The New Role of the CEO

Recently I have been amassing a new position description for what I call the “CEO of the 21st Century.” In order for us to recapture our innate creativity, unleash each persons inner power and passion, and help everyone involved in our organizations feel aligned and engaged with their work, their co-workers, and the goals of the company, we need a new leader to emerge. Trying to get anything different to happen with ancient thoughts and behaviors about people-work-output is agreeing to the definition of insanity (doing the same things while hoping for different results). Whether in business, non-profits, government, or education, we need a new atmosphere of leadership that has the capacity to see with a wider lens, understands all facets of human and natural sustainability, and knows that everything we do at work is ALL ABOUT PEOPLE. Products, services, and profits are all made by, from and through people, so we need leaders who get that fact at the core. Evidence is piling up everywhere that when we have a people-centric form of leadership and culture in place, all aspects of the organization improve at greater rates than those who are sticking to old concepts of people and motivation.

To kick-start the shift, we need new leaders. I know there are millions out there who are ready to step into their own authentic shoes and be the people they know they were born to be, especially at work. It is time to stop allowing fear, greed and worry drive our mouths into silence. It’s time to rock the boat, speak your piece, treat others in ways you know you desire to be treated, or just say no, I’m am no longer going to sell out, sell my soul, let you mistreat me and my co-workers because you are the boss. We need new leaders to help us all find our way through our work. I have seen the power of great leaders at work, who knows that her/his role is to help their people see what’s real, help their people bring their best game, help their people learn new ways to work together, and help people connect their own passion/values/skills to the position and work that makes them all come alive in higher forms or productivity and satisfaction.

The only way to change is to NOT CHANGE – just discover the brilliance beneath the sludge that covers the diamond of the human spirit with you and others, and then let it out! Let that spirit create, problem-solve, inspire, empower, enrich, illuminate everyone who aligns with the organization. Allow engagement to flourish so meet and exceed goals of all stakeholders. This is the final frontier – releasing the power of the human spirit in the work we do for each other. New leadership is required. Whatever role your in, you might want to re-define it, now!

Below is a draft of a position description of the new CEO. Ponder it, Talk about it, measure yourself against it, set new expectations for yourself around it, get help to improve yourself where needed, and then go thoroughly enjoy being the unique leader you have the potential of being. If you’re not a CEO, you are of your own life, and you may be the leader of your team/department/club, so use this as a guide, or show it to your boss.

Time’s a wasting, get to it…it’s the most important thing you will ever do for your job/career/vocation/avocation!

CEO POSITION SUMMARY

Provide authentic leadership that will position the company at the forefront of the industry. Create a service-oriented community of like-minded people who come together in alignment towards a mutually beneficial journey. Be a change agent that allows a holistic, sustainable culture to emerge that honors multiple stakeholders (shareholders, employees, customers, vendors, community, the environment) and their inherent interests. Ask the key questions and help others answer them, such as: Why do we exist? Who can we best serve? How do we create a culture that allows everyone to express their highest self? From those answers, develop a strategic plan to advance the company’s mission and objectives and to promote healthy revenue, profitability and growth as an organization. Oversee company operations to insure production efficiency, quality, service, and cost-effective management of resources. Maximize the performance, growth, alignment and engagement of all stakeholders, and create an integral vision that fulfills the multiple bottom lines of people, profit, posterity and planet.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

1.    As Chief Strategist, work with the owner(s), Board and executive team, develop a strategic plan to advance the company’s mission and objectives and to promote revenue, profitability, and growth as an organization. Collaborate with stakeholders and generate a strategic direction, with everyone fully on-board, utilizing metrics that encourage responsibility and accountability. Help define the meaningful outside and relate that to all activities inside the organization.

