Creating Safety and Trust in Your Organization
This morning I listened to Marie Forleo interviewing Leadership Consultant, Simon Senik, who was discussing his new book, Leaders Eat Last. It was very inspiring and I resonated deeply with what Simon was sharing about the difference between excitement and fulfillment in our jobs. I also felt my heart expand as he spoke of the fact that we are all naturally programmed to take care of each other.
In this interview, Sinek discussed how taking care of each other promotes an environment of safety and trust. It also has measurable, physiological effects. Caring about the well-being of others causes an increase in a hormone called oxytocin. The increase of this neuropeptide reduces stress levels partially through the lowering of blood pressure and reduction of cortisol levels, which is the ‘fight or flight’ hormone. It also stimulates a desire for positive social interactions and promotes physical and emotional growth and healing. It makes us want to be nicer to each other! Couldn’t our business environments use a little nice?
These ideas reminded me as to why I moved out of my high-powered position with a global hospitality corporation and into coaching. As I opened more free time to reflect on what’s important to me, I discovered a deep desire to use my energy and talents to assist organizations in taking care of the people within them. This approach, in turn, will create more safety and trust within the corporate environment, and is in alignment with my own personal “why”, which is to assist in raising the vibration on the planet. By assisting people in seeing their life from the Soul’s perspective and coming into alignment with their heart’s desires, they can emanate joy, happiness and fulfillment in their own career and personal lives. Happy people indeed raise the vibration on the planet; which ultimately makes our world—and our workplace—a better place.
Most industries are demanding, high-stress, fast-moving business environments that never stop. Providing coaching for our leaders is not a prevalent practice in most industries, but perhaps it should be. With a little more focus on taking care of the people who are taking care of the business, our people within the organizations can flourish along with the business itself. By considering the Heart Count instead of the Head Count, and the promotion of Collaboration over Competition, we can create spaces of safety and trust. Thus nurturing our people, their work environments, and ultimately their lives as a whole.
~ By Donna Bond
