We live in a time of great excitement as we watch the world we grew up in literally changing before your eyes. This is the first time in the history of man that we are able to watch the evolution of society in real time as it moves through the technological age, through the knowledge age, and through 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 favor of new and emerging paradigms – or be left behind.
Organizational leadership 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), leaders must be ready to embrace and implement what science is telling them and, more particularly, what neuroscience is telling them if they are to succeed in the knowledge economy.
Don Joseph Goewey, author of “The End of Stress” and “Mystic Cool,” says “If a company is not teaching people the mindset that transcends stress and empowers higher brain function, they are not facilitating talent, innovation, collaboration, and wellness.” Goewey has identified the next step in leadership development – it is a learned ‘mindset’. And what people need to learn, and how they learn it, will be different for each and every one of them. In fact, it’s not so much about what they have to learn as it is about what many people have to ‘unlearn.’
The stress of today’s world is not going away … so the journey starts simply by making a decision to stop fighting it. We must accept it for what it is – the ambiguity, the pressure, the unending demands, the complexity, the time scarcity, and the list goes on – embrace it with enthusiasm. Then, face each moment of each day with optimism and compassion for those around you, but most of all, for yourself.
Take comfort in the fact that this new ‘mindset’ is attainable by all with the skill of Positive Presence and the Positive Presence behaviour competencies as a business process improvement strategy. This strategy centers on making obvious which behaviour adds value, thus reducing toxic, disruptive and non-productive behaviour in the workplace. The focus moves to what is often referred to as a leader’s tactical capacity — a set of behaviours that enables them to become role models for followers, guide operational improvements, execute on strategy consistently, and sustain performance excellence. The question is: Are you ready to commit to Positive Presence as a business strategy?
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.