A Pre-Summation - WTH is that?

I was clearing out my old, very old emails, and came across one I had sent to all the speakers at The Conference Board of Canada 's 2018 Better Workplace Conference.

I had designed the event and recruited in ALL the speakers. I was due to emcee and lead a #legoersiousplay session at the event but CBoC thought I was getting too high a profile....I had been looking forward to the event and anticipated delivering one of my signature spoken word summations....

So I wrote and sent this poem to wish all the speakers well - it contains some interesting perspectives on #leadership, #culture #mindfulness, #mentalhealth, #wellbeing, #gratitude and other things

"I wish I could be in Vancouver, meeting? you all face to face

To learn together about? the better workplace.

And remember a conference is more than an event.

It’s not about earning the extra dollar or cent.

What people will learn has the power to change their lives,

Learn new ways to help them thrive.

Or even lead to complete transformation.

And I’m not talking about a new workstation,

More a revelation or a new path to salvation.

Some might change their whole attitude

After hearing the session on love and gratitude.

Others will learn how to think like a designer.

In my opinion there's nothing finer.

Some may learn to deal with a toxic culture,

Is that your boss or is it a vulture?

And let’s not forget addressing isolation

It’s a scourge across the nation.

Because amidst our technology fixation,

Real human contact's become an aberration.

Human plus smartphone is the new mutation,

Turning it off a form of deprivation.

Leaders will learn to lead with compassion.

That’s a requirement not a fleeting fashion.

They’ll be able to build resiliency in those they serve,

And then the label “leader” they’ll truly deserve.

Because if your leaders suck people will leave,

While great leaders help people achieve.

And always at all costs avoid gaslighting

Have you seen the movie? It’s truly frightening.

And leaders need to reach out when people are impaired,

Distress is halved when distress is shared.

So make sure people know

When they need help where they can go.

Train your managers so they know how to hold out their hand

To stop people falling, helping them sit, walk and stand!

Others might learn mindfulness as a new skill,

Their daily practice keep them from getting ill.

They’ll find new ways to make their work mentally healthy

Which is way more important than becoming wealthy.

Twitchy,? you'll show them how to have more fun

And be more accepting of themselves and everyone.

And Ryan will help them connect with their “why”.

They’ll become a new person, wave the old one goodbye.

Because work isn’t just about making money,

Believing that makes life rather unfunny.

It’s adding purpose to profit that makes work whole,

It’s not about the cash it’s about your soul.

So make finding your purpose your primary goal,

Otherwise work will take a terrible toll

So while each of you will have so much to say,

Take some time for you during the day.

Perhaps take a mindful pause or two.

And,? while you are taking that pause

Take the opportunity to reflect on your cause.

Find your higher purpose - the one from above.

Perhaps it's to create work founded on love,

Because love is something of which more we all need.

It’s a much better foundation for work than simple greed.

Or to help those who struggle with mental health,

Remember it’s not about accumulation but sharing the wealth

I know public speaking can cause a panic attack,

So make sure you give yourselves and each other a pat on the back

For a job well done by everyone,

That helps so many others when all’s said and done

So I hope this little poem has given you cause to smile,

And maybe even reflect for a while.

But think of it most as me expressing appreciation

For the quality and power of your oration!"

I am posting this again to once again thank Stuart Ellis-Myers OCD, ADD , Rachel Hofstetter , Christine Pietschmann , Sandra Koppert , Meg Holden , Matt Corker , Sapna Mahajan MPH, PMP, CHE , Natania Mathany , Brieann Spencer (she/her/hers), CPHR, CPCC , Jonathan Tafler , Dr. Chantal Thorn , Ryan McCarty, LSCC , Mary Ann Baynton , Lorie Corcuera , David Ogle, MSc, PCC , Holly Burton , Eric Termuende and Lauren Waldman, Learning Pirate