Social Media – The Lauren Klein

Well-being Community

If we think in terms of 2020, it was often viewed as a challenge for a year of stress. With the advent of the virus, the incident that occurred with respect to George Floyd and the social justice efforts that resulted coupled with a competitive general election with a drastic shift of the workplace working from home. It created innumerable stress and anxiety. The pandemic has been nothing short of a time out, in fact a global time.

Which is why I have been focusing my personal energy toward the work around how we can live a rich and meaningful life in the time of crisis and beyond. Jumping into discussions around the wellness ecosystem and how we can invite in new people process and technology to facilitate deep and meaningful change for a new wellness framework. From normalizing mental health to finding ways for individuals to increase their own wellness.

It has been exciting to see senior leaders across organizations are normalizing discussions around mental health, diversity equity and inclusion as well as conversations around meditation, coaching and support systems. Taking these into wireframe discussions around experiences and online journeys to allow focus on the individual for the first time. Focus on easy navigation, deeper scientific approaches to surface content, coaches and assessment feedback on capabilities or mental health which allow people to immediately get the support needed at their moment of learning need. In essence flattening or becoming an omnichannel for self-assessment, service, and support for one’s whole wellness.

I look forward to engaging in the conversations to focus on cultures that look out for each other, become more observant to help one another and check in online and in person all the while working toward technology and business solutions that offer up a much deeper whole wellness discussion that is far beyond today’s crisis but has a scientific view of the whole human more so than ever before.

In the meantime, would appreciate your thoughts around this notion of interactive health technology and the work at: Body as Starting Point 4: CHI2021 Workshop on inbodied interaction – Wellthlab

Believe, Encourage, Listen and Lift

It doesn’t matter if you are age 6, 12, 25, 39, 51 or 64. We all need to hear the ring of a bell. We are reminded of this in Hemmingway’s famous work, For Whom the Bell Tolls ” No man is an Iland, intire of it selfe; every man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine”:

Believe. We must firmly believe in the power of human potential. It’s surprising how this act has great possibilities and can truly allow another person to fight through a treacherous pathway they were previously unable to pass. It’s our ability as coaches, mentors and leaders to ensure that our staff, teams and organizations demonstrate through our actions and words those they we ‘believe’ in them.

Encourage. This word is often over used. It means different things to different people. But what I’ve found surprising is that often outsiders in the circles of relationships can spark the fire within individuals in order for them to grasp onto that rope a wee bit longer in order to climb up the long and difficult ascend to ring the bell at the top of the gym or in life.

Listen. Take time to truly listen to people. Allow space for your teams to share their challenges, frustrations and aspirations. For with our ability to suspend judgment or problem solve for others, there is power in the courtesy and respect of demonstrating how we value them as individuals and what they bring to the table. More often than not you will be surprised in what you hear if you listen close enough.

Lift upwards. Do spend time to realize that your staff may be facing an audience of nay-sayers or reminded of their 8^th grade nemesis. They may be experiencing counterproductive thoughts but secretly want to hear the bell in order to realize greatness. The only way we can allow our team to reach greater heights is through our generosity of time using the BELL concept.

I hope you will join me in making time every day to sound the BELL of leadership.

WHY I HAVE MENTORS BOTH DEAD AND ALIVE

Who is your mentor today? Who have your mentors been in the past? Are they family, community members, business professionals, celebrities, athletes, politicians or historical figures?

I personally have several mentors. Dead and Alive. I find that I can draw knowledge and wisdom from my ancestors. Learning about their struggles, their impacts or their sheer perseverance often helps me ‘fill my watering can’.

Why do I use that metaphor? Well, because I believe knowledge is the lifeblood that blossoms to new growth and learning. Either way, what I do know is that I draw strength from inspiring and impactful human beings. They are my water, sustenance, something that’s developed into more of a need than a want. The needs to be not only inspired, but to give you drive, if I had used a different metaphor, I would say fuel to your fire. When I face difficulties in my life, perspective can be the thing that can remind me of what I have, what I lack, and what I can stand to learn and gain. We’ve all had those days; you know the ones where things are disorganized and chaotic. Where the organizations don’t have solid design structures, lack clarity with regards to the business and division goals, and more importantly lack transparent leaders who are the embodiment of trust and integrity. Fluffy words, I know, but often times we get into these projects and get lost in the sea of work, life and chaos.

It’s hard to find clarity in strength. Especially if you have management without experience, lean budgets, and /or egomaniacs. It can be simply unbearable. Often times I find turning on some music (like if you were at the gym) and find an inspirational work space, alongside mentors, you can muster through. It isn’t so bad, but if you don’t have people who are experienced or trusted advisors you can look to for ‘strength’ it can be cumbersome. This is why I encourage a myriad of sources.

Family is always good, since most of them love unconditionally. But often times, they don’t understand your field, so you need to seek out people who understand your work culture or industry. At the same time, you as a mentee must be willing to listen and probe. Try to better understand your shortcomings, blind spots or more importantly opportunity areas. I also find a lot of strength in reading biographies of people who have carved or blazed their own trails in their lifetimes. I’ve noticed, reading and art are strong fuels for my own passion. For example, as a young woman I was introduced to Frida Kahlo, a Mexican artist who overcame several life challenges. She suffered for many years, but took her suffering and turned it into something she could offer to others, and in turn brought her pride and personal satisfaction. Since I admire her journey, I enjoy putting up copies of her art to be reminded of her struggle. It often can trigger me to step back, think through my situation differently or more importantly dig deeper inside myself for new strength and renewal.

Innovation with the letter R

Arnold Carbone shared his thought leadership with regards to his R&D experience with Ben and Jerry’s during a recent @AIGARenoTahoe event @theBasementReno which reminded me of the behaviors we must have in order to evolve as we develop products and services.

