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Remembrance and ReflectionAs I put the finishing touches on this month's newsletter, it is the fifth anniversary of
what will be forever known as "9/11." The airwaves, the digital universe, and the printed page are all filled with remembrances of the terrible events of that day and of the many loved ones who were lost in the chaos of the attacks. I have resolutely stuck with my decision not to watch or read any of this media frenzy, preferring to sit with my own thoughts, but it's pretty hard to avoid the insistent voices around me. So, I am putting
aside the topic I had planned for this column, in favor of a few reflections on what has changed for us all as leaders in our organizations, large or small.
First and foremost, we all now have a healthy appreciation of our vulnerability in the post-9/11 world. Although we were arguably just as much at risk of random violence before that, the national psyche has changed forever, and now a key responsibility of
every leader is to understand and articulate how the preservation of "homeland security" impacts their organization, both its people and its assets. Most organizations now have at least rudimentary plans for emergency response and reconstitution of their business in the event of another attack.
The language of business has changed in ways both dramatic and subtle, profoundly influencing the way we think. Words and phrases like "homeland security," "first
responders," "emergency preparedness," "continuity of operations," "orange alert," "Patriot Act," "Ground Zero," "anthrax," "dirty bomb" have invaded the vocabulary of everyday life both on and off the job. Leaders are called upon to communicate that they understand the threat, empathize with employees' concerns, and have the situation in hand, even as they squelch their own amorphous anxiety.
We have a new sense of global interdependence, as events in faraway corners of the
world prompt the need for new concerns and disruptions in the workplace - National Guard call-ups, reintegration of combat veterans into the workforce, security checks everywhere, travel disruptions. In a vastly more complicated world we pay closer attention to events overseas as we try to understand the forces shaping business, marketing, suppliers, customers. Whole new businesses have sprung up to cater to our fears, others have withered in the wake of them.
Closer to home, we have a new appreciation for the connections among people who work side by side every day. Even as people reassessed their priorities in the balance between work and family or friends in the post 9/11 period, they came to appreciate the sense of family they shared with coworkers who lived through the emotional trauma of simply being witness together to the events of that day. Here in the Washington DC
area that sense is all the stronger because of the catastrophic attack on the Pentagon, the tanks in the street, the fighter jets patrolling our airspace. Leaders who allowed their own humanity to show itself built lasting bonds with the people in their organizations, and there are many stories of compassion and generosity that have become part of corporate lore.
But perhaps the deepest impact has been on our shared vision of the future. We are no
longer so certain that it will be a continuous march to a better, more prosperous and peaceful world. The sense of insecurity and fear, frustration and doubt that now pervades our society also shows up in the workplace, in business planning, in leadership seminars. It may be quite a while before we regain our optimistic outlook on the world and our place in it. Coaching is a great way of giving yourself the gift of reflection and insight, something
that you as a leader need now more than ever before as your organization continues to adapt to changes in the world. Let's talk about how coaching can work for you. Call (410)626-6008, or email info@bloomfieldassociates.com to explore your options. 
If you participated in one of the many silent moments of reflection this week on September 11, you experienced the power of even a brief turn to attend
to your inner thoughts and emotions during a typical busy workday.
You can incorporate the benefit of reflection in your daily routine by building these "moments of silence" into your schedule. Experiment to discover what works best for you - a moment or two at the beginning or end of each day, just before an important meeting or difficult conversation, or at any transition point in your schedule. Keep some notes about how the
experience goes for you: What patterns do you notice? What is most difficult for you? What seems most effortless? |
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A CareerBuilder.com survey says 46% of the respondents have put on weight since
starting their current jobs. Among information technology workers, the weight-gainers are even more prominent - 54% have put on pounds. For government workers, the figure is 57%. Nearly one-quarter of U.S. workers admit using their work computers and other company resources to boost their own job searches, according to research by Hudson, a large staffing and consulting company. Perhaps most striking is this: 26% of people
who know their Internet use is being monitored by their company use it anyway to seek out other career opportunities. According to a new survey by NFI Research, a winning personality and likability can make a difference when applying for a job--valued even more highly than education or experience in some cases. The global survey of nearly 225 executives found that 63% place a value on these personality traits when hiring or considering someone for a promotion. 
Online Oxygen These days, consumers don't want online access anywhere/anytime, they absolutely crave it, says Trendwatching.com. 600 million consumers worldwide are beginning to see online access as an absolute necessity, and there are no signs that the pace of
integrating online access into daily life is slowing down. 
 The Introvert Advantage: How to Thrive in an Extrovert World, by Marti Olsen Laney. What I like about it: I frequently recommend this book both to introverted clients and to managers who need to understand how to work with and motivate introverted employees. It's filled with great insights and practical tips, and a healthy dose of compassion for those who struggle
with the introvert/extrovert dichotomy on a daily basis.
Beth Bloomfield
Executive Coach, Strategy Consultant
Principal, Bloomfield Associates Share what you're into - books, articles, movies, music, websites - with others on the list! Send us
the title and author or other pertinent information, along with a sentence or two on what you like about it, and if we use it in A Different Optic we'll not only quote you, we'll provide a link to you or your website. |
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"Love is the only sane and satisfactory answer to the problem of human existence."
-- Erich Fromm | | Do you know someone else who might be interested in reading this? Send it to them now by clicking here.
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Beth Bloomfield will be working with a select group of leadership coaches to provide individual coaching to participants in the new executive MBA program at the Darden School of Business of the University of Virginia, set to being in early 2007. | | |
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