Happiness is...

This morning I sat down to reach out to some old contacts. For the sake of clarity, they are not personally old... you get the idea.

It was a somewhat strange experience to re-ignite connections, you don't want to presume that someone remembers you and you don't want to "introduce yourself" and have them say "For crying out loud Robyn, we've worked together for ten years... why are you being weird?"

Having moved around in the Training and Development space (3/4 training companies) and having to respect the conditions of a restraint of trade does make reconnecting tricky. I am very fortunate in that I have some clients who have chosen to travel with me, and that I have been able to make new connections along the way. While compiling communications this morning I was so excited to write the sentence "This is the work where I am happiest and I believe I am able to offer the most skill and knowledge." when referring to facilitation, training, coaching and mediation. Followed on by " In joining ICS I am able to play to my strengths as well as support clients recruit the right people for their teams, guide in the development of training plans and connect clients to service providers that will be a match for their culture and their needs."

This reminded me once again how important it is know where we are strong, know where our strength is best offered and to know what to develop in ourselves to get even more out of our strengths.

I am currently doing my research and preparation for a workshop for a client and I was re-reading the work of Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton in what would later become Gallup StrengthsFinder. When first releasing their research and data (2001) Buckingham and Clifton reported that that had asked Gallup's database (1,7 million employees in 101 companies from 63 countries) "At work, do you have the opportunity to do what you do best everyday?" The answer- 20%. That's 340 000 people... it's nothing. (No, I haven't checked the latest data, I will do and I will get back to you...promise.)

I know things are rough, I know the economy is messy and I know life is hard. I am in no way encouraging you to give it all up to follow your dreams- please pay your bills. What I am saying is, let's find the spaces where you are happy and able to bring the most skill and knowledge, and find ways to extend those "glimmers".

See you next Monday.