Alvis Washington’s Post

🌈 The colorful and peaceful celebrations of Pride month are a sharp contrast to the violent rebellion that Pride, in part, commemorates. Even the term, “Pride,” is boldly defiant. It is a declaration that queerness is a cause for celebration, not shame, as maintained by oppressors. Pressure to conform is rampant. Sometimes that pressure takes the form of persecution, biases, and even hate. Often, the mere presence of widespread norms restricts our freedom to stand out. 💡 But powerful things happen when we take pride in those characteristics that make us unique, despite those pressures. ➡ We Lead with Authenticity Being authentic draws others to your style of leadership. Even organizations can embrace unique attributes. Southwest Airlines consistently rates highest in customer satisfaction in part because it showcases a fun, quirky culture – hardly the norm for an airline. ❓What are some unexpected behaviors you or your team can embrace that would feel more natural – more authentic – to who you are? ➡ We Lead with Our Values Identifying your values is a way of saying, “This is what’s most important to me/us.” The clearer you are about your values, the easier it is to make decisions that might otherwise feel daunting. Your values might not conform to what others expect or to what’s “normal” in your field. It’s okay to be weird. In fact, online shoe retailer Zappos adopted “weirdness” as a corporate value. ❓What are your defining characteristics, however unusual, as a person or as a team? How might you honor those values that others reject? ➡ We Lead with Our Strengths 💪 What makes you stand out is often a tremendous asset. A sense of humor in a stodgy setting. Being personable in a field that prizes “professional distance.” Favoring quiet reflection when everyone else is boisterous. Being different is often exactly what your team, or your industry, needs – even if it feels incredibly uncomfortable to buck existing norms. ❓What unique traits are you or your team hesitant to bring out into the open? How might those characteristics provide an unexpected boon to your mission or your leadership?   👉 Embrace what makes you >you< (as an individual or as an organization), instead of conforming to limiting beliefs about how you “should” be. _Every_ month is the right time to find the courage to be yourself a little more genuinely – and to honor the authenticity of those around you. ----- 👋 I facilitate strategic planning for nonprofits and coach leaders to put people first to make their strategies matter. Read the original article or subscribe at https://lnkd.in/ebd9DBBt

A paycheck is a neutral exchange...it is not a reason for people to be happy, satisfied, engaged, committed, diligent, loyal, or motivated. It is an even exchange for outcomes or activities provided. You don't have a relationship with Walmart because of their prices, and your car dealership isn't loyal to you because you paid for the car. No commercial relationship is created via a fair exchange of money for goods or services. Relationships are built via caring People interactions. This is another artifact of promoting someone who is good at the task (transaction) but is not good with building relationships with peers or teammembers. Stop expecting employees to be happy or motivated simply because you do your side of the transaction. If you want loyalty, commitment, engagement, etc. It's about ALL the other ways you engage with them FIRST. Want them to care about the company, care about them first with trust, compassion, advocacy, encouragement, listening, belief, and support... Especially when it's easy not to. You'll never have more than a transactional relationship if you keep thinking "they get a paycheck, that's their motivation" ... And I could be wrong. #leadership #compassion #engagement #trust #transaction #zerosum #gofirst

One of my favorite traditions is sending "thanks" personalized. When someone does something special, I let them know their effort didn't go unnoticed. For birthdays, I really think about what I write in the card messages. I don't just say "Happy Birthday" like everyone else. I use it as a chance to share something meaningful: → Words of thanks or advice they can remember. You never know when your paths might change, so make the most of each connection. In a remote business, these personal touches are very important. We don't have the casual break at the “water cooler” to build friendships. But a compliment can boost morale and motivation. One of my favorite times each week is sitting down to write these messages. I think about each person's contributions, I find the right way to honor their special impact. Because at the end of the day, we can't make anyone go the extra mile - their effort is a personal choice. Sometimes I celebrate wins more playfully too. No matter how they're recognized — it's important to celebrate wins. Professional and personal. They deserve to be appreciated. It's amazing what a little celebration can do to keep people motivated for the long term. So don't skip over those wins, no matter how small! Taking a moment to enjoy them keeps everyone motivated and ready for the next big thing.

A beautiful post from Misha Rubin. Which parts of yourself do you need to embrace? Follow Misha for his thoughts on making intentional changes at work and in life. Or better yet: get in touch with him and find out how you can make those changes.

Today, someone asked me about work and asked if the job change made me happy. I looked the asker in the face and blankly said, “honestly, I don’t know.” You see, early in my career at Walmart, I was a single mom with full financial responsibility for my two amazing daughters. I was determined to find a way to give my ladybugs the freedom to take advantage of any of the amazing opportunities our community offers to kiddos. But that meant I needed to learn how to advance and excel at work so I could make more money. I quickly learned the behaviors Walmart appreciated in its Associates and began mastering each (as if my life depended on it) which led to 5 promotions in 6 years. I was proud of what I was able to do in my career and for my kiddos. What I didn’t realize is that my approach and my hustle had led to Assimilation. “Assimilation is the process through which individuals or groups adopt the cultural norms, values, and behaviors of another group, often leading to the gradual loss of their original cultural identity.” The realization about knocked me over when I finally realized that my identity (safety, friendship, love, belonging, esteem, and potential) were all tied up in Walmart. The sad and scary truth was, I had no idea who I was without Fortune One. So, I held my breath, closed my eyes and courageously quit my job and found a new one the same day. I spend a lot of time uncomfortable now, because I’m figuring out who I am as “Mariah Freaking Newman” and I don’t have Walmart or Walmart expectations to hide behind. But a wise man once told me that growth doesn’t happen in the comfort zone:). #CareerChange #PersonalGrowth #SingleMom #WorkingMom #CareerAdvice #LifeLessons #SelfDiscovery #SuccessStory #CorporateLife #WorkLifeBalance #Inspiration #Motivation #WomenInBusiness #Empowerment #Resilience #GrowthMindset #OvercomingChallenges #BreakingBarriers #FindingYourself

