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“Healthy workplaces value wellbeing as much as performance"

Adam Grant

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Hi Reader,

Happy May!

Lots to celebrate this month.

It’s the start of Season 10 of the Creating Cadence Podcast, and we kicked off with an absolutely lovely interview that I'm still thinking about. More on that below.

Plus, on the 5th May, my book The Cadence Effect turned ONE, yay!

I wrote about my lessons learned, on LinkedIn and there’s special birthday discount offers down below.

But, I’m not just celebrating the book.

I’m celebrating the gradual disruption of a toxic status quo as more people come over to the flow side.

You see, in the year since I’ve published, I’ve seen encouraging progress in the world of work that aligns with what I advocate for in the book.

And, more of “the experts” are getting vocal about the need for us to change HOW we work, too.

Breaking the Back of Bad Work Practices (and Burnout)

In an earlier edition of Cadence, I shared how the concepts in Cal Newport’s new book about “Slow Productivity” align with Cadence and Intentional Productivity.

And recently, Adam Grant, another respected voice in the field of Organisational Psychology, shared a piece on social media that sums up my feelings around toxic workplaces.

Placing wellbeing at the core of our work helps us break free from overwork and develop more effective work methods.

This has been the focus of my work and advocacy for the past 6 years.

To achieve this, we need to adopt more human-centred approaches to work.

This involves a three-pronged approach:

• At the individual level, we can enhance our self-leadership skills and well-being through self-care practices and mindful approaches to work.
• At the organisational level, we require structured changes that are co-created with employees and implemented from the top down. It should be embraced by everyone in the organisation, fostering safe cultures, flexibility, and agency.
• At the macro level, we need a societal shift in mindset, prioritising outcomes over outputs, meaning over money, and connection over cost-cutting. (This larger change is also fueled by action at both the individual and organisational levels).

Obviously, this is a simplistic overview. It’s a massive undertaking!

However, we're already witnessing positive signs of this shift. Companies are adopting practices such as implementing 4-day work weeks, offering flexible work options, and pursuing B-Corp certification.

Employees are also making choices that align with their larger life situations, leaving jobs that don't meet their needs, and working for themselves or organisations that prioritise wellbeing.

It's crucial to remember that we are humans first. AI can play a role in creating space for us to be human, but we must use it wisely.

As the pace of work accelerates, we must advocate for the necessary space to maintain wellbeing, happiness, and productivity.

We still have a way to go. But, it feels like people are starting to pay more attention, which is encouraging.

Reading + Resources:

1 - MAKING BUDDIES WITH AI

Have you embraced AI in your workflow yet? I’m on a mission to learn more about it, despite only currently using it sporadically.

If I want to purposefully remain a solo entrepreneur (i.e. not hiring other people) then I need an AI sidekick to help me out. So, I'm working to embrace it and incorporate it fully. It doesn't replace me, it becomes my researcher and VA.

The author and academic Ethan Mollick is a go-to resource to learn about AI.

In this podcast, he discusses some helpful (non-threatening) ways to use AI if you’re just getting started. (H/T to J.Thorn for sharing)

• ​How Should I Be Using AI Now? (Ezra Klein Podcast)

2 - ALIGNING FINANCES + VALUES = FLOW

Loved this conversation with Denver Nowicz, a financial planner, fiduciary, and LinkedIn Top Voice on Finance and the Economy.

We spoke about how our values can positively impact our wealth creation abilities and financial decisions, productivity tools and gadgets, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and much more. Listen here

3 - GETTING DOWN WITH DIGITAL WELLNESS

Do you find yourself innocently popping onto your phone to quickly check the weather. And when you come back to reality an hour later, having cycled through email, and dipped into LinkedIn, you’re now watching cute baby kangaroos on Insta. (ahem, raises hand in the back)

Perhaps it’s time to assess your relationship with digital devices to understand whether they're helping or hindering you in life and work?

• Take the Digital Flourishing Survey (Digital Wellness Institute)

Other Stuff

BIRTHDAY BOOK OFFERS

For the month of May, you can get special discounts if you buy my book direct from thecadenceeffect.com.​

OFFER 1: 24% off the Print version of The Cadence Effect

• COUPON CODE: MAY24-PRINT24​

OFFER 2: Buy the E-Book of The Cadence Effect and get the PDF Workbook for Free

• COUPON CODE: MAY24-EBOOKDEAL​

The Coaching Programme is steaming along in the background, and I’m developing a new product which will be revealed over the Summer.

It requires me to do some adventurous recces in the Lake District. I’m not complaining! :)

Hands up, who’s game for some wild swimming, or a hike up a big hill?

Hope you have some adventurous plans in the pipeline this month, too?

With courage, curiosity and cadence,

Mich x

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Hint: It can be used in conjunction with a reading of the book, which you can get at TheCadenceEffect.com​

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Images by Mich Bondesio, unless otherwise stated.