2.    As Chief Culture Officer, shape the values of the organization, spark the collective passion, define the specific uniqueness the organization has to offer, and make meaningful the organization’s existence and activities. Develop an atmosphere that allows a new consciousness to arise to solve problems with new ways of thinking, collaboration, cooperation and service, thereby tapping into the “zone beyond ego.” Supercharge the environment so people can reach “peak experiences” frequently and longer-lasting, resulting in higher forms of engagement, productivity, innovation, growth and profitability. Create an authentic team culture, where trust is the bedrock of all relationships, and everyone works in more effective ways to communicate, resolve differences, and overcome obstacles.

3.    As Chief Team Builder, oversee company operations to insure production efficiency, quality, service, and cost-effective management of resources. Maximize the performance, alignment and engagement of all stakeholders that fulfills the multiple bottom lines of people, profit, posterity and planet.

4.   As Chief Sales Officer, lead the development and innovation of new ideas and implement new strategies for generating new sources of revenues for the company. Foster an environment of inspiration, invention, collaboration and creativity.

5.  Coach and mentor company leaders, and ensure that all leaders are trained as artful coaches themselves. Walk the “four corners” of your company regularly. Conduct regularly scheduled one-to-one meetings with all direct reports that focus on their professional and personal development. Offer timely feedback and evaluate performance of executives for compliance with established policies and objectives of the company and contributions in attaining objectives. Stimulate peer-reviews to broaden constructive feedback.

6.  Review activity reports and financial statements to determine progress and status in attaining objectives and revise objectives and plans in accordance with current conditions. Monitor key indicators that track organizational performance to goals, economic and industry trends, and where the organization is on its corporate and economic life-cycles. Help others be responsible and accountable to commitments, activities and results. Make transparent key information so the right people have ample knowledge to do the right things.

7.   Promote the company through written articles and personal appearances at conferences. Also promote on radio, TV, and social media sites, as well as to local, regional, national, and international constituencies.

8.   Identify acquisition and merger opportunities and direct appropriate implementation activities.

9.   Approve company operational procedures, policies, and standards. Ensure all employees are properly trained and are made fully aware of company’s practices.

10. Lead all quarterly and annual strategy meetings. Participate in any other necessary leadership meetings. Train other leaders to run effective meetings and to handle conflict effectively.

11. Interact regularly with owner(s)/Board of Directors to build an open and healthy flow of key information and updates. Lead the BOD meetings and present company status reports. Deliver the results agreed upon.

12. Be the Ambassador for the firm, represent the company at key customer meetings, legislative sessions, trade and government meetings, and at formal functions.

13. Oversee foreign operations that include: setting strategy, understanding the cultural requirements, evaluating operating and financial performance, and building strong relationships.

14. As Chief Flow Officer, maintain a high energy flow and be life-positive with a robust ‘yesness.’ Be centered on generating happiness and fulfillment for all stakeholders.

15. Other duties as assigned by yourself, the Board, or the market.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILL REQUIREMENTS

1.   Experience in strategic planning and execution. Direct experience in change management, leading diverse, successful people to new avenues of performance and results. Knowledge of contracting and negotiating. Skill in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures. Experience in formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures. Ability to develop financial plans and manage resources. Ability to analyze and interpret financial data. Knowledge of public relations principles and practices. Knowledge of communication and public relation techniques. Ability to develop and deliver presentations. Ability to identify and secure funding/revenue sources.

2.   Professional written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills are required. Ability to communicate and interact with officials at all levels of business, industry, community, and government, and to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community. Ability to motivate teams and simultaneously manage several projects.

3.   Completion of a Masters Degree in Business Administration desirable. Twenty years plus experience in a leadership role for large divisions or companies, and high intellectual and emotional intelligence.

4.   Requires a willingness to work a flexible schedule and travel.

NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR:

1.    Micromanaging

2.    Fixing problems

3.    Operational minutia

4.    Having all the answers

DESIRABLE TRAITS

Authenticity; Self-awareness; Passionate; Values-oriented; Humility; Foresight; Broad-mindedness; Strategic; Inclusive; Intimate; Honest; Empathetic; Stewardship; Committed to Growth; Relationship Builder; Purposeful; Inspirational; Empower Others; Philosophy of Abundance.

