When it comes to giving thanks in a business context, I have seen few who execute on the idea as well as executive coach Beryl Byles. I learned about Beryl from a long time friend as I was organizing this year's Holiday Party for Fast Company readers' network, which she will be facilitating.
Spend some time on her site and explore the letters through the PDF links. They are original, well-written and highly inspirational. I particularly like the one for 2004, which explores the similarities and differences of two representative "structures of people" called family trees and organizational charts. As Beryl says, we need to learn how to look for love in the right places. Never truer words were written.
Beryl's interest is leadership and she regards our mindset or the unconscious way we apply our values and expectations as the single most important part of leadership. Through examples, she drives home the concept that boundaries need to be clearly identified and distinguished in order for us to focus our energy and loyalty effectively and deliberately. Take a peak at the similarities and differences between your family tree and your organization chart and ponder.
The message that shines through in Beryl's work is that living consciously is the key to unlocking the door of clarity to the promise of an open flow of energy, possibility, and even wonder. These are all ingredients to a productive conversation. One I am ready to engage in with you, my audience. This Thanksgiving, I continue to be thankful for your contributions to my growth and the inspiration you provide with your comments.
Valeria,
Thanks for this post on Rilke. Its advice and encouragement, expressed so beautifully, is just what I needed to be reminded of. Familiar with his poetry, I will look for his book of letters.
Posted by: nancydance | November 27, 2006 at 09:59 AM