🧠 I’ve Been Thinking…

…about how I fell asleep the other night laughing. It was a unique experience; I don’t think I’ve ever done that before. As I was falling asleep, I found myself revisiting the “A List” of situations that can crack me up simply by thinking about them. There are maybe 5. I quickly found myself laughing out loud. And then I fell asleep. I may be onto something here…

🚀 Stories to Help You Drive Change

Here are my shares for this week:

SPECIAL NOTE: If you hit a paywall on any of the stories I share, go to Google Search, enter the name of the publication and something about the story (author, title, subject) to get a natural search link that usually by-passes the pay wall. And hey, if you like the publication, consider subscribing to it—that’s how they keep the good info rolling! I’m hearing some paywalls are impenetrable, so for pubs like The Wall Street Journal and the NY Times, I’ll share a bit more here for those of you without subscriptions.

• I was talking with Filip Zolota last week and he shared a perspective I had not heard before about cultivating respectful workplaces. He instructs his employees to talk with each other, regardless of title or role, as if they were speaking with him. In other words, they should bring the same respect to the conversation they would bring if they were talking with Filip himself. I absolutely love the simplicity of this approach for fostering respectful workplaces. Brilliant!

• Just when I thought I couldn’t love the Calm app more, they go and offer a free mental health screening to anyone who wants one, no purchase necessary. Last year, The US Preventive Services Task Force recommended all adults ages 19-64 be regularly screened for anxiety. (19.1% of US adults are affected by anxiety disorders).

• Liz Simon, Chief Operating Officer of Industrious, shared insights on how to increase team collaboration now that we have 5 generations working together and a mix of remote/hybrid/in-person workers. (Cheat sheet: communication, training, setting expectations.)

• I know by now you have heard this a hundred times already: in July of this year, there was a record-breaking leak of 9.94 billion passwords. Why am I bringing this up again? Have you changed your passwords yet? How long will it take? Not long enough to not do it. Come on, let’s go, let’s get that fixed right now…

• 1.3.1. That is all. Just 1.3.1.

• The magic of “together” when you’re arguing with someone.

• I love this “above and beyond” story. Simple and applicable in many places.

🌟 Do Good Spotlight: Native American Heritage Association

Since 1993, Native American Heritage Association (NAHA) has been helping families in need living on Reservations. They provide food, clothing, toys, and other contributions to help Native Americans in need. One of their programs, Operation Winter Rescue, purchases small heating stoves and propane fuel for hundreds of families with no heat. Learn more about their efforts: Native American Heritage Association.

🎵 On a Personal Note

Reframing a situation is one of the best ways I know to get a different perspective on a challenge or opportunity—aside from talking with other people. I often imagine I can hold a situation in my hand, making it “tangible.” And then I turn it around and try to look at it from different angles. I then reimagine where it lives in time—what if it were 5 years from now? A month from now? I try to perceive it how others might. Doing this helps uncover blind spots, emotions, and biases that may be clouding my view. Sometimes I’ll go even further and “flip it.” I’ll try to come at something from the opposite perspective to gain insights. Some people do this naturally, or with training. Attorneys, for example, can turn situations around to create counter arguments. Architects and engineers can reimagine something in place of what exists. Chefs create new menus from the same ingredients with flare by sensing new combinations of ingredients. What if? What if? What if?

Is something weighing on you this week? Try reframing it–or flipping it–and see how that goes.

⏳Until Next Time…

I know I sign off many weeks referencing the seasons or weather. I’m so into nature, I just can’t help myself. So, as we feel August shifting into foggy mornings and chilly evenings, I wish you a great rest of the week and an enjoyable weekend too!

Niki