HSP - Highly Sensitive Person

How Can a Watermark Be a Human Rights Matter?

It seems like such a small thing, but a watermark did indeed become a human rights matter.

Allow me to explain. I’ll share the short version first and then the detailed journey which I realize some of you may perceive as “banging my head against a wall”. I am definitely tenacious. When I think something matters – especially to more than just me – I don’t give up. Unfortunately, I think much advocacy work can feel this way. I find committing to staying curious helps. Read on to find out what I have learned.

 

Quick overview:

• The reading material in a course I paid for contained intrusive watermarks throughout making it difficult for me to read. I’m a highly sensitive person with a low threshold for visual sensory input.
• Despite 19% of the class wanting the watermark removed, the course creator deemed it an “unreasonable accommodation”. The greater concern was the perceived business risk of intellectual property theft.
• Disability rights organizations in the home country of the course creator stated that the unwillingness to provide an accommodation, in this case, is discriminatory and a human rights matter. They deemed that access should be made available to those with sensory impairments. This was backed up by a US lawyer looking through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• I share this story in hopes that leaders and creators will see that providing accommodations to those in need is more than a moral and business imperative; it is a legal requirement.

 

The details:

I signed up for an online course about a subject that as a highly sensitive person, I was very interested in. In fact, I anticipated finding such value in the learning that I had been sharing about it with my community and was keen to share it with the world in the book I am researching and writing.

The night before the course was to start, I accessed the reading material online and was stopped in my tracks.

As a productivity coach and professional organizer, I often coached my clients to recognize speed bumps – internal resistance that gets in the way – and roadblocks – external challenges which make it difficult to continue. I found myself face to face with a roadblock: eight lines of watermarks slashed each page. The watermarks included both the company name and my email address…which includes my name.

I mocked up a sample document to show you what the materials looked like. Please know that I would never dream of sharing a document that looks like this:

a page of text with several watermarks running diagonally throughout the page

I couldn’t read the pages. For me, it was like trying to have a conversation with two people speaking to me – at the same time. My brain shuts down. I stop being able to process information as my brain constantly shifts from one person to the other. I know that I’m not alone…

Image: screengrab from The Kelly Clarkson Show on Youtube

Have a listen to Ted Lasso actor Hannah Waddingham chat with Kelly Clarkson about how they both detest the “in-ear doo-da” – she is talking about earpieces that let you hear a producer while you are performing. You’ll find this part of their conversation at 8:47. The struggle is real.

Feeling: Frustrated 😣

 

Strategy One: Ask for help

“Help!” I titled the email I wrote to the course creator. “While l understand the need to protect intellectual property….it is far too visually distracting for me.”

The creator and a team member looked at the documents and acknowledged “yeah… it’s very busy”. I learned that course materials are stored in a “data room” (through Digify) which restricts access and tracks views as well as printed copies. Working with this tech solution, they were able to reduce the number of watermarks to one much larger image across the page that looked like this:

a page of text with a one large watermark running through it diagnally

Unfortunately, this still didn’t work for me.

I was told nothing more could be done and assured that my “learning, insights, and community gained will make up for it.” Hmmm. ⛽💡
Feeling: Invalidated. 😑

 

Strategy 2: Ask for a private conversation

I decided to ask for a meeting to discuss this challenge in the context of inclusivity around learning. I wanted to explore the conflicting goals of IP protection (which I understand as a patent and trademark owner myself), and visually sensitive people being able to comprehend subject matter in their learning modality of choice. I prefer visual information.
I offered suggestions to simply have the copyright information at the bottom of the document along with the student’s email address. (On their website, Digify suggests students will “think twice” before sharing documents if their email address is in the watermark. I take this to mean that shame is a deterrent.) Another idea was to gain explicit agreement from participants, in writing, to not share materials.

I looked at the protections provided and the possibility of workarounds*, and feel that some of the Digify services seem to be more of a hindrance to legitimate students than a deterrent to thieves. That is to say, to those determined to misappropriate information, they would be “speed bumps” and not “roadblocks”. I thought there had to be other equally effective ways to deter the sharing of this work.
Feeling: You don’t trust me. ☹

The creator said they would consider what to do.
Feeling: 🙄 Optimistic

The next day in class, each of two cohorts was polled to find out if participants were bothered by the watermark and if they would like something done about it. Results were shared.
81% of students did not find it a problem, however, 19% of students did.

Dr. Elaine Aron, who pioneered the research into the trait of high sensitivity in the mid-to-late 90s suggests that about 20% of people have the temperament. Based on this, the happy face in the Happy Space® Podcast logo is set at 19% tilt. Great, I thought. This will surely mean the watermark is changed.
Feeling: Buoyant 🙂

Nope. I was wrong. We were told that “the watermark does not bother the majority of participants and the majority don’t want us to change it.” Despite almost 1 in 5 wanting the watermark adjusted, they decided to keep it as is.

