Servant leadership style is based on the idea the leader prioritizes serving the greater good. Typically, leaders with this style serve their team and organization first. Its rarely about their objectives but the needs of the collective. Both employees and stakeholders in a servant leadership environment are more likely to feel that their voices are heard. If the above summary is accurate then it is no surprise that having a project run by a servant-leader is going to bring out the best in the stakeholders, subject matter experts and the ultimate success of the project. Let’s dissect the elements of servant leadership and how they impact project leadership and the PMO. Encourage diversity of thought Diversity encompasses a myriad of traits. For the benefit of this missive, we are referring to how diversity affects thinking. Having a diverse team creates an environment where people want to join and become part of the team which leads to a wonderful array of perspectives. Acceptance, tolerance, variety, and the education that arises from being a part of a diverse group breeds changes in thinking and a broadening of horizons. Servant leadership encourages members to think outside the box and take into consideration a wider range of viewpoints. The dialogue that ensues develops critical thinking with the final decision a true collective collaboration and exchange of ideas. A servant leader project manager is successful as they lead the team from a position of acknowledgement so that power never rests with one person. Giving everyone a seat at the table makes for a truly creative endeavor. Agile teams arise from the foundation of diversity and inclusion. A Culture of trust Trust is, as we are all aware, one of the hardest things to regain once it’s broken. Earning and creating trust should be a prime directive for any leader but on a project, even more so. Leading with honor and clearly communicating to everyone the values that the team and stakeholders are expected to live by leads to a successful outcome. Did You Know: Sadly, only one in three employees strongly agree that they trust the leadership in their organization making this second core pillar even more important. The servant-leader project manager can build this high level of trust by being crystal clear in all communications and in meetings; sharing notes, minutes, updates and consistently showing up for the team; stepping in and solving problems with kindness, grace, and professionalism. When you hold the candle high the team can see and know they can be heard and supported. A great expression out of the mouth of my then 4-year-old daughter who at the time was attending nursery school was, You are only a leader if somebody follows you. Her naive little perspective arose from the shenanigans of little girls vying for attention to see who could attract the most interest from the group. However, this innocent statement made so much sense at a far deeper level. To me, it spoke volumes about how leadership is truly earned and not just a given title. A project brought in ON-TIME, ON-SCOPE and ON-BUDGET is driven by subject matter experts, stakeholders, and participants honoring their commitments and feeling supported by the PMO. An unselfish mindset It’s not about you. It never was and it never will be. It is about the people who make it all happen. True ‘Hero’ leaders facilitate the success of others and make everyone feel valued and that their contributions matter. Did You Know: Half of employees only feel “somewhat valued” and 1 in 10 don’t feel “valued at all,” According to a January 2023 report by Workhuman. In its monthly Human Workplace Index, 46.4% reported the former and 10.7% reported the latter. Notably, 48.8% of women surveyed said they feel undervalued. Foster leadership in others. Every project is important and the members of the project team even more so. It is an honor to be a project manager and to lead a team through the mire and complexities of steps, processes, outcomes, slips & slides, looming milestones, and results but it is also a leader’s responsibility to appreciate the need to develop the next generation of leaders. Team collaboration always flourishes the tenant running through the project is one of ‘We’ not ‘I’. Foster leadership in others. No matter the size or length or magnitude of the project, a servant leader understands the power of building a great team and understands the need to develop the next generation of leaders. Fostering leadership happens in many ways. We lead by example; we lead by fostering and coaching; we lead by mentoring; and sometimes we lead with by offering words of encouragement and gestures of kindness and respect. Great leaders give back pure and simple. Servant leaders give more of themselves not because they must, but because they want to. Servant leaders are transparent, honest, and yes, even vulnerable. That sounds like it would be a weakness, but on the contrary, it helps build you as a leader and lets others see you as a human being, not the policeman directing traffic and holding everyone accountable. As a project manager I see these attributes in action every day; on every project and with every team member and personally know each of them to be key to the success of the members, the project and ultimately the organization. Honoring and respecting the processes, guiding with kindness, dignity, nurturing, and consistency equals growth on all levels for all participants. Project leadership is more about understanding and listening than any other skill. Let the 4xi Consulting PMO help guide your projects and bring them in ON-TIME ON-SCOPE, and ON-BUDGET. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: DINA O'REILLY Dina is 4xi's growth lead, project management office and ghostwriter in residence all in one. To learn more about 4xi, you can contact Dina directly at dina@4xiconsulting.com or visit our website to learn more about who we are, what we do, and how we inspire a brighter future, together: www.4xiconsulting.com 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Philadelphia | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo

The “Stop, Look, Listen” slogan is designed to encourage students both young and old to investigate truth claims and issues related to truth. It allows students to stand back and think about ways to obtain information when trying to find out about the truth of something. It’s an interesting and incredibly useful aphorism that encourages students to think critically about the source at hand. Lessons for children that we could all benefit from! Stop Look Listen Think is similar in some ways to the safety slogan of a similar ilk, but this has one distinct difference – THINK. If we turn this saying around and look through a business lens as an Executive or leader, we have the most remarkable reminder and learning of how to communicate with our teams, our staff, and our clients. Without sounding too brash “grab a cup of coffee, suspend your beliefs, and let’s go”! STOP: Stop going into ‘Boss’ mode! Stop assuming you understand. Stop thinking that as an executive or leader, you must know all the answers. Stop thinking that it is your job alone to solve all the problems. LOOK: Look for clues as to what is going on for your teams. Look for details to better understand challenges and gain trust. Look at body language as it accounts for about 55 percent of communications. Look to find solutions that your teams will want to implement. LISTEN: Listen more than speak. Listen with empathy. Active and in-depth listening is a wonderful skill to develop. Listen for clues and repeat what you think you heard to ensure it is correct. Listen to understand not to respond. THINK: Think about what it must be like to be in their world. To walk in their shoes. Think about ways to improve communication between you, and your team, that will have knock-on effects that improve communication amongst the teams themselves. Think about ways in which you can facilitate and enhance customer communication. Think