Enjoy and ponder,

Kevin

Nine Steps To Being An Authentic Leader

Over the years I have made the topic of “Leadership” my hobby, my passion. From everything I have studied, observed, exercised, mastered, I have come to the following nine points that I believe would help all leaders if they want to continue growing and improving. These nine work for me and hundreds of clients I have coached and consulted over the past seventeen years. I offer them to you for consideration.

1.   Know Yourself.

Know what motivates you, is important to you. Know and live your values and passions. Have a vision for where you want to go. Exercise your natural, innate gifts/talents/strengths in work that is meaningful to you. There is nothing like watching a leader be excited and enthusiastic about their organization and their work, and to see how contagious that positive energy is within an organization!

2.   Model Behaviors You Want From Your Team.

Positive thoughts and words get things started, but only your actions show what you truly believe. Know you are always being watched as the leader. Trust is the fundamental glue to any relationship and team, so make sure your behaviors are trustworthy. You be the change, the way you want your team to be!

3.   Determine Your Aligned & Engaged People – The A-B-C Test.

Find others who are aligned with your values, passions and vision. Allow people to bring their best game to work every day. Remove people who don’t share the mission or who aren’t engaged with your direction and purpose – they will just hold everyone and everything back. You get what you tolerate!

4.   Do 1-2-1 Meetings With Your People Regularly.

Schedule and uphold these important opportunities to connect with your people. Help them set their own goals and follow through with them. Help them find ways to grow and expand within your firm. Help them see their roadblocks and find ways to break through. Get connected with your people!

5.   Walk About Your Cabin Regularly.

People feel secure and trust goes up when leaders are visible regularly. Walking about, checking in are ways for you to see things others too close may not see, and can offer insights that help productivity and performance. Let others know you are a helpful set of eyes and ears to keep harmony in the workplace!

6.   Confront Issues.

Toxins build up when issues, problems, challenges go un-addressed. Meet the fact head on that conflict will arise in your organization, and agree ahead of time to an effective, transparent process with which to deal with issues when they arise. Find courage to meet these challenges and watch your group soar!

7.   If It’s Broke – Fix It.

Doing the same thing hoping for a different result is insanity. Know that what works today may be out-moded tomorrow. Being open to look at your systems, policies, procedures, strategies and plans regularly, together as a team, is crucial, and when something needs changing – get alignment and change it!

8.   Cheerlead – Recognize – Assist.

The best thing you do for your people is to define reality and then look for ways people strive to good things at work. Find people doing things right and give them positive recognition. Help them complete their tasks and goals. Be public with praise and explain why. Let your people know you see them!

9.   Be Yourself.

Last, but never least, just be you in all dealings with people. Drop the masks, titles, and pretenses that get in the way of you knowing your people – and them knowing you. Let them know your strengths, gifts as well as your weakness and areas of less capacity. They are there to compliment you, not for you to be the imagined hero in all instances. People gravitate to authenticity – let them see yours! Be open to a new form of intimacy!

 

Namaste,

Kevin

To Be (Engaged), or Not To Be (Engaged) – That is the Question!

I wonder how many people really live life full out, are really engaged in their life? How many people connect to their passions, know and live by their values, give freely their innate gifts and talents in their daily existence? What would happen if everyone had a deep sense of their own authenticity, lived more in the moment and offered the world their best at whatever was before them?

This blog series explores the two concepts of Alignment and Engagement. Most think it has something to do with our working world, as these terms are some of the more current “biz-speak” of our times. While we will dive into how they play at work in upcoming articles, it’s impossible to be aligned and engaged in anything exterior to one-self without having your own internal compass and engine. Alignment is our compass, and engagement is the life energy, the engine we bring to all things happening in our daily lives.

