Paula Adams

President, Penmac Staffing

1Support your team.

We all know about current staffing challenges. To attract and retain great talent, treat your current employees well. Make sure you’re not only offering competitive wages and benefits but also that you’re offering those more intangible perks, such as flexibility, respect and kindness.

Ask for a favor.

We should also be willing to accept support. Often, we’re ready to jump up and offer help when others need it, but rarely do we ask for it ourselves. When you ask someone for a favor, you are showing vulnerability, building community and letting others know by example that it’s OK for them to do the same.

3

Know your strengths but also your weaknesses.

Each one of us is unique. We all have different things we’re good at but also areas where we struggle. If we’re honest with ourselves about our strengths and weaknesses, it gives us freedom and clarity about our lives, both professional and personal. 4

Embrace change.

Let’s face it, change is inevitable. Rather than resist it, accept it. In business, especially, it’s easy to get stuck in routines and continue doing things in a certain way just because that’s the way it’s always been done. Instead, look at change with an open mind – be flexible and willing to adjust what’s considered best practice.

Stay rooted in the community.

Community involvement should be more than an abstract phrase. Take it seriously. It’s about more than volunteering and donating, though those things have their place. It’s about attending the football games, walking in the town Christmas parade and being there for your neighbors. When you’re successful, you share that with others; when you struggle, you also should be able to share that burden. Community is just about showing up for each other.

Say yes.

Stay curious.

Say no.

While saying yes will get you out of your comfort zone and give you wider perspectives, there is value in saying no. When you overcommit, particularly to projects that are not interesting or relevant to you, you are stealing time and energy that could otherwise be put toward things you’re passionate about. Don’t be afraid to decline invitations and projects that don’t speak to you.

Consider your values and stick to them.

Saying yes opens you up to new opportunities, perspectives and relationships. Say yes to new projects, interesting offers and invitations to join local boards. Agree to make a leap, to meet each chapter as it comes; saying yes will broaden your world and give you a fuller life.

Notes:

Whether it’s in the office, at your child’s school or at home, learning never ends. As we grow, mature and have new experiences, we are always expanding our perspectives, learning new things. Stay open to new opportunities to learn. Stay curious about the world around you, and you’ll never stop growing.

Advice is great, and it’s always great to collaborate with a team, but in the end, what’s right for one person might not necessarily be right for another person. Someone who values loyalty might make different decisions than someone who values adventure, for instance. Think about what is most important to you, and then work to make sure your actions and choices align with those values.

Say thank you.

Say it out loud. Write it down. Show it in your actions. Express gratitude to your family, your coworkers and the person who checks you out at the grocery store. Being continually grateful for even the smallest blessings will show up in your attitude, work and life as a whole.