about what needs to change. All sounds a bit autocratic perhaps, but these simple tactics encourage teamwork, loyalty, commitment, and a vested mindset in ways that cannot be measured. So, now we THINK! An employee who feels undervalued, underappreciated, and dismissed for their gift’s contributions, or attributes will struggle to find ways to continue to contribute or worse, slip quietly away into ‘doing’ not ‘performing’, and rarely ‘thinking’. An employee’s best emerges when they are heard, seen, and understood When we Stop Look Listen and Think we are empowering our teams, our customers, and ourselves to be open to learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Empowered with new information, we as leaders can chart new courses, and formulate new ways to grow and lead; our very critical thinking brain that we have depended on to this point now has more neurons firing and wiring, which is, always a good thing. Life gets in the way of living! It is easy for all of us to become discombobulated by life, to be swept into the current of routines and predictability, and to not take time to uncover truths. This phase reminds us to truly STOP, slow down, and look around. It is for that reason alone that this simple slogan can be so helpful to any leader looking to take the next steps, build bridges, strengthen collaboration, and breed true, lasting partnerships. Reminders, on occasion, can be an irritating perseveration but when received positively can give rise to taking stock, inspiring thoughtfulness, and mindfulness that in turn creates desired change and growth. May I politely, and with a smile, remind you to STOP LOOK LISTEN and THINK ABOUT THE AUTHOR: DINA O'REILLY Dina is 4xi's growth lead, project management office and ghostwriter in residence all in one. To learn more about 4xi, you can contact Dina directly at dina@4xiconsulting.com or visit our website to learn more about who we are, what we do, and how we inspire a brighter future, together: www.4xiconsulting.com 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Philadelphia | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo

Do you feel overwhelmed by the amount of information, complexity, and jargon around sustainability? Does yet another news story about the rise in global temperatures terrify you? Do you want to contribute and make an impact but feel helpless and don’t know where to start? If any of the above are "Yes", you're not alone - join 4xi's Chief Sustainability Officer in Residence, Christy Cook on her upcoming webinar. WHAT: Webinar: ESG Essentials WHEN: Aug 23, 2023 TIME: 12:00PM to 1:00PM EST Pushing sustainability decisions off might seem like the easiest decision because it requires no action. That means you can avoid these complex, often unknown issues and focus on other, easier to tackle problems. Sustainability Simplified©: Doing the right thing is simply the right thing to do! Here’s the thing. Ignoring the environment, how you treat people, and how you manage your company does not position your company for success. If you ignore sustainable solutions to your business, you can feel those impacts in client acquisition and retention, employee turnover, access to funding, and risk to your business. Half of consumers say they have paid a premium, an average of 59% more, for products branded as sustainable or socially responsible in the last 12 months. Christy Cook has partnered with Cleveland, OH accelerator, JumpStart, to offer a free webinar to help people, managers, leaders, and organizations understand how incorporating sustainable Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) practices can positively impact their business. Jumpstart's ecosystem and approach to venture development providing capital, services and connections to help entrepreneurs grow, researchers commercialize and corporations innovate - was a great alignment with our mission and values. This is why I am offering a webinar in partnership with Jumpstart to help you understand only the points you need to know along with some immediate actions you can take. Join me to learn: What is ESG? Why does ESG matter to my business? How to leverage ESG solutions to make your business stand out Webinar attendees will leave with an understanding of: How ESG impacts your business The Regulatory Landscape – who is impacted and when Recognizing ESG risks to your business and how to get ahead of the issue The top three ESG topics you should address Identifying your next action steps Register now: ESG Essentials REGISTRATION LINK Questions? Email me directly for more information: christycook@4xiconsulting.com WEBINAR HOST: CHRISTY COOK Christy is 4xi's Chief Sustainability Officer in Residence is the lead of Sustainability Simplified©. Christy specializes in ESG Advisory, Strategies, Sustainability Road Maps, Measurement, Systems, and Reporting. To learn more about Sustainability Simplified© and 4xi visit our website: who we are, what we do, and how we inspire a brighter future, together: www.4xiconsulting.com 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Philadelphia | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo

Being hopeful and seeing the glass half-full has been a positive and successful approach to life for as long as writers have touted hope's value. Hope, so they say, is the last thing ever lost. Ask any leader of business when all is a struggle, and they will candidly share that it is that tiny kernel of hope that problems can be resolved that is truly the underpinning of tenacity and survival itself. "I like to think of Hope as an 'equal opportunity feeling" High levels of hope have been linked to numerous health benefits including reduced levels of depression and anxiety and lowered risk of death. High levels of hope lead to better social competence and lower levels of absenteeism. Did you know that creating an organizational culture that inspires hope could improve employee wellness? Leading with hope when the going gets rough means taking a practical pathway and instead of just exuding feelings of hope, providing a structure around the emotion to allow hope to flourish. Here are five ways leaders can both inspire hope and lay down the stepping stones for employees to find a sure footing. Engage with Employees in Goal setting Take the time to ensure your workforce has a clear sense of your company’s values and goals by engaging them in a refresher course, be that small focus groups, roundtables or just hopping up on a desk and addressing them can all make the difference to creating that feeling that HOPE is present. Engaging employees empowers them with a more secure sense of control throughout their workdays. Lead by Example Leadership is so much more than strategy and numbers. Your outward attitude and examples of behavior can significantly affect those of your employees. Leading by example and instilling the value of positivity in the workplace will help create a sense of comfort that future outcomes will follow suit. Your attitude by virtue of consistency trickles through employees to influence their customer service, enhancing customer relationships, and their trust that; this too shall pass. Align Employee Skills with Responsibilities Hope is a good breakfast but a bad supper. Francis Bacon. Without action, however, hope can fizzle. Helping inspire hope in your workforce, ensures that each employee’s responsibilities are deemed to be important, valued, and appreciated. However, this means taking the time to align your employees’ attributes to match their roles. By encouraging each member of the team to experience hope and confidence that they can each achieve the company goals with enthusiasm and faith. Hope is a feeling, but it is rooted in function and a sense of belonging. Provide Regular Feedback Good feedback is the key to improvement. Inspiring hope in your employees to help them thrive often means providing regular feedback for good effort and results. When your team has performed well, it is crucial that they hear