Tag Archives: careers

Take The Mea Culpa Bus

by on June 10, 2006 in Career, Work

My wife brought me a lesson yesterday evening that really hit home. She was chatting with a friend from a past job who had some interesting news about a former co-worker. Turns out he got fired for both not adhering to clearly communicated working policies and thinking he was above those rules as an assistant manager.

Well, that’s really not why he got fired…that’s merely why he landed himself in some pretty hot water. What got him booted from his job was being defensive and indignant and rather unapologetic about his actions.

As an assistant manager or senior director or any position of organizational authority, we are all leaders. And as leaders with power, we have a greater set of expectations and must model a higher set of values for those around us. As Uncle Ben famously tells Peter Parker, “With great power comes great responsibility.” That’s responsibility that cannot be abused.

However, we all stumble from time to time…it’s human nature. How we react after those stumblings reflects on our own sense of leadership character. What should we do when we fall?

Take full responsibility. Not a little, not three-quarters, but full responsibility. Leaders don’t shirk their own accountability. If you crossed a line or broke a rule, come clean about it. And even if you feel partly justified in your action, ask whether that justification comes from your own pride and ego.

Ask for forgiveness. As hard as it is to say “I’m sorry,” there are few words in the language that have as much power. Make it honest and sincere, make it from the heart.

Seek to understand how to earn trust and respect back. This is usually the part that gets missed and yet can be the most valuable.

Act. Now, show your contrition by making the most of the moment. Your character is on the line. How will you respond?

And The Who Says…The Kids Are Alright

by on June 2, 2006 in Career, Work

Don Blohowiak at Leadership. Now. has a kick-butt post called Boomers on Holiday, and while the focus was on my dad’s generation it still resonates with me as a Gen-Xer. Here’s a taste:

Most boomers are weary…They’re weary to the bone of a career that has been predicated on one word: More. As in ever-more work to meet ever-rising expectations — their employer’s for productivity, and their own for consumption.

I can’t think of anything more depressing than the thought that we’re all going to be expected to continue to keep up this pace for more. It will come at the price of our very souls.

Yet, that takes the power out of our hands. It’s as if our businesses and organizations are winged monsters unable to be corralled and brought back to earth. Boomers may indeed be weary, but Don also offers a bright spark in that this generation still has the music and a move or two left:

We’re about to rediscover our music. And ourselves. We know we aren’t handing to our children the world we envisioned. That’s true. But we’re not done yet. Chances are that once freed from the shackles of being wage slaves, legions of former idealists will roll up their sleeves and get to work on work that matters, working part-time or as volunteers on causes they believe in.

Hell, yeah. Something tells me that we just may be on the cusp of a quite revolution where we reinvigorate ourselves and our work. Where work is not something to be feared or assumed grudgingly, but a full effort of our unique selves. If boomers are weary, its time for us youngsters to step up and lend a hand. It’s our time.

So, Does That Mean Gandhi Had Good Credit?

by on June 1, 2006 in Career, Work

Perusing other career blogs today, I came across this post at Recruiting.com. The idea that companies might do credit checks on new hires isn’t exactly a new concept. I have to admit that after my last foray into the self-employment world a year or so ago, my credit isn’t as sparkling as it used to be. Good enough to get a decent mortgage on a home, though.

What gave me reason to have a good laugh is this quote:

“Typically, people who manage finances well manage their lives well and are less stressed, likely to be more honest and more in control of their workday and their home life,” said Maxine Sweet, a spokeswoman for Experian, one of the nation’s biggest credit bureaus. “A credit report is not only reflective of your financial position but your character.”

Gee Maxine, I sure hope you said that with your tongue firmly planted in cheek. Anyone know how to get their hands on Ken Lay’s or Tom DeLay’s credit rating? I’d like to put Ms. Sweet’s theory to a rigorous test.

Double bonus points for reading the comments at the end of the post. It’s good to know your legal rights.

Running Toward Your Purpose

by on May 22, 2006 in Career, Creative

Since making the big announcement of our plans to hitch our wagon for Austin, TX, we’ve received a wide spectrum of responses from friends, family, and a few strangers. For the most part, the response has been overwhelmingly supportive bordering on admiration for taking such a grand leap of faith. That’s always appreciated considering there are times when both me and my wife look at each other with that wide-eyed gaze which silently says, “There’s a fine line between courageous and crazy…which side are we on now?”

