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Food for thought on this lovely Tuesday afternoon…I’ve been “gathering evidence…” I’ve been looking at the cost of “disengagement” - in organizations, at work, at home, in our schools, on our teams. It’s pretty significant. Emotionally. Energetically. Financially. Spiritually.

It’s pretty much impossible to create magic and depth with a disengaged team, partner, spouse, student, etc. If you’re creating it inspite of congratulations…and what could be possible with a little nudge of engagement?

What do you think? What’s the cost of being unengaged?

Think about ONE thing you can do to increase engagement in your work and life or in your personal relationships. It’s the little things that count…especially when it comes to this topic.

Have fun…and engage!

Make Room for Your Best Self and Do What You are Here to Do…
 
Take a moment to ponder all that you are involved with in your life. Your organization, your family, your personal goals and commitments, health, finances, soccer games, etc.

Thinking about all that we have to do, and all we’re committed to, can create a sense of overwhelm just in itself (although, our thoughts about what we have to do and how we “feel” about overwhelm are actually more stressful and overwhelming than the real tasks to be done - but that’s a whole other article.)  

In fact, thinking about your “to do” list too much can disconnect you from the greater game you’re playing, the bigger impact that you want to have in your life. So better than to get lost in the minutia of all that has to be done, it’s best to find ways to support you in staying connected to the bigger vision and keeping your eye on the ball WHILE you make sure that the details get taken care of.
 
One way to do this is to engage your team. And this comes with many benefits; all in service of you, your vision and even them.
 
When you read the title of this article, my guess is you automatically went to “engage a team” as in a work team. That’s great, and important, AND I also want to invite you to think about another team in your life and that’s your “personal team.” This is the team, outside of work, who helps you bring the best of yourself to your work and life. Who helps you create the impact you’re here to create and engage with the people in your life (including your work team) more fully and more effectively.  
 
Ask yourself this question (ditch the inner critic here please): 

“Am I bringing the best of myself to my work and life? OR am I so overwhelmed trying to do everything (and stuff I’m not great at or don’t like), that I can only bring bits and pieces of myself? Where could I be more engaged and productive?”  

Also, ask yourself “How supported do I feel? With all the responsibilities I carry in leadership, do I have a supportive space to lean (or fall) into?” Again, no judgment, just notice your answers and take a look at the resources below.

Because I believe both teams are so important - teams at work and personal teams - I’ve addressed both. How can one or all of these help you?
 
Below are three paths to creating a stronger team at work. Do just one of them and I promise you’ll see an immediate shift in the dynamic of your team.

For the team with little or unclear/ unconnected direction: Have a team “Visioning Session.”  What’s the mission and vision of your team? What’s the intended impact of all of you coming together? What are you there to do? Discuss it as a team and then share individually how each of you are connected to that vision. Share why that’s important to you, how you feel you can best support it and what your team mates can count on your for. A team with a “mission” and a “vision”, or a conscious shared intention, with members who are engaged and committed to showing up and being counted on, is a powerful force.

For the team with tension or an “elephant in the room”: Have a team “Heart to Heart.” What’s getting in the way of you working more effectively together? What’s not being said? What do each of you need from each other to move forward productively? To feel safe, to take risks and to show up authentically with the rest of the team? What kind of structure will support you in having regular open conversations? Sound too quirky or soft for work? Naaa — definitely not. Strong teams have the permission to show up fully, express dreams and concerns, take risks and bring the best of themselves to their work. This means they honor and appreciate differences, communicate openly, provide space for “failure,” and give productive feedback. And to do this requires openness to a “heart to heart.” By the way, this can take years to develop, it is definitely a process, so start now!

For the serious team or the team who’s been working too hard: Have some fun. Sounds cliché eh? Maybe, and yet oh so true. Have you noticed how easy it is to forget to have fun and play when you’re with your team? We so easily get sucked into drama and logistics and all the work that has to be done, that we lose sight of fun. It gets very serious. Get outside. Have a team meeting on the river. Go climb a wall together. Do some improv. Play with your team like a child. Bring in 6 pieces of paper, coloring crayons, a potato and a rope to your next meeting and see what you can create. (Email me, most creative team gets a prize.)