Mentoring, market research, business plan development, etc. are all critical milestones in our business lives; this talk reminded me that as an entrepreneur or product manager, we must constantly be re-inventing our approaches. It’s no longer about the solid channel strategies and programs, but actually the talent we hire and inspire. We must have talent that innovates with the letter R.

We must have people on our ‘team bus’ who understand the importance of knowing their audience yet can flex in VUCA world to listen, advocate, influence, engage and execute. These are no small tasks. I’ve found these individuals are comfortable to constantly learn, re-invent themselves, seek out fast feedback and incorporate it into their work styles and approaches. Additionally, they have high integrity and are quick to translate the key business objectives through their day to day actions. From the tactical activities such as influencing internal stakeholders or executive sponsors.

As I sat at the Old Post Office inside an art deco building in Reno, Nevada, I was reminded that whether your customer is a high tech executive or a scoop shop owner, we must invest in building skills which start with the letter R in our future leaders if we want to continue to have products such as Phish Food in our lives.

Resourceful, Relentless, Revolutionary Innovation, Resilience and Responsibility

Danell Wilson-Perlman, Female Leader changing the limo transportation world one tread at a time

She’s a female leader in the state of Nevada who is advocating to keep free enterprise live and well in Las Vegas which is the largest limo network in the world. Las Vegas. And guess what, she’s rocking at it. She is a co-owner of Reno-Tahoe Limousine and has been working with the Pacific Legal Foundation to help advocate on behalf of all the small companies to change legislation that would allow her company to grow and thrive in the Nevada market. Up until now, she has been limited. For the full story, review the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL.

It’s hard not to be impressed by the torque of a woman who’s standing up for local businesses and changing the transportation world one tread at a time. The outside is undoubtedly shiny and ethereal, but man oh man, this woman has depth.

She is in the middle of this legislative process and remembers to thank her staff, buy a gift and attend BREKKIE (Where she continues to support and inspire other women and share hilarious anecdotes—see end of blog). She’s steadfast in her commitment, isn’t wavering, despite all the obstacles that she has been confronted with in these past few months. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to have met such a fierce woman advocating on behalf of many small business people to allow them to realize their own dreams. She wrote a story of hope, and justice. How a small company is pushing back to be permitted to increase their fleets without unfair interference from the massive limo and taxi industries that operate in Las Vegas. Might just be the next major motion picture.

A few of her business traits that make her successful women in business:

Fair, hardworking, resilient, knows when to ask for help and has a strong female vision

Oh, I almost forgot the anecdote; “When I was in typing school, I remember my teacher telling me I was awful and would just end up pouring tea for the boss. As I sipped my tea, I realized my teacher was right.”

Starting an Elementary School Speech & Debate Club

Starting a debate club

Speech and Debate clubs are great ways to boost your child’s confidence and a great way to engage them early on in public speaking, improving speech and vocabulary, as well as encouraging leadership roles. The club teaches them vital life skills like project management, and working to be unbiased and see both sides of a topic.

The easiest way to go about it is to have your child become interested. After taking a tour of at a specialty school, I became interested after reading a poster about a debate club. I asked my mother several questions. Her response to me was, “if you want to start a debate club, then write down the rationale on power point and present it to your principal.” Sure enough, that was what I did. My mother gave me a few suggestions, but off I went with her to a meeting to discuss this after school club I wanted to start. I was surprised that all I needed was a parent or teacher who will be there at every club meeting to supervise and facilitate. My mother wanted me to highlight that she called a few administrators for their support too. Fortunately, since she is a leadership coach, she had experience and skills in the corporate world that all the students leveraged while she facilitated and led our club meetings and events.

After the initial steps of creating a club, you want to connect with some high school debate students that show up on a regular basis and teach the kids the skills of researching, collecting, presentation and portrayal of data. Then put up posters around the front of the school about the club to get new members. We had around eight members regularly and smaller is sometimes better so that all kids can present and argue their points.

Then next step is figuring creating an agenda for the meetings. Keep in mind that speech is a HUGE part of the club, buy a book of tongue twisters and have all the students line up and have them practice saying them in a loud clear voice (after introductions of course). Make sure everyone has a turn and encourage the quieter ones to speak up. Then split the kids into two groups from youngest to oldest. Then have each high school student go to one group and talk with them about what they are interested in and which side of the topic they want to argue; pro or con. It’s vital that the children get to choose their topic so they’re more passionate about it.

Then have the kids work at home on their topic. The more they like it, the more they research! Have at least one club meeting while they are researching so that everyone is on the same page. Have the next meeting be the date of the argument, there should be equal numbers of pros vs. cons and mix in some of the stronger speakers so that the quieter ones feel like they have strong support. While teams are presenting make sure to watch along with the coaches, everyone should take notes. All coaches should point out at least one positive set of feedback from each child’s argument and at least one piece of constructive criticism. Make sure there are no “winners” while you may think one side spoke better, you have to put these children in a growth environment where they are fueled by passion and not by short lived competitiveness. Then start the process over again at the next club meeting, it’s nice for the kids to be able to pick their own topic and feel independent and strong which all funnels into their confidence and individuality as a person.

Then at the end of the year invite teachers, parents, guidance counselors, high school debate coaches, and area administrators to attend the end of the year debate. View this as their grand finale, give them a couple weeks to trim and practice their speech. For this debate it’s best to do something relevant so that everyone can see how the children view a certain issue or topic, their voices aren’t always heard and this is a way that we as parents can help them speak up for what they believe in. It’s important to see the children grow and thrive each week, by the end they become much stronger, confident public speakers—qualities that our youth need to be developing.

Washoe County School District press release article on the Debate Club.

Blog by IRK

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