Activation is the experience of being both deeply productive and engaged. And we all deserve to feel it. Good news is we have the power to create that experience for ourselves. Learn how to get the ball rolling.
Activation is the experience of being both deeply productive and engaged. And we all deserve to feel it. Good news is we have the power to create that experience for ourselves. Learn how to get the ball rolling.
Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast.
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Hey, it’s Rachel Cooke, your Modern Mentor. I’m the founder of Lead Above Noise, where we help leaders activate performance and engagement—without burning out. We run Bootcamps that deliver confidence, tools, community. We deliver keynotes that inform and inspire. And we do Pulse Checks to help you build custom blueprints that unlock your team’s best performance. Just let me know what you need.
When I was a kid - but also sometimes still - I wanted to be a person who names colors of things. Like paints or lipsticks or nail polishes. I mean - so much fun. I have a neutral colored polish called “The Queen Takes Her Tea With Milk” a blue one called “Iconic” and a red called “Don’t Mess With Me.” Best job ever - right?
I think I missed the color-naming boat. But I do have an appreciation for the media and its parallel work in naming our workplace trends and crises. You know - the Great Resignation, the Great Reconsideration, Quiet Quitting - all the things we’ve seen in the headlines these past few years.
Like with nail polishes, they’re all variations of the same. But the names are memorable. The latest one I’m seeing is called The Great Detachment. Which I think is a rebrand of Quiet Quitting.
Either way, it’s to say that we’re not quitting. But we’re out of steam. Whether we’re bored or lonely or overwhelmed - we’re going through the motions of doing the work. But our hearts aren’t in it. Which means our creativity, our opportunity to drive change and deliver impact - aren’t so much there either.
I believe - like, to my core - that the solution here is the Great Reactivation. It’s why I spend so much time working with leadership teams enabling them to do this very thing - delivering tools, practice, confidence, and accountability. You can check it out at leadabovenoise.com/bootcamp.
But the thing is - while activation is all about action? It’s not exclusive to leadership. We can be activating ourselves. By taking stock, taking action, and celebrating progress. And today I’d love to walk you through how you can do this for yourself. So you’re ready to start the new year with energy, enthusiasm and a plan to really tackle something big!
So, I use an activation framework in my programs. It stands on the four pillars of Deliver, Develop, Connect, and Thrive. As in - when we can do all of these things and do them well, we see both our performance and our experience of engagement start to climb.
So let’s talk today about how well you’re currently doing each of these, and how you might discover a handful of tweaks you can make to turn the dial up one notch at a time.
So let’s start with the basics. How well can you deliver your work? I mean - how simply, how effectively, how efficiently can you get your stuff done? And how much aggravation, repetition, and inefficiency is pulling you down?
These questions are important. Obviously, because getting our work done matters. But also there’s tons of data to show that when we’re able to get our best work done, we’re actually more engaged in our jobs. So it’s a double win.
Start with an honest assessment of how you're spending your days. Sitting in meetings, responding to emails - whatever the shape of a typical day. How’s it serving you?
We’re not looking for smoking guns but tiny tweaks you can make. Like…
Really ask and answer these questions. The goal isn’t an overhaul, but tiny tweaks. What if next week you could save yourself 30 minutes of aggravation or rework? And then 30 more the next week? Find a small change you can make and just make it.
This one’s about finding small ways to expand your knowledge, growth and learning. Can be formal programs but sure doesn’t have to be.
And again when we are developing, our work product and our personal engagement both see wins.
So now. Ask yourself…
One of the secret superpowers of this framework is how the pillars start to overlap. So, for example, only when you create more efficiency in your day - skip meetings, move process faster - do you find more time to invest in learning.
And when you see someone in another function whose expertise you’d like to tap, you invite them for coffee to teach. And also this drives connection.
Magic, right?
So what more can you do to amplify your feeling of connection? And no - it doesn’t have to be in person (though personally I do love some shared space with other members of humanity).
And before you tell me you don’t have time, let me assure you there’s data again that says feeling part of a trusted community positively impacts our health, our efficiency, and our willingness to speak up. All of which drive great work.
And now we’ve arrived at your health and wellness. Your sense of being recognized. And again. It matters. When we’re healthy and rested, we show up more fully. More creatively.
So what can you play with in this bucket?
At the end of the day, when we deliver our best work, develop new skills, connect with our colleagues and thrive - manage our boundaries and health? The work gets better and our experience gets better.
And whether or not my specific suggestions resonated, the point is this: There is a ton that lives outside of our control. And still plenty that lives within it.
So be your own advocate. Find the things you can influence. And go influence them.
And if you’d like to have a facilitated conversation with your team? Shoot me an email at rachel@leadabovenoise.com.
Join me next week for another great episode. Until then, visit my website at leadabovenoise.com if your workplace could use an Activation boost—whether it’s a bootcamp, a keynote, or a Pulse check, you choose. You can follow Modern Mentor on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Thanks so much for listening and have a successful week.
Modern Mentor is a Quick and Dirty Tips podcast. It’s audio-engineered by Dan Feirabend. Our Director of Podcasts is Brannan Goetschius. Our Podcast and Advertising Operations Specialist is Morgan Christianson. Our Digital Operations Specialist is Holly Hutchings. Our Marketing and Publicity Associate is Davina Tomlin. Our Marketing Contractor is Nathaniel Hoopes.