from business leaders to sustain that hope and motivation. Balancing constructive criticism with praise is an art form, to say the least, but fostering it allows both you and your employees opportunities to grow and develop. Communication is Key Communication is the bridge between clarity and confusion. This is one of my favorite quotes because it is so true. Regular meetings—whether online or in-person— allow you as a leader to share vital and current information that builds an internal understanding of your business’s outlooks and objectives. The more you share, the more comfort you provide to your staff. To be a leader today and to truly make a difference, breeding hope is the single most extraordinary way to build strength, courage, resiliency, and determination. Perhaps Napoleon Bonaparte said it best: “Courage is like love; it must have HOPE for nourishment”. May Hope inspire you to lead your team and yourself to success and peace! ABOUT THE AUTHOR: DINA O'REILLY Dina is 4xi's growth lead, project management office and ghostwriter in residence all in one. To learn more about 4xi, you can contact Dina directly at dina@4xiconsulting.com or visit our website to learn more about who we are, what we do, and how we inspire a brighter future, together: www.4xiconsulting.com 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Philadelphia | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo

In the world of business, we are taught so many skills, methods, processes, and practices, yet the simplest most endearing of skills is that of the smile. 13 little muscles that bring a sparkling, engaging, delightful, and encouraging facial expression that truly makes a difference. What does ‘smile and the world smiles with you’ really mean? In short, our smile reflects our state of mind. When you smile, you are OK, but it also means you perceive that everybody else around you is OK too. The power of a smile can turn fear into calm, anxiety into peace, and worry into relief. Why is it so important to smile in business? Not only does smiling make you feel happier and more positive, but it can also lead to higher rates of productivity. Did you know that studies show being happy has a significant effect on productivity in the workplace? Simply put, smiling causes feelings of satisfaction and more joyful emotions, resulting in more creativity, focus, and results. There are two key conveyances that happen when we smile which is why the act of smiling in business is so important. Reward: Smiles convey approval, happiness, contentment, and other positive feelings. Affiliation: Smiles communicate positive intention, trustworthiness, belongingness, compassion, and social connection. Whether presenting to your team, the company, a client, a vendor or just being out and about, another compelling reason to smile is that it may lengthen your overall lifespan. And who doesn’t want that? As a leader, your smile carries so much power, loyalty, commitment, and trust. Let’s face it, no one wants to follow a dour, grumpy, or unfriendly leader – but a smiling, welcoming one can move mountains. Let’s look at how smiling impacts business in a functional way. Smiling Relieves Stress: Stress can permeate our entire being, including showing up in our faces and expression. Those around you looking to you for leadership, security, trust, or guidance will respond completely differently if you are smiling when you speak versus frowning or looking glum or unfriendly. People trust a smiling face plain and simple. Smiling Elevates Mood: Not just your mood but those around you. The physical act of smiling activates pathways in your brain that influence your emotional state—meaning that by adopting a happy facial expression, you can "trick" your mind into entering a state of happiness. The real magic happens when your smile affects those around you who need no tricks to feel the improved mood that arises from within. Think of smiling as a natural antidepressant for you and your observers. Smiling Is Contagious How many times have you heard that a smile has the power to light up the room? To a large degree, it is true. Smiling not only elevates your mood, but it can also change the moods of others for the better. Research suggests that smiles are even contagious which is how ‘You’ and ‘Your’ smile changes the world. Smiling Boosts the Immune System: Smiling can also boost your overall health by helping your immune system to function more effectively. A healthy person means healthy employees and less absenteeism. Smiling Suggests Success: Did you know that research has shown that people who smile regularly appear more confident are more likely to be promoted, and are more likely to be approached? Smile and Success will find you. Smiling Helps You Stay Positive: Our smiles influence our feelings and signal our brain that "Life is good!" and, ultimately, so are we! Staying positive helps us grow, lead, influence, and impact our peers, and senior leadership which ultimately breeds success. Smile, crinkle your eyes, giggle, and give your best self to the world through the wonder of your smile. And heck, while you’re at it have a good chortle too. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: DINA O'REILLY Dina is 4xi's growth lead, project management office and ghostwriter in residence all in one. To learn more about 4xi, you can contact Dina directly at dina@4xiconsulting.com or visit our website to learn more about who we are, what we do, and how we inspire a brighter future, together: www.4xiconsulting.com 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Philadelphia | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo

Recognition, motivation, and engagement are intrinsically linked, but what is the right approach at each moment in time? This is something that many struggle with identifying the right course of action, and timing in both life and in business. The following explores my musings on this subject. Bagpipes The anti-war song “The Band Played Waltzing Matilda” composed by Scottish born, Australian singer, Eric Bogle in 1971. The song is based on the lyrics of Australian poet, Banjo Paterson from 1895 and relates to how the band carried on playing despite the bloody battle around them. The song surrounds the bloody WWI battle of Gallipoli in World War I where over 300,000 soldiered were injured or died. Throughout the centuries, Scottish pipers have been on the field of battle with their fever pitch and call for the soldiers to rally and maintain their positions whether in victory or defeat. The motivational value of these rally cries is long proven, and one not dissimilar to the motivations, call to action movements in some of the most successful organizations today - its not about the task, its about belief in the movement and the cause. It’s about carrying on no matter what, in the face of adversity, and how the pipers (or the band) continue and sustain the appetite for success. The Fiddlers Unlike the bagpipers who have a distinct purpose on the battlefield, instilling fear in the enemy and bolstering the morale of the troops, the fiddlers are the antithesis. One much referenced example is Emperor Nero who apparently fiddled whilst Rome burned, oblivious of the disaster occurring around him. The definition of the phrase being, to ignore a major problem whilst doing something unimportant, or unrelated to the emergency at hand. How often have we seen this occur in our lives? One can just look at the climate emergency at hand whilst we bicker over scoring pointless party political power points. Turning a deaf ear to the gun endemic in the United States, with on average, 650 mass shootings (of 4 or more people) over the past three years, and yet still people are free to purchase military grade assault rifles at the supermarket, without any sensible control. The band on the Titanic are an example more akin to Nero than the musicians on the battlefield as the lifeboats were dropping into the icy ocean below. Cupcakes Sometimes, even in times of emergency, the littlest things can mean the most. The slap on the back, the words of encouragement, the personal note to say thank you. How we behave and react in times of need is a reflection of our ability, and talent to lead. As Rudyard Kipling referred to, keeping our heads when all around us are losing there’s, is an important lesson for all of us. In those moments when we are up against it, in the face of adversity, the kindness of cupcakes can be one of those littlest things that can mean the most, and be remembered, often for a very long time. My favorite Maya Angelou quote has always been: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” So, next time you’re in an emergency or in a time of need, will you play the bagpipes, the fiddle, or use a slap on the back and cupcakes to lift your team to victory? To learn more about 4xi, visit their website at www.4xiconsulting.com or click on the following link. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Philadelphia | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo

