Henry Albrecht

This article in UCSF Magazine offers a scientific explanation for how deep rest restores us at a cellular level! We've long known that chronic stress degrades our mental and physical health while contemplative practices ranging from yoga to prayer to nature bathing to painting restore us mentally and physically. But why? Scientifically, how can such a wide range of activities make us healthier, happier, and more resilient? Alexandra Crosswell and colleagues think it has to do with "deep rest" -- the peaceful mental state we reach in a variety of ways. My favorites are mindfulness meditation, paddle boarding, and qi gong. Others find deep rest in prayer, yoga, painting, fabric arts, drum circles, shaking, and dance. According to Crosswell, the deep rest state tells the brain and body "you're safe". It completes the stress response. We let go of our vigilance and racing thoughts. That in turn quiets the brain's stress response system (the amygdala and sympathetic nervous system). Stress hormone levels drop. Your heart slows. Your muscles relax. And we feel at peace, and maybe even a deep sense of connection to yourself, others, the world, or a higher power. When that happens, all the individual cells in your body enter housekeeping mode. They clean up debris like reactive molecules. They fix the natural wear and tear on organelles like mitochondria. They can even repair the tips of our DNA, the sections known as telomeres that famously grow shorter as we age and as stress chews away at them. It's this ability of our cells to finally enter housekeeping mode that causes all the health benefits of deep rest. Isn't that so darn cool?!?! The science nerd in me is utterly in love with this synthesis of stress science, cell biology, and contemplative practice. Love love love!!! If you or a woman in your life is needing some deep rest so you can restore every cell in your body and return to work fully rejuvenated and reenergized, please consider joining Tutti and I in Mendocino Sept 13-16 for our fourth annual women's leadership retreat. Two women joined this week and three others are in the process of requesting funds from their organizations to invest in their leadership. PM me for details ASAP. Enrollment closes in 2 weeks.

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This week I'm celebrating recognition from Influence Digest Media as a Top Coach in Portland for 2024. Consistency over time shapes a life, a career, and who we are. I hope everyone takes a moment every so often to stop and reflect on the value you bring to those you serve. Here is the article if you would like to read through the diverse list of coaches highlighted for their great work. https://lnkd.in/gHXWWHN3 #resume #resumehelp #portlandresume #jobsearch #topcoach #recognition #celebrate

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Getting to Yes is foundational for San Diego Angel Conference, yet for 98% of founders in the competition, the answer was no, at least for funding, at the moment. There are other many other Yesses to take away: *Say Yes to all you learned *Say Yes to the feedback received *Say Yes to nurturing the relationships started with founders and investors (it often leads to follow on investment) *Say Yes to receiving feedback and making changes *Say Yes to what’s next What an impressive cohort it was. Founders filled with purpose and commitment to make a positive impact, and the grit to see it through. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gG5Hf6Z3 #startups #angelinvesting #entrepreneurship #resilience #leadership

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The impact of the caregiving crisis on workplace productivity is undeniable and getting more (well deserved) attention in the mainstream press. Just this week the Washington Post ran an article which included data from a recent Harvard Business School study highlighted the gap between employer and employee perception on the impact of caregiving: only 24% of employers acknowledge the effect of caregiving duties on their employees' performance, but 80% of employees with caregiving responsibilities report decreased productivity. As significant if not more so, 32% of employees report leaving their jobs due to caregiving responsibilities. At Homethrive, we recognize these challenges and offer comprehensive support services to empower employees so they don't have to choose between making a big impact at work and supporting their family. Please read the entire article: https://lnkd.in/gJpdbxV3 

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Transparency isn't just a buzzword—it's a cornerstone for boutique agencies fostering trust and unity. Recent discussions reveal the complexities: from defining boundaries to navigating compensation transparency. How can small teams strike the right balance? Dive into our latest blog to uncover insights on fostering openness while respecting privacy. Read more below: https://lnkd.in/gHGhg4R8 #Transparency #BoutiqueAgency #BusinessInsights #TeamCulture #TrustBuilding

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“Future-readiness comes down to curiosity.” That’s Kristen Groh’s (Senior Partner at Prophet) hot take on what it means to be future-ready in our recent conversation, where we also got a lot deeper into the importance of behavior change when implementing innovative ideas, the steps leaders can take to cultivate resilience within their teams, the ways that curiosity and learning new things has fueled Kristen throughout her career, and how customer insights strategically positions Prophet to thrive in the future. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Link to the full episode in the comments. And if you enjoyed it, leave a review and let us know what made the biggest impact! How are you cultivating curiosity to prepare for the future? #future #innovation #strategy #leadership #newpodcast

