Zen Leadership and Workplace Well-Being: Unlocking Productivity and Growth with Lori Saitz

Lori Saitz is the leading authority on improving productivity and engagement through workplace well-being. She is the founder of the Zen Leadership Program for Results-Focused Professionals. With a comprehensive background in wellness and communication strategies, Lori helps executives create focused, resilient, and collaborative teams that can move projects forward with less stress and drama. You can also listen to Lori on her own podcast, Fine is a 4-Letter Word, where she engages guests in conversations about how they've grown from a time in their lives when things were decidedly NOT fine. Lori is currently living a nomad life while cat-sitting in states across the southeast U.S. You can often find her in the weight room at the gym. She also loves cupcakes, Thai food, and classic rock music.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorisaitz/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zen_rabbit/Facebook personal: https://www.facebook.com/LoriSaitz/Facebook business: https://www.facebook.com/ZenRabbitTwitter: https://twitter.com/zenrabbit   Quick recap Creating Positive Work Environments for Growth Lori, an employee well-being expert, discussed the importance of creating a positive work environment to foster creativity and retention. She shared her personal journey of starting her first business, The Gratitude Cookie, in 2003, which aimed at promoting gratitude in businesses. Michael agreed on the significance of this approach and shared his contrasting experiences of donating to two different organizations, highlighting the positive impact of a positive work environment on organizational growth and employee satisfaction. Employee Experience, Gratitude, and Business Success Michael and Lori discussed the significance of employee experience, shifting from viewing employees as resources to valuing them as individuals. They emphasized the benefits of gratitude on productivity, health, and overall business success, citing a study from the University of Pennsylvania. Michael shared his experience of transforming a toxic healthcare clinic into a thriving environment by focusing on gratitude and specific acknowledgments, leading to increased patient outcomes and reduced turnover. Lori agreed, highlighting the importance of specific gratitude and its impact on retention, engagement, and overall well-being, as well as its benefits on physical health, creativity, and relationships. Both agreed on the importance of creating a supportive environment for employees to thrive. Gratitude, Self-Improvement, and Bipartisan Values Lori and Michael discussed the importance of gratitude in personal and professional life. They proposed an exercise called "I'm grateful for" to help people become more naturally grateful. They also discussed a situation where Michael had to provide guidance to a client despite feeling frustrated, and agreed that ultimately, the client's decision was their choice. They emphasized the need to focus on gratitude and its positive effects on mental well-being. Michael shared his personal practice of expressing gratitude upon waking up, which he believes helps in creating new patterns of thought and reducing stress. They concluded by agreeing on the value of gratitude and self-improvement, suggesting these are bipartisan values. Driving Advancements Through Simple Practices Michael and Lori discussed the value in facing challenges to drive technological advancements. Lori shared her "Staying Calm in Chaos" program, which teaches simple practices like expressing gratitude, setting intentions, and deep breathing. She noted people often underestimate the impact of such easy techniques. Michael agreed these practices are straightforward yet easy to neglect. Embracing Gratitude and Mindset Shifts Lori and Michael discussed the importance of changing one's perspective and embracing gratitude. Michael shared his personal experience of making a mindset shift 15 years ago, which has significantly impacted his life. Lori, who run