In business as in life, we need a variety of skills, talents, strengths, and a hefty dose of resilience to grow and weather storms. Companies around the world have learned a thing or two about themselves over the past few years and I am guessing that many of the attributes of the eightfold path of good character are among them. Eightfold Path appears in what is regarded as the first sermon of the founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha. The notion behind the eightfold path of good character hinges on eight core virtues: courage, curiosity, temperance, humility, liberty, honor, wisdom, and humor. When we think of virtues, we think of them in terms of lofty goals and or attributable to certain people however, in business these virtues become the glue that holds a team together. Courage frees a business to grow, curiosity grows new product lines and services, temperance develops staying power, humility grounds a business in integrity, liberty stabilizes a business to flourish, honor unifies a business to stand firm and stay true to its values, wisdom guides a business to the next level, and humor overcomes an arrogant or stagnant mindset. But what does it all mean? Courage: “Courage isn’t having the strength to go on – it is going on when you don’t have the strength.” ~ Napoleon Bonaparte Courage is the bedrock of business excellence. Without that initial leap of courage, we are left with a business with no growth opportunities and no evidence of excellence. Without courage, one is merely restricted to the conventional, constrained by the same old same old way of doing things inside the box of the status quo, and may I suggest hampered by outdated reasoning. With the leap of courage boundaries transform into horizons. Comfort zones stretch into new and exciting adventures. The future of business can flourish on the path created by courage. Curiosity: “Cave ab homine unius libri – Beware of anyone who has just one book’ ~ Thomas Aquinas Leaders are readers so the saying goes and that is because curiosity is essential. It is the fuel that launches us beyond faith and keeps us pushing ONWARDS! Always a little further. Curiosity in business is how the world changes and how we bring creative solutions to our customers and clients. With curiosity we can investigate how we operate, what we do, and how we grow – curiosity is the difference between standing still and moving forward. Curiosity for business is not an ‘Option’ it is a ‘must-have’. Temperance: “Temperance is simply a disposition of the mind which binds the passion” ~ Thomas Aquinas The adage of moderation in all things comes to mind as even in business controlling budgets, cash flow, and ensuring balance is at the very core of temperance. The key is to accept responsibility for the consequences of both our moderate and immoderate choices. Tricky, but that’s where humility comes into play. When we as business leaders evoke temperance, we are not constraining progress but are in fact directing it calmly and with precision. Temperance is not reductive but expansive for when we exercise self-restraint, we give the business time to reflect and step forward with precision. Temperance is not reductive but expansive. Humility: "Ego kills knowledge, as knowledge requires learning, and learning requires humility." ~ Rolsey Research suggests that a healthy dose of humility helps protect against extremism, polarization, and bias. With humility at our core, we can admit that we are fallible, imperfect, and uncertain. It gives us the courage to admit when we are wrong. And goodness knows business is not always right nor accurate or perfect. It is in fact in our constant iterations, improvements, version upgrades, and affecting change that we get better and better. Humility keeps us honest and without it, we are more likely to fall victim to cognitive dissonance. Humility strangely enough gives us the power to be wrong and still be the hero in our business. Liberty: “Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.” ~ George Washington Be it in life or in business, freedom is not a given. It must be earned. The moment freedom is taken for granted is the moment it is lost. Liberty, then, is a culmination of earning freedom through self-discipline and then holding the world accountable. In business we exercise liberty every time we walk through the door, answer a call, or produce a solution for it is in our collective self-discipline that we grow. How we set up ourselves for success, share, build and create sets the stage for the freedom of expression and bringing to life those solutions we believe support growth and let’s face it, profits. As Jean Piaget said, “We organize our worlds by first organizing ourselves.” And so self-organization (self-discipline) is the first step toward freedom. And when we are free, we have the right to honor. We organize our worlds by first organizing ourselves. Honor: “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” ~ Abraham Lincoln The core of honor is self-honesty. We cannot be honorable without self-honesty. It is here that honesty puts the business into perspective, and honor unifies the TRUE NORTH. True honor is being responsible with our power. When corporations deliberate over missions, visions, and values it is because they become the glue, the badge of Honor worn by all staff and personnel. Foremost, honor is responsibility. Responsibility with our power, means we are more likely to admit we could be wrong. And since the fallible and imperfect business conditions tend to be wrong about a great many things, it behooves us all to take responsibility with our power so as not to become a pawn to it. It behooves us all to take responsibility with our power. Wisdom: “We are not provided with wisdom, we must discover it for ourselves, after a journey through the wilderness which no one else can take for us.” ~ Marcel Proust Wisdom cannot be taught. Knowledge can be taught, skills can be taught, but not wisdom. Wisdom is mystical, numinous, and transcendent. As businesses grow and ‘experience’ the essence of their mission and vision they learn something extraordinary. They learn that wisdom is a heightened state of clarity. Most of all, Wisdom has the wherewithal to get out of its own way. Does your business know how to get out of its own way? As Lao Tzu wisely stated, “To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day." Finally, we have our fluid and flexible humor…. Humor: “Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing.” ~ Mark Twain Humor is the only virtue that is transcendent. Our ability to laugh in the face of adversity; to chuckle at our missteps and smile as the benign takes us to a higher plane of competence means we have evolved past our ego and into maturity. In business, it is even more important that leaders bring humor and lightness to their platform and vision. The CEO who makes the team laugh and brings humor to his presentations not only brings his true self to the podium but garners the loyalty and devotion of his team. Humor means you are so strong that you have become completely flexible; that you are so comfortable making fun of yourself or moments that you are open to being seen in your entirety (think honor, humility, character, and wisdom) which ultimately makes you both powerful and vulnerable – you have, with humor, become ‘REAL’. Having a good sense of humor is the crowning achievement of good character, and the soul, in perhaps more esoteric terms, is the crown. A company that has humor breeds, happy staff, good ole positive vibes, and a joy to work for. Have a giggle, find a joke of the day, or simply find a reason to chuckle – EVERY DAY. May the eightfold path of good business be your guiding light. