Did you know that today’s work environments are a breeding ground for bad stress … the kind of stress that sucks the life out of you; that causes stress-related illnesses like migraines and insomnia; that causes mind-fog and burnout? Scientific research has proven that in complex organizations, where ambiguity, chaos and continuous change are the norm, you must be consciously and constantly pushing yourself to stay positive, focused and of clear mind in order to achieve your performance goals. Now add to that the inevitable fear and fatigue from working in a global pandemic.
And did you know that if you don’t have a full tool box of mind and body techniques and exercises that are right for you, and if you don’t have the brain-science knowledge to overcome the high-level stress environment, it is the perfect formula for human illness – mental, physical and emotional. And at the organizational level there will be both performance and culture issues.
So what can be done? You can’t change the fact that you are a ‘knowledge’ worker (one who must have a healthy and energized brain to do their job) – gone are the days when a strong and healthy body, or an efficient organizational process was all that was needed to get the job done.
And you can’t change the fact that the majority of today’s organizations are complex and even the work itself is very complex and requires a clear and focused mind that is able to pull out learned information and apply it appropriately.
And you can’t change the fact that no job is forever anymore. There is no guarantee of where or what tomorrow’s market or even industry will be – gone too are the days when a gold watch waited for you after 25 or 30 years of work service. We live in uncertain times.
And you can’t change the fact that today’s work environment requires tremendous amounts of communication and collaboration, without which chaos reigns as you struggle to meet goals of an integrated team.
And you can’t change the fact that technological advances of the last few decades have connected commerce at a global level, speeding up the necessity to innovate and change in order to be competitive and not left behind.
So what can you change? You can change your awareness!
In today’s work world, the saying “knowledge is power” has never been more true. And as you become more self-aware you will learn about your brain and the importance and necessity for you to take control of your own thoughts and behaviours. You will learn about the neuroplasticity of your brain and the many ways available to you to ‘re-wire’ your own thought habits to ones that are positive and energized and strengthening for you. You will also become aware of how others’ behaviour affects you and how to avoid getting swept up in disruptive negativity.
As you become more aware you will start to notice others, and especially those who are on the same journey of awareness that you are. They can be at any level of the organization. They are the ones who can collaborate and connect … they are the ones who will have your back on the ‘bad days’ because, lets face it, we all have a bad day once in a while, and well, it really does ‘take a village’. It’s also helpful if you have a shared language and shared learning to connect the dots between your brain, your behaviour, others’ behaviour, and a culture of wellness — mental, physical and emotional.
Your journey of awareness is never-ending and at some point you will identify and value your skill of Positive Presence. It can be a very slow and winding journey … or maybe you’re already there.
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.