There are three core aspects to living a fully engaged life:

1. Passion. At our core we all have a deep connection to love – a love of life, of others, of experiences, of learning and growing. This love is manifest through what we call passion. Each of us is fueled by a unique sense of passion in some aspect(s) of life. That fuel burns most bright and effectively when we allow our passions to flow through us in whatever aspect of life we may find ourselves – at home, at play, at work, in relationships.

My experience is if you ask a ten year old what they are passionate about they will quickly, easily and zealously tell or show you. If you ask an adult the same question, far too many respond they just don’t know anymore, or tie it to an object, event or person. We seem to lose our zest for life just when we need more of it. Re-connecting to one’s passion is a critical step in living the life you were meant to live, full out, in pure enjoyment, satisfaction, enthusiasm, and joy. Experiencing moments of these here and there is OK, but why settle for crumbs? What would your life be like if you lived your passion regularly? What benefits might arise from a life lived passionately?

If you don’t feel connected to your passion, you can take The Passion Exercise from my site at: http://www.kevinrafferty.com/book.html. Why go through life not really being alive!

2.  Sharing & Developing Your Innate Gifts/Talents/Strengths. Each of us was born with some abilities more evolved than others. The most engaged people I know are those who tap into those gifts and use them frequently, daily, moment-to-moment. Gifts are those talents we just do well naturally, without thinking about them, that have some real value to yourself and others.

If you are in a job or role that dampens your gifts or denies them, then you are doing soul-less work. Far too many are stuck in situations where they have so much to offer but are denied, or feel they cannot express their true nature.  Being engaged in your life means that you find ways to just be who you are, and let your gifts freely flow from you.

Don’t let other’s agendas keep you from tapping into your essence and sharing it with the world. When we live from that place life is a vast cauldron of exploring-learning-growing-helping-making meaningful moments that enriches us to greater heights. Look at your life, take an inventory of your gifts, ask close friends what they appreciate about you most, and take a few assessments to help you re-connect with the power inside you. Then find ways to share that at work, home and play. Your life will thank you for it!

3. Find Your Sweet Spot. I heard a great quote a while back, the author escapes me at the moment, but it goes like this: “Find the link between the world’s greatest need and your greatest gift(s).” I would restate it as follows: “Know your passions and gifts, and find the best way to offer them to the world.” We don’t have to go off and save the whales, save the planet, cure cancer to live a bigger, better life. Just find where your fire and gifts can do the most good. Your reward will come from the authentic encounters you will create by living in such a powerful way. Your life will fill with meaning, joy and happiness, and you will infect others so positively as well.

Don’t you agree, there is nothing more powerful, more magnetic, and more enjoyable than being in the presence of someone living full out? Not in an ego-centric way, just purely and joyfully. I like the TV series ‘American Idol’ because it allows us to peek at people taking their gift and passion and sharing it full out with the audience. What would your life be like if you were living the same way….with that kind of power, joy, presence? I say life is too short not to live it well!

If you want to be more engaged with your work, you first need to connect with yourself. Spend time re-acquainting yourself with yourself. In this way your authenticity arises, and when you link engagement with alignment, oh my, what a life you will treat yourself to!

Namaste,

Kevin

What Are You Aligned To?

What matters most to you – in your life, your work, your relationships? What seems to be the direction you are regularly pulled to that has more energy than others? What would you say if you were asked the question, “What is the purpose of…. your work, your business, your life?” Pause for a moment and ask yourself these questions.

Having a deep sense of purpose, direction, and vision brings about aliveness to one’s life and work. Knowing where you are headed, why you are here, and that what you do matters is such a powerful and productive state of being.

We humans are meaning-making beings. While most of us seem stuck in some type of daily life routines, we come alive when we feel we are moving in a direction that gives us a connection to something – some answer, some sense of belonging, some reason to keep on doing what we are doing. We are hard-wired for connectivity to something meaningful. You can test this theory by reflecting on these questions: What was a situation in your own life were you were on the best team ever? What was that all about, and how did you feel during that time? What was your level of productivity, the team’s productivity? If you can’t think of a team experience, just look at some accomplishment you had that had some real degree of difficulty, but it was important to you and you prevailed. What was that like, how did you feel while doing it?

