The Business of Being Well
By: Lisa Jane Vargas, CPC, CYT
Take away: The use of some tools grounded in psychology can help us enhance self-awareness for better performance, business culture and personal well-being.
When we are young, most of us enter into the workforce with what we learned in our childhood and younger years. It’s a perspective that seems normal to us and “doesn’t everyone behave this way?” We “move in” to our new role and company as if moving into a new apartment or home, bringing our baggage with us and happily unpacking it as we “live” in this role. At first it can seem as if we’ve landed, we’ve made it and thoughts of climbing the corporate or company ladder are envisioned. This thought process may support some of our beliefs about ourselves and others with thinking that this is really working, so I must do more of it, bigger, better, harder. We dig into our learned habits and unconscientious behavior styles. There is the phenomenon of tunnel vision that can occur where you see the prize of money, status, position, control, success! You ask yourself: how do I get there and rely upon my natural instincts?
For some of us, we get some feedback about a decision, or behavior or expression that maybe caused some conflict or rubbed someone the wrong way. Or worse yet, you do start noticing the reactions of others to your style or voice tone or body language. Up until now this is all what’s happening in your workplace, not to mention outside of work the relationships that may be beginning or ending, family life and those relationships struggles and successes. Enter in the expansion of the use of poor choices or unhealthy habits, and there are many. These are exacerbated by the stress now of the not so pleasant experiences in your workplace. The stress, overwhelm and tension increases, sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly or in spurts. Life starts to be unmanageable and we may or may not notice especially if we are in the whirlwind, grasping for something positive.
Now we are in a cycle or spiral of dysfunction or dis-ease. We may not acknowledge it’s in us and we begin to blame others and set the focus on anyone or anything outside of ourselves. It’s starting to feel out of control and depression or anxiety creeps in or heightens. We may leave this job we moved into and the time periods vary for each attempt to get ahead, find a job or company that really fits. We may even find ourselves being attracted to people and organizations that unknowingly, but energetically, have an essence of dysfunction or we are so blinded by our own issues that we land on a team or group that we have an illusion about appears to be just right and no dysfunction. By this point, we might be exhausted, experiencing health issues, physically and mentally or so confused we don’t know what to do.
This may or may not be the path you journeyed but for some it is, and we don’t know what we don’t know. It all starts with you and wanting to make changes. For those willing, there are so many options available to heal and grow past the issues. Many people find their path in 12 Step programs, spirituality, therapeutic services and many other support options. Awareness of Self is the first place to start and when the decision is made to change, there are so many positive paths available to accept. In the business environment, business coaching is an option that can help assist in this process, and it is a process. Whether you’re an employee, CEO or small business owner, asking for help just might be the smartest and most humble action to take.
One of the best gifts a company can give themselves and their team is executive and leadership coaching. When there is a focus on emotional intelligence, self-awareness then awareness of others, there is a positive shift that teams will experience. It’s slow and subtle at first. When certain tools are taught and practiced such as the Johari Window, the Drama Triangle and introducing self-assessments such as the DISC behavioral style tool, light bulbs go on, teams are understanding each other at new levels.
When we can help our teams become more aware and conscious of self, the team awareness increases and there is data to use to help work through issues, build trust and accountability and grow as a team and organization. Then, the ripple effect happens where we see how our customers or clients experience us in a more positive way. Ultimately, our goals can be realized in a healthier manner.
It depends on the leader and their support and utilization of the tools and commitment to the process. I’ve been on teams that had the data from the DISC assessment and used it dysfunctionally, and I’ve seen teams use it in every interaction with each other and grow into a very successful company in reaching goals and getting the results they set out for. The dysfunctional team was led by someone who couldn’t or wouldn’t look at themselves first and that rippled into an organizational traumatic experience for many with a lot of fear and lack of trust which effects performance.
So, if you’re new in the workforce or a seasoned leader or business owner, you have choices and the reality is it does start with you. It’s cliché and true. As Wayne Dyer said, “Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.”
For more information, DM me on my LinkedIn page: www.linkedin.com/in/lisajanevargas
