At this time of year, I often reflect on the many things for which I am grateful. Here are a few.

With gratitude for:

• Leaders who are guiding their organizations to become a much better place. Whether for their customers, their communities, or their employees, great leaders are not satisfied with good enough. They strive to create momentous improvements for all.
  
• Teams who seek to uncover and address the true root cause of issues. They recognize that Band-Aids will not stop a gushing wound. And so, they seek first to examine and understand their situation deeply, then to develop highly effective solutions for the core issues at hand. They are willing to adopt proven solutions from wherever they find them. Whether from other industries, certainly from high performing organizations, and sometimes even from another unit within their own organization who has demonstrated superior results.
  
• My clients who are, individually and collectively, striving for organizational excellence however they define that. They are an inspiration in their pursuits and in their demonstrated outcomes. For some it is consistently delivering on their strategic priorities, for others striving to be the model in their region, and still for others it is through marked improvements in quality, service, workplace climate, or equitable access to services. I am grateful to be their trusted guide along the journey.

I am grateful for:

• The many leaders who are striving to become a better version of themselves. They thoughtfully assess how to become even more effective. They exhibit courage, humility, and discipline in order to grow as a leader. They recognize that standing still is not an option.
  
• My colleagues who started the Pay It Forward program and for the opportunity to give back to non-profits by coaching within this program. I am grateful for my current coachee for the zest with which she has approached “this gift” of coaching to improve herself for the betterment of her organization and the stakeholders closest to her.

The last few years have shone a bright light on workers and their working conditions. I express my gratitude to:

• Healthcare workers who have endured immense pressures in their service to humankind while gracefully navigating the ever-changing rules, regulations, and expectations over the past few years. A simple thank you is far too simple. But, thank you!
  
• Employees in many industries and regions who have continued to serve despite challenging expectations brought on by the pandemic. For some they endured to provide for their families, for others out of bare necessity, and others in service to others. I express my gratitude for their service in the face of adversity.

I also express gratitude to my colleagues who are my intellectual sparring partners, co-creators, collaborators, and more. We come together to serve our mutual clients, to design workshops and webinars, and to exchange ideas. I am grateful for my colleagues in Healthcare Shapers, Ingenium Healthcare Advisors, and Stakeholder Centered Coaching.

And although my Excellence Advantage Inspirations focus on my professional life, my family is my deepest inspiration.

• I am grateful for my husband of 25 years and the inspiring work he does to advance the field of renewable energy to create a greener world for future generations.
  
• I am grateful for our daughter and her passion for human rights across the globe. I admire her desire to contribute to social change for the betterment of human lives, the incredible compassion she exhibits, and the curiosity with which she approaches new situations. I am grateful for the questions she asks and assumptions she causes me to re-examine.
  
• I am grateful for my parents and my siblings. They model the many values that I hold dear.