“Creating a corporate culture of positivity, engagement- surround yourself with people that push you to do better. No drama or negativity. Just higher goals and higher motivation. Good times and positive energy. No jealousy or hate. Simply bringing out the best in each other.” Warren Buffett
Coming off of the high of my company’s first in-person meetings in over a year, I spent some time on my three-plus-hour drive home yesterday reflecting on how it all went. It felt really great to be in the presence of those I have been separated from for so long, to meet new employees, revisit the seasoned veterans, and to laugh. So much has changed over the course of the last year. But, emerging from it all, with our company’s most celebrated year of record-setting achievements, was certainly a cherry on the top for the stress endured over the course of life-in-the-trenches during the pandemic as “essential workers.” Every industry has its complaints, struggles and obstacles that have been challenges for them to overcome through it all. We still have a long way to go in so many ways. But choosing to reframe it and look for the good that has come from it can help us improve and flourish in the years to come. The reality that we missed our community of co-workers and appreciated being reunited with them was my take-away from our time together this week.
I had the opportunity for a conversation with a co-worker that I normally do not have interactions with, outside of specific, work-related issues. In our discussion, he pointed out that, “we are, after all, one big work family.” I agreed, and jokingly pointed out that, “yes, we, like any “normal family” are one big, dysfunctional, happy family.” No matter our differences, job titles, quirks, strengths, or weaknesses, it is up to us to decide to be happy in the midst of it all for the sake of the organization’s success. What we bring to the job each day is up to us. We can choose mediocrity, negativity, or an attitude of conflict, but it disconnects us from both our pack and our purpose. Our mindset affects not only how happy we are in our day-to-day work, but in the overall performance of how well we support our co-workers and the results our company is able to produce. That mindset is crucial for every member, not just those at the bottom, in the middle, or at the top. Every person is a link in the chain that keeps us pedaling forward. No matter how seemingly small or large our part is in the operation, it matters.
We need to be exceptionally mindful of those in our care. That includes those beneath and around us. They are a special gift that has been bequeathed to us and should be treated as such. Are we supporting their need to be seen, heard and appreciated, as well as their personal growth? Are we rewarding them sufficiently for their contributions to our success? Saying “thank you” is free. It is easy to get lost in what we, personally, have on our plates each day and forget that there are many people doing some heavy pedaling that makes things roll forward. If we are in a position of leadership, pushing each day to reach the goals set for us, are we recognizing those beneath us and the hours they are putting in? Are we doing everything in our power to grow into a better leader, a better boss, and a better person that helps those underneath us flourish into their maximum potential?
If we are in a support role that contributes in a different way, such as operations, purchasing, finance, administrative, etc., do we realize how important our seat is to the function of every other person in our shadow? Bringing our best work every day is so key to the fluidity of the success chain. Mistakes, no matter how seemingly insignificant, cause such a clog in the flow of everyone around us. Choosing excellence over mediocrity keeps the system going in the right direction, helps others perform their own jobs well, and provides the most exceptional services to those we are in business to take care of in the first place. Every member of the family matters.
The ebb and flow of successful office relationships begins and ends with us. Are we choosing to look at our own contributions, both good and bad? A curt response, no response, or a frustrated response can cause a chain reaction within the relationship breakdown. We all know that effective, positive communication is vital to both our relational and operational success.
In an article from The Harvard Business Review, it is referred to as, “micro-moves.” Full article in link below
“Most people also see coworker relationships as being fixed: Good ones will always remain happy, and bad ones will never get better. Consequently, we take our healthy relationships for granted, instead of giving them the attention and investment they need. We also write off those that have soured, instead of taking steps to improve them. This, too, is misguided, because coworker relationships are actually fluid: Even the most toxic ones can be repaired, and the most positive can quickly spiral downward.
If you look closely, you’ll see that coworker relationships are actually made up of a series of “micromoves” — small actions or behaviors that seem inconsequential in the moment but affect how we relate to one another. Micromoves are like the steps that characterize a dance. You take a step, and then your coworker takes a step. Each step, or micromove, can change the direction of the relationship. A small act of gratitude or compassion — like saying “thank you” when someone holds a door open or being understanding when someone is late for a meeting — can bring people together and help build long-term trust, researchers suggest. On the flip side, something as seemingly mundane as Harrison’s delayed response can create tension and negative feelings that may linger a long time.
Micromoves come in a variety of flavors, but according to Kerry’s research, most either bring people together or pull them apart. Some have a larger impact than others: A disrespectful comment in a team meeting, for instance, will probably have a greater effect than a missed conference call. Yet all micromoves have the potential to shift coworker relationships.”
I think we each discovered this week that we are indeed “one, big, happy family,” after all. The plethora of smiles, masked hugs, and lots of laughs proved that. The enormous success, reflected in our growth numbers over the last year, proves that we have been pedaling hard and fast. There is always room for us to do better, perform at a higher level and achieve more. As my childhood piano teacher once said, “practice, with improvement, makes perfect.”
In essence, it takes work, like any other relationship. We have absolutely no control over how others respond, their behaviors and attitudes, or the outcome. We can only control our own thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors. But in the end, to earn the title of “One, Big, Happy Family,” we each have to do whatever is possible to improve our own link in the chain. Maximize your own personal potential and just keep pedaling…..
