Postcards from the Funny Farm

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At work we a have a single job to do but everyone knows there is so much more to work than that. For example: 1. Performance evaluations make us anxious, we wonder if we’ll “measure up,” 2. Co-worker dramas of people getting their feelings hurt can put stress on us and alter the decisions we make, and finally, 3. the job at hand is often changing in today’s marketplace, forcing us to be innovators in our chosen fields. There are no simple solutions for these stresses at work. Try as we might, we can’t please everyone all the time. Not withstanding, there is a mindset, or a mantra, that can guide us through the stormy waters when they rise up against us:

“Just be great at what you do.”

Performance evaluations are one of the biggest stressors in today’s workplace. With “downsizing” and “restructuring” at an all time high, everyone is worried if they will make the grade. And I can’t lie to you, in my line of work and several people’s I know layoffs are happening, they are real. So what can we do do relieve the anxiety of a performance evaluation? Recite the mantra morning noon and night. When we strive to be great at what we do, bosses notice. It also creates productivity for the bottom line. Envisioning being great changes the fear of the performance evaluation that was once: “Will I lose my job?” to the empowered thinking of: “How can this evaluation make me more great?” Turn fear on its ear and be great at what you do.

Co-worker drama is always lurking around the corner. If you’re a teacher, it’s in the teacher’s lounge. If you’re in business it’s at the water cooler, or down a row of desks. The fact is that wherever you have people, you’re bound to have drama. Sometimes the pull is so strong, you can’t help but get wrapped up in it. Other times you will try so hard to avoid it that your work peers will think you pompous or conceited for not talk to them about the latest “gossip.” The solution to this conundrum? Once again: “Just be great at what you do.” There was a psychological study done in the 70’s where a guy looked up in the middle of Central Park. He was looking at nothing but he never looked down. People would walk by and most looked up with him. This is kind of what will happen when you focus on this mantra. Even if you aren’t clear where you are headed, you know your mantra and people will follow that. Gossipy co-workers will become meaningless and they will respect you as you strive to become great.

Last, being innovative is not always easy. In todays marketplace, the products change as fast as the tool. This is also true in education where learning theories come down the pike faster than you can catch them sometimes. We need defining statement, a rule to help us keep learning, growing, innovating the way we find solutions at work. Don’t get anxious or frustrated, recite the mantra: “Just be great at what you do.” If you focus on how much change you are forced to make, you’ll lose your edge. On the other hand, if you simply focus on being great, the changes in the marketplace will be seen as tools rather than hindrances or “chores.” After all, change is supposed to make us better and our lives easier. Unfortunately it isn’t always seen that way. If you heard there was a way to do what you easier and more productively wouldn’t you do it? So it is with technology and new thought in the 2000’s. Don’t fear the changes, look at it as a set of tools to make you greater.

In conclusion, everyone in their heart wants to be successful. Unfortunately there are a host of forces working all the time against our success. I have addressed only three in this post. Getting focus is key to weathering the storms at work and for keeping your calm when it looks like your ship is going the hit the rocks. You need to strive to be great at what you do. This will help you get through you performance evaluation with more knowledge, dignity and success. You need to lead your peers by focusing on being great. This will make their gossip evaporate and they will respect you above those who don’t have vision. Last, you need to be an innovator in today’s workplace, there is simply no room for followers anymore. As you see your greatness as the goal, the changes in the workplace will become your tools instead of your stumbling block, like they are for so many. You can be great at what you do, but even if you don’t, many work troubles can be quelled by internalizing the mantra:

“Just be great at what you do.” You’ll like the results.