14.09.2022

The Power of a Smile | Lead | Take A Moment

Hello there! Welcome to my weekly LEAPS. 

You’re receiving this email because you subscribed to my weekly Wednesday feature or our mailing list. Every Wednesday, I share 5 things using our LEAPS approach: 

Learn: something new or an idea
Energy: something that’s creating an energy and positive impact
Action: something to do
Processing: a question to consider
Shout out: something or someone that I want to celebrate or acknowledge

Have you taken the GLAS Understanding Assessment
and received your free report?

LEARN
Something Worth Sharing

The Power Of A Smile

Like so many this past week, I have been reflecting on life and meaning following the sad passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. As I came to think about this weeks LEAPS, it is definitely with a heavier heart - as well as a hopeful one. As I contemplated what I have learned - having lived my whole life during the reign of our Queen - many things have stood out, but with the tributes and media coverage in dedication to her memory there is a stand out for me - the power and beauty of her smile.

I have lost count of how many people have shared stories of her car passing them and the warmth of her smile. So many appear to have been touched by this, while not necessarily having ever spoken with her. The Queen was able to smile in a way that was completely authentic and lit up the room - with a twinkle in her eye and softness to reassure and make others feel at ease. All of the pictures shared over the past few days in which she is smiling are just beautiful. What a gift and what a learning to leave as part of an incredible and historic legacy.

I also researched this a little more and found that smiling can:

• help you live longer and is an important part of healthy living

• reduce stress (even fake smiling decreases stress)

• elevate mood and activate pathways in the brain

• be spread to others - it’s contagious

• boost the immune system

• lower blood pressure (especially if accompanied by laughter)

• reduce pain - it’s a natural drug

• make you more attractive and appealing

• suggest success (use it in meetings!)

• help you stay positive as smiling restricts negative thinking

ENERGY
Focusing on an emotion or positive energy; a stand-out word / s

Lead

Again, following the theme of reflection and Her Majesty, there were many words that came to mind: reflection, stability, loyal, service and so on. The word that stuck with me was that of LEADER - and to LEAD. As a female, to have such an incredible role model in terms of selfless life-long leadership, while also being a mother and grandmother, is significant.

The word LEAD means "to guide" and is from Old English lædan "cause to go with oneself; march at the head of, go before as a guide, accompany and show the way; carry on; sprout forth, bring forth; pass (one's life)".

ACTION
Something small that you can do that might make a big difference

Take A Moment

The events from last week caused me and my family to take several moments - ranging from sitting in silence, listening to the gentle and emotional music played on radio stations or talking about what she meant to us. I urge you to take a moment or two this week: to stop, to pause, to think, to process, to question and to reset.

PROCESSING
A question to think about and consider (you can discuss this with someone or write your thoughts down)

“How are you doing?”

A personal question - how are you doing, how are you…really? It’s as simple as that. While it’s a question to ask of yourself, if you want to reach out to me and share your response, then I’d be more than happy to hear from you

SHOUT OUT
Who / what I think deserves recognition, my gratitude or to be celebrated.

Those in Public Service

A very straightforward ‘shout out’ today - for all those that are in service to the country and public, including:

• Courts

• Education

• Electricity

• Emergency services

• Environmental protection

• Healthcare

• Mail

• Military

  Thank you for your service.

BONUS GIFT FOR YOU
This week’s little extra for you - from me

This week, I’m gifting you several visuals I felt were fitting. The first is from International Womens Day and features a quote from Queen Elizabeth II. This is available free of charge.

The second is the GLAS Purpose poster. The Queen lead and reigned with the clear purpose of SERVICE. To access this download free of charge, use code QE2SERVICE (use the code before next Wednesday 21st September).

If you’d like to discuss having your ideas, business or culture captured visually - you can also let me know via email.

*** ORDER YOURS NOW ***

Order Your Deliberate Year Calendar & Logbook Set

LEAPS is a process used by our team and clients all the time - and even my own family on a daily basis. 

I’ll be sharing a set of LEAPS each week with you and encourage you to do your own version:

• L: what have you learned?

• E: what’s your energy / feeling word

• A: what’s one thing you need to do?

• P: what are you thinking / processing?

• S: who or what can you shout out?