Imagination. Innovation. Creativity. Disruption. Discretionary Effort. Employee Engagement.

Globally executives and leaders express these words as a call to action.  How is it possible that, collectively, we continue with old patterns that have not served us well? Lack of access to information use to be an adequate reason for repetitive mistakes. Today, that’s not the case. We are privy to more information than ever, yet we continue to do the things the way “we’ve always done them”.

How do we shift and change our habits? It begins with nothing. An empty space.  It’s about allowing a pause between listening and speaking; between stimulus and response. French composer Claude Debussy said, “Music is the space between the notes”.

Today’s tip: – Practice the Pause

Intentionally open space in your conversations (including the self-talk you have going on in your head).  Decide to practice the pause. Breathe. At least 10 seconds of no sound.  See what happens when you invite space into your work, your team, and your experience. Who knows, maybe those call-to-action words of creativity and connection may become more if we open space for innovation.

“It’s a transformative experience to simply pause instead of immediately filling up space.”  Pema Chodron