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Is it really possible to create a way of working based on love not fear? Yes. It’s not only possible. It’s essential. Learn more from this collection of more than 100 posts to inspire and guide you.
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When You Are At the Edge…
Life has a way of continually bringing us to our edge. Sometimes it's our personal edge. Sometimes it's our professional edge. Most of us try to avoid spending too much time at the edge where we feel unsafe. But like I said, life consistently takes us back to that precipice of our fear.
And then what?
Need time? Aim for Good Enough
As a recovering perfectionist, it's hard for me to aim for “good enough." Afterall, I love excellence! I've been rewarded my entire life for excellence. I take great pleasure in something being done to a super high standard.
But that comes with the costs of time, energy, and resources. And sometimes it comes at the cost of being overwhelmed and not doing anything at all, paralyzed by perfection and not having enough time to get to that standard. Loving Leader, there's another way.
It’s Time!
We urgently need love not fear in workplaces and the world. It’s time to stop hesitating. No more waiting for permission or for someone else to go first. It’s time to be a Loving Leader.
An Exercise to Embrace Your Whole Selves at Work
“Bringing our whole selves to work” can be a hard concept to grasp. In this blog, you'll work through a 15-20 minute exercise based on the I.N.S.P.I.R.E model to learn more about the aspects of yourself that you are comfortable and not comfortable bringing to work.
Ten Ways to Create More Spaciousness in Your Life
Adding more space to our lives can really ramp up our productivity. But let’s be honest, the daily grind usually has us bouncing from one task to the next without a break. In this blog, we’re going to share ten easy ways you can pause, breathe, and take back your time and space.
Loving Leadership Lessons at the Wave Pool
Who would've thought my trips to the local Wave Pool would turn into more than just "grandma summer camp" fun? I've been there nine times in the last two weeks alone, and guess what? It’s got me thinking about loving leadership!
Simplify Work to Achieve More. Sounds Counterintuitive?
We live in a world that tells us ‘more is better’. But what if the truth is different? What if more creates chaos, overwhelm and stress while less creates meaningful work. In this blog, we not only build the case for simplifying and decluttering work but also share insights on how to go about it.
Birthing a New Idea: Metaphors of Pregnancy & Labor at Work
We often default to using sports and war metaphors at work without realizing that these analogies may not fully capture our work experiences. While such metaphors promote a competitive spirit, do they equally support the concept of collaboration? In this blog, Renee Smith invites you to consider more and diverse metaphors in the workplace.
Rest, Recovery, and Asking For Help
In our competitive economy and fear-forward culture, asking for help and taking rest may seem like the worst ideas in the world. But are they, really? Renee Smith reflects on a recent personal experience, reiterating the beauty of rest, recovery and asking for help in our places of work.
Waiting for the Beauty
Sometimes, when people hear me talk about love, they assume I mean some simple, feel-good way of being nice. Um, sorry no. The reality is that working with love at the center is not “nice” nor is it simple, and sometimes it doesn’t feel good.
A Solo Quest Or A Collective Effort? Debunking the Well-being Myth
"I should figure out my well-being on my own" versus "We depend on each other to create well-being." Which is the myth and which is the reality? In this blog, find out what self-care isn’t and what collaborative well-being is.
What If We Re-humanize?
My protective instincts have been activated! I’ve been saying this for a long time and I’m saying it today with renewed conviction: Our dehumanizing ways of working are harming people and we need to knock it off!
Confidence to Lead with Love
While the world tempered by industrial era thinking may have told you that such love is not a good idea, or not worth it, or too soft for the workplace, there’s research that shows quite the opposite and there are so many practical ways to lead with love.
A Place to Write
When I visited Dylan Thomas’ Writing Shed in 2023, I felt a pull so strong, it brought tears to my eyes. I knew I had to honor this feeling. So, a year later, I took myself right back to Laugharne, Wales, to begin writing my first book. Here’s a glimpse into that journey I’d like to share with you all.
How Can Leaders Create a Culture of Courage in the Workplace
For your team to speak up with courage, it might need a little extra support and push. What does that support look like? And how can you as a leader create that supportive environment? We’ve some practical steps described in this blog that should be of help!
Courage and The Mistaken Identity
Courage isn’t what we’ve come to believe it is over time - a trait that’s reserved for the select few. In reality, it is a quality that is accessible to one and all. And even if you don’t realize it, you are being courageous in more ways than one in your day-to-day life. Find out more in this blog.
Say Her Name.
This heartfelt blog delves into the profound significance of names, exploring how they shape identity, honor legacy, and empower future generations. Say her name, celebrate her story, and embrace the power of women's voices and contributions.
What’s Not Obvious About Love
Does your commitment to show up with love in the workplace mean you’ll never falter? This blog should help you let out a sigh of relief because we’re humans. There will be days when we step out of love and into fear. And that’s okay, shares Renee Smith. Read on to know more.
Thriving at Work: Beyond Wellness Programs
Renée explores the profound impact of addressing burnout and fostering a nurturing work environment. This thought-provoking blog, rooted in the latest research and personal experience, reveals the six key factors of thriving - from individual clarity to organizational simplicity. Renée invites us to reimagine our workplaces as spaces of courage, wholeness, and hope, where the well-being of each team member is not an afterthought but a fundamental goal.
A Personal Reflection: Lighting Candles, Leading Children, and Planning for Love
Renée takes us on a personal journey through the dark, candlelit days of winter; drawing vivid parallels between her experiences in Alaska's long nights and the comforting warmth of love. Renée challenges us to plan for love, offering practical exercises for creating a more compassionate, inclusive, and sustainable world. Her message is timely and resonant: In this season of turning towards more light, how will you center love in your life and work?
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