After a conversation with @JeffDHarmon74 back in April 2014, I shared a post – Dig – Anthrocubeologist Goes on Archaeology Dig. Now, six months after I quit my job, I have continued to reflect on what he shared and what we talked about.

This post is a quick refresh and reminder about embracing and acting on characteristics that bring about healthier interactions.

On Choosing to Be Principled

Being an anthrocubeologist involves being aware of all things influencing each person’s body –

• mind
• eyes
• ears
• mouth
• heart
• hands
• feet

The use of anatomy is directly from inspiration gained after reading (and re-reading and taking to heart) Jeff Harmon’s The Anatomy of a Principled Leader: A Field Guide to Being the Type of Leader Everyone Dreams of Working For. Jeff uses seven parts of the human body for sharing his insights about characteristics of the Principled Leader.  Where Jeff shares his approach on his website about his book –

The mind, heart, eyes, ears, mouth, hands and feet each represent a unique set of indispensable functions that operate at times at full health and at other times are in a state of dysfunction.  All these characteristics are grounded in humility. 

– he focuses on characteristics of each part. He not only provides a perspective for symptoms of dysfunction but also presents the contrary – the opportunity for operating at full health.

Being Aware of Inspiration

For me as an anthrocubeologist interested in human-to-human shared interactions in the workspace for cultural shifts, Jeff’s analogy serves nicely the way of anthrocubeology –

… about being that person who is present in a workspace and brings about the cultural shifts needed for meaningful interactions in the workspace – one who does so without judgement, one who does so as a servant-leader.

Ideation. Aggravation. Visualization. 

The physical environment provides inspiration – all things influencing one’s mind, eyes, ears, mouth, heart, hands, and feet. For me, this includes meditation, food, books, articles, podcasts, art, music, travel, relationships, emotions, injury, serendipity, … IMAGINATION.

Discovery. Ambiguity. Equity. 

Observing one’s environment provides perspectives – the anthrocubeologist draws not only upon personal experience but also upon critical thinking of his/her environmental stimuli – all in the name of the way of anthrocubeology.

In the fields of observation, chance favors only the prepared mind.
– Louis Pasteur

Silliness. Cleverness. Snarkiness.

Experiencing the workspace is where laughter and wit can emerge. Clever and witty perspectives of workspaces have been shared by many including Scott Adams of Dilbert comic strip fame, David Brent of The Office (UK) on television, Michael Scott of the The Office (USA) on television, and The Collared Sheep on-line community, who also shares at the twitter hashtag of #nftc, which stands for News from the Cube. These are just a few of very many commentaries on the workspace.

How are you sensing the world? What do you hear when you listen to your body? With your body? How are you mindful about creating healthier interactions?