I began practicing meditation back in 2014 when I embarked on what I would consider my spiritual journey. Meditation became a part of my life, a part of my daily routine, the reason I handle life situations in a mindfulness way. I spent four years ways away from Corporate America, and knew that if I ever came back, I would incorporate meditation into whatever environment I worked in.
If you're unaware, I'm a Store Manager at Walgreens. I have been in Management at Walgreens for 14yrs now. I absolutely love what I do. I love leadership, I love team atmospheres, I love growth and opportunity, and I love developing my team. When I think of work environments, I believe that the energy and culture of your store is determined by your leadership. I am responsible for and in control of directly impacting my team on a daily basis. For those reasons, I value the environment that my team has to work 20-40hrs each week in.
It was a no brainer for me when I started working at Walgreens again. I knew that once I became a Store Manager, I would create a Meditation/Zen room in our training room for my employees. All of my employees will have access to this room when they are in need. My idea finally came into fruition!
It was a no brainer for me when I started working at Walgreens again. I knew that once I became a Store Manager, I would create a Meditation/Zen room in our training room for my employees. All of my employees will have access to this room when they are in need. My idea finally came into fruition!
Because of privacy company concerns, I will not post the picture of the room. The photo above is an example of a zen room setup. My intention in creating this room for my team was most importantly to let them know that they are more than just employees to me. They are mothers, fathers, students, husbands, wives, friends, and so much more...and we're all ONE team at my store. I care about their mental health and awareness, and understand that retail comes with many challenging moments. I've worked in retail for over 20yrs, so I've been around the block a time or two.
If at any time and any moment this room will be accessible to them to take 5-10mins to regroup, take a breather, calm down, and relax for a moment. We're a year into a pandemic and the new normal is still taking some people more time to adjust. People are still facing tons of challenges mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially. Work still needs to be done, tasks will still need to be completed, and we still have to be in the proper head space to take care of our customers. My team does just that and so much more, so this room was an extent of my appreciation for all that they do on a daily basis.
Meditation is life for me. Meditation is clarity. Meditation is peace. Meditation is calm. There are a great amount of companies that have zen rooms available for their employees. The one's I've seen have been more in corporate and office settings. I decided that retail settings need them as well. The breakroom just isn't enough and I've already received great feedback from my team. One of my Managers even called it a Serenity Room! How awesome is that?!
My idea of Leadership is to be self-less. I believe that I'm only as great as my team, and my team is only as great as my leadership. A true leader is not only focused on the success of their team but displays qualities that are grounded in compassion, consideration, empathy, and understanding. By displaying those qualities, success will be inevitable. It is up to the leader in any organization and any industry to create the environment that allows their team to grow and flourish. Creating a space that allows your team to jump back into zen during those challenging moments throughout their days is a true benefit to your organization.
I expect nothing but the best from my team, and I'm optimistic that this meditation/zen room will pour into the positive culture we're creating at our store. I'm excited about blending mind and body practices that positively impact one's health and well-being, into a corporate setting.
Sending you all Love, Peace, and Light.
~Carrie P.~
If at any time and any moment this room will be accessible to them to take 5-10mins to regroup, take a breather, calm down, and relax for a moment. We're a year into a pandemic and the new normal is still taking some people more time to adjust. People are still facing tons of challenges mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially. Work still needs to be done, tasks will still need to be completed, and we still have to be in the proper head space to take care of our customers. My team does just that and so much more, so this room was an extent of my appreciation for all that they do on a daily basis.
Meditation is life for me. Meditation is clarity. Meditation is peace. Meditation is calm. There are a great amount of companies that have zen rooms available for their employees. The one's I've seen have been more in corporate and office settings. I decided that retail settings need them as well. The breakroom just isn't enough and I've already received great feedback from my team. One of my Managers even called it a Serenity Room! How awesome is that?!
My idea of Leadership is to be self-less. I believe that I'm only as great as my team, and my team is only as great as my leadership. A true leader is not only focused on the success of their team but displays qualities that are grounded in compassion, consideration, empathy, and understanding. By displaying those qualities, success will be inevitable. It is up to the leader in any organization and any industry to create the environment that allows their team to grow and flourish. Creating a space that allows your team to jump back into zen during those challenging moments throughout their days is a true benefit to your organization.
I expect nothing but the best from my team, and I'm optimistic that this meditation/zen room will pour into the positive culture we're creating at our store. I'm excited about blending mind and body practices that positively impact one's health and well-being, into a corporate setting.
Sending you all Love, Peace, and Light.
~Carrie P.~
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