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It’s always great to return to The Confident Entrepreneur Podcast! We discuss the importance of building trusting teams and how to transform teams into a dynamic, innovative force prepared to tackle any challenge. Thank you, Jennifer Johnson, for the great conversation. View my entire podcast appearance here: https://lnkd.in/eUiNqVFN In concert with impactful training, I consult and coach companies on how to amplify Team Collaboration and introduce strategies like the below to transform team dynamics and propel teams to new heights 🚀 1️⃣ Foster Interdependence: Transform your team's dynamic by encouraging reliance among members rather than solely on management. Implement effective delegation and clear role definitions to naturally drive collaborative efforts and idea-sharing. #Empowerment 2️⃣ Embrace Cross-Functional Teams: Break down silos by forming teams from diverse backgrounds to tackle projects. This approach enriches problem-solving and fosters a culture of mutual understanding and resourcefulness. #Innovation 3️⃣ Promote Autonomy in Problem-Solving: Empower your team to seek internal solutions before escalating issues. Encouraging self-reliance enhances problem-solving skills, speeds up resolution times, and builds a stronger, more cooperative team. #SelfSufficiency 4️⃣ Cultivate Knowledge Exchange: Make knowledge sharing and brainstorming a cornerstone of your team's culture. Utilize regular meetings, online platforms, and collaborative tools to nurture a breeding ground for innovation. #KnowledgeIsPower 5️⃣ Build a Supportive Culture: A supportive environment smoothens collaboration and fosters a sense of belonging and mutual respect. Encourage your team to offer help and resources freely, enhancing overall productivity and morale. #Community Let's cultivate a collaborative team culture together! DM me to work with your team or discuss customized strategies for you to implement 🌟 Inspire Big Dreams #TeamWork #leadership #inspirebigdreams #teamcoaching #collaboration #trust

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What are the best (or perhaps most memorable) investments you've made in yourself?⁣ Not an expense - but the experiences or resources you are so happy you invested in because it completely changed your sense of self, mindset, and journey. ⁣ ⁣ Moving to San Francisco is one of the best investments I made. Here I find myself surrounded by people who are progressive, challenge expectations, balance logic and spirit, and more. ⁣ Investing in building automations for myself have also been great. I love making software and shortcuts that can make my day-to-day experience more intentional and meaningful without having to think about it. (Intention without having to think about it? Ironic, I know, but it's a real thing.) ⁣ I've also started investing in relationships of all kinds more than I have before. It's amazing how much of a difference it makes in my happiness to build and sustain a meaningful connection with people in a way that's unique to each person and dynamic as we grow, yet still authentic to myself. Now it’s your turn, what are your best investments?

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Are you responsible for operational oversight, team management, org design, or day-to-day execution at your social impact org? If so, is it ... lonely? 😅 You're not alone, my friend. 📣 We're thrilled to announce the intake process for our next 5-week accelerator cohort of Team Assembly, a project by Cultivate to strengthen the culture, norms, and internal infrastructure across social impact orgs. Because we can hold ourselves to high standards and produce strong work without treating each other poorly. You know? This is an invite-only virtual opportunity for #2s in the social impact ecosystem: people in the senior-most operational positions like #chiefofstaff, #coo, #managingdirector, #deputy, #headofpeople, #headofoperations, and equivalent. Some details here: https://lnkd.in/ep9ysRfZ We've got real-time group coaching, expert trainings, and connection-building for those of us in senior ops roles who could use a little less silo-ing and a bit more camaraderie. We've worked with 80 people over the past 2 years; our last cohort of 15 participants rated the programming 9.38 out of 10 stars. 🌟 🔥 Know someone in a #2 role who should be on the invite list? Send me a DM with their name to nominate them or comment below! 🔥 Priority sign-up deadline is June 7 // final deadline is June 18. P.S. We also offer 1:1 Executive Coaching, drawing from the wisdom of this network. Hit me if that's of interest, too! Yay.

