recruitment

Are you Living to Work? – Part 9

The need to adopt change

Change is inevitable and the rate of change is increasing. According to Everett Rogers 16% of us will resist change, which is 1 person in 6. These are people who will find keeping a job very difficult. Every aspect of the workplace is transforming, and individuals need to be equally adaptable.

The successful employee of the future will have a number of characteristics and key amongst them will be an acceptance to adopt change. The rate of change in all aspects of life is accelerating and business, whether that is private, public or civic, is one of the fastest.

There are two key facets of an individual being adaptable:

• The person must have the correct attitude, the instinctive desire to behave differently. This is not the natural way for many of us but we need to educate ourselves.
• Be capable of acquiring the skills needed for the changed situation. Can we learn and adapt to allow us to adopt?

These two criteria are in that order deliberately. The person who can easily gain skills and knowledge is of no use if the attitude is wrong and they won’t apply them. However, even the best attitude isn’t enough if the technical skills cannot be learned. 

It is evident that as decisions are taken regarding the people to be retained at a time of redundancies, a key factor will be the acceptance of change and willingness to lead rather than follow.

Rob Ball
Contact:
07850 954075
rob.ball@workhorizons.com
rob.ball@naturallyconcerned.com

Websites:
Work Horizons – Organisational renewal through engaged, productive people
Naturally Concerned – Developing Better Business Leaders
www.framingourfuture.com

Books:
Beating the Wisdom of Hindsight: 75 Ways to Pursue Fulfilment and Avoid Regrets eBook : Ball, Rob:
Amazon.co.uk
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Time-Sponges-Overcoming-behaviours-absorb/

Online Programs:
Empower Change by Learning to Live Well (indegu.co.uk)
Expanding Your Work Horizons (indegu.co.uk)

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Are you Living to Work? – Part 8

Re-inventing yourself

We are all products of our history so far. We see ourselves in certain ways but not necessarily in the same ways other people see us. Do you know the principles by which you want to live? Can you describe the person you want to be? Do you know how other people see you? Are you a different person at home than at work?

What is it you want to change?

Physical appearance? The way you dress? Your physique? Your hairstyle? It is well known that for many of us, how we look does impact on our confidence levels. Similarly, the way we look may be indicative of the way we look after health and, therefore, prevent illness. 

Behaviours? In what ever way we wish to be perceived, however we think of ourselves, the truth is we will only be judged by our behaviour. Saying one thing doesn’t matter if we do something else; whatever people’s perception of you, it is their truth about you. We act based on two states of mind, conscious and sub-conscious.

The conscious mind is, hopefully, rational and deals in facts. We take the time to consider our actions and reactions; we gather data and logically assess. The sub-conscious controls our habits and instincts. Sometimes these will be good but despite the facts rather than because of them.

So, we can become even more rational and take the time to explain our logic and decisions and we can personally review our habits and decide which ones to keep and which ones to change.

Changing habits is very difficult and we are not even discussing addictions, just ingrained ways of behaving. Taking a very general overview, to change a habit you need two things:

A desire to change and knowledge of exactly which behaviour you want to alter

A substitution of a better or more acceptable behaviour.

Let’s consider an example; 
Because you are an enthusiast and keen to interact with colleagues you have a tendency to jump in, to interrupt before they have finished speaking, you think you know what they want to say and make presumptions. You may be correct, or you may well be wrong or only partially correct. Whichever, it is both polite and empowering to hear the other person through to the end of their thought or submission.

Clearly, in this example, this approach may well reflect the go-to behaviour, the habit, and one acquired over years of human interaction. Stopping doing it will be difficult. The good news is, now you have spotted it and recognised it must change.

