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The SEED Model™ of High Sensitivity

seedling under lightbulb in the soil with foliage in soft focus in the background

Did you know that I add the letters “HSP” after my name on my LinkedIn profile and on Zoom?

Why?

HSP stands for a highly sensitive person and I have this trait. I think it’s an extra piece of information – just like pronouns – that can help others understand something important about me that would otherwise remain invisible. The level of understanding will depend on prior knowledge of what HSP means, but if one has never heard of it, it’s often a conversation starter. And, that’s fine by me.

Identified by Dr. Elaine Aron in the mid-90s, high sensitivity is a genetic trait clinically known as Sensory Processing Sensitivity. It occurs in about 20% of the population and over 100 species. It is a positive distinction that SPS is considered a trait and not a “disorder” (though there is debate about whether the term disorder is fair for other neurodivergent conditions as well), however, this means that while high sensitivity is considered a normal neural state, the accommodations which might be helpful, and which are available to conditions viewed as disorders, are not readily offered to the highly sensitive. It is my goal to raise awareness and understanding of sensitivity in general and to pave a smoother path for fellow HSPs. We really shouldn’t have to worry about labels. We simply need a more tender world. Or as I like to say, “everyone deserves a Happy Space®”.

I wish I could remember exactly how I first found out about the trait about eight years ago but all I remember is feeling like I could see myself more clearly after reading Dr. Aron’s masterwork “The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You”. It’s fair to say it has significantly influenced my life for the better. Awareness is everything.

“Making Work Work for the Highly Sensitive Person” by Barrie Jaeger, Ph.D. and “Trust Yourself: Stop Overthinking and Channel Your Emotions for Success at Work” by Melody Wilding, furthered my understanding of the impacts of the trait in a professional context. And, more recently, “Divergent Mind: Thriving in a World That Wasn’t Designed for You” by Jenara Nerenberg helped me to realize that sensitivity is commonly observed in many neurodivergent ways of being such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia.

I began to include sensitivity in my presentations to the organizing and productivity community in 2017 as I came to understand organizing efforts as a personal coping strategy to calm my overstimulating world. Today, I include a reference to sensitivity in my title as a Highly Sensitive Executive Coach and am often asked to speak about neurodiversity. I honour the trait and its strengths as part of why I believe I’m good at what I have chosen to do.

With so much reflection and review of the way Dr. Aron refers to the elements of the trait in her DOES model (which I explained in my first blog post about the trait), I found DOES troubling in three ways:

a) A name must be easy to say if you expect people to repeat it. I never knew if DOES was “duz” as in the active form of doing something, or “dōz”, as in the plural of the female form of deer. I suspect it’s neither as have heard Dr. Aron spell it out – D O E S, but the ability for it to be pronounced two (or more) ways stumped me. I figured it might get in the way of other people remembering the elements and/or sharing about it as well. I do recognize that this could indeed be an example of me embodying the HSP tendency to deeply process and overthink.

b) The “O” over overstimulation and the “S “of sensitivity to stimuli seemed to me to be related and therefore can be considered as one item with a continuum of experience.

c) There are two E’s: Empathy and Emotional Responsiveness. They are both important and I feel deserve to be adequately recognized.
Pondering this for some time, as a highly sensitive person is wont to do, I thought to rearrange and group the elements of the trait in an easy-to-remember way, with a positive metaphor. Hence, the SEED Model™ of High Sensitivity.

OVERVIEW OF THE SEED MODEL OF HIGH SENSITIVITY
The acronym SEED stands for four elements in a positive analogy suggesting that rich goodness lies within. The elements are Sensitivity, Empathy, Emotional Responsiveness, and Depth of Processing.

Let’s take a look at each element and both its positive and challenging aspects. When expressed positively, we have superpowers 💪🏼 at our disposal. That said, there is a chance that we can struggle 😕 instead, especially if we are depleted in any way and not able to effectively self-regulate. I think it’s important to acknowledge the positive and negative parts of the trait and do our best to set ourselves up by designing life and work to experience as much of the positive as we can.

Sensitivity

💪🏼 Our ability to be sensitive to subtle stimuli makes us great “noticers”. We can pick up on facial expressions, turns of phrase, and body language. Our abundance of mirror neurons means we are more apt to naturally mimic a person with whom we are engaging and subconsciously build rapport. HSPs have an innate ability to put others at ease.

😕 With our nervous systems being “always on”, we can tire more easily. In loud, bright, or crowded spaces no matter whether physical or virtual, our senses may be overwhelmed. This can lead us to avoiding or opting out. We need more rest and recovery options built into our days. Naps for the win!

 

Empathy

💪🏼 We have an innate ability to understand what others are feeling. This can invite them to feel comfortable with us and lead to compassionate action. It can make us stronger leaders; empathy is now being widely recognized as a key leadership skill. You’ll want HSPs on your team.