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We kicked off Chief Disruptor LIVE with an incredible panel on "Harnessing the Transformational Impact of Adaptive Leadership and Strategies for Competitive Advantage." Here's what we learned: Key Leadership Capabilities:   - Clarity of Mission & Purpose: Essential for aligning and motivating teams.   - Psychological Safety: Creating a culture of trust to foster innovation.   - Empowering Agile Teams: Focus on 'the why' and create value.   - Reflection & Adjustment: Crucial for continuous improvement.   - Adaptive Leadership Mindset: Embrace change and stay ahead with innovation. Panellists: Aruj Haider, Senior Director Emerging Technology Development and Innovation, The Crown Estate Khaliq Akbar, Strategy Director - UK & Ireland Strategy Director - UK & Ireland AXA UK Major General Robin Lindsay CBE, Military Secretary and General Officer Scotland, British Army Matt Robinson, Chief Technology Officer, FairPlay Sports Media #ChiefDisruptor #ChiefDisruptorLIVE #Connect #Learn #Disrupt #BusinessLeaders #Leadership

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I don't know about you, but music is restorative, the best form of relaxation and makes me a better me. Today we head to the Bluebird Music Festival in Boulder hosted by FUTURE ARTS FOUNDATION. Some pretty great acts are performing like Jeff Tweedy, Gregory Alan Isakov and my personal favorite, Langhorne Slim. I am super excited. I find events like these to be absolutely necessary to my overall happiness in life. Why? Because in order to be the best me, I need to take mental breaks. When I was younger, I thought that working 18 hours days and not relaxing my mind made me the best me. And, perhaps it helped me get ahead in my career. Maybe it didn't. But what I do know, it caused me to burn out FAST. There were days I absolutely did not want to have anything to do with work and the sheer thought of turning on my computer made me want to throw-up. I'd need a sick day. And then the cycle would begin again. Other than this generally sucking, it also caused me to NOT use my sick time or vacation time wisely. What I should have been doing, continuing to work the long days but: Take breaks during the day-go for a walk. Watch 10 mins of that crappy television show. Plan vacation days where I leave my work phone and computer home to fully relax and recharge Do things at night and on the weekends that feed my well being like music, or a great restaurant, or my friends and family. In a fantastic article "How to recharge: tips from a Standford wellness coach" https://lnkd.in/gxRJCY-D from Stanford University, Jordana D. writes, "Relaxation and rest are often used interchangeably...relaxation is giving your mind and body a break to restore your energy, support your cognitive function and regulate your mood." So to be your best you, figure out your best mechanism for relaxing and do it. Do it often. It truly will make you better. #relax, #wellness, #leadership, #salesops, #revops, #salesoperations, #revenueoperations, #sales, #CRO, #CCO, #CEO

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#Benefits people! #PeopleOps people! #Fintech people! My good friend Yosh Miller runs Hadley, which enables employers to provide 529 benefits for employees. It's a no-brainer - the more I've learned about 529s, the more that's become crystal clear. Check 'em out, and let me know if you want an intro.

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Today I was facilitating a leadership workshop on Giving and Receiving Feedback - because while many leaders are decent at giving feedback, there are also many who are not great at truly receiving feedback. Part of the content from my workshop came from this article by Kim Scott - if you are in a leadership role, and want to strengthen your "receiving feedback muscle" this article is a helpful read. https://lnkd.in/gixurpGW

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Thinking about using a Doula during your childbirth journey? Then you must take a listen to the latest episode of Healers Talk Healing!

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What an honor to facilitate the Whoosh, Inc. offsite last week with their amazing team in beautiful Bozeman, Montana! 🌲✨🏔️ Our sessions focused on celebrating the team’s achievements, aligning with the company’s vision and values, and fostering effective teamwork. Intentional design is crucial for offsites, especially in today’s remote and hybrid work environment. It’s not enough to simply hope for connection – you need to create it. Through reflective exercises, team-building activities, and purposeful discussions, we saw firsthand the impact of this approach. Why are intentionally designed offsites so powerful? 🤔 - They provide structured opportunities for team members to connect on a deeper level, fostering trust and collaboration 🤝 - They create an environment for active learning, helping participants grow and develop new skills 📚 - They offer a space for reflection, allowing teams to align with the company’s mission and values 🌍 Companies that invest in intentionally designed offsites see a higher return on investment: - Increased trust and connection among team members, leading to better collaboration greater innovation 💡 - Stronger alignment with the company’s mission and values, driving greater motivation and engagement 💪 - Enhanced personal and professional growth, contributing to overall team performance 🌱 Special thanks to Jenn Burgess, Gretchen Weber, PGA, Colin Read, and Scott Peper for their incredible leadership and commitment to making this offsite a success. Your dedication to building a high-performing, values-driven, and connected company is truly inspiring. 🙌 If your team or organization is ready to collaborate to create a transformative offsite experience, let’s chat! #TeamBuilding #HighPerformanceTeams #TeamOffsites

