During my recent trip to Japan, I observed that there is hardly anyone walking around the streets eating or holding a take-away cup or water bottle. I was mesmerized by the respect that Japanese people demonstrate for natural resources. A tea-ceremony is a good example for this. You could just drink your tea in a take-away cup or you can use the tea as a springboard to create a much richer experience that suddenly goes far beyond meeting your basic needs for hydrating your body.
A tea-ceremony is an ideal space. It can create better relationships, offer a physical place for new ideas and introduce you to the world of the specific tea. You learn more about your host and can enjoy a pause for mindful, reflective moments. Plus, it truly honors and celebrates nature and human connection.
The way HOW this experience is created is highly relevant for business leaders.
We discuss performance and wellbeing too often without any reference to the spaces where they happen.
“Space” can be a variety of concepts as well as practical applications of these abstract ideas. A space can be a physical room (built or natural environments), the relational space between people, a way of collaborating, a cultural context, a state of being in a system, an interval or gap between activities.
Once you understand these space concepts fully, they will support you to create better results more effortlessly.
Whenever you want to design the ideal space for wellbeing and performance, the following three elements must come together:
1. Intention:
What do you want to achieve in this situation?
If you are not intentional, you are not leading.
2. Awareness:
What are you sensing of what is there or what is missing?
If you are not aware, you are unable to gather crucial facts and subtle hints.
3. Knowledge:
What are the core elements that can create an ideal basis for performance?
If you do not know, you cannot apply or share a better way.
To create a space that supports optimal wellbeing and performance for yourself and for your team:
Be intentional, be aware of all your environment, be open to expand your knowledge.