😕 Sensing others’ suffering can leave us feeling emotionally exhausted and limit our effectiveness. It can be important to limit the amount of toxicity and pain we choose to experience. “Blinders on!” can be an effective strategy.

 

Emotional Responsiveness

💪🏼 Increased brain activation in response to stimuli confirms that we receive robust cues to help process information. This arousal means our highs are definitely higher. This is worth celebrating.

😕 Conversely, our lows can be lower. Receiving strong signals without having the time available, intent or ability to process them can lead to potentially offensive outbursts. Self-regulation skills are your friend. Insert pauses into your day to stay grounded.

 

Deep Processing

💪🏼 Our intense thinking can lead to rich, creative solutions. Research shows that even the HSP brain “at rest” (in the absence of stimuli) is actively processing. No wonder we’re often mentally tired.

😕 If left unchecked, our conscientious natures and desires for quality outcomes can mean that we suffer from perfectionism and end up spinning. We mull over option after option and can end up stuck in analysis paralysis. You’ll want strategies to simplify decision-making to support moving forward.

 

Knowledge of the trait has grown slowly over the years but I feel we are on the cusp of it being widely understood. Certainly, the release of “Sensitive: The Hidden Power of a Highly Sensitive Person in a Loud, Fast, Too-Much World” by Andre Sólo and Jenn Granneman in early 2023 is helping drive recognition with articles in Time magazine and Forbes. Check out episode 15 of the Happy Space® Podcast for my conversation with Andre.

Hopefully, broader appreciation will also not be far behind with more prominent people sharing their sensitivity. For example, tune into episode 16 of the podcast to hear management thought leader, Tom Peters shares his appreciation of sensitivity and thoughtful leadership. I recently shared a post in the Happy Space Pod, a conversation between George Stroumboulopoulos and Gabor Mate in which they explore where creativity comes from. Dr. Mate says very clearly: it comes from sensitivity. With celebrities such as actors Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, and Viola Davis, and singer Annie Lennox all sharing that they are also highly sensitive, I hope more people will not be afraid to be loud and proud about the trait.

Here are a few additional resources. Feel free to share with anyone you think might be highly sensitive. Who knows…you could be triggering a life-changing moment.

Happy Space Podcast
HSP Quiz
Happy Space Pod online Facebook community

 

*****

Productivity catalyst, highly sensitive executive coach, and inclusivity advocate, Clare Kumar, helps professionals improve productivity and well-being while avoiding exhaustion and burnout. She delivers keynotes, workshops, coaching, and connection through her online community, the Happy Space Pod. Kumar is a sought-after brand ambassador and media contributor for products and services contributing to productivity and well-being.

Filed Under: HSP - Highly Sensitive Person, Uncategorized

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Productivity catalyst, highly sensitive executive coach, and speaker, Clare Kumar cultivates sustainable performance in busy professionals so they can keep making rich contributions in all areas of life and achieve greater fulfillment.

She inspires leaders, professionals, employees and entrepreneurs to respect humanity and boost performance through marrying productivity and pleasure. After all, why shouldn’t you have fun while getting things done?

 

From the Blog

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The SEED Model™ of High Sensitivity

LG Home Office Makeover Contest

how do you build connection with a dispersed workf how do you build connection with a dispersed workforce?
that’s exactly what Sally Page, co-founder of @work.tripp and I explore in the latest episode of the Happy Space Podcast.

“there is something very beautiful that happens when a team comes together in terms of their motivation and their kind of performance, when they really come together with purpose…but it’s really hard to do”

and i think it’s important to recognize that simply being together in an office, does not connection make. Dr. Vivek Murthy, when he was the 19th Surgeon General in the US, called out loneliness as an epidemic - before the pandemic. 

Sally recommends:

🧠intentionally crafting connection by building experiences, especially out of the office.

📅choosing a cadence depending on the growth stage of the team or project. quarterly is often ideal.

🎯 focusing on one key thing during the offsite. connection itself can be the goal.

🌳getting out into nature. many studies reveal the benefits and a change of scenery is more memorable.

what are you noticing about building connection at work?

🔗to podcast in bio

#connection #teambuilding #leadership #startup #worktripp #HSP #HappySpacePodcast #happyspacepod #coach
"stay away from the extroverts" said, Tom Peters w "stay away from the extroverts" said, Tom Peters
wait, what? this extrovert had a moment in our podcast interview.

read on to find out what happened in our conversation and why now, Tom says, “look for the quiet and sensitive”!

when I read "Tom Peters' Compact Guide to Excellence", my jaw dropped when he proclaimed that Susan Cain's book "Quiet" is the best business book of this century. the book opened Tom's eyes to the value of quiet, introverted people which had been completely missing from his and many organization's thinking.

in our conversation, when Tom suggested we "stay away from extroverts", being extroverted myself, i was compelled to lobby for sensitive extroverts and offer a counter-thought:

what if it isn't introversion and "quiet" that we need to value?

