The Power of Lifting: Impacting Every Room You Walk Into

Lifting the room revolves around 5 straightforward principles designed to serve as the foundation for elevating leadership, teamwork, and organizational culture, one room at a time. The Five L's are:?

1. Listen Tenaciously
2. Lead Purposefully
3. Learn Continuously
4. Lift Thoughtfully
5. Link Intentionally

As a leader with a 20+ year career managing teams in all types of situations, it matters so much to me to be a LIFTer and encourage others to do the same because I recognize I myself am a product of people who did the same for me — people who moved me, inspired me, and motivated me in some way through their attitudes, behavior, or experiences.?

The collective impact they’ve had on me is the same ripple effect that lives within all of us: the power to go into our respective spaces and impact others for good, just as we ourselves were inspired before. This is the essence of #LiftingtheRoom.?

In this newsletter, I’ll share my personal journey and how the concept of lifting the room has transformed my life and career and has helped me keep adding value to others at the center of my work and life. I’ll also provide actionable tips and strategies for how you can start lifting the room in your own life and work.

Reflection Questions:

• What does lifting the room mean to you?
• Can you think of a time when someone lifted the room around you? How did it make you feel? What value did it add to your life?
• What are some ways you can start intentionally lifting the room in your daily life and work?

Are you ready to start #LiftingtheRoom??

Your impact begins the moment you enter a room — Your presence, your energy, the way you carry yourself. These things all have an intangible effect, before you can even say a single word. Here are four ways to ensure you’re putting your best self forward in every space:?

• Be Mindful of Your Energy: Before entering a space, take a moment to check in with yourself. Notice your mood and energy levels. If you're feeling stressed or tense, take a few deep breaths to center yourself. Your energy is contagious, so do your best to make it something worth catching!

• Create a Welcoming Atmosphere: Foster inclusivity and warmth, and connection in your interactions. A smile goes a long way, and so does the ability to know when to step up or step back in conversations. Create space for others to share their viewpoints, and be conscious of when someone might appreciate being included into a conversation with a thoughtful question or invitation.?

• Practice Active Listening: Listen to others without interrupting. Remember that your body language conveys listening too — Keep an open and welcoming posture, make eye contact, and offer genuine smiles. If you hear something you don’t agree with, don’t shut down – instead, ask questions to understand more. Approach others with curiosity over judgment.?

• Be Yourself: Above all, be you! Each of us brings something special and valuable to every interaction and environment. When you show up as your true self, you build trust and credibility with others, and empower others to do the same. Embrace your uniqueness and bring your authentic self to the table—it's what makes you invaluable.

Your presence is a powerful gift. Take these tools with you and enter every room with intention, knowing you have something innately valuable to offer. You never know what a specific room needs from you. #LiftTheRoom. As we progress through this week, I invite you to join me in the #LIFTers community as we transform teams, organizations, and lives, one room at a time.

About Naphtali Bryant

Naphtali Bryant is an expert in learning and leadership who transforms organizational culture and performance through innovative and strategic talent development solutions. As an Executive Coach and Leadership Development consultant with RAC Leadership, he brings over two decades of experience across technology, non-profit, entertainment, military, and transportation sectors. Naphtali has held leadership roles at Warner Bros., Service Titan, Netflix, ZoomInfo, and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. With over 200,000 views worldwide of his online learning courses, Naphtali is known for his dynamic and engaging speaking style and insightful presentations on leadership, team effectiveness, and organizational culture. His visionary and supportive coaching, grounded in radical simplicity and practicality, focuses on helping clients gain deep insights and develop impactful behaviors, integrating practical strategies and real-world application to foster sustainable success and measurable impact.