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Dear Friends and Clients,

When I was a young Washington lawyer, I thought a “connected” person was someone who knew a lot of powerful government officials. In time, however, I began to understand that another kind of connectedness is linked to many forms of success.

I noticed that if I'm feeling isolated I find it difficult to perform at my best. But if I can manage a life that is rich in many sorts of connections – with other people, with nature, even with my dogs – then I'm more creative and better able to achieve a sense of flow in my work.

These days, when I work with clients who are bored with their careers or feeling unfulfilled, I know to ask questions that shed light on the kinds of connections that shape their lives. In this issue, I'll talk about the process of forging connections, and the way it can impact your productivity.

Warmly, Bev

To Be Fully Engaged at Work,
Develop a Richly Connected Life

March 21, 2006 * Number 34

Human beings are social creatures, and we're likely to break down if we find ourselves living lives of isolation. But feelings of isolation, loneliness and unhappy detachment seem all too common among professional workers.

So much of the day's struggle must be faced without support, from our commute to work to long hours immersed in organizations that may be awash with relentless competitive pressures. We may be electronically tied to our offices around the clock, and yet little of our work time may involve real conversation or quiet reflection.

If you're feeling isolated, if you're feeling both overwhelmed by and disengaged from your job, recognize that it's a sign of the times. But there is now a tremendous body of evidence that suggests you can transform your work life by methodically forging connections throughout all the parts of your life.

By “connection” I mean a sense of unity with something bigger than your own ego. If you feel connected, you are aware of being part of something. If you're connected, you have an active sense of how you relate to other people, to the environment, and even to your own body.

When you're connected, your energy flows well, you feel centered, and you are able to be productive. It doesn't seem to matter what sort of connections you build. What counts is that you are linked to people, places and values outside your self. Moreover, you have begun to consciously manage the ways in which you relate the broader world. Here are some areas in which you may wish to forge more connections:

Get in touch with your own body. You can't do your best at your desk unless you achieve a degree of balance in the rest of your life. In their classic book, “The Power of Full Engagement”, Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz describe how a physical workout program can help you to bring new energy to your life at the office. Based on extensive work with executives and athletes, they explain why regular periods of athletic activity can help you to achieve a higher level of professional performance, no matter what you do for a living.

Connect with other people. Finding new friends, or spending time with people you already love, can boost your energy and enhance your sense of connection. And yet it may be a challenge to develop a circle of friends in the midst of career and other pressures that never seem to stop. Your first step may be to commit to managing your social outreach in the same methodical way that you already structure other obligations in your life. For example, make a list of people with whom you'd like to spend some time, and start scheduling contacts. Get in the habit of each week making a few phone calls, sending several notes, and setting up a social event. Make a special effort to reach people who are ill or otherwise could use your support.

Join a community. The fact that you are human means that you have the potential to draw strength, inspiration and comfort from being part of a community. Even if you're not yet close with the other members, you may find new energy if you feel part of a worthwhile club. In our complex society it may be hard to get to know the neighbors, but other types of communities abound. Explore volunteer groups, clubs built around common interests, and even classes. And know that to really become part of a community you sometime must commit to do some of the work.

Seek unity with nature. Some people feel most at peace in their gardens, and others feel at home just about anywhere if they can take their dogs. For many people, becoming attuned in some way to the natural world is a critical step in crafting a life that is balanced and full of energy. Many leadership development programs include some form of outdoor activity. You may find that regular hiking, biking or even sitting on a beach will bring you a sense of renewal.

Defining purpose can lead to spiritual unity. A strong religious practice can be a great source of strength. But even if you're not religious, your work may have greater meaning if your goals are clear and are tied to a value system. Writing in a journal is one good way to clarify your goals, your values and the directions your life may take.

Want to Read More About
Becoming Connected?

Below is a brief book review, as well as links that will allow you to buy the book directly from Amazon.com. For reviews of other helpful books, along with Amazon links, go to: ClearWays Books and Services. If you buy a book this way it will contribute to the cost of distributing Bev’s Tips, and be much appreciated.

Holding the Center – Sanctuary in the Time of Confusion, by Richard Strozzi Heckler, Ph.D., Frog, Ltd., 1997

Heckler is a psychotherapist, a small-time rancher and an Aikido master with a deep knowledge of Eastern philosophy. He draws on all these parts of his life in this lovely little book exploring ways in which we are connected to places, to communities and to our own bodies.

We are connected to others and the world, he writes, through a vast resonating field of energy. We have the potential to transcend the boundaries of self, and experience our membership in the universal community of space, wisdom and being.

Heckler offers some practical suggestions about how to achieve our transcendent moments and become grounded in our own lives. For example, he says, it is fundamental for all people to have a sense of place. And “place” is located in the natural world, in communities and in the body.

To live disconnected from and in opposition to our bodies, Heckler says, produces a profound sense of alienation. To live a connected life, we must engage in some form of physical practice. As we work with our body to lose weight, add muscle, improve our health or become more athletic, he says, we connect with our capacity for acting with choice, intention and discipline to attain goals. As we shape and mold our bodies, we feel more effective and see that we can affect the self that we are.

Click here to buy this book.

Want to hear more about workplace issues? Bev offers one-on-one executive coaching, and is available to speak about a broad range of issues related to your work life. To learn more, visit her website at www.ClearWaysConsulting.com or email to Bev directly. Bev is associated with Executive Coaching & Consulting Associates.

Bev’s Tips for a Better Work Life is published on the first and third Tuesday of each month by Beverly E. Jones of ClearWays Consulting, LLC. Bev is a lawyer and former executive who now coaches accomplished CEO's, public afffairs executives, and other professionals to bring new direction, energy and enjoyment to their work lives.

All rights in all media reserved. However, the content of Bev’s Tips for a Better Work Life may be forwarded in full without special permission on the condition that (1) it is for non-profit use and (2) full attribution and copyright notice are given. For other uses please contact Bev Jones.

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