give themselves a full minute standing ovation for all the excellent work they do – to move around the room and “high five” each other – to really celebrate themselves. Well no need for much challenge with this group – they got right into it. All the glee, smiles, and high fives felt like pure joyous energy because that what they were. And of course I jumped right in and joined them as they showered each other with congrats and human connection. Good feeling. Still with me. Oh, and they could have gone for 2 minutes, no sweat.

We had so much fun. And we formed a bond, even in that short time together – how could we not? They were so open, alive and ready to learn and lead. And speaking of leading, the best highlight for me came immediately after I spoke as the team leader thanked me and then shared a big idea with her team. Gives me goosebumps to think of it.

A little background first: During my talk, I’d shared the true story of a very successful small company whose leader was interviewed for a magazine article. He was asked “What is it that you do that makes your business so successful?” He replied, “Well, we do a lot of things but I think that the most important is that the whole team comes together at the start of each day and we begin the day with a 15 minute meditation.” So, the interviewer said “That’s amazing. Do you do that every day, even when you’re extra busy?” And to that the leader replied “No, not when we’re extra busy ... those days we meditate for 20 minutes”.

Well, you may have guessed what I’m going to say here. Today, the team leader at Douglas shared that she felt inspired and suggested to her team that she’d like to try that morning meditation with them – and she asked for folks to ponder this and for anyone that might have experience to volunteer to facilitate that. Wow! I mean wow. Talk about leadership. Like I said, gives me goosebumps. Good feeling. Still with me.

And lastly, one of the team members I spoke with during the break told me that they not only had a Fun Committee, but that they also have a Kudos Committee! Again, I think wow. A committee whose purpose is to give kudos to employees regularly; I love it. I love it because I know how kudos feel and I know that research shows that most of the time employees don’t leave companies because of the pay or benefit plans, they leave because they feel un-appreciated. Best idea I’ve heard in a long time, this Kudos committee. So I’m going to share it, starting here. Very, very good feeling. And yes, it’s still with me.

Can you feel it? Getting any ideas?
Love and thanks again and again for listening!
Lee

PS: I going to close my eyes right now and give a big high five to each of you for all the brilliant work you do. And, if you’re up for it, I invite you to stand up and give yourself a full minute (or longer) standing ovation ... high five yourself, anyone near you – and/or any pet. Oh, or maybe a family standing O. There’s an idea.