I was then offered a 50% refund if I chose to leave the course.
Feeling: Dismissed. 🤨 And stunned. 😮 And curious. 🤔
How is inclusivity about “the majority”?!

And still, optimistic. 🤞🏼

So, I stayed.

 

Strategy 3: Raise with the group

A few days later in class, we were speaking about personal needs with respect to sensitivity and I brought up my challenge in class along with noting the fact that I was not alone.
The next day, I was told that I must “drop the watermark issue or leave the course”. I was told that “Removing the watermark is not a reasonable accommodation and poses a business risk for us.”
Feeling: Dismayed. 😟

And still, I stayed.

 

Strategy 4: Get curious

I committed to staying curious. I had begun to research Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in their country to understand the context within which they were operating. Perhaps awareness and action around inclusivity were lagging, I thought.

Disability rights groups pointed me to a White Paper published in their country which referred to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. I learned that my sensitivity to visual input can be considered a sensory impairment which is considered a disability. As such, I should therefore receive “reasonable accommodation”.

Here is the specific language:

Impairment is a perceived or actual feature in the person’s body or functioning that may result in limitation or loss of activity or restricted participation of the person in society with a consequential difference of physiological and/or psychological experience of life.

5 Impairments:
• Physical
• Sensory
• Intellectual
• Psychosocial (mental removed)
• Neurological impairments (added)

In their country, “Reasonable Accommodation refers to necessary and appropriate modification and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden”.

I searched the Ontario Human Rights Commission and found: “In the context of employment, the Supreme Court of Canada has described the goals and purposes of accommodation:
… the goal of accommodation is to ensure that an employee who is able to work can do so. In practice, this means that the employer must accommodate the employee in a way that, while not causing the employer undue hardship, will ensure that the employee can work. The purpose of the duty to accommodate is to ensure that persons who are otherwise fit to work are not unfairly excluded where working conditions can be adjusted without undue hardship.

So guidelines are similar in both of our countries.

I continued to ask questions in the next couple of classes. Unfortunately, this was perceived negatively and I was told to no longer participate in the live component of the class…with no option for discussion.
Feeling: Surprised and incensed. 😤

 

Strategy 6: Persist

This matter has wide-reaching implications. So, I kept digging.
To further understand if my request was indeed a reasonable accommodation, I reached out to labour and employment lawyer US lawyer Stuart Silverman who found it an interesting question.

Here are the comments he shared with me via email after analyzing the situation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):

1) what is described is a disability under the meaning of the law.
2) the request for a RA [Reasonable Accommodation] was a reasonable one..presenting the course material without the distraction of the watermark..if there are other ways of presenting the same or similar material that could be done too.
3) the company was willing to remove the watermark if over 50% requested…that shows that the watermark protection is not significant to the company. But the law does not look to whether a majority is affected. If an applicant who is a person with deafness applies for a job and needs an RA, the fact that most people do not need an RA for deafness is not the issue. It is whether this one needs.

Feeling: Validated. 🙂

 

Strategy 7: Share without shaming

You’re reading this post – and thank you so much for reading this far – because I think it is important to continue to invite mindset shifts and compassionate action without shame. This is why I have not shared the name of the course. In fact, I think some of the work of the course creator has value, however, I cannot share it until the moral conflict described here is resolved.

What does this mean for highly sensitive people?

It means being okay with referring to sensitivities as an impairment. I find this challenging conceptually because I deeply value the strengths of the trait but am willing to do so if it means receiving appropriate accommodations. Not everyone will be okay with this.
It means we have legal rights to back us when raising our voices.
It means we deserve to be taken care of.

 

What does this mean for organizations?

It means digging deeper and moving past initial reactions to examine if that position is reasonable given human rights legislation.
It means being creative and adapting as necessary to be more inclusive.
It means making an exception that could take some extra time and effort.
It means taking compassionate action. Actions speak louder than words.

 

What am I hoping for?

We are all on learning journeys and open to new thinking in different ways. I hold hope for the following:

1. I hope that the course creator, team, and my classmates will read this and reflect on what happened – the action and inaction, and what might be done to do better.

2. I hope this can serve as a case study sharing the challenge of raising one’s voice for reasonable treatment.

3. I hope that the need for persistence in achieving accommodations will disappear as more minds open with and act with true compassion.

 

I would love to hear your thoughts…

How would you have felt? What would you have done?