In the world of work today, I see far too many people just going through the motions, not really engaged, energized or passionate about what they are doing. I see this first as an alignment issue. What would happen if everyone, from the very top down, had a strong, driving sense of purpose, and one besides just making money? What would happen if everyone knew where the organization is headed? If there was a bright “North-Star” that was clear and easy for everyone to see and navigate by, what better outcomes might you expect from your team? The old saying from Alice in Wonderland, “If you don’t know where you are headed, any old road will do,” is no longer an option you want to have or as a part of a high performing team or culture.

There are three steps in creating alignment. The first is from an individual perspective:

1. Self Awareness – taking time to slow things down, contemplate, meditate, and reflect as deep as possible is critical. Having a strong sense of who you are beyond your own egos needs and materialistic desires helps you come face-to-face with the authentic aspect of who you are. Increasing your own awareness and consciousness lets you tap into your higher faculties of imagination, inspiration and creativity. This is the zone where you can really “be and see” beyond the less important things and zero in on what truly matter most.

2. Core Values – Values are human decision-makers, so do you know what your core values are? This is the first critical step in self-reflection because from your worldview and values perspective flows every choice you make. Take time to reflect quietly and use a clarification process to arrive at your core values, and even the one prime value that most compels and propels you. Before you start making new decisions about your life, make sure you keep your core values on the table at all times. You can find a values clarification exercise on this page: http://www.kevinrafferty.com/book.html.

3. Vision / Mission / Purpose – these three words are used to arrive at a deep sense of meaning and direction. Reflect on the questions, Why are you here? Where do you want your life/work to go? What is the best use of you in this world? What is the grandest version of the greatest vision you can see for your life? Use these to help you paint a very clear and compelling picture for your life. People with purpose have an attractive, powerful energy about them, so why can’t that be you too?

These three steps will take time to evolve, but once you have them they can help guide you toward a life well lived and one of significance.

If you want more alignment in your work, then follow these steps:

1. Share your values with others and see where they overlap. First finding others who share the same values is critical for group success. Conduct many conversations around those values to help others see where you are coming from, how these values will play a role in all decisions, how others can see the inter-connections to the values and job performance, problem-solving, performance reviews and rewards and compensation. Since values drive individuals, let them drive human behavior in a group setting as well.

2. From this group develop a strong, compelling sense of direction and purpose. All businesses need to make a profit, but people need more than just money for motivation. Taking time to answer a few questions will help you and your teams see new possibilities: What are we really good at, and best at in our space? What taps into our passions? What is the world’s/our market’s greatest needs? What in all of this can we get paid to do? As your team hones down these questions, the answers begin to paint a vision and purpose that everyone has a piece of, where each person feels more connected.

3. Keep the awareness of the values and vision alive every day. Maintaining group consciousness around these cornerstones of your business will keep everyone aligned and focused on what is most important. Productivity will soar, challenges will be met with less resistance, creativity and innovation will rise and everyone will be more engaged. Don’t put the values and vision on your website, or wall placard, and then forget them. Breathe energy into them every day and you all will reap greater rewards.

Great leaders know that values, vision, and purpose matter most, and provide an environment for them to flourish. Great individuals know their values; have a purpose and a supporting vision that allows them to live a life full of happiness, fulfillment, accomplishment, reward and significance.

Start with your own awakening, and get clear about who you are and what’s most important to you. Then, take the same process to your teams and allow those people to come alive and catch your vision.

Life is too short to live at half-speed, or just getting-by, or I’m not worthy. Get aligned to your own “North Star.” Follow its promise and live full-out. Help others align to the organizations “North Star.” Work toward fulfilling its promise. When you do the outcomes are more energy, higher productivity and profitability, more rewards, more fulfillment and more peace. What are you waiting for – you are so much more than you have been!

Namaste,

Kevin

Are You Aligned and Engaged in Your Own Life?

