Mylena Sutton, MPA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Leadership Fanatic’s Post

Does your life off the clock combat burnout...(or make it worse)? As the seasons change, I've been reflecting on how hiking has become a vital part of my self-care. 🌄I enjoy it so much that the name of my consulting business, Voltage Vista, comes from hiking. Voltage = power and vistas are the lookout spots on a mountain. In Mylena speak, it means, "A Powerful Point of View". Literally, I was hiking a 🗻 mountain and saw how my perception of my surroundings changed with elevation and thought, "Your perspective is the most powerful thing you have, and it informs all of your behavior." Hiking isn’t just about the stunning views; it’s a powerful way to recharge. The clarity I get when I'm away from work improves my thinking, focus, and momentum when I'm working. Here’s why I find the time to hike, despite how full my calendar can be: 🤲 🧘♀️ 1 - Connection with Nature: Nature has a calming effect that can reduce stress and anxiety. Trust me, when you've climbed switchbacks for five miles, you're too tired for anxiety....unless you misjudged the difficulty and you know you gotta get back. 🍔 🍟 2 - Physical Activity: It's a fantastic way to boost energy and promote a sense of accomplishment! Mind you, my post hiking meal, ALWAYS A BURGER AND FRIES, completely undermines the health benefits...but I'm happy. 🌻 🌞 3 - Mindfulness and Reflection: Hiking provides the perfect backdrop for self-reflection. I swear the most complex things become simple and obvious when I'm on a trail. ⁉ (Insert group emoji when diverse emojis become available on Linkedin) 4 - Community and Connection: Whether solo or with friends, hiking fosters connection...unless you go with a friend who complains a lot. Even if they are on your last nerve, it's not okay to abandon them in the woods. In this case, hiking fosters connection because you'll learn whether you can love each other through conflict. 📱 📴 5 - Digital Detox: Taking a break from technology helps us reconnect with ourselves and our surroundings, leading to a refreshed perspective. Besides, you may as well enjoy it because you probably can't get a signal anyway. 💨💨 In my fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, making time for activities that restore me is what stands between me and burnout. Lacing up your boots and exploring the great outdoors may not be your thing, but you need a thing! When you find it, you just might find the clarity you didn’t know you needed! 🌳💚 #burnout #Hiking #allleadershipispersonal

Accepting your team members need for safety: when do you push versus respecting their challenges and limitations? 😨 Relative to learning and doing new things, resistance is not only common, but should be expected. By the same token, mistakes and injuries should also be expected. But if this is the case, how do you get buy-in and alignment? The answer lies in your purpose, communication, and vision 🥅 : why does it matter, have we/I been clear about the value of this new thing and whether adoption is truly optional, and how will other 🎯 goals/processes/needs be impacted? In my story, I chose to respect limitations and comfort because my purpose was fellowship, to encourage physical activity, and I gave them the choice. 💡 💡 Sidebar: while I couldn't have actually forced them to go beyond their fears, sometimes people feel pressured to please leaders and say that they're ready for something when they aren't. It is our job as leaders to make it safe for people to voice their needs. #leadershipdevelopment #teambuilding #Allleadershipispersonal #getyourteamaligned

I've been thinking about starting a leaders problem-solving group where the participants have a sounding board to share challenges. I also wonder people would be afraid to share in an open/fluid group; thus, I've considered experimenting with a format that keeps participants anonymous.

I spend a lot of time searching for and responding to RFPs. Often, I wonder what happens to all of the ideas that have been submitted, and if those ideas are ever used without permission or payment. I see similar concerns from job seekers when are asked to complete time-consuming work as part of job search processes. #consultantlife #entrepreneurship #rfp

Half a dozen in one hand and six in the other, no? Not too long ago, I was asked to provide harassment prevention training for a small organization. Their budget and my rate didn't sync. I suggested that they partner with another small organization with a budget similar to theirs. If I trained their employees together, both organizations would benefit. As long as the number of combined participants stays around 40-ish or less, it's not a problem. Additionally, as long as the orgs are in the same state, there's no issue in terms of content. I never got a chance to speak with the potential client directly because the potential client would've been a referral from someone who plays a type of matchmaker, if you will. She doesn't make the introduction if your rate and the client's budget don't match. Therefore, I don't know if the client rejected the suggestion to partner with another organization or even if they were told about the option. So, here's my question to you: what would make you hesitate to partner with another organization for training, whether for harassment prevention or other topics? I'm always looking for ways to make things work. #employeetraining #getyourteamaligned #allleadershipispersonal

I hope your Saturday has gone as well as mine has!! I had my first #keynote for #pinkboxesclub! #personalgrowthcoaching #allleadershipispersonal https://lnkd.in/eJ-q7qac

"Leadership is love. You have to love the people you lead and believe earnestly in your collective purpose. Without both, you cannot lead them." This really is my fundamental belief about people and leading. What is yours? #leadershipconsulting #allleadershipispersonal #aligneverything

Yall, 🙏 that I complete the RFP (to create a pilot for a trauma-informed housing development program) that I'm working on in enough time to go to this event hosted by Exude in Philly! The topic is juicy 😳 🤤!! These two women leaders rescued their organizations from significant financial problems 🤑. I sooooooooooooo want to hear about how they were able to pull off these saves. Let's hope I make it. In the meantime, if you want to go, the registration link is in the comments! #organizationalturnaround #nonprofitmanagement #allleadershipispersonal #leadershipconsulting

I'll make a decision about which ones I'll run as ads tomorrow :). In the comments, you'll find the link to see the video that's in the ads. #entrepreneurlife :). #designthelifeyouwanttolive #allleadershipispersonal

If you've ever wondered what types of messages you'd receive if you joined my Progress Pals programs, here's a taste! ______________________ It’s Mylena, your Progress Pal! This might sound like a contradiction, but it isn’t. On one hand, I encourage you to resist “Starting Monday” goals, and I encourage you to have a recovery plan for the times you mess up. They actually go together :). Check out this blog post on “Starting Monday” goals, https://lnkd.in/gjHgnFSN Then, check out this blog post, “What’s Your Recovery Plan?”, https://lnkd.in/gF-PxC2t Are you still in on these goals?  Then, I list the goals that the person has shared with me. ________________________ Yes, I actually include your specific goals. See the comments below for the link to join the (free) program :). #designthelifeyouwanttolive #allleadershipispersonal