The “secret” to creating a great work environment

What’s the perfect day?

Big question, right?

To me, the perfect day is one when I’ve fully lived my values of optimism, growth, connection, impact, openness, honesty, excellence, courage, fairness, and order.

And it’s easy to do that when you work with people who share your values.

That’s one of the reasons I love working at PA. My personal mission statement (catalyze transformation to maximize human potential) aligns well with theirs: “We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future.”

There’s so much room for interpretation there. What does it mean to be ingenious? To catalyze transformation? What is a positive human future?

I was recently preparing to give a keynote on cultivating a growth mindset and driving ingenious growth at our global partner meeting, and the experience really reinforced that PA is led by those values and by purpose.

Now, let’s be honest: Creating a presentation isn’t always easy, especially when there are so many stakeholders involved. But this process was!

They told me, “You need to challenge us to do more than we think we’re capable of. We want to be brave.”

They didn’t tell me, “Don’t say this. Don’t say that.” They didn’t censor me.

Sure, they gave me open feedback. But they didn’t micromanage me. They gave me the flexibility to do what I thought was best.

You know what happened?

I stepped into my courage and felt connected to the team because they’d created an open, trusting work environment—one that goes beyond meetings and conference calls.

Every day, my colleagues ask me how I’m doing. If I’m enjoying my first few months. My team and I hang out. We call each other. There is such a sense of belonging.

That would never be possible if we didn’t have common values and a shared purpose.

And that’s exactly how you create a great work environment: Be clear about your values and mission, communicate them consistently, and make sure each person can express their values in their own unique way.

Because if everyone shows up and fully lives those values, every day has the potential to be a perfect day—brimming with ingenuity, transformation, and potential.

I’d love to hear from you: What does your perfect day look like? Hit reply and tell me what it looks like!

– Charlene

My Latest: (pull from Content Library)

• How do you feel about impossible deadlines? I love them! They give birth to disruption and innovation! Watch this livestream to learn how to reimagine deadlines.

• Optimism is NOT the same as toxic positivity! In #LeadingDisruption, I discuss the distinction—and share how to be an uplifting leader.

• Want to get “high” at work? 😉Cultivate a “helper’s high.” It’s a science-backed way to empower people to try new things and take risks. Join me live on LinkedIn next Tuesday at 9 am PT to learn more about this powerful leadership tool.

Good Things: (Eva will supply from meeting notes)

• Reads/Listens: I’ve recently gotten into the Throughline podcast, which looks at current events through a historical lens to understand how we got here. As someone who loves history, I’m really enjoying it!

• Referrals: The Oura ring is a neat little activity tracker—and it’s really good at tracking sleep. Perfect if you’ve been struggling to get some quality shut-eye lately.

• Resource: I’m going to a black-tie ball, and I’m NOT buying a dress! I’m going to rent something from Nuuly instead. I love this sustainable concept. It’s similar to Rent the Runway, but every piece of clothing shows different-sized models wearing it. It’s very inclusive and body affirming - and I appreciate the petite sizes because I’m so short!