What we've learned from Social Investors this month (Stress, Openness, Allyship)

Did you know that April is Stress Awareness Month?

No one is immune to stress. You, your next-door neighbour, your peers in Social Finance...

A tiny bit of it can boost your responses and motivation, as long as you can perform productively and fruitfully and you can contribute to your community and your wider purpose.

But...

Ongoing stress can provoke anxiety attacks. Stress can also surface, among many circumstances, when you feel you no longer have autonomy or a voice to contribute.

Stress grows when microaggressions are not being addressed in the workplace.

So I have a few resources for you this month. I hope they contribute to your well-being, your work and your aspirations. Share them with your own Impact+ community!

Thinking Pharmacy

Did you know that, in a conversation, a person gets interrupted once every 8 minutes on average?

That’s more or less 7 times an hour, or alarmingly +/- 50-60 interruptions per day (unless you are staying on your own...)

When someone cuts you in your professional flow, makes you hold back on who you are, asks you to "dim it down"… devalues your input... and does it on a regular basis, independently of your seniority and your talent...

• Does it sound familiar?
• How do you feel?
• What do you do?

My #ConsciousInnovation clients are essentially people who move or influence capital for social change.

1. They learn that to refuel on inspiration, inner trust and drive, they can start calling to mind the people who truly benefit from their efforts. (nb: and yes... they can include themselves in the mix!
2. Then they take a few minutes to think about what they *really* want (not need) to accomplish.
3. Later, we look together at the assumptions that are stopping them from making a further step in that direction. (notice that we move away from blame... more on this later this month)

And we take it from there...

Have you tried it?

If you knew that someone, somewhere, is open to listening to your voice and your wisdom for change, and ready to activate your insights, what would be different for you?

Listen to our latest House of Trust podcast

Listen to social finance specialist generalist Roshana Arasaratnam share her take on trust, in the latest #HouseofTrust podcast episode.

“Trust is about that free and unmonitored openness to exchange on a one-to-one basis or between groups”

"If you're going to bring sectors together, particularly between private, public and not for profit, you need that empathy and openness to break down boundaries. And I think we're going to need that approach if we want to move capital for good."

Roshana tells us why and how we need to bring more people with a systems vision, and diverse portfolio, to complete the work of vertical experts. We need people who can easily feel and connect the dots.

"We should make people understand that moving between sectors is a strong argument that you can break down this barrier of fear and increase trust."

Listen to this insightful short podcast here:

Short on time? Click to read Roshana's key points

Next Event

As a woman of colour in social investment, Mathu Jeyaloganathan, Head of Investments at UnLtd, regularly finds her credibility questioned and her expertise ignored…

We know that surfacing stereotypes, breaking biases and amplifying allyship are still necessary to change places that influence or direct capital, as they lead efforts to reach diverse communities?and generate a positive social impact.

But what are we always forgetting to do? What are we still missing?

In which way are we always cutting ourselves short?

Join Mathu and me in this virtual House of Trust event, on April 25th.

Mathu will launch the theme, then the group will dive in for one hour of interaction.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Surface blocks and beliefs that are getting in the way
• Use replicable steps to generate great independent thinking in your organisation
• Design practical approaches to activate genuine allyship in your own organisation

... In a safe, equal, and respectful environment, free of judgment and interruption.

Date: April 25th 1 pm UK BST | 8 am New York |?3 pm Beirut.

Where: Online

Register in advance to attend

Cost: Free to join

Pre-read

* Mathu’s article in Pioneers post.

* Interrupting Bias - Calling out vs Calling in Racism

Jobs & Opportunities to Ignite Your Social Impact

Happy People

A recent person I coached said:

“I wanted an idea of my personal direction but had difficulty generating my own new ideas for my future. Through the thinking sessions with Servane, I was surprised I already had the tools to work out my direction. What made a difference is to have the opportunity to speak and really be listened to, and have my thoughts accepted so I could get clarity"?

~A.G. Chief Financial Officer

I provide deep awareness-based discovery experiences for people who love to invest in social change.

People who want to:

• Make sense of the current mess and overwhelming expectations of impact
• Deliver significant change and action bringing along relevant stakeholders
• Grow meaning and influence (in their life, at work or in their ecosystem)
• Have the space to think and be heard…

I still have 3 Conscious Innovation coaching slots available for an April start.

Book a short, relaxed, “Right Fit” discovery call with me. I’ll listen to you and?take you where you’re at. I will explain how I work as a conscious innovation coach.

If there’s chemistry, we’ll take it from there.

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Servane

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