Making work work for us
As the saying goes, those who don’t ask, don’t get. It may take courage, but we can create a working environment that helps us thrive.
Many people I speak to complain of boredom, frustration, or burnout in their jobs, feeling thwarted that their work environment doesn’t allow them to give their best. One hand always seems tied behind their back. And no matter how hard they work, it never seems to be enough.
Their problem is that they expect their employers to recognise their talents, set them up for success, and make reasonable demands. Even the best bosses in the world, however, have a constant battle to deal with the wider organisation’s requirements, restructurings, and initiatives.
We must take matters into our own hands. That means knowing what we need to thrive at work and finding the courage to ask for it or make it happen ourselves.
One of my clients works for a company that ruthlessly culls low performers. No surprise so many of his colleagues loudly promote their achievements every chance they get. But my man is a quiet achiever who shudders at the thought of big-noting himself in public. His solution is to create short videos that explicitly communicate his team's achievements and the return on investment of the project. He gets the message across effectively while acknowledging the contribution of his team. Win-win.
Another client is also a great problem-solver, so much so that she’s the unofficial fixer for crises, conflicts, and misunderstandings between departments. This level of confidence has been tremendous for her career development and self-worth but has come at the cost of being always available, whether answering a text at 2 AM or working over the weekend. It’s now reached the point where family life, peer relationships, and well-being are all suffering.
Many will say that’s just the price of success. I disagree. In my experience, we need to address three things:
Understand what history is driving our behaviour. A client’s working-class mother made enormous personal sacrifices for the family, role-modelling a relentless work ethic adopted by her children.
Break free from the influence of the past and decide what working conditions we need to thrive. Rather than always saying ‘yes' or following the crowd, we must establish boundaries and conditions that work for us.
Learn to make requests or find solutions that will create a better environment. If the boss won’t negotiate, we need the courage to find an employer who will. Otherwise, we risk sliding into resentment and exhaustion.
What environment do you need to thrive? What kind of team or organisation would appreciate your strengths? It may be challenging, but for your own well-being and those you love, try to negotiate your win-win.
