I am subscribed to Big Life Journal: Growth Mindset for Kids & Teens. If you are a parent, or regularly interact with children, I’d highly recommend it. Every Friday they send FREE printable tips from how to discipline, to how to praise effectively, and so on. This week they shared their GLAD cards for driving connection. It’s a very useful framework, not just for parents but for corporate leaders and teams.
I am sure you’ve had those days where you look back and think about what you could have done differently as a leader? With the hectic pace of work, I often hear leaders saying that they know they don’t really connect with people (human to human) as often or as deeply as they should. Most leaders really want to but get caught up in the busy-ness or are simply not sure how to drive deeper connection. We work regularly with leaders and team to do just this and foster deeper engagement that enables best performance. I’ll definitely be pointing people to Big Life Journal and the concept of GLAD. I share it below, with some examples of questions I have created. Choose two or three, or create your own questions you can ask your team (and adapt for home too) so we can all take Key Steps to strengthen bonds, develop self-awareness, increase positivity and joy and…
- Gratitude: One thing you’re grateful for.
What is a favourite part of your work?
Who has helped and supported you lately to achieve your goals?
What is one thing that you appreciate about your team / your role?
- Learning: One thing you’ve learned.
What’s the best book / blog / article you’ve read lately? Why?
What new thing have you tried recently?
What is the one thing you wish you could learn more about?
- Accomplishment: One thing you’ve accomplished.
What is something that you are better at today than you were last month?
In what ways have you grown or challenged yourself recently?
What is something that makes you proud of yourself?
- Delighted: One thing that brought you joy.
What is the happiest you have felt lately?
What is something you love to do that you’d like to do more often?
Who is someone you are delighted to be around?
You’ll see that you really can be GLAD anytime, anywhere and use these powerful questions to deepen connection at work and at home. Add this ritual to team meetings, coffee catch-ups and so on.
Which question will you use first? What other questions has this sparked for you? I’d love to hear your thoughts so we can keep taking Key Steps together to…‘be the difference that makes the difference.’
NOTE: The information in my blog may be freely shared and re-used in any online or offline publication, provided it is accompanied by the following credit line: This was written by Dr Sharon King Gabrielides, and originally appeared in her free weekly ‘Key Steps Food for Thought Blog’ available on the Key Steps website.
About Dr Sharon King Gabrielides
Sharon is a dynamic facilitator, speaker and executive coach with over 25 years’ experience in leadership development and organisational transformation. Her PhD thesis contributed a framework for holistic and sustainable leadership development that was published by Rutgers University in the USA. She is faculty of numerous business schools and highly sought-after by leading corporates because she works hand-in-hand with them to create sustainable results and long-term success. In 2020, Sharon was inducted into the Educators Hall of Fame, which is a lifetime achievement award, recognising excellence and her contribution to the field.
Sharon is one of only three women in South Africa to have achieved the title of Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) – the Oscar of the speaking industry. She is also a COMENSA Master Practitioner (CMP), a qualified Modern Classroom Certified Trainer (MCCT™) and an accredited Global Virtual Speaker. Sharon is also a registered Education, Training and Development Practitioner (ETDP), holds an Honours degree in Psychology and practices as an NLP master practitioner.
Most important to Sharon is that she has become known for her genuinely caring manner, practical and transformational approach, and for providing valuable tools and that allow people to take Key Steps to really… ‘be the difference that makes the difference.’