One benefit of clarifying your core process (which is basically how you do things) is that you can include important but easily overlooked things that contribute to your success and well being. The item that is coming up the most is celebrating or honoring ourselves. We know this is crucial but it’s easy to forget. The 5th step of my process is growth and to be growth includes evaluation, celebration, revision. That way, whenever talk about my goals, process or efforts I remember to celebrate myself and others. We don’t need parades for making a phone call but if you do something important you it’s worthy of some celebration.

Have you checked out the Starbuck & Associates website lately? 🌐 We've been working hard behind the scenes to give it a fresh new look and make it even easier for you to find the information you need. 💻✨ And I'm really excited about the changes we've made. So take a look! 👀 Please let me know what you think in the comments below! 🙏 Any constructive criticism is always welcome. 🤗 #WebsiteRefresh #Exciting #StarbuckAndAssociates

To celebrate PRIDE month we’ve got an offer 🏳️🌈 ‼️Send me a message with the word “PRIDE” if you meet these points ‼️ 1. You are motivated to get in the best shape of you’ve ever been this summer and are between 25-60 2. You are willing to put in the work for the results and keep communication open at all times 3. You are willing to put in to action what we give you to GUARANTEE that you feel amazing this year 4. We’re not looking for perfect but we are looking for you give 100% effort 5. You can train at least 2-3 times per week And you want to not only rock an incredible physique this summer but improve your performance at work ‼️This is not a free programme‼️ Working with us we will specifically guide you through our 4 phased system to ensure that you leave with the tools you need to manage your results forever: Phase 1: Priming Phase ✅ Phase 2: Performance Phase ✅ Phase 3: Precision Phase ✅ Phase 4: Progression Phase ✅ These are the exact phases which have got our clients in the shape they are today and if you execute all 4 you will not only build a physique you’re proud of But you will leave with the tools you need to keep your results forever This programme is for those that are SERIOUS about improving their physique and performance so don’t message if you: ❌ Don’t want to give it 100% ❌ Don’t want to be part of a community ❌ Don’t want to keep communication open ❌ Think that you will only need to eat chicken and Rice ❌ Think that this is a QUICK FIX Achieving the physique of your dreams is possible if you action what we give you and keep us in the loop when things go wrong And if you’re wondering how I know how to work with guys in the corporate industry I’ve been there and most of my guys are as well Send me a private message with the word “PRIDE” if you want to get in the shape of your life over the next 12 months 💪

🏳️🌈 Happy Pride Month 🏳️🌈 To me, pride month is a time of celebration, gratitude and reflection. It’s a time to celebrate who we are as unique individuals, all bringing valuable perspectives, experiences, goals, and personalities to the table. And when we celebrate our differences while also acknowledging that we have a lot more in common than we do different, it makes us all better as humans. Be proud of who you are and don’t let anyone dim your flame 🔥 It’s a time of gratitude to the many people that have supported me in my own journey. I’m also thankful to have the opportunity work for Walmart and other incredible prior companies where I have felt free to bring my whole self to work each day. It allows me to contribute at my best and fully focus on delivering my work rather than trying to worry about or control what other people’s opinions about me might be. And finally, it’s a time of reflecting on the fact that although we have made so much progress, we still have so much more work to do. I recognize that there were so many trailblazers that came before me and didn’t have it as easy as I have (although it definitely has not been easy ☺️) and I’m forever appreciative of that. It’s a time for me to reflect on and correct my own unconscious biases and try to understand how I can lean in even further to inclusion and belonging both personally and professionally. 🍾 Have fun this month ❤️ Show kindness ✔️ Try one belonging/inclusion action that might push you outside of your comfort zone 🌈 Be proud - you are unique, valued and loved

When you love who you work with… Every day feels more fulfilling Every task seems more manageable And every goal appears more achievable. It’s not just about having fun, it’s about celebrating together. Celebrations bind us, reminding us that our efforts have meaning beyond the bottom line. They reinforce our connections and energize us to push forward, together. So, take a moment to look around at your team. These are the people who battle alongside you in the trenches, who share in your struggles, and who cheer on your victories. And remember, celebrating doesn’t require a fancy gala or big party. Small acknowledgments can have a big impact. A spontaneous lunch, a team shout-out in a meeting, or a simple thank-you note can uplift spirits and strengthen bonds. Do what works for you, but most importantly, remember: Celebrate every win, big or small.