The Warmth, Wisdom And Wonderful Work Approach

There are many ways to live and work. Some people aim to follow the warmth, wisdom and wonderful work approach. They may do this in the following ways.

Warmth – They are warm or help to generate warmth.

Wisdom – They study, share and sometimes show wisdom.

Wonderful Work – They do or help others to do wonderful work.

Different people follow this approach in different ways. Whatever route they follow, however, they often focus on the following themes.

Warmth

Some people seem to be naturally warm. They set a positive tone and uplift people’s spirits. They show an interest in people and make them the centre of their world.

Some people help to generate warmth. They create an encouraging environment in which people feel at ease and able to be themselves. They may do this in their role as parents, teachers, leaders or in another role.

Good educators, for example, start by creating an inspiring environment in which people want to learn. They then provide implementation tools that work and help the students to integrate the learning in their own way.

Good workshop facilitators also create an environment in which people feel at ease. They make sure the physical things – such as room, chairs and food – are right. They then open the workshop in an inspiring way.

Why? Creating a warm environment encourages the participants to explore and work to reach their goals. Warmth – rather than sternness – is more likely to deliver great results.

Positive leaders create an encouraging environment in which motivated people can do superb work. They communicate a clear purpose and the principles to follow. They then enable people to make their best contributions towards achieving the picture of success.

Let’s return to your own life. Looking back, can you think of a person who was naturally warm or helped to generate warmth? This could have been somebody in your personal or professional life.

What was the name of the person? This could have been a parent, friend, teacher, coach or another person. What did they do to demonstrate warmth or help to generate warmth?

If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to complete the following sentences.

Wisdom

Some people study, share and show wisdom. They see themselves as lifetime students who have a lot to learn. They certainly don’t see themselves as wise. They recognise, however, that they may have expertise in a certain area.

Such people often study what works, simplify what works – in a profound way – and share what works. They may then pass on knowledge that people can use to achieve success.

There are many definitions for wisdom. One definition is: ‘Soundness of judgment in the choice of means and ends.’ Different people follow this approach in different ways.

Good mentors, for example, often create a stimulating sanctuary. They create an environment in which people feel at ease and able to explore their challenges and goals.

Such mentors then aim: a) to clarify the person’s goals; b) to clarify the real results they want to achieve; c) to pass on knowledge the person can use to achieve their goals.

They listen to the person. Then, if appropriate, they ask if it is okay to share some ideas. Some mentors then ask themselves the following questions before passing on knowledge.

What are the person’s goals? What are the real results they want to achieve? What is their picture of success? What will be the benefits of them achieving these goals?

What are their strengths? What are they doing well that can help them to reach their goals? How can they do more of these things in the future? What can they do better and how?

What is the knowledge I can share that can help them to reach their goals? How can I bring this to life by giving concrete examples? How can I share this knowledge in a way they can accept and use?

Wise people demonstrate the qualities that researchers find are admired in many societies. They are positive, kind and have a sense of perspective.

They learn from the wisdom shown by people in both past and present generations. They then aim to pass on – in a practical way – some of the eternal principles that can help people and the planet.

Such people use their strengths to pass on knowledge in different ways. They may do this by encouraging people, teaching, writing books, making films or using other media.

Let’s return to your own life. Looking back, can you think of a person who you believe demonstrated wisdom? How did they do this in their own way?

If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to focus on the following themes. 

Wonderful Work

Some people show elements of being warm and wise. Some also do wonderful work that lifts people’s spirits. They may do this when working as educators, therapists, artists, writers or in other roles.

Maria Montessori did it with her pioneering work in education. Alexander Calder did it with his art and sculptures. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry did it with his books such as Wind, Sand and Stars.

David Attenborough created compelling television programmes that increased people’s awareness of the need to take care of the planet. These have included Life On Earth, The Blue Planet and Planet Earth.

Mary Robinson, the former President of Ireland, does this in her work with The Elders. This is an independent group of global leaders who work together for peace and human rights.

They were brought together by Nelson Mandela, an honorary elder, in Johannesburg in 2007. Here is a picture of that gathering. It was made up of the following people.

Graca Machel, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter, Mary Robinson, Kofi Annan, Gro Harlem Brundtland, Martti Ahtisaari, Ela Bhatt, Lakhdar Brahimi.

Maggie Keswick Jencks was the co-founder, alongside Charles Jencks, of Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres. These aim to empower people to live with, through and beyond cancer. Here is how they explain their approach.

There are many ways to live and work. Some people aim to follow the warmth, wisdom and wonderful work approach. They may do this in the following ways.

Warmth – They are warm or help to generate warmth.

Wisdom – They study, share and sometimes show wisdom.

Wonderful Work – They do or help others to do wonderful work.

Let’s return to your own life and work. Looking ahead, can you think of a situation where you may want to follow elements of this approach? How can you do this in your own way?

If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to focus on the following themes.