You deserve to like Mondays

Time Needed: 5m Activity

Outcome: Notice the humans who have your back, and tell them.

Hiya!

Light one this week. No framework, no suggested action that takes more than five minutes.

I just want to say thank you. Your inbox is a crowded, noisy place, and every Monday you keep letting me in anyway. Some of you hit reply. Some of you forward to your work bestie. Some of you read quietly with your coffee and never say a word (that counts too).

Sometimes I send an email thinking "gawd Alison, no one cares and you are talking into a cluttered void." and then the replies come and make it worth it. And not all are from my Dad (hi Dad!). Sometimes it's "this is exactly what I needed right now." or "keep going". And those do keep me going. Thx!

Here's the thing I keep noticing: at work, we save gratitude for the annual review or the goodbye card. Which is bananas, because the humans making your week easier are doing it right now.

And a specific thank-you is one of the most useful pieces of feedback you can give. It tells someone exactly what to keep doing.

For yourself

This week's prompt: Who made your work easier this fall, and do they know it?

Pick one human. Send them two sentences: what they did, and what it made possible for you. No big speech, no gift card required. Bop them an email before Friday.

For your team

This week's prompt: What's one thing someone on your team did lately that you noticed but didn't name?

Name it in your next 1:1, and be specific. "Thanks for all your hard work" is wallpaper. "The way you handled Tuesday's client call saved us a week" is something they'll remember. With review season coming, it also gives you both a head start on what to write down.

Monday Hour 1

Here's your weekly invitation to take time for yourself to approach your week with intention, a focus on impact and prioritize leading yourself in human-centered ways.

Monday Hour 1

What’s the most impactful thing you can accomplish this week? What bigger goal does this help you nudge towards?
What is your body craving? Do you have space on your calendar for this?
Who do I want to thank this week, and when will I do it?

Breathe in, breathe out. Do the damn thing.

Did this email add value to your day? Work by Design is reader supported!

Thanks for reading & leading.

Hit reply and tell me one thing (big or tiny) you're grateful for at work right now. I'd love to hear it.

Your Coach,

p.s. if this email added value to your day consider fwd'ing to your work bestie. ♻️

p.p.s. I have a couple of Coaching Skills for Leaders slots left this year. Reply if your team could use one.

When you're ready, here's how I can support

Individual Coaching: Create focused space for driving clarity or evolution with built-in accountability towards a big goal or unblocking something in your way.

Training Experiences: Crafted for teams who seek create impactful, high-performing and inclusive teams.