“Not Another Day”
By: Thomas Shuck
We have all been there. That job that we dread, punching a timecard in the morning or meeting a supervisor for a daily action plan. We can’t stand being at the place or so much as discussing it outside of work. We would rather call in sick than participate in another monthly team meeting. In essence, the workplace has become a drain that saps the very lifeforce energy from our bodies and makes us feel like we aren’t living up to our fullest potential. But it wasn’t always this way. At one point, this position felt worthwhile and meaningful. We were making a difference…whether it be the widget we were helping to assemble, the sprocket we were selling, or the service we were providing. The question is, at what point did that feeling take a turn for the worse, and could we do something to head it off at the pass?
The short answer is YES! We, as talented professionals, have a steadfast understanding of the industries within which we operate. (If we don’t, why are we working here?) We know what makes for better outcomes within our daily efforts, and over time, we recognize the pitfalls and barriers to success. So here are three ways in which we can become more in tune with the workplace around us and evolve into mindful masters of our own destinies.
1. Keep An Eye Out:
Shortly after graduating college in 2006 I went to work for a small land surveying & engineering company. It was fine work. The people who made up the organization were the best at what they did. Unfortunately, with the oncoming downturn in the real estate market, no degree of talent could swing our collective efforts in the right direction of the balance sheet. It was time for me to go! I resigned from my position as a soil technician in March of 2008 and moved four states south to work in a similar role on the other side of the regulatory table. The fact is, I didn’t want to leave that job. It was close to my family, friends, significant other, but the economics simply ceased making sense. It was either I left on my own terms or the fantastic bosses whom I had grown quite fondly of during the past two years would be forced to let me go. That wasn’t a hard decision to make.
2. Recognize Changes in the Workplace:
This can be through legal changes, technological changes, or personnel changes within a workplace. One of the most abrupt changes to any working condition is when a supervisor retires or is replaced with a different individual who seeks to go “in a new direction.” New directions aren’t always bad. Perhaps a company needs to modernize its process. Or an institution that was wallowing in profitability issues needed to revamp its business model. Whatever the case, switching leadership within an organization can significantly impact the working conditions of the employees. The question each employee needs to ask themselves is: does this new leader exhibit the values and standards that I also cherish? Sometimes, they do…but sometimes, they don’t. And in spite of both supervisor and employee wanting the same thing (success) being at odds creates friction within the workplace that isn’t helpful to anyone. Working for someone who you don’t respect is certainly not a long-term path to success. Best move along before that gets out of hand.
3. Being Mindful of Yourself:
This can be one of the hardest aspects of avoiding strife and a toxic working environment. We all change (hopefully for the better) and by doing so, find ourselves either further in alignment with our surroundings or at odds with the world around us. This is not an unhealthy thing! People change. What we found acceptable in our teenage years or in our 20s might not resonate in our 30s or even be remotely considered in our 40s. So as we evolve and the demands of our daily lives change, so should our mental attitudes. I might be perfectly fine telling a client to go pound sand in my 20s however feel more much amenable in my 30s or 40s. As we continue growing into the people we become, do we maintain alignment within our jobs? Sometimes that isn’t the case. It is our obligation to reconsider jobs and career paths should they conflict with our moral fiber.
Toxicity in the workplace, in any respect, can be an emotional and spiritually draining affair. We have come to embrace our careers to the degree that employment provides a sense of identity and worth, making us who we are. We want to feel valued and know that whatever good or service we are associated with makes the world a better place. We certainly don’t want to pour our talents into a void of going through the motions or “just being here for the paycheck.” We want to know that whether we are sitting at the head of a boardroom table or wiping down wine glasses, we live in alignment with who we are at our core. To do otherwise is wasting the gifts we’ve been bestowed by those who believe most in us.
