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From a tangent I left in the previous post “Your employer is not your friend”   where I referred to disengagement.    A few back steps;   I distinguished true work disengagement from the weight of Value differences people have in work versus personal life/family.    Specifically, I am suggesting people always need to feel Value at work unless they are truly disengaged.

Tonight... a 2006 D’Arenberg Shiraz Viognier....

Been a few months since my last post... the articles have had a few hits and yet so far I have had only one conversation on them (apart from with my wife, but I force her *laughing*).   Which is sort of the point really; there aren’t that many ‘right time and right places’ to philosophise now are there.   I am interested to hear your thoughts.

I am going to pick up on a tangent I left in the previous post “Your employer is not your friend”   where I referred to disengagement.    A few back steps;   I distinguished true work disengagement from the weight of Value differences people have in work versus personal life/family.    Specifically, I am suggesting people always need to feel Value at work unless they are truly disengaged.  And I believe that only exists in the depressed or burnt out states – despondence.

An important element is best described by an interesting remark I regularly hear (paraphrased); “There are more important things in life than work but that I work hard and perform well”.   So the suggestion is no care but high performance.

The reason it’s an important topic, which will be better understood after you continue reading; if we stop caring we also shut down opportunity.  And that’s loss of opportunity in lots of areas, not just learning new skills etc but also of change, experiences and emotions; high or low.  I feel it’s only a small mind shift to keep caring while being realistic.  Personal risk attached though.

So...  I am going to presume that you’re with me on Value, however you gain it we agree we all need it and seek it in our own ways.  And I still feel that we each measure it differently, or gain it from different areas of life.   

If I asked you for a second to reflect on the areas of life you gain(ed) Value and then to think about your own involvement and behaviour in those areas.  I wonder if you would agree with me that investment of energy/self is an underpinning aspect.   Your committed right?  You care.    What about the areas of life where you don’t gain Value?  I expect you don’t care, but further I expect you minimise your time and investment in these areas. 

The proposition:   We do want to care about work but we aren’t receiving the sense of Value so we protect ourselves.   And without care we aren’t putting in anywhere close to 100% nor receiving any of the rewards such as Value, experience, growth and happiness.

How many people do you know that can do something for eight hours a day they don’t care about but suggest they are happy doing it?   Half of you are probably saying “the money” about now; I am leaning on every need hierarchy published when I state as fact that money is a base need we can all reduce ourselves to surviving with but it is not an ideal we strive for and therefore doesn’t align with real happiness.  So yes I agree but I think you’re selling yourself short.

I feel not caring is the most difficult attitude/response to argue with; we say it because it’s easy and doing and saying nothing conveniently demonstrates it.   Problem is it’s just not logical.  I haven’t met a person yet who doesn’t care about something and has decided to stop striving or growing, they are just struggling with the challenges they have.   That doesn’t have to be the corporate ladder either; artists, parents, specialists, community workers etc, we want to add something.  Feel that life has meaning.    So if we could get more needs met then who would refuse?  Especially if it can be coupled with a compulsory activity like earning $.

If we don’t acknowledge we need to feel Value and that only comes from the things we invest in then our future paths are limited to those we’re already on.  Sure we’ll complete some tasks each day, probably get paid for it, but it’s not all we’re after though.    Seeking Value will lead to happiness, your investing energy which people and/or companies gain Value from and so return it. 

So what really stops us caring?  Or what drives us to self-protection?   Perhaps those responsible for our careers don’t have our trust.   Or it all got too hard, we invested and tried our hardest but our efforts were in vain.  Unfortunately we are the only ones in control, it may take a few conversations, or it may take a different company.  It does take investment though on any path.  

Awareness of who we are and what we need is key.  Communicating what you need to those that control or influence your contribution is normal; if it’s continually not heard then thats probably saying something.  Alignment can take a while but I feel it’s only with that time and investment you will truly peak on Value gain.   Those around you will know and utilise your strengths which coincidentally are the things you enjoy and want to develop.