The Proof is in the Pudding
Recently, I had one of those luxurious catch-up conversations with a colleague with whom I hadn’t spoken in about a year. The last time we had spoken, he informed me he was leaving the consulting world to embark on a totally different business venture with his wife. The combination of a new empty nest and burn out from heavy travel prompted this lifestyle change.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I received an email from him saying the business was no more, and he was available for limited client work. Obviously my curiosity was aroused so I gave him a call to catch up.
Sure enough, the proof I came away with substantiated a belief I have held for a long time…
Work, either employed or self-generated like entrepreneurial ventures or working as an independent contractor, is an essential part of one’s life. As human beings we naturally work to realize goals. Work is the process of applying know-how to realize specific outcomes (aka goals). The wide-ranging situations involved in one’s employment consist of applying knowledge, skill, experience and applied capability to assigned tasks to be completed by a targeted completion time. When mismatched to our work--being over-qualified, underutilized and/or not having the knowledge, skills, experience and capacity to do the tasks assigned--our overall well-being is impacted.
In my colleague’s case it was a situation of over qualification. Having spent his career providing services to executives in corporations, he bought a small business providing services to average Janes and Joes. He was now chief cook and bottle washer providing services to the public, whereas before he was consulting to senior executives. Very different roles, requiring very different expertise, knowledge, know how and capability. The hours were exhausting, the labor more physical than mental; and before long, mental fatigue and physical exhaustion set in. A trip to the doctor and a battery of medical tests demonstrated the impact of stress on his psyche and overall health. The recommendation was cut your losses and get out of the business. He was told that continuing this could kill him.
Stress associated with being mismatched to a role is carried into your home and shows up, for example as being short-tempered with loved ones, drinking or doing drugs to numb the pain (physical and emotional), and a myriad of other symptoms both obvious and subtle. Unlike my colleague, not everyone is in the position to “suck it up” and cut one’s losses. Most people need sufficient income to care for themselves and their families.
So what can you do? Doing nothing is not the answer. Doing nothing will likely result in a serious blow-up, illness and or mental breakdown. Who will be there to care for family and loved ones?
One suggestion I have (and I have many) is to have a conversation with your boss. Muster up the courage to let her/him know that something is off with you and the work. Begin by saying you are determined to make a contribution to the unit/company/organization, and you need some guidance. Always try to avoid blame. Focus on the fact you want to add value. You’ll be surprised what a conversation like this can bring out into the open. Express your willingness and desire to do a good job. Depending on the situation, from here there are different paths the conversation can take, and these paths can indeed be positive.
Have any of my comments evoked something in you? What is your thinking on this topic? Sharing your reflections helps all of us to grow and expand our thinking. Comments can be left on the Contact Rosemary page. If you have found the information of value, please forward it to colleagues, associates and friends.
And fiinally... Shanah Tovah! Wishing a good new year to all!
Don't Just Rest & Relax This Labor Day
Many people seem to be taking time out to relax during these waning days of summer, especially with the long Labor Day weekend upon us. We here at Bova Enterprises are doing so as well. However, I’d be remiss if I didn’t reach out as I’ve done in years past, to give Labor Day its due.
Each year at this time I find myself thinking about labor…about work…and of course, about how I can help make it all better. This is a true passion of mine, and has been since college when I majored in labor economics.
It would behoove each of us to take a bit of time this long holiday weekend for thoughts of our own work. Sure, it’s important to get away, to escape work, to take a break. Hear me out for a second… Think about it…
Are you happy with the work you do everyday?
What sort of changes can you make to improve even just one aspect of your work?
Is your organization efficient in its processes?
Are you an effective manager?
How can you insure your communication with workers and colleagues is ever improving?
What can your organization do to improve outcomes?
These questions are really just the tip of the iceberg…
Do you think you and your organization might benefit from some guidance with the work you are doing, with how you can improve your staff morale, output or even how you can increase your bottom line?
I’ll be back at it in full force first thing Tuesday afternoon. Reach out anytime at info@bovaenterprises.com / 212 685 0870. Or, click below to learn more... right now.
Have any of my comments evoked something in you? What is your thinking on this topic? Sharing your reflections helps all of us to grow and expand our thinking. Comments can be left on the Contact Rosemary page.
