I started attending my local AWC chapter several years ago. I went to a few meetings to see what it was like. I wondered, who were these ‘women in communications’? What did it mean or include to be ‘in communications’? I wondered, was this me? I took stock and recognized that I spend a significant portion of my day in the communication process; writing, teaching, coaching, training, facilitating, presenting, and preparing related materials.
I felt welcome because of the positive atmosphere of the meetings. I experienced a relaxed sense of belonging, creativity and support. I felt encouraged to participate. It turns out this is what I was looking for in a professional group.
As a member of AWC for the past few years, I find that my strengths are supported at meetings through the sense of connectedness, positivity, acceptance, creativity, and learning. I naturally flourish as I contribute.
We all need places where we feel part of things, where we have good experiences. The positive feelings I have with AWC caused me to want to contribute my time. As a result, I have led workshops, shared ideas with small groups, helped to create an ongoing accountability support group, and shared my thoughts with the leadership on what more we could do to engage members.
We are all very good at supporting others and that helps AWC thrive. How can we direct that same kind of energy that we direct to others, toward ourselves? How can we build on these good experiences especially during this strange period where it’s not as easy to connect with other members between meetings?
Here are 3 things I’ve tried myself and with many clients over the years that I find helpful for supporting ourselves to express our best qualities in our daily lives. Perhaps you will find something here that’s beneficial. There is one activity to start your day, one to end your day and one for connecting with others around projects and accountability.
Start your day in good shape
Make a list of 3 or more positive qualities (like focus, kindness, creativity for example) that you’d like to have that day and then write out an example of when you’ve demonstrated each of those qualities in your life. Remember how it felt in each situation where you expressed those qualities, and let yourself savor those feelings. This will change your perspective on yourself. It will help you appreciate and recognize yourself. It will even help you think more clearly! Then start your day.
End your day with appreciation
At the end of the day, write out 3 things that went well and why each went well; especially what part you played in them going well. This is aptly called the What Went Well Exercise. It has been deeply researched and has positive effects on our wellbeing. You can find out more about this in the book Flourish, by Martin Seligman.
Surround yourself with support
Find 3-6 other people who you’ve met at AWC to form an accountability group. This is great for anyone working on a project that you’re energized about. It helps you think through what you need to do, get ideas, resources and support from others. Not only that, you’ll have more structure such as deadlines with accountability. It doesn’t matter if the project is in your own business or practice, or if it’s for the organization where you’re an employee. It can also be for personal projects. An important side benefit is the enhanced relationships that naturally occur in groups like these. The concept comes from mastermind groups, where 2+ minds are better than one!
Here are some how-to ideas for organizing this:
- See if there is one other person in your AWC group who’d like to do this with you.
- Put your heads together and come up with about 6-10 people you could initially ask to participate with you. For a range of reasons, it will be the right thing for some and not the right thing for others. If you start with a list of more people than you need, you will likely end up with enough to form a small group; 4-6 is a good number so there are enough to generate ideas for each person.
- Determine any important ground rules that you can present for everyone to agree to, such as confidentiality, focus on ourselves, put phones away, etc.
- Decide on a one hour-ish agenda (I like 75 minutes)
- The agenda might include an uplifting and focused brief opening, a check report on how your actions went from last meeting, a chance to share something you’d like ideas/feedback/brainstorm help on, a round to state action commitments, and an inspiring closing.
- Once you have definite interest from 4-6 people hold an informational meeting, even if it needs to be on zoom/videoconference. (Some people will drop away right away and others will stay; still others will suggest someone.)
- Decide how often you’d like to meet, at least at first. This may change later. (I like every 2 or 3 weeks so there’s time to do the action steps I committed to.)
- Share the agenda you came up with
- Choose a facilitator for the first actual meeting- and then plan to rotate at each subsequent meeting.
- Suggest people bring paper to note the actions that they and others committed to. This creates the accountability. The power of writing things down!
- When you have your confirmed participants hold your first accountability meeting and enjoy the results! If you have questions feel free to email me at [email protected] and I can send you some examples of materials.
I had not initially thought of my work as an executive coach, facilitator, trainer and accidental author as falling specifically under communications, even though I did a lot of communicating in my work. I’m a prime example of the exponential impact of a welcoming positive environment for bringing out our best. Let’s use that same energy to support ourselves between meetings to extend the impact of AWC, to keep us thriving in our personal and professional lives.
To assess and help you maximize your level of thriving, here is a free tool on the homepage of my website: https://www.patriciaschwartz.com/
About the Author
Patricia Schwartz, Executive Coach and Facilitator
Maximize Positive Engagement and Thrive!
My coaching approach is strengths-based and informed by the latest research in positive psychology. I specialize in leader development, which includes emotional intelligence, strategic stakeholder engagement, business development and change leadership. Emotional intelligence supports effective leadership. Stakeholder engagement includes the engagement of employees, teams, funders, investors, boards, public officials and communities, among others and is required for successful business development and change leadership.
Background:
- 40 years experience in leadership development, business development and management – locally, nationally and internationally
- Executive Coach for 20 years
- Co-Author, #1 International Bestseller (in US, Canada, France)
Experts and Influencers: The Leadership Edition
- M.A., International Administration/Intercultural Management, SIT
- Worked with over 3,500 leaders across sectors and industries
- Background in executive leadership in the business and nonprofit sectors
- Created positive psychology based Relationship Building for Prosperity® Stakeholder Engagement Model and Tools
- Professional Certified Coach, Certified Mentor Coach, Board Certified Coach
- Senior Faculty member of the College of Executive Coaching for fourteen years
- Faculty of the Cal Lutheran University’s Center for Nonprofit Leadership, School for Professional Studies for fourteen years
- Raised over 12 million dollars for nonprofits
Patricia has worked with leaders from (partial listing):
Anthem, Antioch University, BLKBX Creative Group, Coca Cola, DreamWorks Animation, Fielding Graduate University, Foodbank, GlodowNead, Golden Brands, Mayo Clinic, PepsiCo, Reiter Affiliated Companies, Reyes Beverage, Santa Barbara Foundation, The Salvation Army, Treebones Resort, US Air Force, US Army, US Navy, United Way, UC Santa Barbara, University of Chicago Booth School of Management, University of Michigan, Ventura College Foundation, Ventura County Community Foundation, Verizon, VTI, and Wayfinder Family Services.
[email protected] 805-965-8595 www.PatriciaSchwartz.com
