Heart at Work
Stories About Speaking From the Heart at Work
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Heart at Work This book is a collection of Stories written by people who have explored deeply, what it means to speak plainly and openly, from the heart, with authenticity and empathy at work. Personal experience gives credence to the idea that when people speak their personal truth and respect the personal truth of others, more gets accomplished, people are more collaborative and happier in the workplace, and individuals are better served. Several of the essays in this collection are, in themselves, a collaborative effort. I interviewed individuals and wrote a draft of their essay, then they crafted the product into an essay that was more clearly their own written expression, rather than their spoken voice. The back and forth dialogue with authors was a rich experience in itself, and the essays are more powerful as a result. Table of Contents Chapter 1. Dear Instructional Leader Diane Petteway A letter in the form of poetry describes the heart of a teacher who longs for all the principles for which this books stands. Written during a writing retreat titled: Writing to Put the Heart at Rest, this loving teacher who feels robbed of joy, describes that for which she longs, a principal who speaks from the heart, laughter, deep, meaningful conversation, a welcoming spirit!. Chapter 2. Finding Heart: The Work Before Going to Work Cynthia Heelan, PhD On the journey to speaking from the heart and being creative, it helps to understand how often we act from a place that is based on “should and could” rather than discerning what we know in our hearts to be right. This chapter offers a way to look at an individual’s inner life and suggests its potential impact on our professional lives. Chapter 3. Finding Heart,The Work Before Work: The Experts Cynthia Heelan PhD For some people, it may be helpful to hear more from the experts who write about finding, losing and reclaiming heart. This chapter discusses the journey to finding heart along with supportive citations. Chapter 4. Soldier’s Heart Brian Delete Brian Delate’s Vietnam experience and his experience as a writer, an actor and as a film maker are empowered by his own personal growth. His film, Soldier’s Heart, the Civil War term for PTSD, brings together his self knowledge, his willingness to share, and his skill in the art of film. Chapter 5. Dance as Choreography of the Heart Jonathan Hollander As Founder and Artistic Director and President of Battery Dance Company, Jonathan Hollander lives in and speaks from his heart in a very special way. His choreography, as his life of the spirit evolves, becomes increasingly a co-creation with his dancers. These opportunities allow for dance experiences that move the hearts of kings and children, and audiences worldwide. Chapter 6. Creating for Children Ginna Gemmell A former Manager of New Product Research at Fisher Price Toys, explores the rich corporate creativity and productivity resulting when people are able to speak honestly and playfully. Chapter 7. Heart Centered Medicine Bill Manahan M.D. Integrative, holistic medical practitioner, Bill Manahan, MD, describes the difference between traditional western medicine and integrative /holistic medical practice. Bill is presently involved in efforts to transform America’s health care system and the healers involved in that system. He believes that we need a new model of health care that is based on a partnership model, the pursuit of wellness, community collaboration, social connection, and assumption of personal responsibility. Chapter 8. Leading from the Heart Cynthia Heelan, PhD All employees in an organization could have opportunities to provide leadership. When we understand more about our authentic inner core, we act differently. This chapter discusses the importance of this understanding and some of the results of making a commitment to lead and follow authentically and from our hearts. Chapter 9. Whole People Create a Whole Organization and Whole Communities for a Whole, Healthy Planet: Richland College Steve Mittelstet , PhD Winner of the coveted Baldrige Award in higher education, President Emeritus of Richland College of the Dallas Community College District, is living proof that lives formed by listening to an inner guide can come together to co-create a quality oriented and productive organization. Chapter 10. Authenticity and Academic Life Paul Elsner, PhD This chapter is a Former Chancellor’s exploration of individual and collective efforts at Maricopa Community College to create an organization where all of its members seek and find integration between their inner life and the work they do. He proposes that the consequence of such a path would be an ever more powerful, and ever more dynamic college. Chapter 11. Creating Space for Heart at Work Using Appreciative Inquiry Cynthia Heelan, PhD Appreciative Inquiry is a practical approach to organizational planning and solution finding. The process invites each member of an organization to share a success story with colleagues. Personal stories become the basis for creating a college-wide scenario that builds on success. This scenario evolves into a plan providing an opportunity for every person to contribute to and co-create the future of their organization. Chapter 12. Creating Space for Employees’ Hearts at Work Using Renewal and Wholeness Circles/Retreats Cynthia Heelan, PhD Staff members who have participated in renewal and wholeness retreats find themselves more connected to their colleagues, they gain confidence in their competence, find new resources to use in their work. They build trust in themselves and in their workplace as a community. Chapter 13. Conclusion Cynthia Heelan, PhD The final chapter provides a diagram of how internal growth, heart at work, new ideas, new solutions, new productivity, and new and happy customers creates a new prototype. This is, in a few words, the “so what,” the “Take Away” of the Chapters contained in this book.
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About the Book
When people feel free to speak with authenticity, from their heart—at work—without fear, their workplace becomes a place inspired by shared purpose. Workplace productivity is marked by extraordinary quality. In Heart at Work, explore real stories that will inspire you to want to make speaking from the heart the norm, not the exception.
Several practitioner/authors describe and tell actual stories about their own work. A toy manufacturer describes the connection to their customer, children, through play. A soldier describes how his struggle to survive PTSD, enables his ability to support other soldiers. An artistic director and choreographer reveals the transformation that occurs when dancers share in the creative process. College presidents describe their increased ability to open their hearts and then increased staff and student success as people become more engaged. A Medical doctor describe how their own personal transformation impacted his medical practice. Authors describe the ways their inner work and then meaningful sharing with colleagues, results in innovation, creativity and positive action, including better service to clients.
“If you want to bring your whole self to work, to live a seamless life with mind and heart aligned for the tasks before you, you will find a wise and gentle guide in Heart at Work. Hafiz long ago wrote: ‘Love is the great work, though every heart is first an apprentice . . .’. This gem of a book brings these words to life through authentic stories that illustrate, inform and inspire the reader to create their own authentic life’s work.” Henry Emmons, MD, Author, The Chemistry of Joy; The Chemistry of Calm; and The Chemistry of Joy Workbook:Overcoming Depression Using the Best of Brain Science, Nutrition and the Psychology of Mindfulness, Integrative Psychiatrist, and Health Care Leader.
About the Author
Cynthia lives in St. Paul, Minnesota and loves to dance, go to movies and do anything near her beloved Mississippi River.
Dr. Cynthia Heelan is a retired president of Colorado Mountain College and an organizational consultant. She is co-author with Dr. Gail Mellow, of the book, Minding the Dream: Process and Practice or the American Community College. She assists educational organizations to lead and plan in ways that engage the entire institution’s heart and voice. She was President at Colorado Mountain College from July, 1993 to November, 2002; over a period of 30 years she served as an associate dean and as a vice president of community colleges in Minnesota. She is a Past Chair for the American Association of Community College Board of Directors and past Board member of the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Accrediting Association, the Colorado Rural Workforce Consortium Board, the Community College Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University; Past Chair of the Colorado Literacy Commission, and the Minnesota Association of Continuing Adult Education, and member of numerous state, regional and local boards and advisory groups. She currently serves as board chair for Battery Dance Company of New York City. She is preparing a new book for publication: Speaking From the Heart at Work: Co-Creating Inspired Organizations.
Dr. Heelan holds a Ph.D. in policy analysis and administration and a Masters Degree in Adult Education from the University of Minnesota. She was an Archibald Bush Foundation Fellow in the College Management Program at Carnegie Mellon University where she completed post-doctoral study.