Wisdom Repackaged
Recently, I came across a blog by John Mattone who at one time coached Steve Jobs. In it he wrote about the importance of inner core work which he defined as a person’s "soul" (self-concept, character, values, thinking patterns, emotions). I refer to this as self-awareness or knowing oneself. Think back to Socrates, or perhaps the Oracle at Delphi thousands of years ago who said, Know Thyself.
Self-awareness is one of four foundational elements to individual and organization transformation about which I am passionate. I am in the process of finalizing writing on the crisis undermining America’s workforce known in HR circles as disengagement. It emerged over many years and is the result of an emphasis on short-term problem solving, lack of critical thinking, and meeting arbitrary Wall Street goals. It's now known by its most prevalent symptom-- the lack of employees engaged in work. This is a critical issue for our society.
The problem of employee disengagement is significant in American culture. Not only does it affect the productivity of individual companies but it also ripples over into the core of the American psyche.
Here a few thoughts about disengagement that most people are unaware of...
Disengagement means not being connected to or involved with something. It is the experience of being turned-off at work, and not caring about the product or service you deliver. Characterized as malaise, in the most serious cases, workers will purposely undermine company initiatives or even products. Malaise is a result of discontent. When people don't speak about this at work, one of two things can happen--They may turn the frustration inward causing disease or they could explode from the stress somewhere in or outside of the workplace (perhaps at home with family or in the car in the form of road rage, for example).
According to a recent Gallup poll, roughly 17% admit to undermining their employer. A high visibility example you may recall was the disgruntled Tesla employee who tampered with the company’s manufacturing operations software causing significant problems and cost overruns.
I’d appreciate hearing stories you’ve experienced or heard about. Please take a moment and send them along.
Have any of my comments evoked something in you? What is your thinking on these topics? Sharing your reflections helps all of us to grow and expand our thinking. If you have found the information of value, please forward it to colleagues, associates and friends.
Also, if you are interested in reading more, click here for the link to John Mattone’s blog.
Time for Learning
I’m proud to call myself a life long learner. In the past I’ve had colleagues ask me why I’m interested in so many different areas of study, why I always seem so interested in discovering new things about myself.
That second question is an easy one to answer. As a consultant and advisor I am the instrument of learning and change with which my clients interact. I consider role modeling when building engaged organizations to be essential. Think about it. How can I ask workers to do anything that I have not done myself? People tend to take stock more in a person’s behavior than in what they say. If the two are incongruous a red flag is likely to be raised, and an unexplained sense of caution could very well prevail.
What do you think? Are you open to learning at this stage of the game? I hope your answer is yes. It’s important to keep an open mind—even when you think you know all there is on a particular subject, or what a person means when they make a statement or comment.
Let’s look at a quick example. What if your colleague remarks to you about a particular issue on a project you both are working? And what if you think you know what s/he means but in reality you’re not entirely certain? It’s prudent to paraphrase or simply ask to be sure your assumption is correct. I’ve been teaching this basic of all communication skills for more than 25 years now, and I am still fascinated how infrequently people do this.
Here is a challenge for you to consider. Make an agreement with yourself to learn something new each day. It could be as simple as learning a new word, its definition and using it in a sentence each day. Another suggestion is to read an article or chapter in a book each day. Others of you might pair up with co-workers at break or lunchtime to have a conversation about innovations in your workplace or what can be done to improve work conditions.
Your own time, work and focus are important, but so too is learning. We should all make even a small amount of time to learn. During these dog days of August I ask you to open yourself to learning. I promise, this will improve your work as well as your life overall.
Have any of my comments evoked something in you? What is your thinking on this topic? Sharing your reflections helps all of us to grow and expand our thinking.
If you have found the information of value, please forward it to colleagues, associates and friends. I'm always available by email at info@bovaenterprises.com or phone 212 685 0870.
Thanks!
Scatter joy, and be kind to others particularly at work,
Rosemary
When Humanity Speaks
For the last two weeks the world watched with bated breath as an international team of highly skilled rescuers and volunteers numbering close to a thousand, first located 12 missing boys and their coach in a flooded cave in northern Thailand. They then devised a highly complex plan to extract them which went off without a hitch and in record time.
How does this happen?