Do you ever feel that you are being pulled in many different directions at the same time? Do you feel you are frustrated or discouraged with yourself, with the direction of your life? Do you feel you are not making a difference, don’t feel needed or valued, like you are wasting your life? Do you have a sense of stuckness, just getting by, or an empty feeling inside? Are you stressed out, bored, lonely, or just fed up? Do you feel you can’t change things, situations, and people in your life? Are you just not happy or fulfilled?

Or do you want more happiness, fun, direction, meaning, connection, satisfaction, fulfillment, joy, a life that has significance?

According to a recent Harris Poll, the following data was accumulated around the topic of people and engagement at work:

- One in five was enthusiastic about their team or organization’s goals

- Half were satisfied with the work they do

- 15% feel they work in an environment that is trusting

- 15% feel their company fully enables them to do their jobs fully.

No wonder there is so much of a disconnect out there in our work. And since work is such a huge part of our lives, if we aren’t engaged in our work, the way we earn our living, give back, share our uniqueness and look for meaning-purpose-connection, then we are most likely unengaged in our own lives. Don’t we deserve better? Aren’t we all capable of so much more? Wouldn’t we like to feel more alive, useful, trusted, valued, and needed? Can we all achieve a greater sense of connection, accomplishment, growth, and fulfillment? Are we worthy of such, or doomed to live lives of “quiet desperation?”

I say we all can be so much more, without necessarily focusing on getting or having more. I would like you to consider being your true, authentic self, rather than being resigned to the same-old-thing. I know that we humans have so much more to offer, and some prove it every day. Just think back in your life – when was the last time you were so fully alive while in the midst of a project, an activity, at work, with others, where you were so alive, so happy, so engaged in what you were doing? I define those moments as highly aligned and engaged being states. Even though you were doing something, or making/acquiring something, you were focused in the moment, tapping into your passion and innate gifts, working within your values and toward some noble goal.

Take a moment and bring a past experience to mind and remember how you felt in it, and after.

Alignment to something comes after you re-connect and engage with your own authenticity. To engage fully with yourself, you need to have clarity and positive energy around the following elements:

- Values: What are your core values? Do you know how values drive our motivation? Are you living by your core values?

- Passion: What is your root passion? Of all the things you love and enjoy, why do you love and enjoy them? Are you living your life passionately in work, play, relationships?

- Innate, Natural Gifts, Strengths, Talents: Do you know what your gifts are, what you are best at? Are you bringing them to your work and play? What would happen if you focused on them and not your weaknesses?

- Vision, Purpose: Do you know what you want for your life? Do you have a sense of purpose that offers fulfillment and meaning to you? Or are you hanging on to and around others visions?

- Awareness, Consciousness, Presence: How self-aware are you? How in-the-moment are you? How often are your thoughts or beliefs on the past or future, and how often are you emotionally triggered?

These five elements of authenticity allow us to live the life we were born to live, not the one we have come to tolerate. Once we take time to self-reflect and reconnect with our own authentic elements, we can then see where we are in and out of alignment in all the aspects of our life. For example, if you are clear about your values, passion, gifts, direction, and level of awareness, then you can see how compatible you are with:

- Your key relationships

- Your work, place of employment, career path

- Your interests, hobbies, personal growth outlets

- Your health, wealth, and recreation.

I recommend that we first get clear about these five elements, and allow them to live fully through us, so we can become fully engaged and comfortable with ourselves. When we have a center-of-gravity that feels right, feels honest, feels exciting, then we can fully live our lives to their fullest. Once we have confidence in our own true nature, then we can look for ways outside ourselves to find alignment. Too many times we may take a job, date someone, take up a project that initially sounds good, pays well, or was what others thought we would enjoy, only to find after a bit that we are not fully aligned with the job, the person or the activity. If you are feeling any affinity from the statements at the beginning of this blog, then you simply are not aligned. Who you are as an authentic self doesn’t line up with you they are – it’s that simple. Alignment means that you and they are in harmony, balance, coherence, resonance. You know it through your feelings, your sense of something positive and good for you and those that are negative and not so good for you.