Rob Ball
Contact:
07850 954075
rob.ball@workhorizons.com
rob.ball@naturallyconcerned.com

Websites:
Work Horizons – Organisational renewal through engaged, productive people
Naturally Concerned – Developing Better Business Leaders
www.framingourfuture.com

Books:
Beating the Wisdom of Hindsight: 75 Ways to Pursue Fulfilment and Avoid Regrets eBook : Ball, Rob:
Amazon.co.uk
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Time-Sponges-Overcoming-behaviours-absorb/

Online Programs:
Empower Change by Learning to Live Well (indegu.co.uk)
Expanding Your Work Horizons (indegu.co.uk)

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Are you Living to Work? – Part 7

Escaping suppression

Is a lack of a job filling every aspect of your life? Is the job you have or the boss you have to endure making life horrid? Are your relationships difficult? Does it feel as if everything is coming down on top of you?

Too many people feel as if they are in a box, albeit a box in which they can move around, but not very far. The parameters are set and we can function within them. “We can function within them”, might be a very disillusioning phrase. Do you want to function or live?

Escaping suppression makes it clear the action rests with you, if this is how you feel. The guards rarely push the inmates through the door. The incarcerated have to plan and act to get out. In the work situation, occasionally there are redundancies and lay-offs which take the decision out of the ‘prisoner’s’ hands, or there is a voluntary release programme which is the catalyst to action. It is amazing how often I have been told by people forced from their job that it was the best thing that had happened to them and how they wish it had occurred earlier.

Redundancy does have the advantage of removing the need to justify the decision to leave to loved ones and friends.

So, are you so boxed in that you know a move is necessary for your sanity or, at least, your good humour? Is the prospect of doing something else a growing compulsion?

Rob Ball
Contact:
07850 954075
rob.ball@workhorizons.com
rob.ball@naturallyconcerned.com

Websites:
Work Horizons – Organisational renewal through engaged, productive people
Naturally Concerned – Developing Better Business Leaders
www.framingourfuture.com

Books:
Beating the Wisdom of Hindsight: 75 Ways to Pursue Fulfilment and Avoid Regrets eBook : Ball, Rob:
Amazon.co.uk
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Time-Sponges-Overcoming-behaviours-absorb/

Online Programs:
Empower Change by Learning to Live Well (indegu.co.uk)
Expanding Your Work Horizons (indegu.co.uk)

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Are you Living to Work? – Part 6

The temptation of a compromise

It is too easy to just accept our situation or a job which “will do” or is “Good enough”. Why can’t you look for your dream job or the perfect environment for you to work in? Who has the right to say you are not capable of being successful?

The majority of people have frustrations in their job, indeed as a broad statement it might be nearly everyone. The issue is scale and whether it is becoming unbearable and cannot be changed. Our advice would be to consider the current situation and describe clearly for yourself the things which are wrong or frustrating. Can they be changed? Do you want to change them? Is it just time for you to do something completely different?

What are the issues? Is it poor leadership? Poor pay? Unfairness? Unchallenging work? No promotion prospects? Uncooperative colleagues? Slow systems and processes? Bureaucracy? Lack of recognition? Lack of space to take initiatives? Products or services you dislike? Something else? A combination of several?

Clearly, your search for something else needs to ensure that whatever the frustrations they are wholly or mainly eradicated. The kernel comes in the phrase, “Mainly eradicated”. Perhaps we need to accept we cannot find perfection but how close do we need to be? Can you describe the red line beyond which you will not cross?

Consciously or sub-consciously, we all make these assessments based on our preferences, our financial commitments, the location of any job and the strength of our habits. We may want to make a change, but will we allow ourselves? How often do we hear ourselves say, “Oh, it will do for now” or, “When the children are a little older…”? or, “When my mortgage is paid off…”

We compromise our desires because of the context of our life or relationships or our inertia. Movement requires motivation, direction and action which may be too much hassle. If this is the case, then fine but do not complain, criticise or judge others who are making a move.