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: DINA O'REILLY Dina is 4xi's growth lead, project management office and ghostwriter in residence all in one. To learn more about 4xi, you can contact Dina directly at dina@4xiconsulting.com or visit our website to learn more about who we are, what we do, and how we inspire a brighter future, together: www.4xiconsulting.com 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Philadelphia | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo

Mother's Day is a special day dedicated to celebrating and honoring our mothers and mother figures for their love, care, and hard work. It is a day to recognize the contributions of these amazing women in our lives and show them how much they mean to us. Mother's Day is celebrated around the world, in mid-March in the United Kingdom and in May in North America. It is a time for families to come together to honor and appreciate mothers. Mothers come in many forms, some traditional and some not so much. From biological to adopted, soon-to-be moms, stepmothers, den-mothers, and Godmothers, and, in short, every woman taking on the role of a mother to those who need love, kindness, understanding, and support. The leadership role of a mother is varied, broad, deep and let’s face it hard work. Those of us who have been up all night with an ill child, who have paced the floor with a colicky newborn, or sweated out pre-exam jitters with teens, know that the role of mother has as many aspects as a beautifully cut cento diamond. The history of Mother's Day dates to the early 20th century, when Anna Jarvis campaigned for a special day to honor mothers. Anna wanted to create a day that would recognize the sacrifices and hard work that mothers do every day. In 1914, her efforts paid off when Mother's Day was officially recognized as a national holiday in the United States. Mother's Day is now celebrated in many countries worldwide and has become a day to celebrate motherhood and show gratitude to mothers everywhere. As a mother and grandmother and one who is blessed to still have her own mother alive and well, I feel humbled and grateful to have been led by a deeply loving, kind, and thoughtful woman. An Irish sense of humor, a colorful smattering of drama, Max Factor red lipstick that borders on indelible, and the ability to read a bedtime story like no other gave me the gift of kindness, and a love of literature and writing that I hold dear to this day. But the role of a mother is not limited to those who have children as the characteristics and power of love are the key to bringing compassion and grace to families, businesses, leadership, and success. When we take a quiet look at the gifts a mother brings, we see all the women who bring mothering when we need it most. From aunts, cousins, teachers, and neighbors so many women have taken up the mantle of love and guidance to those around them be they their own children or not. A mother's love is a powerful force that can inspire and guide us in all areas of life, including leadership. In the workplace, mothers make excellent leaders. They bring their nurturing and empathetic qualities to the table, creating a supportive and inclusive culture that allows everyone to thrive. They have a unique perspective that can help them to identify and address the needs of their team members, leading to greater engagement, productivity, and job satisfaction. Moreover, mothers can be highly skilled at managing multiple priorities, a crucial trait in leadership. They are adept at balancing the demands of work and family, often juggling a wide range of responsibilities with grace and skill. This ability to multitask and prioritize can be invaluable in the workplace, where leaders must manage competing demands and navigate complex challenges. The first project manager I ever hired was a young woman who did not have a degree or formal credentials but a story, which, upon hearing, sealed the deal. She explained that her husband had been deployed and she was set to join him a few months later. She did just that at only 20 years old with newborn twins in tow, perched on string seats on a cargo plane traveling halfway around the world completely on her OWN and never skipped a beat. Now that folks is how you become an accomplished Project Manager! There are many ways to celebrate Mother's Day, from simple gestures of gratitude and love to grand displays of affection. Some people choose to give their mothers gifts or flowers, while others prefer to spend quality time together or share a meal. Whatever the approach, the most important thing is to make sure that mothers feel loved, appreciated, and valued on this special day. It is an opportunity in our rushed and busy lives where we can stop, take stock, and just feel the memories of love and how much our mother brought to our life. This is even more important for those who do not have their mothers close by or for those whose mothers have passed away. As we celebrate Mother's Day, let us remember our mothers present and absent and toast the wonder of the women who gave us life. Happy Mother’s Day Mom! ABOUT THE AUTHOR: DINA O'REILLY Dina is 4xi's growth lead, project management office and ghostwriter in residence all in one. To learn more about 4xi, you can contact Dina directly at dina@4xiconsulting.com or visit our website to learn more about who we are, what we do, and how we inspire a brighter future, together: www.4xiconsulting.com 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Philadelphia | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo

Knowing what the competition is doing can be insightful and useful. Learning how your industry, city, and fellow local businesses are doing can be incredibly valuable especially if your industry is looking for solutions to nationwide or global issues. The how we share, what we share, and when we share can, however, be complicated, challenging, and fraught with uncertainties. But, sharing under controlled conditions using methods a step above the humble survey can be the answer to being in touch, on top of, and in the ‘know’ in ways that drive solutions, insights, decision-making, and progress. Let's begin with a definition: Survey research is, in short, an investigative method of gathering information from a large cohort. The advantage of the ordinary survey is that it can include a large population that brings with it greater statistical power, the ability to gather large amounts of information, and the availability of validated models. However, when you take those large populations and segment them thoughtfully the wisdom arising out of the data can be illuminating and practical. Wisdom arising out of the survey data can be illuminating and practical. Surveys over time One of the longer-term advantages of the survey is that it can be used to question an audience over a protracted period. Membership or platform-based offerings allow users to participate using this online service to easily create a set of queries and just continue to collect responses. At the risk of sounding trite, the longer the period you can collect responses, the more data you acquire. This time element does something extraordinarily important; it reduces bias and allows the participants