Happy Thursday!
Filling out my January planner and wall calendar, I noticed many, many holidays in the next two weeks. As I dug in and read more about each, I found myself intrigued reading more about each. For example:
January 17 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - A federal holiday in the United States honoring the achievements of Martin Luther King, Jr. - the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement to end racial segregation. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is close to January 15, King's birthday. Want to learn more? Consider taking time to reflect on his legacy on Monday, January 16. To learn more, check out the WF reflection here.
January 24 – International Day of Education - Without inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong opportunities for all, countries will not succeed in achieving gender equality and breaking the cycle of poverty that is leaving millions of children, youth, and adults behind. This holiday celebrates that education is a human right, a public good, and a public responsibility. Want to learn more? Check out International Day of Education | UNESCO and consider dedicating time to a local school or to STEM.
January 26 – Vasant Panchami – Vasant means “spring” and Panchami means “fifth”, which seems totally appropriate to describe the Hindu festival that falls on the fifth day of the Hindu lunar month of Magha that highlights the coming of spring and winter’s end. This time is considered to be a good time to start new ventures. Want to learn more? Wikipedia is a good place to go. To extend that thinking, contemplate what new ventures excite you that you might want to dive further into. I am going to take some dedicated time to dig into my learning plan this year with a focus on new growth and opportunities.
January 27 – International Holocaust Remembrance Day - commemorates the victims of the Holocaust, which resulted in the murder of one-third of the Jewish people, along with countless members of other minorities. The resolution came after a special session was held earlier that year on 24 January to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps and the end of the Holocaust. While in Israel, I had the opportunity to visit Yad Vashem – The World Holocaust Remembrance Center. Walking through the Children’s Memorial brought me to tears as I realized the senseless act of violence that occurred. Want to learn more? I encourage you to visit https://www.yadvashem.org/remembrance/intl-remembrance-day.html#.Y78FxCG_CIU.mailto as they include different ways to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Fostering Inclusiveness
Entrepreneur Magazine is reporting that there is a trait demonstrated by leaders and it is the trait that stands above the rest. Of all the leadership skills, can you guess what it is?
Validation. Probably surprised you with that one.
According to the article, when we feel unheard or unseen, or invalidated, our job satisfaction is not optimal. Validation is understanding and acknowledging someone’s circumstances and validating what they are going through. It is about truly listening and understanding where people are coming from, which is crucial for fostering inclusiveness in the workplace. I personally want the latter in my day-to-day, don’t you?
So, why if this skill is so important and can make a tremendous difference in morale and value, that is often overlooked?
Because we get so busy with the day-to-day that we sometimes forget the human element of slowing down and validating our peers, managers, family, and friends.
The study shows that when leaders and peers alike take the time to meet, have a one-on-one conversation, and understand what is going on with their lives and what motivates them at work team members happiness grows. And, we all want a workplace environment that we collectively enjoy.
It is also recognized that it is also a skill that just doesn’t “happen”. It requires intentional practice to be someone who consciously and actively validates others.
Intentional practice includes acknowledging someone’s experience. Acknowledging their presence, by being fully present when you are with them. It is showing them you care and they matter, by intentionally listening and hearing them out. All of these actions make a big difference which translates into feeling value at the workplace, building trust, and laying the foundation for relationships that last lifetimes.
Challenging myself this year to be even more intentional about validation. Curious how might you include this skill in your day-to-day, take some time this weekend or next week to think about it. Always open to a call as well to discuss this as I welcome hearing your ideas on validation.
Happy Thursday all,
-srt
