Flourish -- A word you should hear and use more often

There are so many things in the world that I find thoroughly fascinating. Creating products, figuring out the happenings and strategies in a market, creating an unbelievably usable and appealing user interface design are just a few of the things I find fascinating in the work setting. But I especially appreciate those times when something hits me out of the blue, even more so when it's a small observation, that generates worlds full of insight. That happened this week.

I was reading a book by author and StrengthFinders fame Marcus Buckingham when I came across one word that caused me to stop in my tracks; Flourish. My first reaction was; "Now there's a word you don't hear very often." It seems that I rarely come across the word flourish.

But that was only the beginning. I stopped for a minute to really think about what the word flourish means and implies to my world.

I'm at my best when I'm in the middle of creating something; creating a product, a song, or an idea. Most of the time that creation process is happening with other people in a group or as part of a team. That's when great things can happen. Growth is also something I value very much. Growth you see in people, capabilities, products, a company, the groove between musicians in a music group, and even personal growth. Both of the ideas around growth and creating follow right in suit with the theme of flourish.

Dictionary.com defines flourish in various ways. I'm going to list them all because I think they all apply to the work of startup leaders. Here's Dictionary.com's definition:

1. to be in a vigorous state; thrive: a period in which art flourished.

2. to be in its or in one's prime; be at the height of fame, excellence, influence, etc.

3. to be successful; prosper.

4. to grow luxuriantly, or thrive in growth, as a plant.

5. to make dramatic, sweeping gestures: Flourish more when you act out the king's great death scene.

6. to add embellishments and ornamental lines to writing, letters, etc.

7. to sound a trumpet call or fanfare.

–verb (used with object)

8. to brandish dramatically; gesticulate with: a conductor flourishing his baton for the crescendo.

9. to decorate or embellish (writing, a page of script, etc.) with sweeping or fanciful curves or lines.

–noun

10. an act or instance of brandishing.

11. an ostentatious display.

12. a decoration or embellishment, esp. in writing: He added a few flourishes to his signature.

13. Rhetoric. a parade of fine language; an expression used merely for effect.

14. a trumpet call or fanfare.

15. a condition or period of thriving: in full flourish.

All of these different definitions apply in interesting ways to how flourish fits in the world startup, entrepreneurial and emerging companies. Startup leaders must create an environment where ideas, products, people and teams can flourish. If that's happening, it's very likely the company is moving in the right direction, to create something exciting and beneficial in market.

Some of those definitions really speak loudly about young enterprises, teams and helping the company grow. Words like vigor, thrive, and growth are about creating that environment where people and teams can flourish. Prosper, prime, excellence and successful speak to the results we want to achieve. Also important are more colorful words like dramatic, sweeping, ornamental, fanfare and embellish, which speak to the creativity that happens when an environment is present where people can flourish. 

Think about your job as a leader. Sometimes it's to set a direction so that everyone will be on the same page, so they'll follow. It's about dealing with tough problems and make decisions when the team needs help moving forward. Those are some of the things we typically envision when we think about leadership.

My challenge to you, and to myself, is to think about what we do to create an environment where people can flourish. Where individuals can bring their unique talents, strengths and passions together to solve problems and create results no one thought possible. If our teams flourish, we'll not only see it in the results but also in the level of engagement and commitment, and in the passion and moral of our teams. Put an emphasis on flourish and see what results might happen.

I like this word flourish.

Note: If the ideas about flourish resonate with you, drop me a line, comment on the blog, etc. I'd love to hear your thoughts about flourish.