personal

I love being reminded of my smallness in the world. Knowing that all beings are one and connected on this shared Earth—nature does this for me. She reminds me that this moment, right now, is ours and the next one may not be.

Tracy and I pushed the edges of our comfort zones a few weeks ago, when we took our Drop Below the Surface Retreat curriculum and gently layered it onto the energy of the Rippin’ Chix backcountry ski touring camp in British Columbia.

Here is what will stay with me:

• I can do hard things!
• Feeling vulnerable is scary at first; then, I pause to see my courage and resilience.
• Pushing myself past my fears is necessary to see my truths, and surrounding myself with the women who were by my side made the experience so fulfilling.
• Being a beginner is hard and is good for me! Having a beginner’s mindset invites wonder and opens me up to new ways of seeing and being in the world. 
• When I am skiing in the trees, look for the spaces in between.
• Time stands still when I completely let go… when I stop resisting, close my eyes, and trust!

Here is what I noticed in my mind, body, and spirit on those mountains:

I know that I am in a space that is not entirely mine. I can visit, take in the beauty, traverse miles on a serpentine path up mountains, be in every moment, allow gravity to guide me in snow that is knee-high and untouched by any other being, make my own trail, allow gravity to pull me fast, control the speed if I want, experience the fear, and giggle after tumbling with head over skis and landing in the softest bubble of a down comforter. The wind reminds me that I’m new, a beginner, temporary and vincible. The commanding cliffs holding onto cornices of overhanging snow remind me that I’m not in charge and that I am taking risks, the trees that hug me early on the climb let go, knowing I will be back, the space between them is a blank canvas to carve my journey, my way, my path. The sun is close and we can almost touch it once we summit after climbing 10 miles and 2,200 feet up our mountain. The sound of the snow swishing by my boots and legs makes a consistent hum on the way down. I feel scared, impermanent, lucky, tired, awestruck, like a beginner, anticipatory, cautious, daring, brave, and strong. My pack carries essentials, tangibles such as life saving protective gear. My soul and spirit carry hope, love, and wonder. I. AM. HERE. NOW. I have lost track of time and it doesn’t matter.

I wonder about those I love, where all of this snow goes, what happens if…

I KNOW I’m in the midst of growth, in ways invisible to the eye. The women alongside me are at once quiet, then not, as we share this challenge, the badassness of being here, having said “yes” to something that is hard and scares us. I want my daughters to experience this; it reminds me of how proud they were when they crossed their first finish lines at Girls on the Run. I feel fortunate to be in this moment now, doing this. Doing hard things invites us to spaces where creativity and potential live. I want to write about this and process the power. I’m curious how I can find the words that do justice to this experience, and I know the words won’t fully describe because that’s the thing about it… it’s indescribable. I’ve done my best to put words to what will stay with me… 

Huddle Up and Effervesce!

Would you like to:

• Bring your organization’s mission to life?
• Serve your internal and external clients with greater care and compassion?
• Increase team member engagement?
• Help individuals know their value?
• Hold team members accountable?
• Create a sense of belonging and focus for your team, clients and culture?

I will help you create a culture of team synergy, joy, belongingness and outcomes with Huddles as part of your success!

There is a name for what occurs in the very best huddles…..collective effervescence!  It is a contagious euphoria coined a century ago by the French sociologist Émile Durkheim. “It’s that glowy, giddy feeling where your sense of self slackens, yielding to a connection with your fellow, synchronized humans.”

At my niece’s softball game I watched her team huddle around the pitcher’s mound at the beginning of each inning.  While that really is not an odd practice, what I observed was notable:  a tight knit group of heads bowed into the center, deep listening, taking turns speaking, direct eye contact,  leaning in, nodding, sometimes laughing, and smiles as they put all hands in the center, raised them to the sky and chanted a cheer.  After the huddle they all reported to their positions on the field. I could tell by their foot cadence and could see that they showed up looser and more relaxed, clearly impacted by the huddle.

That got me thinking about how the huddle and resulting collective effervescence has shown up throughout my life and how important it has been in creating a synergy that directly impacts outcomes…..I have been thinking about what ingredients have been baked into the most powerful and inspiring huddles I have experienced and led.

Last month we celebrated my dad’s life and as the family all gathered in the kitchen of the church before the service to walk in together, the minister huddled us up to pray.  After that we all put our hands in the middle and decided to shout “Scranton”, our last name, on the count of 3 before heading to the front of the church……what ensued over the next 12 hours was true collective effervescence alongside hundreds of those we love as we huddled in many forms! 

As an Human Resources Director at the Ritz-Carlton I learned the value of the Three Steps of Service.  Without giving away any trade secrets, every  interaction has three parts:  a beginning, a middle and an end.  Every gathering with more than one person has these three components.  In fact, I will go on record by saying the huddle is foundation to the indisputable success of the award winning hotel company.  Every department starts each shift,  all 365 days a year, with a huddle.  The mission is brought to life in these huddles through stories, and department specific discussion points relevant to the strategy and service standards of The Ritz-Carlton.  There was a beginning, middle and end and everyone had the chance to contribute and belong to something special. 

The huddle should be quick.  It is the content and agenda, along with the space of authentic sharing provided by the leaders that is the magic sauce!  It is how one feels in the huddle  and the behaviors that follow that matter. 

Where else have huddles shown up in my life?

• Playing high school and college basketball brought the huddle into each practice and game—Ingredients:  strategy, inspiration, team work, outcome focus
• Twice a year at the Girls on the Run 5K’s, with the staff and sponsors before we address the crowd and with the VIP’s who are handing out medals to the girls as they cross the finish line—Ingredients:  inspiration, mission, alignment of purpose
• GOTR lessons begin with the girls in a circle shoulder to shoulder—Ingredients:  eye contact, energy, acceptance and connection
• At our wedding, we huddled with the wedding party before being introduced to the crowd—Ingredients:  sharing gratitude, love and laughter
• At the beginning of each Drop Below the Surface retreat we huddle up—Ingredients:  energy exchange, common purpose, authenticity and sharing

My favorite part of the huddle is that it serves as the inspiration for individual contributions to emerge to create powerful and unexpected outcomes, otherwise not discovered until that moment.  The huddle is that space where deep connection and contribution is born.  Huddle up and Effervesce with me!