Okay, now let’s talk about your personal team. It is actually quite simple. We can do things alone — yes - AND we are so much more powerful in community. I know you have things you want to get done in this lifetime. You have a vision you want to fulfill through your life or your work. You have goals. There’s a lot to do. Your best self, your unique talents and passion can actually get lost in all that has to be done - in all the mind chatter. So why not get help so you can bring the best of you to your goals?
 
People like it when we ask them for help. But we have to ask. A personal team could consist of (but would not be limited to): a coach, a fan of you/advocate, a friend, a personal trainer, a lawyer, an accountant, a mentor, a peer buddy, a feedback team, an advisor, a spouse, your kids, a house cleaner, a financial advisor, an assistant, a personal shopper, a publicist, someone who is the exact opposite of you that beautifully complements your strengths, a designer, a nutritionist, a nanny or babysitter, etc. You get the picture, it’s truly an individual recipe for success. 

Here’s an example of what this CAN look like: Matt, a client of mine, had some big goals. Many of his goals were professional (leadership, results, sales, impact, relationships, etc.), but even more so, it was the personal goals that needed to be addressed that would help him manifest the professional goals more effectively. And there was no reason to do it alone. We decided that he would need to set up a fabulous support structure so that he would be pursuing his goals, in relationship, so that he could leverage his skills, and so that he would have a great support system. He created an AWESOME team (that his kids named “TEAM MATT” ) which consisted of family members, his wife, kids, his friends, colleagues and myself as his coach. We all knew we had a job to do in supporting him. And we came to that team with great intentions and care.

The result; Matt accomplished his goals, lost 70 pounds, and deepened his connection with his family, friends and co-workers in the process. Could he have done it alone? Sure, probably. But the experience and growth of creating, engaging and leading a team, and of asking for help, was priceless. An unintended impact? It challenged everyone on his team to show up more fully in different ways, to learn more about their own strengths and talents, and it inspired others to start their own processes and teams. 

This kind of work is contagious, when we fully engage with others, show up and ask for help where we need it, it invites them to do the same. Imagine the space you can create with the people you lead by modeling asking for help, creating teams that support each other and then obtaining powerful results.

You’ll know what feels right for you in engaging your team(s), business or personal. The main criteria here is that the people on your team help you focus on what you need to focus on. They’ll help bring out the best in you, making more room for YOU and the impact you want to have in your life, organization, etc. Engaging your team helps you immensely, builds relationship, invites others to do the same and simply helps you do what you’re here to do more effectively.
 
Some of the qualities you’ll want in people on your personal team include the following: 

They are there to support and champion you. It’s great if they give you productive feedback. If it comes from a place of service and pure intention for what will help you be successful, you’ll hear it and you can put it to great use. 

They help you find clarity. And they help you be your most powerful you. Your best self.

They make life easier. They give you something that you can’t do for yourself - or you could but it would take a lot of time and energy and would not be the best use of you. Most likely they will compliment your “weaknesses” and they’ll love doing the tasks you don’t like doing. (IE. my life changed when I hired my assistant who is great at taking techy stuff; websites, blogs, etc. and making it work. Can I do that? Sure, but it takes me 5 times as long and LOTS of energy that could be better spent on working with you.)

You trust them. They are committed to you, to your success and are willing to tell you the truth. 

You feel supported and cared for with this person on your team. Much like #1, basically, this team makes you feel good.

So what is your criteria for your success team?

Make it real: Take the top 3 things you’re working on right now (could be work or personal related) and map out how engaging someone on your team (or adding someone to your team) could help you move towards your desired results more easily, peacefully, effectively and joyfully. Once you’ve got that, select a team, being VERY intentional and clear about what role each person will play. (Already have a well defined team? Great! You can use this exercise to get even clearer with each other.) Notice your energy with each selection - does it feel easy or hard? And then ask them to be on your team. Make sure that you are clear with your requests and let them know how they can best support you. Fully engage with your team and see how much more you can create in your life.
 

© 2008 All Rights Reserved. Anese Cavanaugh, Dare To Engage.

