During COVID-19, I saw many of my healthcare executive coaching clients stay stuck in survival mode. They kept their heads down while taking care of patients and working long hours. Their heroic efforts left them exhausted due to being on high-alert adrenaline. This survival mode took a toll and they began to forget about what makes them happy or what brings enjoyment. I’m working with many clinicians now who are rebuilding their lives and relationships, while focusing on the lessons learned through the pandemic.
My goal has been to help them create a strategy to move from surviving to thriving. When they begin to thrive, their teams do too. I utilize an assessment tool called Be Well, Lead Well Pulse created by the Wisdom Works Group to focus on six dimensions of thriving. I have used this tool to help languishing healthcare professionals become more focused on what they need to thrive and how to build a plan to attain it. When the leader thrives, their teams thrive. Thriving is an untapped power for leading through complexity and change.
Be Well Lead Well Pulse has six dimensions. Here are the dimensions as well as sample questions to ponder for each.
THRIVE: Resilience and flourishing are components of thriving. Resilience allows clients to bounce back after setbacks and highlights the need to rest and rejuvenate in between efforts. Flourishing is leading with purpose and meaning.
● I lead a purposeful and meaningful life
● It does not take me long to recover from a stressful event
● I actively contribute to the happiness and well-being of others
My clients thrive by building wellbeing into routine, growing support systems, and setting daily intentions.
FUEL: Proactively use your diet, physical movement, breath and rest as tools for the sustained, balanced source of physical, emotional and mental energy. ● I use my eating habits to help me perform at my best
● I use my sleep to help me manage my energy
● I use my physical habits to help me positively manage my stress
My clients fuel themselves by doing meal planning/prepping, creating a sleep routine, and going outdoors for breaks.
FLOW: Feeling in the zone— when you bring mindfulness and your full presence to life activities and work. You are intrinsically rewarded with energy, enjoyment and a richer sense of how life unfolds.
● My job inspires me
● I find myself doing things without paying attention
My clients are flowing by doing hobbies, practicing meditation, and redesigning work for energy management.
WONDER: Evolve your worldviews by engaging in new experiences and challenges, embracing differences, and perceiving the beauty around you.
● I have many opportunities to see the beauty of nature
● I seek out experiences that challenge my understanding of the world My clients are wondering by traveling more, noticing nature daily, and integrating play/fun.
WISDOM: Tap into your new inner greatness-the worthwhile purpose, higher vision and innate genius you can use to guide yourself and others toward inspired impact. ● I feel my individual life is part of a greater whole
● My happiness is not dependent on other people and things
My clients are creating wisdom by focusing on their WHY, sitting in difficult times instead of avoiding them, and listening to their bodies and intuition.,
THRIVING AMPLIFIED: Bring forth more of your leadership potential to energize people, maximize their growth and capabilities and cultivate a work environment of care. This shows how you as a thriving leader can create more engagement.
● When I interact with people at work, they feel more energized to do their work ● When I interact with people at work, they feel like they are making a meaningful impact
My clients are thriving amplified by sharing a clear vision for the team, asking more questions of team members, and developing a coaching style of leadership instead of managing.
We all need awareness before we can change behaviors. These components and questions allow some discovery in what areas need the most attention.
QUESTIONS:
What dimension are you doing the best in?
What area needs the most attention?
As my clients lead their teams, they can create conditions where others can thrive. The diagram below outlines how a leader who is thriving can affect engagement. Also, it shows the consequences of a languishing or suffering leader. It is amazing to see how a culture of thriving and high engagement produces more optimal results.
Veritee means truth. With my twenty-eight-year career focused on emotional well-being, I started Veritee to help busy physicians, dentists, veterinarians, chiropractors and executives create sustainable and fulfilling careers while keeping their truth, health and family a priority. I am a licensed professional counselor and certified as an executive, life and spirituality coach.
If you would like to build a thriving strategy for you and your team, you can start by booking a thirty-minute free call to discuss your individual needs and goals. [email protected]
