My story began with my own journey to discover me!!
It sounds like such a simplistic statement, but true. I could say my career started 25 years ago when I graduated University with a degree in Psychology from McGill University and started my first job as a Human Resources Coordinator. After I graduated with a Masters of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University, or my HR Certification and Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation. In fact, that is how I thought my story began until I stepped away from my corporate career and took an inward journey. Then my real story began!
Over the years I found my strengths to be relating and connecting and support leaders with building their teams. I used tools and systems to identify the strengths within individuals, teams, and organizations. I strategized with leaders to develop plans to promote common goals and objectives that would benefit the organization. As business emergencies surfaced, my energy was re-directed to handle important but time consuming employment issues and away from the strategic changes that could shift the root cause of the issues. Slowly like a frog in a pot of water with the heat gradually rising, I began to slowly die inside. Stress, frustration and unhappiness became my new pattern until it affected my health. It made me realize life is short and I wanted to spend it aligned with my talents and contributing in a meaningful way.
I started the inner journey of focusing on my talents and finding clarity with my purpose. I used the same assessment tools and processes I had used with individuals and teams for years to help them become more conscious of their strengths, build their confidence and express it easily to others. I quickly became aware I was focused on 'Doing' the job and achieving the results rather than identifying my natural talents and choosing tasks and work more aligned with ME. I was rushing through life, unconsciously performing tasks to the point of burn out and not checking to see if the work was aligned with my talents. When we do work in alignment, it is effortless and takes very little energy. When we do work not in alignment, it drains our energy and we feel exhausted. That is why my health was being affected!
Once I allowed myself to consider it might be possible to choose work consciously and do something I enjoy - my talents became more clear and my next path began to unfold. Then the fear surfaced! Fear and uncertainty during any change, whether positive or negative will result in the same neurochemical reactions in the brain. Whether the change is becoming an entrepreneur, changing jobs or changing responsibilities within the same company, the fear of change will always surface. It is a biological reaction that prevents many people from consciously creating the life they want.
It takes courage to analyze what is causing a problem, take responsibility for it, and move forward through the fear. The tools and systems gave me objective data to keep me focused when the fear surfaced. It gave me a roadmap to follow during the times of uncertainty until I could develop new patterns in my work, be more effective, and experience more meaning. Who knew reinventing myself could be fun? and allow me to be more effective?
Now I am an Intuitive Human Resources Consultant supporting organizations to build strong teams through transition and uncertainty. I share systems to help individuals and teams perform more effectively through transitions and align with their inner talents.
Denise