Awe
The topic of awe has increasingly been in the press, along with mindfulness and compassion. Dacher Keltner, a psychologist at UC Berkeley, has demonstrated that awe leads to greater humility, curiosity, innovation, happiness, and a desire to contribute to the greater good in our troubled world. That makes it a pretty natural fit for the modern workplace.
My executive coaching clients frequently tell me they want to work in an awe inspired culture with greater innovation and better working relationships. We generate ideas on how to make that happen.
Awe is often described as an increased awareness of beauty and mystery, and it’s most commonly induced when we are among natural wonders or with inspiring leaders. Most of the research on awe has focused on taking people out into nature, and documenting better stress tolerance and an increase in creativity.
Keltner believes relying on aesthetic principles helps people become more curious and better at scientific reasoning. Awe triggers a sense of wonder.
The challenge according to Keltner, is how to build mini “awe interventions” throughout the day in order to create a shift in perspective. Daily awe walks also could benefit CEOs, executives, and employees, especially if the workplace environment is not conducive to awe.
Awe interventions include:
- Awe journaling while at work—a 5-minute break during lunch to meditate on what’s just outside your window or across your building. This exercise could be related to nature or people. It’s a way to document shifts in perspective and feel awe more often in daily life.
- Sharing awe experiences in a group setting has met with great success. Inspiring leaders induce awe amongst the group.
Enjoying nature is key, and it’s where Keltner does most of his research. For me, my daily walks in nature are sources of awe. Observing life unfolding puts me in a state of calm reflection, and I notice my internal thoughts helping me shift my mindset and gain new perspectives.
Some of my most creative ideas are generated when I am in a state of flow working out, biking, kayaking, or going river rafting and having fun. Leading leadership retreats in Northern California, and participating in outdoor ecology travel adventures in beautiful locations like Costa Rica, crossing the Sahara Desert in Africa, and running on the Great Wall of China fuel my curiosity, keeps my body in motion, mind engaged, and elder spirit young.
I taught a self-management class for fifteen years. Some of my most appreciated strategies were to focus on your strengths, savor the present moment, take baby steps, pace yourself, and the power of the environment as a trigger. On those days when I prefer to watch CNN rather than work out I put on my well-worn cargo shorts, “Darn Tough Socks” and comfy trail shoes and get out into nature.
Once I start hiking everything changes and I feel life is good. I even get to have some great conversations with neighbors who also live on our beautiful mountain in Northern California.
I purposely don’t track my steps with any technological device wanting to be fully present. I enjoy the quiet, inner peace, and not being connected to outside distractions only listening to my heart trusting my inner wisdom.
Are you old enough to remember my namesake Maynard G Krebs in “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis” TV show? Monitoring your workout progress with technology or some other method for many is a super idea, but for me it seems like too much work!
Do you create the intention to focus on creating more present moments in your life filled with awe?
About Dr. Maynard Brusman…
Consulting Psychologist & Executive Coach
Emotional Intelligence and Mindful Leadership Consultant
Are you a purpose-driven executive leader who wants to be more effective at work and get better results? Emotionally intelligent and mindful leaders build trust, and inspire people to become fully engaged with the vision and mission of their company. They build coaching cultures of positive engagement.
Over the past thirty-five years, I have coached hundreds of leaders to improve their leadership effectiveness. After only 6 months, one executive coaching client reported greater productivity and more stress resiliency helping her company improve revenues by 20%. While this may depend on many factors most of my clients report similar satisfaction in their EQ leadership competence leading to better business results.
You can choose to work with a highly seasoned executive coach to help facilitate your leadership development and executive presence awakening what’s possible.
For more information, please go to http://www.workingresources.com, write to [email protected], or call 415-546-1252.
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