Jazz Hands

When is the last time you felt truly inspired at work?? Not just that fleeting smile or moment of brief satisfaction when something falls your way – but that “something else” that reaches the innermost parts of who you are.?

This past week I had the privilege of spending two days with our wonderfully talented US Human Resources Team here at Puratos USA.? Like any other year – it was our opportunity to reflect on and celebrate our hard work and accomplishments from the prior year, discuss and align on our key priorities for the year ahead, and identify and address those common barriers and trip wires that always seem to raise the risk of derailment along the way.

And while we certainly checked all of those boxes as we set sail for what looks to be an adventurous 2024 – I came away with such a renewed sense of optimism that I felt I had no choice but to capture that “something else” in words… because it was inspiring.?

Anymore, it just seems that being satisfied and engaged at work is simply not enough.? We all seem to be looking for something deeper at work, something more sustainable – and this past week I was reminded of the value in finding it.? It was grounding.? It was humbling. And above all it was meaningful and fulfilling...? The perfect intersection of doing something worthwhile for your organization, while coming away with a real sense of purpose and impact.? But what made this kickoff so different from the others?

Telling Your Story

I’ve always admired people who are good storytellers.? I don’t know how much is learned, or innate when it comes to the art of storytelling – but I know I don’t have it!? That said, I am not so convinced that the true impact of storytelling is a function of how the story is told – but THAT it is told.?

We have all heard the maxim “Context is King” – it can seem trite and pithy – but now more than ever I am convinced it is becoming a competitive advantage for organizations today to connect their people with purpose.? Those who dutifully come into work each day operating within the confines of their job description often miss the relevance of how their work moves the “organizational needle” – and therefore miss the sense of fulfillment that comes with knowing what difference they are making.?

To strengthen this connection throughout our team, we simply asked each team member to tell their “story of 2023” using a simple filter:?

1) What did you set out to accomplish

2) Why did it matter?, and

3) Did you achieve it??

Following each presentation, we not only recognized and honored all that was accomplished – but we evaluated our ability to bring the story to life and connect with “the why”. ?But do we always understand “the why”?

Our Vivid Vision

“What's Your Why”?? Since Simon Sinek first posed the question, its really elevated our collective concentration on bridging the gap between the mundane and the fulfilling when it comes to where and how we devote our time and energy.? I have found this personally rewarding when answering the question whether I am truly doing something purposeful and redeeming in my career.?

Here at Puratos USA, we recently cast a 3-year vision to inspire a stronger connection between the work we perform on a daily basis, and achieving a clearly-stated description of an ambitious future state.? A key pillar of this vision is for Puratos to truly become a “destination workplace” – and every member of our HR team will play no small role in bring that vision to reality.? Together we watched a video of the JFK “To The Moon” speech.? I highly recommend it to any leader or team who wonders if the task ahead is too great (or if we will ever find such inspiring messages coming from our leaders in government again!) ??.

Social Connection

In the recent move to virtual and hybrid work, organizations seem to be at a total loss in terms of truly evaluating whether being together physically adds any distinctive benefit in terms of productivity, innovation and culture-building.?

I’ve read the studies and seen various organizations bend in both directions. ?In my view there is benefit to trusting employees to make informed choices about when and how they get their work done – flexibility breeds commitment when its grounded in trust and self-accountability.?

But one thing I am absolutely convinced of coming out of our kickoff meeting – something unique and special happens when people are physically together.? Something you simply don’t get behind the technological divide.? ?Relationships are deepened, authentic dialogue and discussion finds relevance and substance, and humor brings a congealing element to a team when people laugh with and at one another! ?I’m convinced now more than ever that the HR function has a unique role to play in repurposing the workplace to be a channel of inspiration and wellbeing.

Making Gratitude an Attitude

Doing kickoff meetings in January is always good in that they always coincide with my New Year’s Resolutions (yes I still try!).? For 2024, I’ve determined to follow the science in making gratitude a standing practice in my daily routines.? Below are just a few shout-outs to those who have served as inspiration to me and my team, and to countless others…

@davidgreen for his insightful article that served as a useful reference for our 2024 HR priorities, and a point of validation that “we are not alone”!? I highly recommend this to other HR leaders who may not always have the time for benchmarking visits or hitting the HR conference circuit!

@Steven Covey and @DavidKasperson for leading the way with your Trust and Inspire platform and helping us equip our leaders to be fit for the future.? Incorporating fundamental believes such as “Leadership is Stewardship” and “People Have Greatness Inside Them” is transforming the way we inspire one another and unleash talent!.

@ariannahuffington and the team at @Thriveglobal for your thought leadership on Wellbeing in the Workplace and the reminder that through small daily shifts in our self-care routines that sustainable, healthy habits are achievable!? And to @andrewdeutscher at Regenerate for your partnership in our global #CallingForCaring and making Puratos an Energy-Inspired Organization. ?The work you are doing is changing the world for the better!

@andybrimacombe and @sophiestreydio for your vision, courage and commitment to ensuring Puratos remains a People-First organization! ?Your support to our US HR function and the work we are doing is deeply appreciated!

Jazz Hands

You may be wondering where the title of this post comes from…? each year our HR team takes a group photo when we get together.? We do the traditional photo and the “crazy photo” (or as crazy and a group of HR people can really get!) ??? I call our crazy photo “Jazz Hands”.? Its become my screen saver and background on my desktop.? Why?? These people inspire me – and even a quick glance at the photo reminds me of our Calling for Caring here at Puratos and the privilege of stewardship for their careers and employment experience.? They bring their hearts, minds and “Jazzy-hands” to work everyday with the goal of connecting People with Purpose and helping people experience the Puratos Magic first hand.? I love you guys!!!

@kathleencallahan @mikepenrose @mikesmith @miakensey @mandymiksit @kristanbillups @janesafloresshook @paolazambrano @evelinevanstreels @tracymccallay @anabellajofre @meganguarni @stevechristensen @tiffanyyang @michellesacchetti @cheyennerucker @zachgreer Marie Cooney

What about you? Share your own story of workplace inspiration in the comments below! What makes your work meaningful, and how do you connect with your organization's purpose? Let's build a community of inspiration and celebrate the moments that make our work truly fulfilling. #WorkInspired #TrustandInspire #Purpose #Jazzhands #puratos #puratosmagic #regenerate #thriveglobal

Onward and Upward!

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