 Happy International Women’s Day! Today I #ChooseToChallenge women of colour most especially, my mom, Kathy. My mom may not have made international, national or even local news, but she is the greatest example of a woman I know to celebrate. After my parents immigrated to Canada, mom went to school and became a Registered Psychiatric Nurse where she was a role model mentoring new and seasoned nurses. Through all of this she was also the primary caregiver of my brothers and I preparing us for and attending all music, sports and school activities, and she managed the day to day of the household – challenging enough, right? However, the real mental, emotional and physical strength she had shone through the years when she battled serious health issues. If you didn’t know about her conditions and if her body didn’t show it, you wouldn’t know that she laughed in the face of being bedridden for a few years to walk and work again, and she boldly told death to take a back seat because she wasn’t done living.
My mom did not make any social media stages but that doesn’t matter. She is a true testament of everyday women who are extraordinary women that are changing the world by positively influencing women and others around them to rise up to their full potential, fight through challenges that try to derail them, and #livefiercely. She is the one and only, Kathy. #ThisYearIsForYouMom #IWD2021 #ChooseToChallenge #Hero #Women #MakingAnImpact
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 If you're feeling like me and, based on social media and messages you've sent me, you are, there is just too much going on right now. Am I right?
After work on Friday I had a great virtual chat with a great person. It was nice to catch up with them since we haven't seen each other in-person for several months. The call ended and I was so happy to have spoken with them. They're a great person, a great leader I admire, and their energy is so good for my soul. And then I had a moment. I felt sad, disappointed and frustrated that our best way of connecting with folks is still virtually. I miss face to face contact. I miss the warm embrace from my family and dear friends. I miss casual run-ins in the office on a Friday that turn into a few of us having a laughing fest. I miss seeing my nephew, Goddaughter and the other beautiful kids in my life. My eyes welled up with tears. I took in the silence, I meditated and afterwards, I reflected and wrote a list of those things/ people/ experiences for which I am grateful. I felt rebalanced and grounded afterwards. Last week I shared insight and questions to help you easily dive deeper in self-reflection. Click here for a quick reminder. I think that sitting actively in the space of reflection for this week is just what the doctor ordered. Breathe, fierce friends, even leaders need to remove their cape and show themselves the grace they show others.  Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Unsplash
In last week's Fierce Leadership blog, I encouraged you to hold tight on giving 2020 the "good riddance!" send off in favour or a more effective approach. What emotions and thoughts did you experience when you paused and reflected on last year? Did you procrastinate? Have a few false starts? Felt a bit uncomfortable even though you were sitting with no one around? "Self-reflection (noun): careful thought about your own behavior and beliefs." - Merriam-Webster Self-reflection can leave us feeling uneasy so much so that we avoid starting the process. However, if you can push through any discomfort and dive deep, you'll be impressed by the insight you gain thinking about the good, the bad, and the ugly of your observations and experiences. "The hardest leaders to coach aren't those who think they know everything, avoid responsibility, or belittle their team. The hardest leaders to coach are those who don't pause in reflection of themselves." - Michele D. Cameron If you still need a bit of a nudge because you are unsure of how to start, here are 4 simple and practical ways:
I shared a few questions last week to ease you into the process. Here are a few deeper dive questions that I really like to use:
Reflect often so you truly understand the opportunities that await you.  Photo by The Creative Exchange on Unsplash
Every day provides a new opportunity to write a chapter in your book. Were you eager to say, "Good riddance!" to 2020? Be honest. We had a pandemic and multiple lives lost due to it, the start of a global economic downturn, personal and professional challenges. The list goes on! There have been more than a fair share of challenges this past year. However, even through the cloud, life still provides light. We can't control everything that life throws at us but it's key to focus on what's in our control. What if there was a way to welcome the New Year that sets the stage for success in 2021? Would you be interested? Success in leadership and life requires that we pause, reflect, and stay the course or pivot accordingly. This should be done regularly whether it’s sparked by the need to make or the outcome of a major decision or the desire for self-reflection to uncover insight into ourselves and uncover lessons learned. What were your 2020 highlights? Lowlights? Lessons learned? What behaviour do you want to leave in the past and what behaviours do you plan to improve in 2021? Anchor this to the question you’ve heard me ask before, What kind of leader do you want to be? Pause. Reflect. Plan. Use the simple guiding questions above as an easy start. I encourage you to dive deeper. Email me for additional questions. As you've likely heard from me before, failing to plan means you're planning to fail. Let's make this year a year of planned success.  I hope you're having a wonderful holiday season! As the month of December and the 2020 year come to an end, so does December's Attitude of Gratitude. I hope the month's posts have inspired, grounded and left you feeling...grateful.
As the New Year draws closer, it's a natural time to reflect on the year that's passed - to revel in our successes and pause to absorb the quieter lessons whispering to us from the year's challenges. Remember, this isn't a competition! There may be folks who have a list of things for which they're proud of accomplishing but the truth is, making it through 2020 is an accomplishment in and of itself. Stand proudly knowing that you made it thus far and bonus points if through all of the adversity 2020 threw your way, you managed to achieve your goals. If you haven't already, give yourself a high five, pat on the back, and applause! (If you've already celebrated - good job! Don't be shy, the happy dance never gets old!) For me, this year has had moments of highs and smooth sailing but, likely similar to many of you, moments where my only focus was on adjusting the sails as I prayed for calmer days. Serendipitously, these words appeared when I needed it most: "I rise I rise I rise." Thank you to the late and forever great, Maya Angelou. My Attitude of Gratitude is my never ending light of hope and resilience through the stormy waters. Here are five science backed (and The Live Fiercely Coach approved!) strategies to build your resilience. It's practical and totally doable. What’s your Attitude of Gratitude? Take a moment to write it down. I'd love to hear it - share it with me! If there was ever a year, a reason and a season, this is it. The new year will offer us plenty of opportunity to refocus, realign, pivot and pursue our goals. If you haven't already, start thinking about the leader and person you wish to be. Let 2021 be the year you start making tracks! I'll be right beside you supporting your journey along the way.  I wish I was Oprah. I know. That came from nowhere, didn't it? Hear me out. This has been an INCREDIBLE year! Who would have predicted (aside from Bill Gates) that we'd be in the midst of a pandemic? I have more reflective work to do but when I think about all that we as individuals and a society have endured, I am humbled to silence. Yet, at the same time, I want to be able to yell out Oprah's famous line, "You get a car!" because we all need a little bit of sunshine in our lives right now.
