Work in the Now
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009
(If you can’t see this video click here and it will take you to Work Happy Now so you can view it.)
Working in the now is having the ability to see a look as just a look without putting some big emotional story behind it. We tend to want to create emotional attachment to experiences. What we need to do is pay attention to the way a look or comment makes us feel and adjust our emotional reaction.
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I read a cool article from e! Science News – Happy Employees are Critical for Company Success. We’ve been talking about these concepts for a while now, but it’s just nice to see others talking about it too.
“Simply put, psychologically well employees are better performers. Since higher employee performance is inextricably tied to an organization’s bottom line, employee well-being can play a key role in establishing a competitive advantage.”
- Thomas Wright
Companies that really listen to employees will be able to improve the working conditions and increase their bottom line. It’s a win-win for both sides.
If you liked this video article you’ll like these too:
Hi Karl,
Increasing emotional development…the times when I feel like my emotions get the better of me, is when I think someone (myself or someone else) has been wronged in some way. And in this case, I think that it may be okay to let the emotions out.
At other times, I think I am able to control my reactions. Often times, it is just as you’ve described – and it’s not personal. That’s an important point to remember. Getting beyond that point can be difficult – to where we see things as they are – and that it’s not meant as a personal attack. In fact, we addressed this idea at a leadership training session I was at last week. In this case we were looking at it from the leader’s point of view, and how to discuss issues without making them personal.
Good stuff to think about, is it’s emotions that can be a difficult thing to deal with sometimes. When we can get to the point of it not appearing as a personal attack, then we’re moving in a direction that will lend itself to less emotional conflict.
Hi Karl
I like your suggestion to look within and see what is going on there. Why are we reacting in the way we are…
I always try to keep in my mind the thought that I must take things at face value, so, don’t go adding all of my own thoughts and suggestions, fears and beliefs to it.
The other “tool” I use is to find all sorts of other explanations for the person’s look or comment e.g. perhaps they are having a bad day, perhaps it is related to something else etc.
Juliet
I’m missing some plugins on this computer so can’t see the video, but I must add that I love the quote you’ve shared. I thoroughly believe that someones emotional state has a great deal to do with their output effectiveness.
Great post
Cheers,
Glen
“Think of them as a journey” … great metaphor!
It’s surprising how many things aren’t personal unless we make them so.
I find it helpful to ask the question “what’s their story?” It’s easy to see things from your side, but it can be challenging to look through their eyes. I think keeping perspective and knowing multiple perspectives helps a ton.
Working in the now–indeed, living in the now–is something I myself only began exploring in the past couple of years. As you mentioned in the video, it takes a lot of practice.
I think many people are not even aware of these sort of techniques, so thank you for bringing attention to them on your blog. Others who are aware of them and maybe tried them but gave up should realize you need to keep applying them over and over again. It is not easy but is well worth the effort.
Hi Lance, our emotional development is as important as the food we eat and how much we exercise. That’s awesome that your company helps you along with these concepts.
Hi Juliet, There are so many reasons that we could have gotten a certain look. Maybe they are having a bad day or maybe we are having a bad day. We take it the wrong way and blog it out of proportion. We need to use all the tools in our arsenal to make each interaction clear and without too much emotional attachment.
Hi Glen, the more control we have over our emotional state the more effective we will be at work. You make a great point.
Hi J.D., when we make something personal then it’s filled with layers of emotions. It’s hard to figure out what’s real and what isn’t.
Hi Christine, practice is the key to putting our emotional development together. It can be a pain in the butt, but the rewards are many.
Hi Karl – I agree that those “looks” only bother us if we’re insecure or maybe we know we’re not doing our job as well as we could. Otherwise, like you said, “it’s just a look”.
BTW: You’re getting real good with these videos.
Managing emotions -something they didn’t teach us in school! But would have been much more handy than algebra for a 3rd semester. I think I read in Pema Chodron that nothing has meaning until we assign meaning. Emotions often take over in the work place – we take feedback personally, we give feedback with the premise that it will be taken personally. We allow our ego to get in the way, because that is all we know. Emotional response, in my experience, is usually fear-based, we don’t have enough information. We haven’t been taught how to manage emotions. We are taught math and science and reading and left to the important, difficult tasks on our own.
Hi Barbara, thank you for the compliment. Just trying to give as much value as I can in as many ways possible. I agree with you. When we know we are doing a good job that’s all that should matter.
Hi Stacey, awesome points! You can see that you’ve done a lot of thinking on this subject. My hope is that we start teaching emotional tools in our schools so that students can use them in their every day interactions.
Karl — This post made me really think. You make an excellent point in that we DO need to be careful how we interpret a look or a comment. I find that when I’m needing or wanting something from a person, my reaction to their comments or looks is much more self conscious. In these cases, I really do tend to read into what I hear or see. I appreciate the reminder to stop and look inside myself before I respond via my ego. Thanks :~)
I also try to watch it from the other side. No one can effectively lead grumbling people. I try not to complain and just follow, when I’m called to follow. I realize that sometimes I’m a leader and sometimes not. Happiness changes everything!