"Customer retention is essential through a disrupted economy while providing unmatched value that the customer can depend on."
Kristin Larsen is a transformational health coach and author, who coaches in the area of heart centered living and inner leadership. His new book release, Joy of Being: Daily Moments of Becoming Present, is a self reflection journal workbook that gives guidance for helping others to understand and be present in their lives while seeing joy each day. The meaning of his title explores Larsen’s approach to a way of being in life—who we are being each day, and how we are living in the present.
Larsen has been published in Preferred Magazine and is the co-author of Decision to Heal: Pathways From Suffering to Love. The discussion of his topics extend to various podcasts abroad. His writings focus on mindset, mindfulness, self-compassion, and inner leadership. The inspiration for Joy of Being started with a concept of achieving goals and self-improvement. Through coaching and learning, it evolved into incorporating the concepts of presence to be happy with inner peace.
Larsen’s favorite part of the writing process in Joy of Being was developing the daily journaling pages. He hopes that by incorporating journaling, introspection, and practical tips, his readers gain a clear understanding of what presence is and how they can apply it in their lives while forming the habit change needed for continual commitment.
When he is not helping his readers to become present, live with gratitude, and focus on positivity, Larsen enjoys exercising, being in nature, exploring creativity, and spending time with family and friends. He lives in Angus, Ontario, Canada.
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Table of Contents
2020 and 2021 threw a lot of curve balls into business on a global scale. Based on the experience gleaned in the past couple years, how can businesses thrive in 2022? What lessons have you learned?
Kristin Larsen: The past few years have created both challenges and opportunities for many businesses. There are 5 areas I believe that will help a business thrive in 2022 based on the lessons that I have learned over the past two years. First, who we are being will dictate the results we are getting. Having awareness of how situations are being approached and the importance of why they are being approached that way will prove to be an important factor in achieving a desired outcome, Second, being mindfulness of and not neglecting focus on mental health.
Establishing effective stress release routines and beneficial coping strategies will ensure a resilient mindset. Third, acknowledging and accepting business operations can function outside the traditional structure. Assessing how adapting to this blueprint can increase employee wellbeing and productivity while off-setting business costs. Fourth, understanding what makes your business unique. What sets your business apart from other similar businesses? Fifth, Ensure all marketing and communication messaging is clear so it can reach who it is intended for.
The pandemic seems to keep on disrupting the economy, what should businesses focus on in 2022? What advice would you share?
Kristin Larsen: What I see as major focus areas for business growth and stability are building a strong inner core work culture with ethical values and operating principles, establishing individual purpose, building relationships, personal employee growth and wellbeing support. Some key questions to ask within the business organization are: What ways can your business organization support employee health in their lives? How can creativity and engaged innovation be encouraged to lead a resilient team in a personal and company growth journey? How is each employee’s purpose contributing to the core operating values and principles of the organization?
Customer retention is essential through a disrupted economy while providing unmatched value that the customer can depend on.
How has the pandemic changed your industry and how have you adapted?
Kristin Larsen: In the coaching industry of leading people to be their best and helping them transform their experiences it has been crucial to meet people where they are at. Some ways of adapting included focusing on daily habits while inviting flexible autonomy into the process of taking action. Streamlining operations gave more focus on the strengths of myself and the business. Importance was placed on the value being delivered through surveys and specific market feedback. Investing in my internal growth through mindfulness practice and transformational leadership courses supported me so I could adapt to unpredictability.
What advice do you wish you received when the pandemic started and what do you intend on improving in 2022?
Kristin Larsen: Throughout the pandemic it would have been helpful to practice compassionate approaches to many situations in business and personally. Practicing awareness through mindfulness and understanding what compassion looks like will help to connect and build relationships with customers employees. Learning more about inner leadership to strengthen belief and trust in myself and others. Prioritizing what is most important to take the necessary steps towards my desired results. Increase customer loyalty with essential services and products that give them value and deliver exactly what they want.
