Pondering the Strength of Spirituality

Pondering the Strength of Spirituality

by | Nov 3, 2023 | Coaching, Employee Engagement, Integrity, PERMAH, Psychological safety, Purpose, Strategic Narrative, Strengths, Wellbeing

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Pondering the Strength of Spirituality

chalk writing choose direction

Spirituality is one of the five character strengths that comprise the Virtue of Transcendence.

Transcendence describes strengths that help you connect to the larger universe and provide meaning.

What is spirituality?

As a character strength, spirituality involves the belief that there is a dimension to life that is beyond human understanding. Some people don’t connect this belief with the concept of a divinity and prefer to think of it in terms of a sense of meaning rather than spirituality, but in the VIA Classification the terms are considered closely related. 

Spirituality is believed to describe both the private, intimate relationship between humans and the divine, and the range of virtues that result from the relationships. Spirituality is universal. 

Although the specific content of spiritual beliefs varies, all cultures have a concept of an ultimate, transcendent, sacred force.

Some of these include meaning, purpose, life calling, beliefs about the universe, the expression of virtue/goodness, and practices that connect with the transcendent. Some of these include meaning, purpose, life calling, beliefs about the universe, the expression of virtue/goodness, and practices that connect with the transcendent. 

Why is spirituality of value?

  • Spirituality, through the expression of religiousness or sense of meaning, provides a sense of being grounded, increases optimism and helps to provide a sense of purpose in life.
  • People who are spiritual often experience benefits in their physical and psychological health and are resilient in the face of challenges.
  • Spirituality is connected to compassion, altruism, volunteering and philanthropy.

A couple of questions to consider

  • How do you define spirituality for yourself?
  • How does spirituality affect your relationships with others?

Some things that you can do to practise spirituality

  • Think of a spiritual role model in your community. Even if there are important differences between their beliefs and yours, consider their best qualities and one way that you might learn from them.
  • Find meaning at work – consider what matters most in the work that you do and the impact it has upon others. Pause to appreciate this.
  • Pause to connect with your inner spirit. Return to this solitude that resides within throughout the day. Breathe deeply and be at peace with yourself. 

For more information on the strength of hope, go to https://www.viacharacter.org/character…/spirituality

If you are interested in exploring how the practice of Character Strengths might be of benefit to your business and culture, contact Peter Maguire on 0438 533 311 or at info@poswork.com.au.

Acknowledgement: the primary reference for this post is “The Power of Character Strengths: Appreciate And Ignite Your Positive Personality” by Ryan M. Niemiec & Robert E. McGrath (An Official Guide From The VIA Institute on Character)

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Unpacking the Strength of Teamwork

Unpacking the Strength of Teamwork

by | Oct 24, 2023 | Employee Engagement, Integrity, Leadership, Psychological safety, Strengths

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Unpacking the Strength of Teamwork

group of hands showing teamwork

Teamwork is one of the three character strengths that comprise the Virtue of Justice.

Justice describes strengths that help you connect in community or group-based situations.

What is teamwork?

Teamwork means that in team situations you are committed to contributing to the team’s success. The team could be a work group or a sports team, but it could also refer to your family, marriage, or even a group of friends working on a project together. 

Teamwork extends to being a good citizen of your community or country, and more broadly to a sense of social responsibility for particular groups of people or even all of humanity. In other words, the person high in teamwork applies a certain way of acting in whatever context they consider themselves committed to the good of the group as a whole. 

Most commonly, however, this strength refers to you being a dedicated, reliable, and contributing member to your small group or team. 

Teamwork is closely related to 3 other concepts:

  • Citizenship: responsibility toward one’s community
  • Loyalty: unwavering trust for a group
  • Patriotism: loyalty toward one’s homeland/nation without hostility toward other nations

Why is teamwork of value?

  • Teamwork fosters a sense of connectedness and enhances meaning through shared purpose.
  • Those high in teamwork elicit and experience a higher level of social trust and have a more positive view of others.
  • Teamwork is one of the strengths most associated with sustainable behaviour ie behaviour that aims to protect the social and physical environment. 

A couple of questions to consider

  • What is most gratifying to you about being part of a team?
  • What is most challenging to you about being part of a team?

Some things that you can do to practise teamwork

  • Savour a positive team interaction from the past by replaying it in your mind and then sharing it at a team meeting. 
  • Volunteer for a community project or a good social cause in the area where you live or work.
  • The next time someone close to you conveys that they are having a problem, ask if the two of you can approach the problem together as a team and work through it with them to find a solution. 

For more information on the strength of teamwork, go to https://www.viacharacter.org/character-strengths/teamwork

If you are interested in exploring how the practice of Character Strengths might be of benefit to your business and culture, contact Peter Maguire on 0438 533 311 or at info@poswork.com.au.

