We live in a time of great excitement as we watch the world we grew up in literally changing before our eyes. This is the first time in history that we are able to watch the evolution of society as it moves through the technological age, through the knowledge age, and into what some are calling the Age of Connectivity … and beyond. Every profession on earth is being challenged to lose the beliefs of the past in favour of new and emerging paradigms – or be left behind.
The leadership profession is no exception. As organizations flatten out and accept responsibility as a social entity, leadership roles are also evolving, and it has never been more important for leaders to understand how to think and consequently, how to behave. As organizations are more and more made up of front line knowledge workers that are highly educated and connected (and more often than not critical-thinking professionals in their own right), they must be ready to embrace and implement what science is telling us, and more particularly, what neuroscience is telling us. And as our work environments transform from being made up of knowledge workers to a more advanced mix of ‘learning workers’ it is crucial that we hone a new mindset – a new way of thinking!
Don Joseph Goewey, author of “The End of Stress” and “Mystic Cool” says in a March 2014 article (updated December 2017) “Stress, the Brain, and the Neuroscience of success” published by Huffingtonpost.com, “if an individual or company is not actualizing the mindset that transcends stress to empower higher brain function, they are not maximizing their full extent of fluid, creative, emotional, and social intelligence..” Goewey has identified the next step in leadership development is a shift in ‘mindset’. And what we need to learn to make the shift, and how we learn it, will be unique for each and every one of us.
For many of us, this shift to a new ‘mindset’ is very elusive. And, until we understand what it is we’re striving for, and until we understand the steps to take to get us there …. it is improbable that we will succeed. Improbable, yes, but not impossible. You see, the stress of today’s world is not going away … so maybe it’s just as simple as us making a decision to stop fighting it. Let’s just accept it for what it is – the ambiguity, the pressure, the unending demands, the complexity, the time scarcity, and the list goes on. Let’s just say ‘bring it on’, and embrace it with enthusiasm. Let’s face each moment of each day with optimism and compassion for those around us, but most of all, for our self. Let’s get in place the right tools and resources through which we can learn – “Positive Presence™” is a good example.
Take comfort in the fact that this new ‘mindset’, or way of thinking, is attainable by all of us. It’s within you even as you read this – and it’s not difficult. It is just waiting to get started.
Catherine is the President and CEO of CORPORATE HARMONY, providing virtual solutions for leadership development and organizational culture change. Her leadership and coaching experience as a Project Manager in an ever-changing, fast moving technological organization with unrelenting demands drove her to the realization that a positive mindset and strength-building behaviors are essential for today’s complex and chaotic organizational systems. CORPORATE HARMONY’s virtual platform of programs, coaching and performance measurement, is an innovative online technology of tested proprietary content. The world-class content of CORPORATE HARMONY’s Positive Presence Program develops the skill of ‘Positive Presence’ and the necessary ‘Positive Presence Behaviour Competencies’ for maintaining a positive and energized mindset and increased performance in today’s complex work environment, and leading to a culture of collaboration and connection. Catherine’s vision for Corporate Harmony is to bring the skill of “Positive Presence” to the corporate world as it becomes more complex, ambiguous and chaotic. Catherine is uniquely positioned to impact organizations’ productivity and long term success, with her powerful vision of eliminating bad stress from every workplace around the globe, bringing purpose into the people equation to promote healthy, productive and meaningful work cultures and turn the tide on the neglect of mental health on a global scale. Catherine is author of the book: “CORPORATE HARMONY – The Performance Link for Today’s Modern Organization” Catherine can be reached at: Catherine.Osborne@corporateharmony.ca or go to ‘contact us’ on our website www.corporateharmony.ca. Catherine is available for consultation, and can be reached by 519-695-3407.