(i have rarely been accused of being too quiet, despite my middle name meaning "peace" - nice try, mum and dad!)

what if it is sensitivity?

highly sensitive people are superb noticers, process information more deeply, and are adept at synthesizing information. they also innately bring the much-needed empathy required in today’s challenging work world. the 30% of sensitive people who are extroverts (6% of the general population) are a special asset to any organization.

that said, HSPs also need more time to rest and recover during the work day. without that, we are at risk of burning out.

Tom reflects, "I said to somebody, I'm so sensitive to what's going on that I'm always overloading."

Tom immediately revised his "linguistic expression" to say, "look for the quiet and sensitive". I guess I ought to still work on being a bit quieter. ☺

have a listen as Tom and I explore what he calls “extreme humanism”. if we can create work experiences that respect humanity, imagine what we can accomplish.

we can definitely use more Tom Peters-like people in the world.

i'd love to hear what you think. please comment below or on your fave podcast platform.

🔗 link in bio

#hsp #hspcoach #clarekumar #highlysensitiveperson #inclusivity #empathy #sensitivity #leadership #extremehumanism #humanity #productivity
Instagram post 18351377770059912 Instagram post 18351377770059912
Tom Peters is intellectually irritated! he has bee Tom Peters is intellectually irritated! he has been fighting for extreme humanism for 45 years. 

“the message is clear. the message is simple. the message is powerful..."

future of work champions - what can we do to help Tom out? 
comment below!

🔗 in bio for full episode

#futureofwork #humanism #insearchofexcellence
Tom Peters has been revered in the world of busine Tom Peters has been revered in the world of business management ever since releasing the 1982 book In Search of Excellence with co-author Robert Waterman. selling shy of 5 million copies, it is recognized as one of the most influential management works.

in our conversation, we explore Tom’s deep respect for humanity which he refers to as Extreme Humanism. we dive into sensitivity, his fondness for “quiet” people, inclusivity, and the power of female leaders. we tackle the challenges of managing by zooming around and the need for a new kind of leader. 

while some understand a different leadership mindset is required for the current world of work, many don’t. we are, indeed, still in search of excellence.

🔗 to podcast🎙 in bio

#hsp #hspcoach #clarekumar #highlysensitiveperson #inclusivity #empathy #sensitivity #leadership #extremehumanism #humanity
if you want a 4-day week or are curious about impl if you want a 4-day week or are curious about implementing one, you’ll want to join Joe O’Connor an i as we unpack the in-demand 4-day week. 

Mon Mar 13 - noon - 1 pm EDT

the largest trial of the concept wrapped up recently in the UK and Joe was intimately involved. get the inside scoop and your questions answered. 

you’ll also have a chance to win a Sensory Matrix Assessment (you have to stay till the end!)

register via HappySpaceHotTopics.com

#flexibility #4dayweek #worklifeintegration
ooh, it was refreshing to feel spring in the air a ooh, it was refreshing to feel spring in the air at the
@homedepotcanada spring showcase.

from smart lighting, to durable and stylish outdoor furniture (metal that really looks like wood), to new storage solutions from @ryobi_canada 

chatting with the knowledgeable buyers and product specialists to learn what’s new and share some ideas was a highlight. as was seeing media friends. so good to see you IRL!

#FromDoToDone
“the number one thing you do if you want to impr “the number one thing you do if you want to improve performance is promote more women,” says Tom.

the corporate world can often be hard to navigate as a woman. inviting the compassion, understanding, and advocacy of our allies is what we need to design inclusive performance for all.

let’s keep our voices strong throughout the year.

this clip is from the upcoming episode of the Happy Space Podcast, "Still in Search of Excellence" with Tom Peters, dropping march 13th, 2023.

join Tom and me as we explore leadership as influenced by the pandemic, tensions between leaders and the workforce, and how to manage by Zooming around. we also find out why is Tom Peters "intellectually irritated"?

tune in on march 13th on your podcast player of choice, Youtube or www.clarekumar/podcast.

and if you're free, join us on monday at noon EDT for the Happy Space Hot Topics conversation unpacking the 4-day week with special guest Joe O'Connor, former CEO of 4-Day Week.

register via http://www.happyspacehottopics.com/ and be entered to win a prize. (you must be in attendance to win!)

#ALLin #inclusivity #women #leadership
a few hours drive east along the lake and happy to a few hours drive east along the lake and happy to be meeting my clients in Kingston. 

you’ll hear me talking a lot about remote work but sometimes it really is worth travelling to be in person. 

i encourage leaders to be intentional about why they bring people together in person. mix task and team, content and connection, function and fun and there is a greater chance employees will want to participate. 

#acknowledgetheask and make it worthwhile to show up. 

budget for the travel time, energy and expense required. recognize you’re making a withdrawal on personal time. 

design for well-being and performance will flow…
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