This just in! We’ve just secured the location and date for the first DTE sponsored, open enrollment, high impact one day retreat style event, the DTE Infusion. The date is set for Friday, October 24th in Lisle, Illinois, in one of the most beautiful settings you can imagine.

Stay tuned, I’ll be making announcements, offering calls and doing all sorts of that stuff, AND I wanted to let you know the date is set! So if you’re interested in participating in an event that will have an inspiring, lasting and immediately actionable impact on your business AND life…please plan on joining us on October 24th, 2008.

Space will be provided for 30 forward thinking, innovative, motivated and committed business leaders who want to take themselves, their businesses and their lives to the next level and would like a serious infusion of “daring to engage” to support them in doing so. This will be a full day devoted to YOU, your business, what you’ll need to do and who you’ll need to be (in your business and life AND with your people) to take it to the next level and create sustainable and progressive results. Stay tuned for futher details.

Know that this is for you NOW and want more information? Send us an email and we’ll get back to you shortly! Info@DareToEngage.com

How bad do you want it?

With every client I work with, I am reminded of three of the key elements absolutely necessary for success in creating change in our lives and organizations. We have to want it. We have to be willing to make the time, space and energy to do the work and hold the intentions to get it. And we have to take ownership for our results. No excuses. No blaming. No passing the buck. No “I’m so busy my goals have to go to the bottom of the priority list.” No “Somebody else has to change.” Nope, I’m talking, full responsibility and ownership for achieving the results we say we want. Period.

It’s okay if we’re not totally clear on what we want (in fact, much of my work is done helping people find that for themselves and, for some, it can take years to find “the thing” – so for those out there that are unclear, rest assured you’re not alone.) What is important is that there is a commitment and a yearning to be awake to the process, to see where we might be part of the “problem,” to pro-actively seek and take the time, to be willing to look and find the “no, not that’s” in our lives and to make conscious room in our lives to work on finding the big “YES.”

For when someone knows where they want to go and they truly want it, they can committed to that end result. They can move. I don’t care how hard it is or how big a dream, if the commitment is there and they’re willing to create a plan (which may change, btw) and stick with it, they’ll get there. Doesn’t matter so much that it’s the “perfect plan or goal” but rather that they’re actively heading in that direction. They’re doing something to get what they want. And THAT is fulfilling. Engaging the challenges, stepping out of comfort zones and dealing with the unexpected along the way, becomes easier when we’re connected to that deep want and the compelling reasons we want it for.

But you have to want it. And you have to take full responsibility for getting it. And then you can enjoy it….not just the result, but the process itself.

Engage your health, energy and stamina to create the vitality and presence you need for powerful conscious leadership. Buddha said “To keep the body in good health is a duty otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.”

Some of the most important work I do with business coaching clients is in “clearing the decks”. By this I mean creating the space for them to stop for a moment, be present and get clear on what’s important to them. To actually get clear on what the impact is that they want to create. Doing this requires doing things to help themselves be as “clear”, focused and conscious as possible. One of these things is self-care.

I very often notice a common theme in executive coaching. It’s the issue and value of creating the space and the permission for one to engage in self-care. People tend to pass it off as “Not now, later. There are more important things to do.” Or, they will say, “My self-care can wait, this can’t.” Or, they will even more simply feel, “There is no time.”

There is always a reason for not engaging in self-care, sometimes even a really good one. Often executive coaching clients are not aware that self-care is an opportunity to create more energy, work/life balance and stronger leadership. The fact of the matter is, self-care is an opportunity.

Unfortunately, it is often not until an effective leader experiences a problem or a life-threatening issue, or witnesses a problem in someone else, that she will pay more attention to her health and personal self-care. Often, it is not until the pain of not doing it gets stronger than the pain of actually engaging it, that she starts to take action.

One of the stakes I hold for business coaching clients, whether they are working with leadership or personal issues, is that this piece must be attended to. Whether it concerns health issues, energy issues, holding boundaries, work/life balance or eliminating tolerations that are sucking their energy, self-care is essential.

It doesn’t matter what your agenda, taking the time to honor yourself and give yourself a bit of TLC will help clear the decks for more powerful and effective leadership. Imagine the possibilities.