There are several words to describe this year - exhausting, surreal and my personal favourite - relentless - come to mind. Complementary to that are words to describe the fact that we've made it this far - resilient, unbreakable and strong. There is light at the end of the long tunnel. My Attitude of Gratitude is to the geniuses who developed COVID-19 vaccines. The long term efficacy is years to being determined but we're desperate nations looking to get out of a bad situation. I could name the companies, but it's really the people within the pharmaceutical companies that I'm most grateful for. The people who aced their science classes that were gracious enough to tutor me. My gratitude is to them. Thank you from the very bottom of my heart. What’s your Attitude of Gratitude? Take a moment to write it down. I'd love to hear it - share it with me! If there was ever a year, a reason and a season, this is it.  Welcome, December 15th! I have a new energy within me. It could be the upcoming time away from the office, the holiday season, or my longest ever workout streak (hello, Athlete!) but I feel it!
I had the pleasure of connecting with a treasured soul today. I have a group that I call my Championship Circle or Network of Champions. Yeah. She's part of that crew. There's no pretending with us, no ego, just mutual love and respect. My Attitude of Gratitude today is for the blessing of having the people I have in my Championship Circle. I am who I am today because of them. They've been real, honest, and a soft place to land when I needed it. As I've mentioned to you and most recently encouraged a client working in a rare senior level role to do, build a Network of Champions! As you think of the leader you wish to become, think of the network you need to surround yourself with to support your development to leading and living life fiercely. Most importantly, build it! Did you know that a gratitude practice has been shown to provide positive emotions, better sleep, compassion and kindness, and stronger immune systems? The effects impact how you show up as a leader to your teams and your colleagues. What’s your Attitude of Gratitude? Take a moment to write it down. I'd love to hear it - share it with me! If there was ever a year, a reason and a season, this is it.  It's been a tough week.
I never thought that after writing last week's post about being grateful for life and the life of my parents that the content of this week's post would link back to them. I also didn't think that when I had the idea to write a month of Attitude of Gratitude posts that I would be writing on something so emotional and raw. You've likely come to know though, that keeping my communication and connection with you authentic is in my DNA. Here's the short of the story - One of my parents were taken by ambulance to emergency - not once, but twice in four days. This isn't the first time they've been to the hospital but every time something happens it causes my.heart.to.stop even just for a moment. It's hard not being in the same city, seeing things unfold with my own eyes and ears, and being the extra in-person support I know my folks would love and appreciate from me. My Attitude of Gratitude today is that even though the team members at the hospital have been pushing through the worst work demands for the past nine months during the pandemic from an emotional, physical, and mental aspect, they still had the energy and the desire to show up and show love to my parent when they were sick, scared, and at their mercy. Thank you healthcare teams for continually rising to the challenge with every patient you treat. I will be forever grateful for you. Remember! Gratitude has been shown to provide positive emotions, better sleep, compassion and kindness, and stronger immune systems! Naturally, the effects of a gratitude practice impact how you show up as a leader to your teams and your colleagues. What’s your Attitude of Gratitude? Take a moment to write it down. If there was ever a year, a reason and a season, this is it. Is it just me or does now feel like the perfect time to ramp up appreciation for all of the small and large things in life? Join me in what I’m calling an Attitude of Gratitude! Throughout the month of December, I’m focusing on all of the people, kind gestures, and things for which I am grateful. I invite you to join me. Did you know that a practice of gratitude has been shown to provide positive emotions, better sleep, compassion and kindness, and stronger immune systems? These are benefits we could all use! My Attitude of Gratitude today is that I’m alive and so are my parents. I know that being on this earth is a blessing. There are many people, some who are parents, that have left this earth far too soon. I’m grateful to live another day and to do so with my parents. What’s your Attitude of Gratitude? Take a moment to write it down.
If there was ever a year, a reason and a season, this is it.  Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
I’ve never been much for receiving gifts that do not have special meaning. I am grateful for the kindness of others but I would rather give it to those that would benefit most. There are many whose priorities suddenly shifted when the pandemic hit. It was really refreshing. Before we knew it, there was a growing comfort with:
I smile brightly every time I hear and see those things. It reminds me, that all is not lost in the world. We know that once our basic needs of food, shelter and safety are met, as humans, we need human connection. Wouldn’t that be something exciting to carry into a post-COVID world? Will you join me in continuing this upward movement by sharing all of the things you are grateful for during the month of December? Every week I will share with you on social media (connect with me on LinkedIn and follow me on Instagram) my Attitude of Gratitude! It’s simple and you can quickly read how to here. I’ll name one person, situation, experience, realization, opportunity, etc. for which I’m grateful. Will you join me? If there was ever a year, a reason and a season, this is it. Let’s spread our Attitude of Gratitude and start a chain reaction! The more we focus on the good, the happier and more content we are as humans. |
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