Email me to let me know at clare@clarekumar.com

or comment on a social media post sharing this blog post.  You can find me @clarekumar on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and on Facebook. I would love to hear what you think.

*Workarounds would be time-consuming but entirely possible through free software such as watermark-removing apps and “printing to PDF” in order to save documents electronically.

******
I explore the intersection of productivity & inclusivity through speaking, coaching, and hosting the Happy Space Podcast. Hot talks at the moment are
“Understanding & Embracing Neurodiversity” and “Leadership Skills for a Hybrid World”. If I can be of help please book time to chat with me.

Informed Consent – As an HSP, how much information do you want to health professionals to share?

On a Friday morning in March, I was feeling quite proud of myself having had my swim, and was making my breakfast in time to eat it before my 10 am mastermind call. My fellow mastermind members normally have to endure me eating on the call (though after living in Tokyo where eating in public is not socially acceptable, I do try to cover my mouth while taking a bite – but that’s another conversation).

I must have been less present than necessary as when chopping fresh dill to add to my omelette with my brand-new kitchen knife, I miscalculated the length of my middle finger and in an instant decided to shorten it. Whoops. I knew right away that what I had done was not good, but didn’t know how bad it was. 

 

Clare standing in front of Emergency Room doors with bandaged fingers. She is wearing a medical mask, pink scarf and colourful sweater.

At the entrance to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Toronto that morning, my Love, Jacques who as you may know works for the emergency medical service was at his place about thirty minutes away and still sleeping. Not for long. I called a couple of times, the second call breaking through his “do not disturb” setting. Phew!

Oh, my, I was talking a mile a minute, telling him what happened with my hand up in the air and a paper towel compress on. I wasn’t sure if it was serious enough to need help or could be looked after at home. Jacques quickly decided that he would come. During the call, I calmed down significantly and started thinking about what I could do knowing that Jacques was on his way. I continued to regain my composure and made a few calls to figure out the next steps. I tried the following:


911 – they can’t give you advice on whether their help is required so they suggested calling our provincial telehealth line where you can speak to a nurse.

Telehealth – after a lengthy intake which includes marketing questions (that no one wants when dealing with a health issue!) I was told it would take several hours to receive a return call. Come to think of it, I have never received a callback…

My doctor’s office – they have a walk-in clinic but there were no doctors available. I could have a phone appointment with my doctor in an hour if I wished. I said yes, but didn’t anticipate hanging around.

 

When Jacques arrived, off we went to the local hospital emergency room.

Here’s what I noticed while there:

– When dealing with a real emergency, I talked myself through what I knew and immediately reached out for help. 

– I cared about doing the “right” thing in accessing medical care. I didn’t want to unnecessarily tax our urgent care system.

– I calmed down by breathing AND talking it out. Later on, I cried out some of the stress.

– I appreciated every kindness, from Sebastian in triage letting me know he would call ahead to the treatment area and let them know I would be coming and seen quickly, to Mallory who spoke slowly and clearly when giving directions to that station. She cared that I was comprehending and wow, did I appreciate that.

I was treated quite quickly and very grateful for the thoughtful care though there was one area of service I thought could have been more nuanced and I’m curious what you think.

I tend to be a questioner (one of Gretchen Rubin’s “Four Tendencies”) and take comfort in information. I want to know what to expect. For example, I inhaled every word of “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” when I was pregnant. Knowing lets me prepare.

I recognize that others are happier “not knowing”. They are ready to take whatever comes as it comes, trusting they will be able to handle it. This is my Love, Jacques.  And, not gonna lie, I’m a little envious. But given that I’m me, I will likely continue to love data.

When Dr. Da Silva, the ER doc was looking after me, he let me know that part of the treatment could be very uncomfortable and freezing was an option. Jacques was with me and having seen many treatments and the associated discomfort, and knowing me and my low threshold for pain, advised me to take the numbing. 

The doctor told me it would be a “poke”.

Fine, I thought. A poke I can deal with. 

 

Um, not so much. It was painful and disturbing for somewhere between thirty seconds to a minute…or maybe longer. It certainly seemed longer.

During this part of the treatment, all of my composure was gone. I said words I shouldn’t and cried.



When the doctor came back, I said, “I don’t hate you. And, I’m sorry.”

The rest went swimmingly. 

 

Before I left though, I let the doctor know that I would have appreciated a more realistic description of what to expect. “Poke” wasn’t the right term. I think I would have known to anchor in my breath more deeply and to expect to stay there. Closing my eyes and holding Jacques’ hand (after telling the doctor and Jacques that science says this helps) was indeed helpful but not enough.

To address the fact that some people like to know and some people don’t question, perhaps a health care provider can ask how much you want to know. I recognize that in some situations, this is not realistic, but if time allows, this question could help guide the way a practitioner proceeds.