When we take care of ourselves, eat well, move our bodies, stand tall, breathe, get rest and lead our energy, we can think more clearly, be who we really are and, in a nutshell, show up more powerfully. When we eat junk, stay static, become exhausted and don’t manage our energy, we undermine our work/life balance and we are less effective. Period. We walk around on “borrowed energy” in a depleted state, less clear and less focused.

• How can you make your most powerful choices and decisions from a place of exhaustion and depletion?
• How can you show up authentically and powerfully from a place of surviving vs. thriving?

It is essential that we take care of ourselves and our physical and mental energy in order to engage most effectively. Self-care is the self-respect and the fuel that will support and sustain you. Dare to engage in self-care by making a commitment today… and then reap the results of more powerful and effective leadership tomorrow!

It’s an interesting concept. In yesterday’s Chicago Tribune there was an article about Zappos.com and how they make sure they have the most engaged, committed and customer oriented employees…they pay them cash to quit. That’s right, they literally give them the opportunity to “take the money and run” one week into their training with the company.

After the first week of new employee training, they offer new hires a good chunk of change to leave if they feel it’s not the right fit. Interestingly enough, most people don’t quit. They stick. And they like it. The impact: employees who are engaged,  highly motivated and committed to their jobs, providing fantastic customer experiences. And that means greater revenue and profits which explains this organization’s rapid growth and the attitude quoted by many of “You couldn’t pay me to quit.”

Makes me wonder what happens behind the scenes in that first week that has people stick so well. I make up that even the bold gesture of offering this kind of “choice,” inspires employees to be even more a part of something innovative and connected. Even the act of saying “We want you to feel really good about being here, and if it’s not the right fit, we want you to go, and here’s additional compensation for your time and energy and giving it an honest shot” speaks volumes to the organization’s commitment and the environment they intend to create.

With their creative ways of building an engaged workforce, I expect we’ll be seeing more and more of them. I’m new to Zappos AND just knowing how they’re engaging people behind the scenes makes me want to buy shoes or a bag or wallet from them…

Would your people quit if you offered them cash? How do you engage them, making their job so meaningful, fun and rewarding, that they’d turn down cash to leave? Think about your team right now…Do they care about what you’re up to? What the company is up to? Do they see the connection between the work they do and how it impacts the bottom line? Do they know you full heartedly want them to full heartedly be a part of the team? What’s one thing you can do to raise engagement? One thing that would invite them to elevate their commitment to you, your organization and what your team is all about? It’s worth thinking about.

Did you know that 21% of the global workforce considers themselves actively engaged in their work right now (loyal, passionate, positive, enjoying their work)? 38% are actively disengaged (meaning they’re complaining, bringing morale down or looking for another job). And the remaining 41% aren’t sure where they stand. Wow!

Does that surprise you? Surprised me, but then not too much because I’ve watched chaos, scheduling, technology, travel and the demand for instant results increase dramatically over the years. We are busy! We can get a hold of each other in ways now that make one dizzy. Technology in many cases is replacing face-to-face contact. Travel on Sunday for a Monday morning meeting is becoming quite the norm. So, as an executive coach, it doesn’t surprise me that we are bumping up against the following performance improvement challenges.

Some of the biggest concerns reported in the ‘disengaged and unsure categories’ are:

• Lack of a good work/life balance.
• Lack of understanding of how one’s work is important or how it impacts the bottom line.
• Not being matched up with roles that evoke passion and strength.
• Not being recognized or engaged by leaders enough.

As an effective leader in your organization, would you like to do something about that? Studies show that if you can move a ‘disengaged employee’ to be an ‘engaged employee’, you get an instant twenty percent increase in productivity. Not bad performance improvement. Seems to me that would be worth doing. How about you?

So what to do?

Here are four tips by which you, as an effective leader, can address personal sustainability, engagement and performance improvement at the same time.

Performance Improvement Tip #1: Design ‘Personal Sustainability Time’ into the day.

Some rules to support this tip are: schedule regular breaks for your team, schedule workouts, bring healthier choices for food into meetings, provide a ‘decompression’ or ‘renewal room’, or do whatever feels like a good next move towards work/life balance. Just taking regular ten-minute breaks every 90-120 minutes can do wonders.

