Work. Love it or hate it, it’s an inevitable part of life for most of us. In fact, a working adult spends up to 75% of their waking hours at work. If you don’t love it, that’s a lot of time spent wishing you were somewhere else. But what if it could be different? What if the workplace environment were a dynamic place to be, with a sense of fun and community? Wouldn’t it be nice if the fun and community lasted all year round instead of being just at Christmas? What if I found that it could make my day?
Stephen Lundin, Harry Paul, and John Christensen, authors of the bestseller Fish!, have this to say:
“It is fashionable today to believe that we should not settle for doing anything less than what we love. We tell ourselves that life is too short to spend our working hours doing anything less than the ideal, and we continue our search for the perfect workplace. The danger is that if our quest for ideal work focuses us on the future, we will miss the amazingly wonderful life that is available today, in this moment.”
So what can you do if you recognize that work could be a better experience?
MAKE MY DAY WITH THE THREE A’S
AWARENESS:
Take some time to consider your workplace. What are the current dynamics? Do you work in an environment of high productivity, characterised by brisk energy and efficiency? Or is the pace more relaxed? Is there a sense of fun and community? Are people positive and encouraging towards one another? Or is the workplace atmosphere negative?
When you’ve identified the workplace dynamics, take a moment to consider how you would like it to be. Think about the “why” behind the current workplace culture. Do people attempt to work together and get along? Or are they focused on their own lives and agendas to the exclusion of workplace harmony? Does the workplace have clearly defined aims and goals, with each team member being aware of what those are? Do people care about each other? Does everyone work together for the good of the company, or is it every man for himself?
Whilst becoming aware of workplace dynamics is a good start, it is only the first step.
ATTITUDE:
When it comes to attitude, it’s all about me. Take a moment to ask yourself about your attitude at work.
- Do I see work as a positive place to be?
- Is work fun? Do I enjoy it?
- How do I see my colleagues? Are they people I enjoy being with?
- Do I see myself as a team member, or do I prefer to fly solo?
- Am I a valuable member of the workplace community?
- Do I care about my work and my colleagues? Are they important to me?
- Does work make my day?
If you can answer yes to many of these questions, chances are, you already belong to a positive, community – oriented workplace. But what if you recognise a need for change?
ACTION:
Once again, it begins with me. Jesus had some wise words of advice to His listeners.
“A good man out of the goodness in his heart will do good things, while a bad person out of the evil in his heart will do bad things. Everything we say and do comes from the feelings we have inside.” Luke 6:45, The Clear Word.
Jesus recognized that our thoughts produce our feelings, and our feelings influence our actions. And the good news is, we are in control!
Begin each day in a positive way. Give yourself the best chance at creating positive emotions and actions. Feed your mind with something uplifting to start the day. Just as our physical bodies thrive on good quality food, so our minds need positive input to produce positive thoughts and feelings. Spend some time reading the Bible or an uplifting book. Listen to music that lifts your mind above the mundane. It’s worth getting up a bit earlier to do it – you’ll feel calmer, centered, and more focused. Just doing this on its own can help to make my day, and it can work for you too.
Make a conscious decision to have a good day. Even when things go wrong, how you respond is a choice. Choose to respond the best way possible. If you catch your resolve slipping, you can choose to halt the slide. Refuse to allow negative thoughts and feelings to control you. Work out ways to pick yourself up – even if it’s only a little thing. Ask a colleague to remind you if she catches you slipping.
Be focused on others. Remember that those who experience the greatest joy and satisfaction from life are those who willingly serve others. Caring about others has a double benefit – they will feel good and so will you.
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
No matter where you are on the workplace ladder, you can make a difference to those around you. But how?
The authors of Fish! identify four principles to make work a happier, more creative and community oriented place to be.
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Choose your attitude:
“By accepting that you choose your attitude, you demonstrate a level of personal accountability and productivity, which itself produces energy.
Second, choosing your attitude and acting like a victim are mutually exclusive.
Third, the attitude you can choose is to bring your best self to work and to love the work you do. We may not be able to do exactly what we love at the present time, but any of us can love what we do. If we can accomplish this one thing, our work area will become an oasis of energy, flexibility, and creativity.”
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Play
You might think work and fun are mutually exclusive, but nothing builds camaraderie and team spirit like having fun together.
- Happy people treat others well.
- Fun leads to creativity.
- The time passes quickly.
- Having a good time is healthy
- Work becomes a reward in itself rather than just a way to rewards.
- In finding a way to make my day, I help others to have a good day too.
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Do something nice for a colleague. Make their day:
This is a deliberate focus on others. Go the extra mile for a customer. Do something nice for a colleague. And when I do that, it helps to make my day too!
“It’s good for business. Serving our customers well will give us the satisfaction that comes to those who serve others. It will focus our attention away from our problems and onto how we can make a positive difference to others.”
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Listen and be present Be present:
In being present, you are fully focused on the present moment. Listen without being distracted when a client or co-worker is speaking. When you’re present, you show consideration for the other person. Avoid reading or answering emails or text messages while on the phone. Being present is a solid building block for a productive, positive workplace community.
CAN IT REALLY MAKE MY DAY?
The authors of Fish! sum it up this way.
“As you enter our workplace, please choose to make today a great day. Your colleagues, customers, team members, and you yourself will be thankful. Find ways to play. We can be serious about our work without being serious about ourselves. Stay focused in order to be present when your customers and team members most need you. And should you feel your energy lapsing, try this surefire remedy: Find someone who needs a helping hand, a word of support, or a good ear, and make their day.”
Who wouldn’t love working in a place like that? Work CAN make my day – and the best part is, it’s up to me!
References:
Fish! by Stephen Lundin, Harry Paul, and John Christensen