Humanity spoke! Every person on earth could identify with being trapped deep underground in total darkness, with no food and surrounded by water which they knew would likely rise with the monsoon season upon them. Add to this the fact all but one were children. These universal emotional touchpoints magnetized people all over the globe to come forth. Within days an international team of rescuers formed, translators showed up and this group who speak different languages, pull off an impossible feat. They developed a comprehensive, albeit highly dangerous and complex plan to extricate the children and their coach. Millions of people prayed using their own religious traditions, creating an energetic safety net for this plan. Sadly, one diver did die before the extraction got underway.
What if you could create that degree of focus and commitment in your company? How might that impact your business?
There is a phenomenon called the vortex. According to Esther and Jerry Hicks, it is an energetic field of positive vibrational energy. It took a few days for the vortex to be created. When people heard of 12 young boys and their coach missing in a flooded cave, millions of positive thoughts and prayers traveled over the airwaves in hope they’d be found. Once found, the ante was upped--how do we get them out?
We’ve all heard stories of groups of bystanders lifting a car to save someone pinned under it. It’s more than just an adrenal rush. Here are a few of my thoughts.
- A common goal people understand the whys and wherefores of speaks volumes to them
- When people recognize their efforts, and ideas are valued and appreciated people become engaged
- When people recognize that the goal is bigger than they are and that the goal has a greater purpose, they rise to the occasion
I invite you to think of three steps you might take within the next few days to transform your organization. Here’s a first step: Talk about this with your people; listen closely to their thoughts.
Have any of my comments evoked something in you? What is your thinking on these topics? Sharing your reflections helps all of us to grow and expand our thinking. Comments can be left at the BE website, on the Contact Rosemary page.
If you have found the information in this blog of value, please forward it to colleagues, associates and friends.
I'm always available by email at info@bovaenterprises.com or phone 212 685 0870.
Thanks!
Scatter joy, and be kind to others particularly at work,
Rosemary
What A Year It's Been!
Can you believe it’s been one day short of a year since I started my video blogging on a weekly basis after having taken a few years hiatus? Quite the learning experience for me. Being in front of the camera was intimidating at first. Now, I can honestly say I enjoy it and have even built quite a good level of confidence with it all.
That said, I’ve decided to start a bit of an experiment with this week's blog… While I am still committed to providing you with information and ideas on which to ponder and reflect over the weekend, I will write blogs while only occasionally sprinkling in a video or two. Also, for the summer’s duration I will blog on a bi-weekly basis. Therefore you will hear from me next on July 13th and every other Friday morning thereafter.
Recently, I saw an article about the four most important words a manager can say. What four words come to your mind? Send me an email and let me know.
The four words were: What do you think?
After pondering this for a few days, I understand where the author is coming from. All too often a manager will ask employees what they think. Yet before the individual has a chance to respond, she provides the employee with what she thinks. Most employees will not offer a differing idea. Rather they will provide supportive arguments to the managers thoughts.This becomes an unconscious collusion that serves no purpose, and inadvertently caps idea generation in the company.
If a manager asks employees what do you think, the impact of the question can be wide reaching. Initially, the manager is eliciting the best thinking from people, sending a message that says, I want to know what you think about this. People feel good when someone wants their opinion, particularly at the office. By asking this, the manager is granting permission for employees to express thoughts and ideas, while also providing foundational pillars for a culture of inclusion and engagement. Continually asking for employees’ input strengthens their connection to the organization. The caveat here is that the manager must be sincere in wanting employee input. Ask for clarification and what made them think of that so that employee thinking skills are also being developed.
Try it and let me know what you think.
Next week we celebrate the Fourth of July, Independence Day. This is a difficult time for our country. The lack of civility is rampant. I am sure you have experienced it whether it be in the form of road rage, on a check out line, on your child’s sports team, or at work. Each of us needs to work hard to take personal responsibility for our behavior and energy. Three deep breaths always work.
Lastly, I’d like to give a shout out to NAWBO NYC’s Evening of Excellence.
Have any of my comments evoked something in you? What is your thinking on these topics? Sharing your reflections helps all of us to grow and expand our thinking. Comments can be left at the BE website, on the Contact Rosemary page.
If you have found the information in this blog of value, please forward it to colleagues, associates and friends.
I'm always available by email at info@bovaenterprises.com or phone 212 685 0870.
Thanks!
Scatter joy, and be kind to others particularly at work,
Rosemary