to make better business decisions from this information. The value then of the membership is that they can continue to ask, question, share and tabulate continuously gathering and ultimately refining the analysis. The BEST decisions come from foundational and reliable data. Changing to easily meet new market environments Another great advantage of surveys is that they can be modified to meet new market environments. This is so important as issues appear and disappear for businesses on a seemingly non-stop basis. With a membership-based platform, an individual opinion not only adds value to the collective but has weight in terms of the type of questions asked. When membership can steer the types of questions; can impact how surveys help everyone gather value and insight, the larger cohort wins every time. Team Time It typically takes a team to craft questions and some feedback collection tools are not well designed to be used by anyone other than a staff member. A membership-based platform that understands your industry means the tool, the questions, and the insights can be formulated and shared quickly and efficiently giving the whole cohort wisdom in real-time. Surveys are best when they are living experiences and continuously working for the respondents. Quick surveys That are nimble, on point and relevant right now means pertinent and useful data is accessible to the membership quickly and immediately. There is nothing more helpful to decision making than accurate, relevant, and germane information. Surveys are Honest – NO! really, they are! Feedback collection tools can be prone to being corrupted especially when they are random and unsolicited. Typically, this corruption arises when the respondent doesn’t want to give their true feelings for fear of how the data is to be used or analyzed. Additionally, there may be pressure to conform or to be doing what everyone else is doing. Platform, membership-based surveys get around these problems by allowing respondents to complete the survey in private, without peer pressure, and without the listening ear of the person to whom they’re talking about. Therefore, the results given are more honest and valuable to the business or to the collective cohort. Regularly scheduled surveys sent to the membership with the resulting reports and data shared accurately, consistently, and with intentionality breeds success. Continuously gathering and sharing develops credence for the platform. Comfort over time ensues and the ongoing shared results breed confidence and trust in the survey process being used. Surveys are best when they are living experiences and continuously working for the respondents. Past Present and Future Surveys can be used to collect information about the past, the present, and even the future. Survey data make for easier decisions and allow for market research to find the potential customer base or how a new product might be perceived by the audience. The questions, results, insights, and options for a survey are endless. Truly a tool that continuously helps business leaders. With the power to ask qualifying questions to narrow down the audience; pose pre-qualifying questions to adjust who completes the whole survey or simply to ask for personal opinions, survey design can help everyone who participates. You choose; they choose; we all WIN! Conclusion Surveys can be a powerful tool to help your business collect valuable information. Great questions, honest answers and thoughtful analysis helps improve business operations and generate future direction for your business. membership area STAY INFORMED AND IN TOUCH WITH HOW YOUR PEERS ARE TACKLING THE ISSUES OF THE DAY. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ann McNally led global amenities at Bristol Myers Squibb and Morgan Stanley before leading growth with service giant Sodexo. Ann was one of the founding consultants at 4xi Global Consulting and is the practice lead for Criterion Benchmarking delivering data and insights for amenities services leaders. For more information on CRITERION Benchmarking, you can email Ann McNally directly at annmcnally@4xiconsulting.com If you are having difficulty learning how your organization compares to other organizations' workplace and soft services experience offer overall listen to our podcast. @Barbara Boden, former global amenities lead at JPMorgan Chase & Co, and @Ann McNally Americas amenities lead at Bristol Myers Squibb, and Morgan Stanley talk about their perspectives on the importance of peer-to-peer learning, benchmarking, and insights. CRITERION Benchmarking is an exclusive online membership for workplace experience leaders - with access to peer-to-peer insights on various site services. CRITERION provides real-time answers to the often asked question – how do we compare to others? CRITERION gives you access to insights both inside and outside your network and eliminates the time and effort devoted to gathering answers through limited calls and emails. CRITERION Members agree to participate in the monthly anonymous survey covering relevant workplace topics. Our reporting methodology ensures confidentiality while providing an in-depth actionable report in aggregated format. CRITERION also offers a combination of public and private polls only accessible to members in our password protected membership area. The possibilities and use cases are endless, but here are just some examples: Return to Work Strategies Post COVID Best Practices Amenities Strategies Foodservice Insights Breakrooms & Pantries Policies & Procedures Investments & Subsidies Sustainability & ESG Health & Wellness Key Performance Indicators Technology Innovation Learn more about CRITERION Benchmarking and how it can help you with data and insights through peer-to-peer learning. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, creating an impact on the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy; whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Orlando | North Carolina | Philadelphia | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Dallas | Santiago | London | Tokyo

PRESS RELEASE May 2023 Boutique consulting firm, 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions marks its third birthday this month, three years after the very beginning of the global pandemic. The world has changed so much since that time! Back in 2020, Barbara Boden, former head of Global Head of Amenities at JPMorgan Chase & Co, and Simon Elliot, former Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Aramark joined forces and they haven’t looked back since. “People often asked me, what a challenging time to start a business. My response: actually it was perfect timing - from a revenue perspective the only way was up, and organizations were in disarray not knowing how to deal with the whole COVID crisis and their crash course to change.” - said Simon Elliot, Co-founder and Managing Partner at the firm. 4xi has been busy building a collection of practices designed to offer enterprise level resources and support for our “4” target organizations. These include: Client-side companies wishing to advance the human experience in the workplace, in education, healthcare, senior living, and leisure. Operators seeking additional resources without adding headcount. Innovators looking to package and articulate their product or service to grow. Hospitality companies seeking to expand through acquisition or partnership. They have also been busy supporting clients, including several global organizations wanting to understand their world-wide footprints, employee amenities offerings, and how they compare. The 4xi team supported the opening of a new HQ in Manhattan, and a new state-of-the-art conference center in Atlanta. Elsewhere, through their Evolving Experiences© practice, 4xi’s Chief Experience Officer, Tony Johnson has helped operators craft and execute their Customer (CX) and Employee Experience (EX) strategies. “We know that Experience Matters! We know that when organizations focus on the people - employees and customers, that amazing things can happen. This isn’t just about fluffy, nice to have, but an essential strategic imperative for any organization who wants to transition from survive to thrive.” - said Tony Johnson, 4xi’s Chief Experience Officer in Residence. Beyond Evolving Experiences©, the 4xi practices truly cover a range of expertise, including SPx, strategic consulting and special projects, HQ: fractional support on-demand resources, Design4Life©, physical and experiential design, to TRUE NORTH©, a learning academy to help organizations win better, retain better business. Since 4xi’s formation, the team has helped clients win in excess of $150M in new business, an impressive stat demonstrating the value they bring. 