Acknowledgement: the primary reference for this post is “The Power of Character Strengths: Appreciate And Ignite Your Positive Personality” by Ryan M. Niemiec & Robert E. McGrath (An Official Guide From The VIA Institute on Character)

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PosWork

A Division of Ridgeline Human Resources Pty Ltd
ABN : 24 091 644 094

info@poswork.com.au

0438 533 311

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Understanding the Strength of Humility

Understanding the Strength of Humility

by | Oct 17, 2023 | Employee Engagement, Psychological safety, Strengths

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Understanding the Strength of Humility

chalk writing choose direction

Humility is one of the four character strengths that comprise the Virtue of Temperance.

Temperance describes strengths that help you manage habits and protect against excess.

What is humility?

Humility means accurately evaluating your accomplishments. 

Truly humble people think well of themselves and have a good sense of who they are, but they also are aware of their mistakes, gaps in their knowledge, and imperfections. Most importantly, they are content without being a center of attention or getting praised for their accomplishments.

A common misconception is that humility involves having a low self-esteem, a sense of unworthiness, and/or a lack of self-focus. However, true humility involves an accurate self-assessment, recognition of limitations, keeping accomplishments in perspective, and forgetting of the self. 

Humble people do not distort information to defend or verify their own image, and they do not need to see-or present- themselves as being better than they actually are.

Why is humility of value?

  • Humility is linked with good self-esteem and a positive self-view.
  • Humble people are likely to demonstrate higher levels of gratitude, forgiveness, spirituality and general health.
  • Other people typically like humble people and feel less threatened by them.

A couple of questions to consider

  • Where does your humility come from and how do you express it?
  • How do you balance humility with a need for recognition and appreciation?

Some things that you can do to practise humility

  • Ask someone you trust to give you feedback on your struggles and areas of improvement.
  • Notice if you speak more than others in a group or team situation and focus on the other people in the group. 
  • Determine whether you are less modest around certain groups of people and, if so, try a different approach. 

For more information on the strength of humility, go to https://www.viacharacter.org/character-strengths/humility.

If you are interested in exploring how the practice of Character Strengths might be of benefit to your business and culture, contact Peter Maguire on 0438 533 311 or at info@poswork.com.au.

Acknowledgement: the primary reference for this post is “The Power of Character Strengths: Appreciate And Ignite Your Positive Personality” by Ryan M. Niemiec & Robert E. McGrath (An Official Guide From The VIA Institute on Character)

CONTACT US

PosWork

A Division of Ridgeline Human Resources Pty Ltd
ABN : 24 091 644 094

info@poswork.com.au

0438 533 311

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Why tiny is mighty

Why tiny is mighty

by | Oct 4, 2023 | Change, Coaching, Employee Engagement, Leadership, Psychological safety, Wellbeing

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Why tiny is mighty

flashing neon sign

Are you one of those people who makes big New Year’s resolutions and then struggles to make them work?

If you are, don’t worry – you are far from own your own and there are good reasons why these big resolutions fail to materialise in changed behaviours for many of us.

Because change is hard and we need a process that works.

In his celebrated book, “Tiny Habits”, Professor BJ Fogg proposed that change is made a lot easier if you implement it incrementally and a number of essential elements are present – the equation is:

B = M A P 

Behaviour happens when Motivation, Ability and Prompt converge at the same moment.

If you think about it, the same elements are necessary to implement positive changes in business or any aspect of life.

The above diagram (from the Michelle McQuaid Group) provides a template for introducing a “Tiny Habit” to improve wellbeing in your life.

This could be something like:

  •  After I get up in the morning, I will go for a walk to my local cafe and I will celebrate with a coffee or
  • Before I go to bed, I will reflect on my day and identify three things that I am grateful for and celebrate with a self-hug or
  • At dinner time, I am going to ask my family to share something that they learned today or something good that happened today and we will celebrate it with Hi 5s or
  • Any activity that is positive for your wellbeing (or your team/family/other group), that you are motivated to do, that is  within your abilities to achieve and where you can tie it to a prompt.

If this is a wellbeing practice that you would like to look at for your business and your employees, we can help with that. It is also an engaging way to help employees to work on improvements in their performance through incremental steps and regular positive feedback on progressive achievements.

Our PosWork suite of services has been built to help businesses and their people to “flourish by design”. If you are looking for someone to help you to develop a better workplace, why don’t you give us a call on 0438 533 311 or email info@poswork.com.au to arrange a first free consultation.

 

CONTACT US

PosWork

A Division of Ridgeline Human Resources Pty Ltd
ABN : 24 091 644 094

info@poswork.com.au

0438 533 311

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How work can be a haven from everyday worries

How work can be a haven from everyday worries

by | Jul 23, 2023 | Employee Engagement, PERMAH, Purpose, Strategic Narrative, Strengths, Wellbeing

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How work can be a haven from everyday worries

meeting

I recently watched a video on Linkedin which featured expert employment and WHS lawyer, Andrew Douglas, talking about psychological safety in the workplace. In that, he spoke about the role that work plays as a haven from everyday personal stresses and anxieties and that really resonated. So I thought I should explore that concept further and here are a few thoughts.