I have found the best way for me to live, work with others, enjoy other’s company and to do meaningful things is to simply look at my five elements, and hold them up to whatever it is I am considering. These elements make it easy to ask better questions, find ways to resonate, get a better feel, all in order to make the best decision for me as possible. Are my five elements vibrating positively or am I getting some big negative vibes. If I get an overall strong “good feeling” about a choice I go with it, and if my elements don’t line up, then I pass. If, on occasion, I don’t have the kind of good feeling I want, but I choose it anyway, then I do so fully conscious, and without blame or shame.

Consider getting your own elements clarified, and then line them up with all the important people, situations and work aspects in your life. The first step in making better decisions is to have all your facts, so get your own sense about you first. Then see where you align with your exterior life (work, relationships, activities, things), and make changes that enhance your well-being. Use your elements before you take the next job. Use them before you set into a long term relationship of any kind. Use them to help you with new life choices so you make the best decisions possible.

Get engaged with yourself first – then use your five elements as a tuning fork to find ways to align with others who resonate like you.

Be Engaged and Aligned – Live Long and Prosper!

Kevin

PS: To begin to connect to your elements, check out the resources at the bottom of this link- http://www.kevinrafferty.com/book.html.

Welcome to Align & Engage

My intention for this blog space is to share ideas, concepts, wisdom and humor around the joys and challenges of being a human in these post-modern times.

Align and engage, alignment and engagement are two very important words in my world. I came to the blog name through my own journey as well as helping others through theirs, finding alignment and engagement in our lives and work. If you permit, let me explain further so you can get a fuller sense of where I am coming from.

Since words are very important, let’s look at the definitions of align and engage. From the on-line Merriam-Webster dictionary and thesaurus, we get:

- Align: to array on the side of a party or cause; to be in or come into precise adjustment or correct relative position; to line up behind; to join, bring into agreement; to enlist, enroll, sign-up, ally, affiliate, come aboard.

- Engage: to attract and hold by influence or power;  to hold the attention of; to pledge oneself; to begin and carry on an enterprise or activity for a long period of time; absorb, allure, captivate, catch, charm, draw, enamor, enchant, engross, enthrall, high interest, participate.

From the above, I have come to mesh these words around two aspects of our own humanity: a) one’s own authenticity and how one lives a full life, and b) how we come to offer ourselves in service to others, either at work or as volunteers.

Let me dive a bit deeper. As we come to increase our consciousness,  awareness, presence to our own thinking and feeling states, we can then begin a process of self-inquiry that may lead one to new and many ways of living a more full, happy, peaceful, loving, meaningful life. As we shed old patterns of thought, beliefs, values, worldviews that no longer ring true we are open to explore what truths are true for us because they tap into our innate, intuitive knowingness. From here we free to re-create our lives that resonates our own authenticity and uniqueness. We can clarify our core values, establish a worldview that reflects our true beliefs about life and how we want to live it, unleash our passions, and have our natural gifts and talents appreciated by ourselves and others. When we express these human elements, we can create new visions for what we want out of life and how we want to live it. We can then sense new meaning, new purpose and appreciate a deeper fulfillment we didn’t know before. All of this as a result of being willing to open oneself up to new questions, new possibilities, new answers!

With a new sense of awareness, we can now make decisions  that allow us to live life in accordance to who we are, what we believe, what feels right, and how we can better work with others. We can set new visions and pathways, allow our values to motivate us, enjoy more through living our passions, and are of more value when we freely give of our best talents. By setting a vision of what we want, and by living by our core values, we create something to align our life to – a “North Star” to use a common metaphor. By aligning our thoughts, actions and words to our own North Star, we are more productive, effective, and satisfied.