Performance Improvement Tip #2: Link people’s jobs to the bottom line.

Challenge your people to link their roles to the major goals, outcomes and initiatives in the company. Help them see the importance of their work in relationship to what the team and organization is accomplishing. In this busy world, it is quite easy to disconnect from the, “Why I’m doing this work and what’s important about it?” Reconnect with that, and you’ll be reconnected with some passion and purpose.

Performance Improvement Tip #3: Are your people matched up with the right roles that excite, invigorate and give them a place to shine?

Are your people passionate about their work? Are they in roles that best use their strengths and energy? Do you showcase their gifts and talents? If not, it’s a fabulous opportunity to see where things can be rematched and leveraged. If I’m not loving my work and passionate (or aware) about my purpose then I’m not playing to my strengths. I’m probably not going to be giving it 100% and I’m definitely not going to be as engaged as I could be.

Performance Improvement Tip #4: Finally, assess how engaged your people feel with you.

Do they feel seen, acknowledged, respected and honored? Or not? Connection to human beings is not only a key element of feeling engaged, it’s also key to the human spirit - we want to be connected to others. If even in a quiet way for work/life balance, connection is important.

Yes, ideally, it takes two to engage, and as many of my executive coaching clients hear me say, “The best place to make an impact is to be the first to engage.”

Make it a point this month to fully engage daily with at least ten different people in your life. If even for two minutes, dare to fully engage. Notice your impact, and see what shows up.

These are all ways you can begin to engage your work/life balance in one way or another today. So pick one thing or four, whatever feels meaningful and do-able. Something that you can write down (right now) and with which you can create a tangible action plan.

You may not see the full impact immediately. But stick with it! The performance improvement will be there. Imagine the impact you can have on one person, and what impact they’ll have on another, and then another.

Take time now to notice your personal energy. How are you feeling? Notice how present you feel in your body. Notice your posture, and whether or not you are tired. Just notice. Are you fuzzy? Are you clear? Are you joyful? Are you energized?

What impact does your physical and mental energy have on your ability to make decisions, get things done and engage with others? Does your energy and self-care make you feel like you are being your own hero, at work and at home? Does the way you care for yourself honor you and your work/life balance?

If you are taking fantastically great care of yourself, wonderful! How can you engage even more of your power source to create added vitality and presence in your life? Can you use your power source to create even stronger leadership and work/life balance? Here are six life coaching tips to engage your power source for more powerful living and energy leadership.

Life Coaching Tip #1: Breathe! How are you breathing? Do you take deep breaths and stay conscious in your breath? Or, is your breathing short and shallow? Breathe deeply, inhale and exhale. Not only does this put more fresh oxygen into your body, it also provides a way of keeping your mind present and focused.

Life Coaching Tip #2: Take a break! You need a break every 90-120 minutes throughout your day. Stop what you’re doing, get up, move around and go get something to drink. Whatever you do, the point is to “disengage” from your activity for a short bit. Taking a break will help you sustain “full engagement” throughout the rest of your day.

Life Coaching Tip #3: Pull your shoulders back! This is a no slump zone! Pull those shoulders back, stand up or sit up straight, engage your core muscles (abdominal and low back muscles) and see what shifts for you from this posture.

Life Coaching Tip #4: You are what you eat! Remember this old saying? Well, it has interesting implications when it comes to leadership and engagement. Many studies link food to mood, disease, depression, fuzzy thinking, etc. I suspect you don’t need me to tell you that. Notice the way food impacts you. Do you feel energized and focused after a meal loaded with processed foods and junk? Probably not.

Make a shift in your diet by integrating more whole grains instead of refined carbohydrates, eating more fruits and vegetables instead of sweets, and opting for foods that are baked instead of fried. You get the picture. This is all stuff you know. You’ve probably heard it a thousand times. Will this information affect your work/life balance? Will you make a choice to take action and create a shift?