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There's a famous painting, by Norman Rockwell, called "While The Audience Waits." And it's a picture of a circus performer bandaging the paw of his circus dog. As you look at it you might wonder a couple of things. Did the dog get injured during his part in the circus act? And is the man getting him ready to perform again? Evidently they perform in the same act. Because the poodle's costume matches his human performer's clothing. And their jackets are even the same. You can tell, by looking at the man's face, he's concerned about his little buddy and stage mate. So, he probably wants to be sure the little dog can perform in the next act. And it's all taking place as the audience waits. What's going on while your audience waits? First, do you even know who your audience is? If so, then you know the answers (or can find the answers) to these questions. What do they look like? Where do they shop? What do they do? And what do they need and want Answer those questions and you'll know what to do while your audience waits. And you'll find that getting clients will get a whole lot easier. So, you might have some work to do first. It might be a good idea to sit down and really identify who your ideal client is. Because the second part of getting more clients is your message. And how do you formulate and talk about your products and services, if you don’t know who your ideal audience is? So, first, identify your target audience. And you might have more than one. But get a clear picture of who they are. Then, come up with your unique message to speak directly to them. And after that, be sure you have a system in place. A system that makes it easy to duplicate your processes and procedures. And a system that helps you create habits better and faster. So, every single client and customer can easily, seamlessly, understand your products and services. And what your information can do for THEM. When you can do that, don’t be surprised when you get more referrals and repeat business. Because your clients and customers will know what to expect. And they’ll know how to tell others about you. And they’ll want to because they know you’re gonna do the same great stuff for their referrals. Give value beyond just your products and services. My RondaReady Business System hub can help you do all this better and faster. And you get a free consultation with me when you use the link below to schedule a time for us to talk about your business. But don't delay. Remember, your audience awaits. https://lnkd.in/gXjnWaXq Stay Ready, Ronda Stay Ready, R.O.N.D.A. 949-981-8113 #gettingclients #serveothersbetter #businesscommunication

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BOOM - This is what community-based collective impact is about.... 2.5 weeks ago Austin Montoya @ LIMINAL came to me and FuseChange with an opportunity to write a grant to support workforce development in Portland, Oregon. Together we decided that as a person with lived experience with learning differences and neurodivergent, they our priority populations. 30-40% of those who identify as neurodivergent are unemployed. We are going to create a program to provide these participants with education, training and a hands on paid apprenticeship to build an open source technology for a local community-based nonprofit.. ultimately to land them a job into the nonprofit or forprofit tech sectors. 1. We posted an ask on Linkedin and Emily Henke, MPH & Kyna L. Harris, MBA, CHW @ Oregon Public Health Institute - have an open source tech need. 2. We got inspired talking to Beach Pace @ Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest who recognized the power of inclusive collaboration. 3. For a week Austin and I worked after our normal work hours on the Future Ready Oregon Workforce Development Grant - Technology with an Technical Assistance provider: Marianne Boules @ Boules Consulting who is amazing! Answer questions in the middle of the night and super responsive. 3. We then talked to some outstanding community-based organizations, who said they're in and love this new innovative program and put their names on it. - Skip Newberry (he, him) & Elaine Hsieh @ Technology Association of Oregon - Rick Turoczy @ PIE (Portland Incubator Experiment) - Jack 🤔 Herrington - Blue Collar Coder 4. Then Amy Sample Ward @ NTEN came back from PTO and said let's meet tomorrow (Monday 7/30), and said they love it. NTEN would like to join the group and ultimately offered to become the lead nonprofit to support the program. 5. Amy, Austin and I worked until the wee hours last night and knocked out the last parts of the grant. 6. We submitted the grant today That is 2.5 weeks idea to -> grant proposal with amazing partners. Even if we don't get this funded, which we will.... this is the power of #community, #collaboration, #collectiveimpact, #opensource. It's what makes #Portland a community. We came together based on shared goals and impact to deliver a proposal that can help persons with cognitive disabilities and or neurodiversities with a proposed solution to empower, train, educate and ultimate connect them to a technology job in the #nonprofit or #forprofit tech sectors. Check out the Project Summary https://lnkd.in/gVNb2pFv

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This is SO important. Prioritizing rest, recovery and time usage can make all the difference.

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