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Owl logo wearing a crown holds a branch and arrow.

Someone asked me what I could share to help them cope with excessive stress brought on by “the news.” I acknowledged there is a lot going on that can induce stress, but I’m choosing to “pause and respond” rather than “react.”

Here’s how that works: focus your attention on what is going on in your sphere of influence. Amplify your gratitude around what is going well. When you become aware of bad news, instead of reacting, pause and reflect. Then consider if it’s something you can affect. If the answer is yes, put your energy into making ripples of influence. These, when joined by others’ ripples of influence, can create the waves of change you want to see. 

We need to parse through what comes our way to see where our energy is most likely to influence situations for the better.

And if you’d like to see these thoughts shared more eloquently in a poem, here’s one written by Rosemerry, shared with me by Ray Graj.

🚀 Stories to Help You Drive Change

Here are my shares for this week:

SPECIAL NOTE: If you hit a paywall, go to Google Search, enter the name of the publication and something about the story (author, title, subject) to get a link that may bypass the paywall. And hey, if you like the publication, consider subscribing!

  • This post by Charlene Li is a real find. We’ve heard a lot about the pros and cons of DEI and Li does a great job digging into the topic, sharing data and anecdotes. For example, she talks about how various groups are often represented among new hires, but first promotions tend to go to white males. She provides suggestions for why and talks about the importance of defining “fairness.” She also lists tools to help take biases out of the hiring and recruiting process.
  • This Fast Company article shares Harvard Business School professor Frances Frei’s notes on how there’s no evidence in-office is more productive than remote work and that strict RTO mandates are going to backfire. I love knowing I’m in good company when I say strict 4- and 5-day mandates are going to need to be reversed. Frei brilliantly nails it when she says otherwise smart business executives are letting nostalgia drive their decision-making. Progress is a forward-moving concept—we can’t “go back” when we want to win.
  • This isn’t the first article I’ve posted about an impending middle-management crisis, but whether you’re an executive, a middle manager, or someone reporting to a middle manager, it’s in your best interest to read it. This Fast Company piece provides links to oodles of data with one clear point: middle managers are burning out trying to do the impossible and the potential leaders among younger workers have little interest in following in their footsteps. There are solutions, and they require top leaders to make changes to provide more support while there’s still time. (Scroll down, it’s not the top story on the page.)

✍️ Increase Workplace Kindness With Our Downloadable Planner

Here’s the prompt for Week 13 from A Better Paradigm’s compassionate workplace planner:

Is there someone you don’t gel with at work? What could be making you feel this way? Is it mutual? Capture a few notes here for how you can begin to resolve the tension between the two of you...

…

For week 13, we ask you to explore a relationship with a co-worker where there’s tension and see if you can work together to identify reasons behind it. It’s never easy to work through these kinds of challenges, but the positive outcomes make it rewarding for both of you–and the rest of the company too.

Download the full, free planner/reflector, and let us know what you think.

🖋 Noteworthy: Gita for the Masses

This not-for-profit caught my attention, because it’s focused on building a center for conscious character development in Manhattan. It’s a big idea with lots of promise. They are “creating an in-depth training that blends spirituality and modern psychology to help overcome trauma, obstacles, and limiting beliefs.” Visit their website to learn more about their mission and the fundraising they’re doing to help others achieve their best selves.

🌟 Do Good Spotlight: WorkWell Partnership

WorkWell Partnership trains people reentering the job market in the Trenton, NJ area after incarceration to help them succeed in all aspects of their lives. The program consists of a four-week training period with qualified trainers, mentors, and advocates while leveraging support from companies offering job opportunities, donations, sponsorships, and volunteers. If your business is looking for employees and a way to give back, WorkWell may be an answer. Want to learn more? Visit WorkWell Partnership. Thanks to Claudia Kelly for sharing this awesome group!

🎉 Just for Fun

Have a burning desire to live in a state capital? Okay, here’s a ranking of all 50.

⏳Until Next Time…

Have you thought about forming a small group of allies around a particular topic? A group of trusted individuals with similar roles and objectives can serve as a sounding board, validity check, and source of inspiration. For example, I recently formed a group we call “Biz Dev Buddies” with 4 other people in my sphere who are great at business development. We’ve been meeting virtually 2x per month for several months now and we all agree the meetings are high-value and worth the 2 hours per month we commit to them. Could this type of cohort work for you? Happy to share tips if you’d like to give it a try for a social or business topic important to you.

Have a great rest of the week and remember, keep your focus where it serves you and your world best!

Niki

Niki’s Notes for Compassionate Workplaces

Weekly news and insights on the compassionate workplace movement with commentary, spotlights on innovative companies, and not-for-profits that deserve extra love! Edited by A Better Paradigm Founder, Niki.