Life Coaching Tip #5: Hydrate! Living on coffee and sodas all day? Do you notice that your thinking is a bit slower? Got water? Drinking water is an undervalued source of physical energy renewal. Did you know that by the time you’re thirsty, you are already dehydrated? Research has shown that when you dehydrate a muscle by as little as 3%, it loses 10% of its strength and 8% of its speed. Dehydration compromises concentration and coordination. Imagine the effect on energy leadership and thinking. Don’t let yourself get dehydrated. Drinking water at regular intervals throughout the day will serve performance in a range of important ways.*

Life Coaching Tip #6: Move your body! No simpler way to say it. I’m not even going to go into starting an exercise program. It’s even simpler than that. Get up, move around, dance, stretch, whatever you want to do to move your body and get into action. Some of my energy leadership clients go into the bathroom during a break or before a meeting to dance in the stall to wake up and get present! Other clients have integrated “stretch breaks” into their days and meetings. Find something that will work for you and try it out. You’ll be surprised.

Engage your power source with these quick and simple life coaching tips that you can work into your days. Just paying attention to these tips can create a shift, and taking action on even one of them can create ripple effects on the rest of your life. Decide to take action today, play with taking a stand for your self-care, give yourself a bit more focus and see what shows up.

NOTE: Always consult your physician, or the appropriate medical or health professional, before embarking on any kind of exercise or nutritional program.

(*Source on Hydration facts: “The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal” by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz – An excellent book by the way!)

As a business coach, I ask my clients, “Have you ever had any of these
experiences?”

~ You drive home from work and then don’t remember how you got
there.

~ You sit through a meeting or business coaching session and can’t
account for what happened in the meeting, the outcome or the
details.

~ You read a book to your child or grandchild and can’t recall what
the book was about.

~ You work out and have so much mind chatter that you’re not even
sure what muscles you were working.

~ You have a conversation with a colleague and miss the important
undercurrents of that discussion because your mind was elsewhere.

~ You give a presentation and miss the impact you’re having on the
audience because you’re too busy wondering, “How am I doing as a
public speaker?”

~ You have an argument, and you’re so busy proving your point, you
miss the others’ points completely AND any opportunity for
alignment.

~ You go home at night and spend time with your family, only to
think about everything that happened at work today and what’s
about to happen tomorrow.

Sound familiar? Perhaps the better business coaching question,
instead of “Have you ever experienced any of these?” is: “Have you
experienced any of these things today?”

We’re talking about presence. Being PRESENT is defined as “existing
or being in the time occurring NOW.”

I work with business coaching clients on several kinds of presence:
“Leader’s Presence”, “Emotional and Mental Presence” and “Physical
Presence.” It’s essential to pay attention to all three in order to be
aware of your impact, create intentional impact and be present to
your life. Because if you’re not present to your life, what is the point?
Truly. Think about that. IF YOU ARE NOT PRESENT TO YOUR LIFE -
WHAT IS THE POINT?

We’re given the beautiful gift of life, relationships, family, work we can
love, health, emotions, the ability to make an impact, gain work/life
balance and so much more. We could go through our days with our
minds in other places, missing all the beautiful gifts of the moment,
wishing we were an hour, a day or a week ahead. We could yearn to
be somewhere other than where we are NOW. Or we can go through
our lives, each day, conscious of each moment - easy or hard,
stressful or peaceful, mundane or exhilarating.

When we are fully present, we experience LIFE. We can see more
clearly what has to happen. We can see the truth about the moment.
We can see the truth about our impact. We can fully feel our feelings:
joy, anger, sadness or excitement. We are present.

It is from this place that life happens. It is in this place we actually
can find authentic emotions, and ultimately peace, in the moment.
It is in this place that we can better identify, as leaders in our own
lives, what needs to happen next.

Field Work Challenge: This month, notice when you’re present in
the moment and when you’re not. Do you find it challenging to
stay present 100% of the time? Most of us do. So, no big deal, just
notice the impact.

What do you miss out on when your mind is multi-tasking? On
what relationships and connections do you miss out? What
opportunities are lost? What shifts for you when you are present
to your life? What do you realize needs to be ‘cleaned up’ when
you are present? What shifts when you walk through your day
fully awake? Fully engaged?

When you notice you’ve lost presence, ‘recover’ and come back
to the moment. It’s actually that simple. Enjoy your month.
Savor your life. DARE to fully engage.

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