Reframing Our Work

    To experience happiness in the workplace, I invite you to study how you choose to see and experience the work that you do.  There are many ways that the expectations we have for work color how we see what we do, day in and day out.  Many of us want our work to always be “fun” and “stimulating”; we feel bored and can’t figure out how to pull ourselves out of the hole of indifference.  Let’s take a look at how we can work with these perfectly normal states of the human condition in productive and impactful ways.

 Paying Attention to the Mundane

    As a consultant I have lots of opportunities to enjoy my work. What people often don’t realize, though, is that even a consultant has to do mundane tasks that aren’t much fun.  I take care of my own accounting, for one, and also have to make sure that I have all the materials and equipment I need for a training or facilitated program.  Rather than dreading the mundane tasks because they’re “not fun,” they become a challenge to pay attention to what I’m doing.  A carelessly reviewed checklist can mean that I show up without the correct hand-outs or no masking tape.  Although these things are easy to replace, I can certainly create a bad impression with the client about my lack of attention to his or her project.  More than that, paying attention can become a personal development tool (and I love to grow):  it reminds me that my training programs are not just my teaching in front of a group, but the collection of many small things that I handle with care:  these preparatory steps tell the client that I am dedicated to his or her project, that I embrace the opportunity to serve, and that his or her project is important.  It also helps me enjoy the simple tasks and appreciate that they are part of a larger picture.  So rather than expect mundane tasks to be fun, I’ve learned to appreciate how they help me focus my attention on all the work I do and serve the client well.

     What are the mundane tasks you do each day?  Do you appreciate how they help you serve your clients and actually provide you with opportunities to take pleasure from all the working moments of your day?

 Seeing Work in New Ways

    Another way to grow in our work is to see routine in new ways.  I never tire of the training programs I do; every training program gives me and participants the opportunity to explore our roles in conflict, or in change and transition, or in team work.  I try to find new ways to explain favorite ideas; integrate things I have learned from my students in earlier programs; invite challenging questions that test my own understanding of the work I do.  Every class I teach is an opportunity for me to engage with 15 or 30, or 300 people, and we have the chance to explore deeply together the issues that drive our daily lives.  Instead of slipping into a routine attitude about the work I do, I look forward to creating an environment where we can explore ideas and concerns together and truly learn from each other.

     Do you see every interaction with another as an opportunity to build a relationship?  Are you grateful for the opportunity to be of service?  Do you think about the best way to communicate with another person?  If you’re writing about a difficult issue, would it be better to see the person face-to-face?  Is email the most practical way to get the work done?  Will it enhance the work and the relationship?  Or would a telephone call be better?  Everything you do, from saying hello when you arrive at work in the morning, to writing a memo, to producing a report, provides you with the opportunity to make a statement about yourself, your integrity, your commitment to the work and relationships.  Can you work with the paradox of acknowledging that some tasks are boring and be grateful for the opportunity to fully present in the moment?

  Assessing Expectations

    After nearly 25 years as an independent trainer and consultant, I’ve learned to review ongoingly my expectations—of myself, of my clients, of the work I do.  I make this examination not to change my expectations, but to simply note what they are and how they help or hinder my attitude about my work.  I think any trainer who enjoys his or her work tends to be idealistic:  after all, we want to change the world!  We want every single student to be transformed by what we teach.  Rather than hold tightly to these expectations, I hold them close to my heart but with a gentle hand.  I remember that every person I train has a choice about learning and about what they want to learn.  I rejoice that I can do the work I do, that I can make my small mark on the world, and that some people’s lives will be changed.  I consciously try to make myself emotionally and intellectually available to whatever comes up regarding my programs and meetings, to prepare thoughtfully, to teach and reassure and encourage.  In the end, I love my work, and frequently express gratitude for what I’m allowed to do, no matter the task.