Sections:Leadership Insight
ANE leader Don forwarded a recent New York Times article, Do Happier People Work Harder? A large research study shows people feeling worse about their jobs than ever before, many of them reporting frustration, disdain or disgust. The study argues that, rather than pressure causing improvement, people do better when their leaders enable them to have a positive inner work life experience. "Work should ennoble, not kill, the human spirit," they conclude.
I believe we all have a "line in the sand" beyond which added pressure demotivates us. It's where our downward spiral starts. The position of the line is influenced by many things in our lives, and especially by the attitudes of those who lead us. Just ask yourself about your own reaction to your boss's or customers' recent decisions to change things.
So how do we, as ANE leaders, avoid transmitting the added pressure so that negative responses are prevented? The answer lies in how we each maintain our spiritual core. If we let work demands translate into inner negativity, the same negativity can roll throughout our organization. But if the need to deliver more is laced with genuine opportunities for progress, learning and responsibility, we imbue the situation with excitement and anticipation.
ANE exists to energize and empower spiritually intentional leaders to fully engage their beliefs in the workplace. And, I challenge you to be intentional this week. When you meet someone who is frustrated, someone who has crossed his or her line in the sand, bring them back. Not by following them down but by demonstrating your determination to stay spiritually up. When invited to join someone feeling lost, weak and helpless, explain how you find spiritual strength. If colleagues tell you they have no opportunities, no future, tell them of the pathways that have, and always will, open up for you and them.
And should pressure cause you to cross your line in the sand this week, .....do you remember those ANE leaders or friends you said you would call sometime?
Stephen
Calm, Confident, Connected
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