What Kind of “Footprint” are You Making at Work?
This tweet by Deepak Chopra says it well. We all have an energetic signature that we share every time we come in contact with someone.
The question is…are you consciously choosing your own signature?
Your energetic signature is evidenced by the metaphorical “footprint” you leave behind after each interaction. Here are two footprints that I often see to help you ponder your own energy signature.
Prison Yard Footprint™
This footprint is left by Chain Gang Members everywhere. The Chain Gang Member has sentenced him or herself to Professional Prison. He or she chooses to be unhappy most of the time, regardless of what is happening externally. These folks are just plain yucky to be around!
I often ask my audiences what a Prison Yard Footprint looks like at work. Here are the most common responses:
- Complaining
- Negativity
- Focus on problems – not solutions
- Victim mentality
- Gossiping
Now that’s a depressing list of behaviors…do you agree? These Chain Gang Members need to clean up their Prison Yard Footprint!
Paradise Footprint
This footprint is left by the Chief Paradise Officers (CPOs). A CPO is someone who regularly connects with things at work that make him or her feel satisfied, energized & productive. These CPOs aren’t immune to a little complaining or an occasional bad day. They do, however, work to control their response to the challenges they encounter.
Here’s what the Paradise Footprint looks like:
- Smiling
- Support for team members
- Genuine appreciation for others
- Gratitude
- And as Deepak says in his tweet…”positive feelings”
As much as you might think that these footprints are caused by what’s happening at work, that’s just not true. If you pay attention, you’ll notice that two people can have two very different responses to the same external event (think technology upgrade). One person chooses a Paradise Footprint while another leaves their muddy, Prison Yard Footprint all over.
At work, are you choosing a Paradise Footprint or a Prison Yard one or are you just stumbling along without any thought at all?
Don’t clean up your Prison Yard Footprint for your boss, your coworkers or customers. They will all appreciate it, but the most important benefit will be the one you see for yourself. You will feel more satisfied, energized & productive. Your stress will go down and you’ll feel better. The great news is that you don’t need any special skills. You just need awareness, willingness and a little effort. To get a head start, visit www.ProfessionalParadise.com to download free tools.
See you in Professional Paradise!
Vicki Hess
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