As I watched the full October Harvest Moon meet the morning, it emphasized two major kinds of light – natural and artificial.
Through a window, I admired the immensity of that massive lightbulb in the sky and contrasted it with the tiny glow of the lamp posts on the street well below.
During all its lunar phases, the warmth of natural light casts a wider, more expansive spectrum across the skies and through windows. By contrast artificial light doesn’t feel as powerful, no matter how many lumens by which you measure it.
As a leader, what is the impact of the light you shine?
Research has shown that whether or not we are consciously aware of it, the heart radiates an electromagnetic signal that can impact the nervous systems of other people positively or negatively. (Doc Childre, Founder, HeartMath® – Relational Energetics)
Ask any team member about their leader’s ability to uplift, or shine the light on them, and you will learn that the key factor is “positive relational energy”.
“Can organizations flourish with leaders who deplete rather than generate energy? … Heliotropic energy will renew itself many times over, and inspire focus, trust, and sincere investment in your goals. Your employees will turn toward the sun.” (Harvard Business Review, The Best Leaders Have a Contagious Positive Energy, by Emma Seppala and Kim Cameron)
And what does heliotropic mean, you may ask: Turning or growing towards the sun or other [preferably natural] light source.
So whether your light is like the sun, moon or the stars, remember that your energy can be felt and will make an impact. It is critical that we know if we are renewing those around us or depleting them.
Be the light you want to see in the world … don’t be a street lamp.