To the other end of the spectrum lies a few folks who tend to believe that we must be running away from something. Else, why would we take such a grand leap? Perhaps I’m running from a job that’s lost its meaning…or we’re running from a place where we’ve lost a sense of community…or perhaps we’re just running away to be running. Any way you slice it this perspective evokes a sense of fear; like being in a low-budget horror movie, running from the demonic dog or masked killer who can never die.

But, throughout this unfolding adventure, I’m coming to a different space where I ask, “What if we’re running toward something?” Running from the monster is just running in any direction to get away from the beast (though it usually involves long, dark hallways). I feel we’re actually focused and running toward a richer, more soulful life. There is a lot of hopefulness in our decision and it’s that sense of hope that guides us through the inevitable turbulence.

Our decision is to make a radical change in where we call home. But the concept of running toward can apply in several other choices – some of which are more of the everyday, garden-variety types. So, how do you know if you’re running away or running toward? Take some time to reflect on these questions:

Which is more painful for me…staying the same or making a change?
Some folks are motivated by pain, some by pleasure. Let’s face it, though…most individuals view change as pain, loss, or a combination of both. If you’re stuck in a rut, it’s the fear of change because of pain that’s keeping you there. So, ask whether staying in the rut is worth all the trouble. If you’re hesitant to face a possible conflict with a co-worker or supervisor, where’s the fear/pain coming from? Instead of running from the possibility of conflict, ask whether it’s possible to run toward the improved relationship or the learning of how to communicate more effectively. Which leads to another question…

Will I learn anything about myself (or others) through this decision?
Running away from a toxic work environment or a bad personal relationship may be the right move in the short-term, but without taking the time for sufficient self-reflection you might just land in the same spot again later on. Running toward something better means you have the insight and personal understanding to run in the most appropriate direction. Which leads to yet another question…

Do I have a purpose for tomorrow?
Running toward is all about moving in the direction of a greater purpose. It means putting in the time, energy, and discipline to figure out what needs to happen in order to make that purpose a reality. However, that doesn’t mean that you have to have it all planned and mapped out. Hell, if that was the case, no one would have ever took to the seas to explore new worlds, no one would have had the courage to scale Everest, and no one would have taken great leaps of faith to find their life’s calling.

If you find yourself wondering if you’re running away from a problem or a place, reflect on some of these questions. Explore whether there is hope or fear in your heart. And don’t worry if you’re not able to take a great leap at first. Aim to take just a small risk. Over time, your confidence will grow and so will the boldness of your actions. Just remember to run toward.

Redefining Our Joy At Work

by on May 16, 2006 in Career, Creative, Work

Opus the PenguinWhile in Austin, TX this past week, I had some time to kill and discovered the wonderful BookPeople store. While browsing through their business section, I stumbled across a gem called Joy at Work by Dennis Bakke. The subtitle is A Revolutionary Approach to Fun on the Job (there’s that word ‘fun’ again).

What is most compelling about the book is Bakke’s vulnerability in talking about the ups and downs of trying to create a values-driven and profitable company where people are free to bring their full passion to their work. Simple on paper, quite the opposite in practice, particularly when your organization is a publicly traded energy company employing over 30,000 people. What I most appreciate is Bakke’s unwillingness to break from his guiding beliefs: that joyful work must be fun and challenging; that each employee – regardless of their position in the organization – must have the power to make important decisions; that a business’s prime objective should be to benefit society while continuing to pursue financial viability. And he had plenty of opportunities to deviate from these beliefs, particularly when his Board of Directors felt his ‘experiment’ was costing the company profits and neglecting the stockholders’s interests.

One of the big takeaways for me, so far, is Bakke’s reintroduction of the word opus. To me, opus is a cartoon penguin (see picture above) and a term used in classical music (though I did not know that opera is the plural form of opus). What is new for me is that opus is a latin word meaning work, especially work that is a voluntary act imbued with creativity and meaning. That’s powerful and certainly reflects that kind of work we all want to do in our lives.

Bakke continues to offer a spiritual perspective of work when we writes:

God intended that the workplace be beautiful, exciting, and satisfying. Work was to be filled with joy. Work was a major reason for our creation. It was intended to be an important act of worship. It was one of the most significant ways in which we could honor our Creator.

We are challenged to bring the sublimity of the opus into our lives rather than merely settle for the more mundane drudgery of labor. What can you do today to bring your opus to life?