As we further tap into our root passions, and allow our natural gifts-strengths-talents to play out, we now sense a deeper connection to our lives that propel us forward, and keep this flow fueled so we can continue to experience more life out of life. This is the definition of being engaged in our life – feeling freer, involved, engrossed in our life so much so time seems to just melt away. In that state of flow, we freely give of ourselves, and thus through being more engaged feel alive, experience more happiness, and are able to be of greater service to others.

So the first step from becoming more aware and conscious of one’s own life is to set new visions of your own and live by your core values. This then creates a power for all of your thoughts, feelings and actions to align around, even when the going gets tough. A person with direction, intention and internal motivation is a force to behold, and provides one with a meaningful context to live a life and make one’s own discernments, corrections and adjustments. Alignment gives us something to believe in that’s greater that what we have previously experienced, or even thought possible. Alignment makes decisions easy, choices clear, and simplifies our daily activities.

The second step, once you have set your alignment factors up, is to live full out! Engage fully in your own life. Live with passion, enjoyment, enthusiasm. Give the best of what you have to offer, and continue to learn, grow and evolve. Life will never be stagnant when you fully engage in it, especially your own! When we are aligned to a meaningful life, and we show up every day and play it as fully as possible, you are living an authentic and fulfilling life… and who doesn’t want to do that?

Subsequent steps using the alignment and engagement process are those one can take out into the world of work and involvement with others. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to be able to have a place of work where you align with the organizations vision and values, and they have a culture that allows you to show up fully and passionately every day? A place where you are empowered, enriched, inspired, respected, appreciated? Well, if you don’t know what your own life stands for, how can you expect to find a place that fits well with you? Most people end up settling for the pay and security aspects and feel disengaged with what they do. Extensive studies in the workplace have proven time and again that in general employees say they are about 50% engaged with their work. That’s correct – 50%! Later on we will touch on why this is, but you know in your own mind how engaged you are/have been in your career, and see how family and friends are/aren’t engaged in their work. It’s a tragedy to not be fully alive in your work—the one activity we offer to others over a lifetime of giving.

A life without alignment or engagement is one that drifts, is at the mercy of others, works only for the pay and benefits, is ‘soul-robbing,’ and leads to other maladies that plague our modern times, such as stress related heart/circulatory issues, obesity, depression, anxiety, let alone the huge costs to our employers, customers and society when we are only 50% productive. It’s time we stop, wake up, really smell the coffee, self-reflect, reset our parameters, and live our own lives fully aligned and engaged. Then we have so much to offer when we use our own “dashboard” systems (our own alignment and engagement) to find work, the right work, which allows us to be our true selves at work and further the mission of the firm and others. When we, aligned and engaged in our own lives, align and engage with others who honor us, I don’t know how much better life at work can get…and if you do I want to hear from you in here!

In later posts we will explore the ways we achieve awareness, authenticity, and enlightenment, as well as what keeps us from exploring, touching, realizing the same. Life is so fascinating and there is so much to learn, and we will take on as much of it as is humanly possible.

So enough for today…my greatest hope is that this will be a portal for like-minded souls to gather, share, learn, expand and evolve over time. If you find this blog concept appealing click on the apropos buttons to receive upcoming posts, and if the nudge hits you, share this link with others who you think will gain benefit. Feel free to share what you think aligns with our mission here, and I look forward to the journey ahead with you!

Namaste,

Kevin

Welcome to Align and Engage!

The purpose of my blog over time is to share ideas, ask questions and provoke deep thought into a variety of topics centered around the macro theme of helping people tap into their own authentic power. I will begin posting blogs by December 5, 2010, and invite you to not only read but participate at whatever level resonates for you. This is meant to be a community portal so I invite you to take a journey with me.

A lot of what we will converse about can be found in my book “Get Naked, Get Real, Get Happy–Becoming Your Authentic Self.” You can buy it from Amazon.com or off my site www.kevinrafferty.com. I will also be very open to sharing other like-minded links and resources as I come across them.

I hope to see you back here, and if you find the information helpful, sign up to receive new posts automatically!

Namaste,

Kevin