4xi consultant growth has been impressive too - with nearly 20 consultants now worldwide, the 4xi team is a stellar group of senior leaders from all sides of the client/operator/innovator equation with consultants across the United States and also in the UK, Europe, Latin America, and Asia - they are targeting continued team growth on their expansion journey. Part of 4xi’s development roadmap is 4xi360 - an online, on-demand resource center for operators of all sizes in the broader service industry. Targets include multi-unit operators from restaurants, foodservice operators, facilities companies, gas stations, spas, hotels, and more. The goal is to provide access to essential information including tools, forms, standard operating procedures, and job aides offer consistency and compliance, in addition to valuable articles and insights. “We know that there is a lot of inconsistency out there, that organizations of all sizes struggle with ensuring that they have access to the right tools, everywhere. 4xi360 is a platform designed to provide these essential resources to a broad range of audiences that drive immediate value and impact.” - said Barbara Boden, Co-founder and Managing Partner. Ann McNally, one of the founding consultants at the firm recently launched CRITERION Benchmarking on the 4xi360 backbone providing peer-to-peer surveying, data, and insights for workplace. “Our mission isn’t to be the biggest, but to be the best. We pride ourselves on delivering value and driving tangible impact in the work that we do. Our mantra of taking the time to carefully listen, learn, and understand, forms the basis of our client focused solutions that deliver meaningful outcomes.” - added Simon Elliot. The firm continues to expand with engagements becoming deeper and more strategic in nature - from global expansion to mergers and acquisition, to global amenities strategies, and brand listening exercises. Ed Snowden leads TRUE NORTH© helping clients with their go-to-market strategies. Sustainability Simplified© cuts through the complexity of ESG matters and is focused on helping clients do the right thing, because it’s the right thing to do. “We are thrilled at reaching this milestone as we continue our journey. We are also very proud of our amazing team and clients, and are grateful for all those who have supported us over these past few years.” - commented Barbara Boden. To learn more about 4xi, visit their website at www.4xiconsulting.com or click on the following link. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Philadelphia | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo

Ocean Stories: See the ocean through my eyes! by Mr. Kai Fish As we celebrate Earth Day, we each have an opportunity to take time to reflect on the gifts we have been given; fresh air, bountiful harvests, mighty mountain ranges, dense forests, sweeping savannahs, and the seemingly perpetual bounty of the seas. The magnificence of our little blue planet perched among the stars lends herself to hope eternal yet at times tears of chagrin as we have not taken care of her well. Perhaps today, we can take a swim as a Fish and see the oceans through the watery peepers of Mr. Kai Fish, our guest speaker today. Mr. Fish and his friends harbor no judgment or ill will toward us, the inhabitants above who do not truly fathom the power of the ocean or her fragility but would love to be given a voice and to take you on a little trip through the sea. See the ocean through my eyes! The powerful East Australian Current sweeps deliciously warm water down the east coast of Australia where marine life like me abounds. With, coral reefs decorating the ocean floors and where we, the fish love to live, play, and sometimes hide. The current is our lifeblood and brings nutrients and food to all of us. Did you know that the East Australia Current is pushed to the western edge of the ocean by the rotation of the Earth – cool huh? I would love to tell you that the oceans are amazing all over the world, but sadly I cannot. You see, I, like many of my friends live in a dirty ocean and life is often so difficult. The water around me can be murky and polluted, with trash and debris floating everywhere. Sometimes it is hard to find clean water to breathe, and even harder to find food that hasn’t been contaminated by pollution. I am a fish, so, I do swim a lot, and I love it but nowadays I am not so much on the move for fun but searching for any safe spots where I can rest and find nourishment. What humans do not understand is that pollution is not just large bits of plastic and junk floating on top of the ocean but are at all depts making it so difficult for me to find my way, and I cannot rely on my instincts and my sense of smell to navigate through the dangerous waters as easily anymore. Polluted murky waters makes swimming so hard! Despite the challenges, I would never give up because we all live in the same ecosystem, and we need each other, right? So, I continue to swim, searching for a better life and a cleaner environment but in that endless search I become weak, and weak makes me susceptible. You see predators are attracted to the polluted waters too by the scent of weak and sick fish like me. Now you have not just one species, but many species in one place, and all are at risk of ‘wipe-out’. Like a magnet to the deep, we all find ourselves losing the battle of life in these oxygen-depleted waters. The other aspect of being me is that as time passes, I grow stronger and more resilient but not in a good way. I learn not to digest but to store the pollution and plastic in my little body which ‘you’ end up eating when I am on the menu. I have learned to adapt to the dirty ocean and find ways to survive but it shortens my life span and how many little fishy children I can have. My family is getting smaller and smaller every year. I don’t want to be alone with no family or friends – that’s no fun! One day, as I swam through the polluted waters, I came across some humans who were working to clean up the ocean. They were using nets to collect the debris and trash that had been littering the ocean, and I watched in amazement as the water around me began to clear. As the water cleared, I could see other fish swimming alongside me, and I realized that I am not alone in my struggle. Together, we can work to create a cleaner, healthier ocean for all creatures to thrive in. I was so happy to see humans. And so, as a fish in a dirty ocean, I have never given up hope and now you can be part of that hope with me. Now that you have seen the oceans through my eyes, can we work together for a better life for all those who share the polluted waters with me? The oceans are so beautiful, so magical, and so full of life. We can heal; we can get better; we can evolve but we need YOU to make that happen. Will you help? We can heal; we can get better; we can evolve. As the great writer and poet Kahlil Gibran quoted: "In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans." ABOUT THE AUTHOR: DINA O'REILLY Dina is 4xi's growth lead, project management office and ghostwriter in residence all in one. To learn more about 4xi, you can contact Dina directly at dina@4xiconsulting.com or visit our website to learn more about who we are, what we do, and how we inspire a brighter future, together: www.4xiconsulting.com 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. We work with corporations, service providers, and innovators: Strategic Advisory & Special Projects (SPx) Headquarters Fractional Support On-Demand Evolving Experiences© - Employee (EX) & Customer Experience (CX) Design4Life©: Environmental, Physical, and Experiential Design Global Amenities Strategy, Design & Operations TRUE NORTH©: Strategic Partnership & Growth Explorers Innovation Directory: Gateway to Innovation Sustainability Simplified©: Supply Chain & Innovation Market Research Reports & Benchmarking 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Philadelphia | Orlando | North Carolina | Seattle | Silicon Valley | Santiago | London | Tokyo