Rob Ball
Contact:
07850 954075
rob.ball@workhorizons.com
rob.ball@naturallyconcerned.com

Websites:
Work Horizons – Organisational renewal through engaged, productive people
Naturally Concerned – Developing Better Business Leaders
www.framingourfuture.com

Books:
Beating the Wisdom of Hindsight: 75 Ways to Pursue Fulfilment and Avoid Regrets eBook : Ball, Rob:
Amazon.co.uk
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Time-Sponges-Overcoming-behaviours-absorb/

Online Programs:
Empower Change by Learning to Live Well (indegu.co.uk)
Expanding Your Work Horizons (indegu.co.uk)

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Are you Living to Work? – Part 5

The pros and cons of your scenarios

Create two lists: The things you like about work; the things you don’t like about work. You may well find one list is longer than the other but some of the issues are of a much greater magnitude than others. These will help you assess the nature of work you should be looking for and jobs to avoid.

Once you have the list, highlight the factors which matter most.

From the list of negatives, which are the red lines, the issues which MUST NOT be in any subsequent jobs. These need to be the points upon which you will not compromise.

Now, from the list of positives, which are the gold lines, the issues which MUST be in any subsequent jobs? Are they absolute, how far would you drift away from them?

These lists may not yet be pointing to a particular career, job, business option or organisation but they should frame your thinking, research and creation of options.

Rob Ball
Contact:
07850 954075
rob.ball@workhorizons.com
rob.ball@naturallyconcerned.com

Websites:
Work Horizons – Organisational renewal through engaged, productive people
Naturally Concerned – Developing Better Business Leaders
www.framingourfuture.com

Books:
Beating the Wisdom of Hindsight: 75 Ways to Pursue Fulfilment and Avoid Regrets eBook : Ball, Rob:
Amazon.co.uk
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Time-Sponges-Overcoming-behaviours-absorb/

Online Programs:
Empower Change by Learning to Live Well (indegu.co.uk)
Expanding Your Work Horizons (indegu.co.uk)

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Are you Living to Work? – Part 4

Why do you want to work?

Pressure and stress are not easy to measure, and we all react differently to stimuli. Is work feeling oppressive? Do you have money issues, relationship problems or other frustrations? Are they affecting your health or lifestyle?

At a very basic level people work for money to enable them to provide comfort and security. It is money that gets people out of bed, but our desire should be for people to bounce out of bed because the day is so full of possibilities and interest. Many people would argue their attitude to work would be different if money wasn’t an issue.

However, in four studies in the USA, citizens received a guaranteed income and became more energised and productive rather than laze the days away. Other research now puts $30000 per annum at the figure around which money ceases to be a motivator for most people, after that motivation comes from intrinsic sources – a message some managers haven’t heard or comprehended.

When the need for work is so integrated with the basics of life there is the stress that comes from knowing job loss would put many aspects in jeopardy.  The great thing about self-employment is you cannot be sacked; you may fail but at least you won’t be dismissed. It is actually very freeing.

Often “Office politics” is one of the things we are told are horrible and exhausting. Who said what to whom? About whom? What will the boss think? Who will receive credit for good ideas and scorn if things turn out badly? (Not necessarily the person or people who fouled up!!) This is hardly a symptom of a cohesive team.

If you are brutally honest with yourself, do you get involved? Would everyone’s life be better if there was no politics? Would the organisation be more productive? A very interesting guy, Oliver James, has written a book on the subject, cunningly entitled Office Politics.

It is also sad to relate that pressures at work affect health and home life, especially relationships. 

We have dedicated a whole section to health in this site, so please pay a lot of attention to ensuring yours is good.       

Rob Ball
Contact:
07850 954075
rob.ball@workhorizons.com
rob.ball@naturallyconcerned.com

Websites:
Work Horizons – Organisational renewal through engaged, productive people
Naturally Concerned – Developing Better Business Leaders
www.framingourfuture.com

Books:
Beating the Wisdom of Hindsight: 75 Ways to Pursue Fulfilment and Avoid Regrets eBook : Ball, Rob:
Amazon.co.uk
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Time-Sponges-Overcoming-behaviours-absorb/

Online Programs:
Empower Change by Learning to Live Well (indegu.co.uk)
Expanding Your Work Horizons (indegu.co.uk)

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