I just got off a call with a client, let’s call them Pat, who is working on being more influential with senior leaders. Pat is a senior leader themselves. They are highly affiliative and great at putting people at ease. They tend toward introversion and will let others talk. It’s not that they don’t have a point of view – they usually do. It’s that they take great care in allowing others to be heard and feel included. They don’t feel the need to compete for attention or to be heard. When they have something that they feel needs to be said, then they say it – calmly and deliberately.

And, their affiliative style can be an overused strength. We all want to be liked.

We all have stories we tell ourselves. This is our self-image. We all have stories others tell about us. This is our reputation. Sometimes we internalize not helpful stories others tell about us, and sometimes we need to allow others to know more of who we are or hear feedback on what they have to say.

Suze Shaner is interviewed by Diane Halfman on her podcast “Live Your SPALife” (SPA – Seek Power Always).

This week, we are moving from Hygge, a cozy life, to Friluftsliv, a vital life.

What does it mean to be embodying your life and truly living, not just surviving, in a humane organization?

Painting in Sunshine on this Monday as I come in from a walk in freezing temperatures here in Connecticut….I did this painting last Wednesday after not painting for 10 years.