Online business surged higher than ever, B2B, B2C, online shopping, virtual meetings, remote work, Zoom medical consultations, what are your expectations for 2022?
Kristin Larsen: My expectations for 2022 are that the demand for providing a hybrid mix between online and in person experiences will continue to be a requirement. There will be a need to maintain flexibility for the things that have been proven can be done. Incorporating more feedback from employees to evaluate working conditions while businesses establish work result expectations.
How many hours a day do you spend in front of a screen?
Kristin Larsen: 4-5 hours a day.
The majority of executives use stories to persuade and communicate in the workplace. Can you share with our readers examples of how you implement that in your business to communicate effectively with your team?
Kristin Larsen: When I am communicating with my team I like to be as authentic as possible. What this looks like is being open, honest and transparent. There is an effort made to understand the other perspective. There is listening and acknowledging what the other person is saying. I ensure that each team member knows they are respected and valued.
The overall capabilities for the team are set at a high standard which is openly expressed. If there is a challenge there is an opportunity to discuss it but the bulk of the effort is spent mining for solutions. The talk between the team has an emphasized focus on creating possibilities and encouraging team members to step up as leaders so they can experience growth in the process.
Business is all about overcoming obstacles and creating opportunities for growth. What do you see as the real challenge right now?
Kristin Larsen: At the moment I see a real challenge in creating a vision that will motivate and inspire employees, That means they buy into the vision and trust the leadership direction, If there is no support for the vision it will be difficult to adapt to the trends and that could impact employee culture within the business. Without everyone working together more effort will be required to stay on course in the midst of obstacles.
In 2022, what are you most interested in learning about? Crypto, NFTs, online marketing, or any other skill sets? Please share your motivations.
Kristin Larsen: In 2022 a few things I am most interested in learning more about are the landscape of online marketing. It interests me to learn what it takes to create effective and organic online engagement, It would be interesting to know how the copy writing and funnels lead to end cycle of ecommerce purchase.
A record 4.4 million Americans left their jobs in September in 2021, accelerating a trend that has become known as the Great Resignation. 47% of people plan to leave their job during 2022. Most are leaving because of their boss or their company culture. 82% of people feel unheard, undervalued and misunderstood in the workplace. Do you think leaders see the data and think “that’s not me – I’m not that boss they don’t want to work for? What changes do you think need to happen?
Kristin Larsen: I think leaders do see the data. I believe they just don’t know how to adapt to create a culture that reaches the underlying passion of the employees to fully invest their future with the company. What changes need to happen are the opportunity for input from various levels and people in the workplace. Another idea for change is to look at ways that will improve individual purpose for the employee. Helping them discover what purpose means to them in their job. Identifying opportunities to live into that purpose everyday. I also feel there must be a priority placed on self care and health. This is essential to ensure each employee shows up as their best.
On a lighter note, if you had the ability to pick any business superpower, what would it be and how would you put it into practice?
Kristin Larsen: If I had the ability to pick any business super power it would be unlimited presence. I would put this into practice by placing focus on my breathing and having mindfulness for who I am being in my experiences. This would allow me to have minimal doubts and worries. I would focus clearly on trusting my intuition which would give me the perspective to create possibility. I would take the time to see the learning and joy in the steps being taken so I can adapt to any situation with flowing calmness.
What does “success” in 2022 mean to you? It could be on a personal or business level, please share your vision.
Kristin Larsen: My vision of what success means for me in 2022 is not giving up. Being curious and courageous to find a solution. Being integrity and to have humility to learn and grow throughout the process. Enjoying the steps required to arrive at the end goal. Being in service and providing the greatest value possible. Measuring my success objectively to uncover opportunities for improvement. Stretching beyond what I thought was the limit of my goals.
Playing all-in and doing my best to create a win-win for everyone.
Mike Weiss, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Kristin Larsen for taking the time to do this interview and share his knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Kristin Larsen or his company, you can do it through his – Instagram
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