Gratitude

Chester Elton made my day. Not just because he’s a big Orange fan and a fascinating thinker. He’s also a genuinely gifted listener and a reassuring soul. You’ll be thankful – no pun intended – for his take on gratitude. I certainly am.

Chester’s most recent book (his 14th) is entitled Anxiety at Work: 8 Strategies to Help Teams Build Resilience, Handle Uncertainty, and Get Stuff Done. He was good enough to join me for a podcast conversation to talk about leadership and mental health. Along the way, we touched on what it takes to overcome anxiety – both our own anxiety and that of colleagues; on tennis phenomenon Naomi Osaka, fondue and what propels perfectionists.

Ever heard of the “duck syndrome”? They seem to glide across the water so effortlessly but below the surface they’re actually paddling like mad. “Everyone’s anxious,” he says. “And it’s OK.” There are ways to tamp this down. Be where your feet are, get to know each other’s story. If you manage others, lead with gratitude, vision and purpose. Gratitude first. In the words of that football player: “Great leaders don’t think less of themselves. They think of themselves less.”

One particularly valuable take-away from our meandering dialogue was this: Don’t mask your mental health. No one should feel alone. So if you’re in a position to do so, normalize this conversation. Destigmatize! It should be emotionally safe to talk about mental health. Empathize. Adaptability in this context is more important than strength. We’re here to make work and each other’s’ lives more enjoyable.

Intrigued? Just press play.

More information about Chester:
www.chesterelton.com
www.thecultureworks.com

More about Fief and het Leadership Programs:
www.fiefmacrander.com
[email protected]