Here is a post Mike Olsson and I recently put up on PCL’s intranet. Because it relates so closely to the intention and the practice of Encouraging the Heart, I decided to include it in LeaderShare, to reach a broader audience.

“Mike … as I write this, it is Thursday evening, March 19, 2020 and if it were not for COVID 19, I would be helping to Encourage the Heart at the celebration dinner for the 31st graduates of our great leadership course.  Which got me thinking … that while the entire situation and its fallout scares and saddens me for our families, our friends and our colleagues, to say nothing of the unfortunates in the devastated industries all around us, I do know what I/we can and must do, now and going forward.

At PCL, we are so fortunate to be part of a prosperous, forward-looking and community-minded company … which helps me be strong for those around me.  I have also been watching how others who serve us and supply us are handling their challenges and I wonder what they are doing to remain strong?  Do they have a PCL behind them?  Most, sadly, will not … but that doesn’t mean we can’t show them how important they are to us and to our entire society.

Those of you who have studied the 5 leadership practices know that Encouraging the Heart is all about recognizing the accomplishments of individuals and celebrating the victories and values of their communities.  And this is where I am drawing my inspiration for what we need to ramp up in our behaviors.  So here are 5 ways to encourage all those around us:

  1. Laugh.  Smiling works too, actually uses the same muscles.
  2. Count your blessings.
  3. Say ‘Thank You’.
  4. Play to your strengths.
  5. Do good.

These were a gift to me from Chris Cappy, PILOT Consulting, a respected American colleague and I’m sure he will approve of me re-gifting.  I agree with Chris that they are all behavioral and actionable on a daily basis and that self-leadership is the ultimate challenge. And in-this-of-all-moments, we are in the best place to be practicing encouragement … to everyone.”

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

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