About five years ago, I was asked the following question: What issue for today’s working women is of most concern to you? When I started writing my response, I noticed that I had more concerns than I realized and that they were the concerns of many –not just women. Taking the time to identify these concerns motivates me to do what I can to lessen them.
Acknowledge Concerns
My concern is multifaceted. We live with the belief that self-sacrifice is more honorable than self-care. We have forgotten to say “No.” to yet another request. We forget to ask, “When I say “no” to this, to what can I say “yes”? We fill our schedules so tight that we no longer have time for dreaming, playing, laughing, and passion. I am concerned that we have forgotten that we are human “beings” not human “doings.” We know we can’t control time, but we have forgotten the importance of managing our commitments.
Create Long-term Happiness
I am concerned that we stay so busy in the day-to-day of our lives that we don’t question whether we are striving or thriving. What can we create that will lead to long-term happiness?
Be Your Best
I am concerned that we hide our pain, fear, and joy. Some of us are more afraid of our potential than our failure. We diminish our own light, fearful of shining too brightly. We silence the voice that whispers of our greatness. We settle without realizing that our world needs more people to live their best lives.
Ask for Help
I am concerned that we don’t ask for help. People want to help. They don’t know how to help until they are asked. Being asked for help makes us feel valuable – part of something beyond ourselves. We are afraid of showing our weaknesses or appearing vulnerable. We isolate ourselves from what makes life extraordinary. I love Joseph Campbell’s quote: “Do not be afraid, follow your bliss, and where there were walls, doors will appear.” During an interview, Bill Moyer asked if he believed in “helping hands.” Joseph laughed and said he had “no choice but to believe.” Following our bliss includes being supported by something bigger than ourselves. Sadly, we are often afraid to ask for help.
Mentor and Find a Mentor
|I am concerned that we don’t mentor or receive mentoring. When we are mentored by someone we admire, what we see in them is in us! Those characteristics we admire often exist; they simply need to be developed. Being mentored is empowering. When another person is willing to invest in us, we are motivated to exceed our preconceived limits. Being a mentor allows us to provide wind beneath another’s wings. It also allows us to share our wisdom and our knowledge.|
Communicate
I am saddened that we don’t often venture into deeper levels of communication. We see familiar faces at meetings and events. Yet, we don’t honor each other with the gift of time and friendship. We don’t know each other’s stories. Did you know there has been a 40% decline in empathy in college students since 2000?[1] Without empathy, how can we have healthy communication? Healthy communication leads to inspiration, co-creation and error reduction.
Support Each Other
I am concerned that we talk a good talk about supporting each other, but too often, that is not the reality. When we connect with trust amazing things can happen. It is possible to put minor differences aside and solve more significant problems. We must stop giving power to our differences. We all have a story, and we all have value.
When we unite and use our powers for good, injustices will be a thing of the past. We CAN make our world a better place. When we change the Observer we are, new Actions come to our awareness, leading to improved Results. (OAR)[2]. Remember what Einstein said about solving problems. “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
It is a joy to know that while our concerns are significant, where there is breath, there is hope.
Watch for opportunities each day to show kindness and support. Even the smallest act can make a ripple effect for good beyond our imaginations.
Encourage. Lead. Listen. Love. Mentor. Nominate. Support. What other words would you add?
Let’s all do what we can to lessen our concerns. I wish you a year filled with good health, peace and joy.
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About the Author
Stacey Bevill, PCC, BCC. MPM® is the owner and CEO of Golden Career Strategies. She has over 24 years of business and marketing experience and has certifications in coaching, entrepreneurship, project management, resiliency, communication, and more. Bevill is passionate about helping organizations improve trust, communication, mental fitness and belonging as part of employee engagement and inspiration. She supports individuals in transition and those interested in personal leadership and vision, resiliency, and wellness.
Stacey is a credentialed Professional Certified Coach (PCC) by the International Coach Federation (ICF), a Board Certified Coach from the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE), and is certified by the internationally acclaimed Newfield Network Coaching Institute. Additional training includes Positive Intelligence, Conversational Intelligence Enhanced Practitioner, Inspired Leadership from Case Western Reserve University, and Coaching for Managers from the University of California, Davis. Stacey is also a HeartMath® Certified Coach, Trainer, and Stress & Well-Being Assessment Provider. She is a Flow Energy Balance Indicator (FEBI® ) Assessment Certified Coach (Leadership Patterns) and a Strong Interest Inventory® and MBTI® Certified Practitioner. She is also a credentialed Harrison Assessments® provider for both individuals and organizations.
She has received “value-added” training for her manufacturing clients: Lean Six Sigma Black Belt training/exam, Certified Local Change Agent, Master Project Manager®, ISO 9001:2015 Standard & Internal/Supplier Auditor, IATF 16949: 2016 – Understanding Standard and Auditing, Stacey is a graduate of Leadership South Carolina, Leadership Spartanburg, The Women’s Campaign School at Yale, The Spartanburg County Foundation’s Grass Roots Leadership Development Institute, and Furman Connections: Women Leaders of the Upstate. She is an active volunteer with One to One: Women Coaching Women as a coach lead and serves as one of four volunteer coaches in South Carolina for Stand Beside Them. She provides coaching worldwide for Non-Profit Executive Directors through CoachAid and received the Rotary International District Service Above Self award in 2007. Stacey serves on the Board of Trustees for the University Center of Greenville and is a member of Women In Manufacturing (WiM), Georgia Automotive Manufacturing Association (GAMA), Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), National Career Development Association (NCDA) and the SC Association for Talent Development (ATD). Stacey is available for speaking engagements, podcasts and panel discussions. She lives with her husband, Bobby Bevill (winner of the international David Debien Award for technical expertise and training excellence in the HVAC industry), and their five beloved rescue dogs in Upstate South Carolina.
1 Shocker: Empathy Dropped 40% in College Students Since 2000
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/born-love/201005/shocker-empathy-dropped-40-in-college-students-2000
[2] Training from Newfield Network® https://newfieldnetwork.com
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