I think of my massage therapist who moves around the table always keeping a hand on me. I think of the MRI technician who tells me how long each imaging session will be after which I can move a little bit.

What do you think?

Do you want more information or less?

And would you appreciate being asked?

If you’re a health practitioner and have an opinion, I’d love to hear it.

Find me on twitter @clarekumar.

Author: Clare Kumar

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

 

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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.

How to Work with Highly Sensitive People

meerkat on alert representing high sensitvity

You might have heard the term HSP and wondered if it applies to you or some of your coworkers, or perhaps even your partner. Understanding this trait will be helpful to you in any case as it may help you advocate for yourself, navigate your relationships more effectively, and to better support others.

WHAT IS AN HSP?

Dr. Elaine Aron was in conversation with her therapist when they suggested that perhaps she was highly sensitive.1 The idea of being highly sensitive intrigued Elaine so much she went on to research and in the early 90s defined the trait that is also known clinically as Sensory Processing Sensitivity.

 

It is important to note it is quite distinct from Sensory Processing Disorder which includes difficulties in organizing and responding to information that arrives through the senses and which can have a significant impact on learning and daily life.

 

People who have the trait are most often referred to as HSPs, with HSP standing for “highly sensitive person”. Elaine defines the term as “a preference to process information more deeply”. I would add the word “involuntary” in advance of preference, as there is little to no choice involved. The trait is present in about 20% of the population, so I can guarantee you know someone who is an HSP…even if they don’t know it yet. HSPs’ brains light up differently in fMRI studies compared to non-HSPs when given tasks that involve perception involving subtle differences.

 

Let’s tackle the word “sensitive” as it can put some people off. Sensitivity is an undervalued quality in North American culture and, despite its great value, can be perceived by some as a sign of weakness. Here, sensitivity does not relate only to emotional sensitivity and easily finding oneself in tears, though that is possible for some. In fact, Elaine confesses she would rename the trait if she could start over, perhaps replacing sensitive with the word perceptive or responsive. Our sensitivity or responsiveness extends to the physical, mental, and emotional.

 

Since the term is out in the world, I’m going with it so those who have learned about it can find the Happy Space Pod and podcast, but it’s worth understanding the trait includes some other qualities. Elaine refers to them with the acronym DOES (pronounced like the verb, not the noun, though I think the image of female deer is probably apt). *** Update – for my take on the elements of high sensitivity, based on Dr. Aron’s work but slightly reorganized, please see this post: The SEED Model of High Sensitivity

 

HSP QUALITIES

 

D – Depth of Processing – we spend more time dealing with new information and thinking about it more deeply… which can definitely be exhausting. The dark side is tendency to overthink.

 

O – Overstimulation – we can be extremely sensitive to high stimulation environments – think crowds, busy roads, and noisy restaurants, as well as rough fabrics!

 

E – Empathy & Emotional Reactivity – we have greater reactions to both positive and negative experiences with mirror neurons activating in response to pictures conveying emotion, even in people we don’t know. Further, our brains are noticeably more responsive to positive stimuli.

 

S – Sensitivity to subtle stimuli – we pay attention to everything. Couple that with our empathy and you’ll find us looking out for others.

 

WHAT HSPs NEED AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROVIDE SUPPORT

  1. We need time to process thoughts. From you, we appreciate patience while we form our ideas and actions.
  2. We are sometimes over-stimulated. From you, we appreciate empathy and compassion. Compassion in the form of supportive action to eliminate a stressor is even better.
  3. We deeply feel the emotional energy of others. From you, we appreciate the flexibility to take quiet time and be in a space where we can center, rest, and recover.
  4. We notice small things which may be of great importance. From you, we appreciate being heard. Customer service departments – we are your greatest gift if you are willing to listen.

 

HSPs are shown to make exceptionally good employees with high-performance reviews, yet if conditions are not kind, we will be the first to burnout.

 

If you are an HSP – define what you need to sustain your energy. I call these Productivity Table Stakes™ – eight key ingredients to understand your relationship with and ensure are considered every day.

If you are a leader, ask your HSP employee what they need to succeed. It’s my favorite leadership question for everyone, but it is so relevant here.

If you are a partner to an HSP – co-create your home and life together to minimize stress and increase the joy in your time together.

 

I invite you all to join the Happy Space Pod – a safe online community to explore greater productivity and well-being for highly sensitive professionals. I hope to see you there.

*** Update – the focus of the Pod and Podcast has expanded from high sensitivity to designing inclusive performance. All through my lens as a highly sensitive person.

Book a discovery call with Clare? Click here to contact me.