In my last blog post, I summarized five major themes found across many employee engagement tools and methods. When thoroughly and intentionally addressed, these five themes can be the key to improving employee engagement, reducing turnover, and improving customer experience. As a brief reminder, the five major themes are: 1. Purpose 2. Safety 3. Vulnerability 4. Autonomy 5. Barrier-Free Work Last time, under the topic of “Purpose”, we covered how critical it is that employees understand your company purpose...why is it you exist and do what you do every day? How can employees join best in the pursuit of that goal? How do their daily actions enable or inhibit this outcome, directly or indirectly? In this blog post we will dive into the need for you to truly understand your employees' purpose, and become a Super Hero. Unfortunately, most company executives, managers, or supervisors haven't put much thought into this topic. But I hope by the end of this blog post you feel a passion for diving into understanding your employees at this deep, meaningful level. What are your employees' hopes and dreams? What inspires them? What do they want to accomplish? I don't mean career-wise, although that might play into their answers a bit. I'm referring to personal, deeply important things that are enabled by their careers. Maybe they want to be the first person in their family to graduate college. Perhaps they are saving to purchase a home instead of renting. Some may be saving to finally experience financial stability by eliminating debt. Whatever your employees are trying to accomplish, whatever their dreams may be, have you created the atmosphere where you are a participant, not a bystander, in making those dreams come true? In making a strong, clear connection between your company purpose and the purpose of your employees, you can begin to demonstrate how, in helping the company succeed, the company can help your employees succeed. For example, if you have an employee who is trying to save money for a house down-payment - there are several things you could do to invest yourself in helping your employee make their home-savings dreams come true. While any or all of these may be options, it will require an honest conversation where you offer to help and your employee feels safe to receive your help in order to truly enable them to be successful with any or all of these options: 1. Offer financial planning assistance in the form of classes, resources, or connect them with financial advisors. 2. Offer them a pathway to promotion that would expedite their savings and help them realize their goal more rapidly. 3. Suggest to them money-management apps or website to help them budget effectively. 4. Offer to connect them with trusted realtors who can help them navigate the various loan options and the confusing home-buying process. Perhaps that employee is not familiar with FHA loans, for example, or that conventional loans do not require a full 20% down. Their path to home ownership may actually be closer than they thought! There are many things you could do to partner with your employee who is seeking to make the dream of home ownership come true for them and their family. But it starts with you seeing yourself as a conduit to enable that outcome, investing yourself in the life of your employee as a partner, not as a bystander or merely a "boss". This partnership builds relational value, something that will allow you as a leader and your company as an employer to stand out among the many options in the market. Remember, if employees leave bad bosses, they stick around for great bosses. Growing your relationship in depth and breadth with your employees as a partner to helping them make their dreams come true by helping the company succeed is a great way to do it. Lastly, remember, this is not a one-and-done conversation. In monthly or ongoing dialogue, check in with your employees to see how they are faring in making their dreams come true, what is standing in their way, and how you can further support them if possible. Simply having that conversation is a great way to begin to transform the very culture of your company to becoming an incredible employer of choice in your market. For tools and resources on becoming a partner with your employees in making their dreams come true, please take a look at the following resources: BOOK: “The Dream Manager” by Matthew Kelly Beginning with his important thought that a company can only become the-best-version-of-itself to the extent that its employees are becoming better-versions-of-themselves, Matthew Kelly explores the connection between the dreams we are chasing personally and the way we all engage at work. Tackling head-on the growing problem of employee disengagement, Kelly explores the dynamic collaboration that is unleashed when people work together to achieve company objectives and personal dreams. CERTIFICATION: The Official Dream Manager Program - Go beyond the book and become a certified dream manager. Join over 400 leaders who are transforming their teams and cultures. PODCAST: “The Dream Manager” with Mary Miller - She’s an author, speaker, and former CEO of JANCOA (a commercial cleaning company started her husband started decades ago and still run by the family today). Through efforts to create an environment to attract the best in the industry, they created The Dream Manager program, popularized by Matthew Kelly's bestselling book by the same title. Lastly, don’t forget to watch and share this little 60-second Coffee and Culture video with your community, explaining the content of this post in under a minute. Joel Onyshuk, Co-founder, Unisyn Your Best Team Everywhere Unisyn, Inc., the Service Industry solution to unlocking frontline leadership consistency and frontline associate engagement, received the award for "Most Innovative or Forward-Thinking Product/Service" from SHFM. Judges were a panel of operators as well as conference attendees who voted on a number of innovations and solutions, including those promoted by PepsiCo, Coca-Cola North America, Ecolab, Impossible Foods, Keurig Dr. Pepper, Panasonic, Red Bull North America, and many other household names. Based in Tampa, FL., Unisyn's mission is to "Put your best team everywhere" by empowering your frontline teams to bring your mission to life everywhere and every day. According to Gallup, 70% of the variance in team engagement is determined solely by the manager, and Unisyn is the first and only solution to address this unique, global challenge for Service Industry companies with distributed teams. Explorers Innovation Directory At 4xi, we've built our Explorers Innovation Directory of carefully curated Innovation Partners, all driving positive impact in the Away from Home market: workplace, education, healthcare, senior living, and leisure. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is a team of talented leaders from both the client-side and service provider side, impacting the Human Experience (HX) for people at work, in education, rest, and at leisure. We believe in a people-first, experience-led philosophy. Whether client, employee, or guest – their experience is the fundamental foundation of success. 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