Would you agree that being able to focus your mind on a job and use your talents can really give you a bit of temporary relief if you have any worries personally, with family or elsewhere in life? I do – it won’t solve whatever problems you might be struggling with but it can help you to live a bit better with those struggles.

Of course, you need to have the right “psychologically safe” work environment to do that. Simply replacing one set of stresses and anxieties for another doesn’t help – that just adds further weight and continuity of anxieties and that aggregation can be especially damaging to mental health and wellbeing.

So let’s consider why the right work environment can help us to manage our everyday struggles in life.

Firstly, work can provide a sense of structure and purpose, helping to keep your mind focused and occupied. When you’re engrossed in meaningful tasks, it can redirect your attention away from anxious thoughts and uncertainties.

Additionally, work often involves goal-setting and problem-solving, which can give you a sense of achievement and control over your circumstances. By engaging in productive work, you may experience a boost in confidence and a feeling of accomplishment, counteracting the negative effects of anxiety.

Furthermore, work can offer a social environment where you interact with colleagues and form connections. These relationships can provide support and a sense of camaraderie, which can be comforting and contribute to overall well-being.

When you look at these factors, the PERMAH wellbeing model makes a lot of sense as a tool to develop good mental health and wellbeing practice. Every one of the 6 pillars – Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment and Health – feature in those three ways that the right work environment can provide a haven.

A bonus is that, with the new positive duty that businesses have to eliminate or control psychosocial hazards, the PERMAH Workplace Wellbeing Survey can play a significant part  in meeting the duty to assess risks associated with psychosocial hazards in your workplace…..plus every employee who does the survey gets their own personal wellbeing report and access to a personal wellbeing plan template and lots of tips on things to do to enhance wellbeing in each of the 6 PERMAH pillars.

Try the survey free at https://permahsurvey.com/

iInterested in learning more about PosWork’s workplace wellbeing and psychologically safe workplace services? Call us on 0438 533 311 or email info@poswork.com.au.

 

 

CONTACT US

PosWork

A Division of Ridgeline Human Resources Pty Ltd
ABN : 24 091 644 094

info@poswork.com.au

0438 533 311

QUICK RESOURCE LINKS

Ridgeline HR

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PERMAH

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Why you need an EVP

Why you need an EVP

by | Jul 6, 2023 | Employee Engagement, Integrity, Leadership, Purpose, Strategic Narrative, Strengths, Values, Wellbeing

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Why you need an EVP

meeting

We hear employers everywhere telling us that they need more and better people which is no surprise given that we have been having very low unemployment rates and there are chronic skills shortages in so many sectors for lots of reasons. 

So what can a business do about that to get an advantage over competitors in the labour market?

You need an Employer Value Proposition (EVP) which essentially answers the question (in a positive way): “Why would I want to work for you?”

Here are several reasons why having a compelling EVP is important:

  1. Attracting top talent: A strong EVP helps you stand out from other employers and attract highly skilled individuals. Job seekers are increasingly looking for more than just financial compensation. They seek opportunities for growth, life balance, a positive work environment, and a sense of purpose. By clearly articulating your value proposition, you can appeal to the aspirations and needs of potential candidates.
  2. Retention of employees: A well-defined EVP can help retain your existing employees. When employees feel valued and connected to and understand what they like about working in your business, they are more likely to stay.
  3. Employee engagement and productivity: When employees feel that their needs and aspirations are aligned with the organisation’s goals, they become more committed and motivated. They are more likely to go above and beyond in their work, leading to higher productivity and better outcomes.
  4. Cost savings: Investing in a strong EVP can result in cost savings in the long run. By attracting and retaining the right talent, you can reduce turnover, save on hiring expenses and training costs, and maintain a more stable and productive workforce.
  5. Cultural alignment: An EVP helps attract individuals who align with your organizational culture and values. When employees share common values, it fosters a sense of belonging and creates a positive work environment. This, in turn, enhances collaboration, teamwork, and overall organizational effectiveness.

So there are lots of reasons why having an EVP makes good business sense (just as having the right value proposition for your customers does).

Of course, it has to be real or it will just create contradictions which can be far more damaging than not having an EVP at all.

 

Want to know more about how we can help you define your EVP and make it real? Call us on 0438 533 311 or email info@poswork.com.au.

 

 

CONTACT US

PosWork

A Division of Ridgeline Human Resources Pty Ltd
ABN : 24 091 644 094

info@poswork.com.au

0438 533 311

QUICK RESOURCE LINKS

Ridgeline HR

Engage for Success

Appreciative Inquiry

PERMAH

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