Appropriate Stoicism

How it aids corporate operations

“Why is everyone so quiet?” I asked.

“Shhh! You’re at the Home Office! Keep it down,” my manager urged.

Prior to working at the Walmart Home Office, my only other corporation position was at Gates Corporation and Dun & Bradstreet as a summer intern. Back then, I was too young to understand the requirements of a corporate office. Next, I worked at an extremely dynamic advertising agency where colleagues listened to punk rock music while designing a $500k billboard for a luxury brand. I also held a position at a telecommunications company where our team sat down with government representatives and staff from the office of the Minister of Health – a very formal, legalistic, and administrative type of environment.

 Corporate employees, primarily at company headquarters, are trained extensively to maintain and exhibit the most professional and civil behaviors at all times, while also encouraged to be themselves.

We are trained in stoicism.

Emotions and emotional expressions are deemed unnecessary in the business world; yet, empathy and emotional intelligence are welcomed and encouraged.

Due to the volume of issues we deal with at such a large scale, showing extreme emotions for every incident will create a viral, chaotic environment in which some people are excited, and others are dejected – an environment that can be emotionally draining and distracting.

 Some crazy things happen in our world. A few examples:

 On a given day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., a corporate re-structure can lay off 35 colleagues, followed by a corporate memo celebrating a major success on a new business deal, then someone’s baby shower, and finally the person next to you getting fired for misconduct. Chaos! On top of that, we encounter real emergencies like store mass shootings, which are absolutely heartbreaking.

These events are all moving quickly, a combination of horrible and excellent. If we don’t manage our reactions to the environment around us, we will become burnt out by the magnitude of the constant explosions. It is mandatory to stay focused at all times and finish our tasks. The business has to run regardless of what is happening day to day, hour to hour.

 Appropriate stoicism requires internalizing and neutralizing the daily gut-punches because this is the only way we can maintain discipline in business. Part of the code of conduct, appropriate stoicism is different from being “indifferent.” As a fellow human, you are encouraged to show compassion, but you also have responsibilities to fulfill and need to keep going.

Stoicism helps us when dealing with difficult collaborations. It is tremendously helpful to stay neutral in meetings in which disagreements are out of control, and you must deliver results. Staying neutral keeps everyone’s temperature under control, allows breeze, and helps us stay focused on resolutions. My great mentor once said: “It all comes down to business.”

 Stoicism is a form of strength. It comes from the Ancient Greek philosophy “Stoics” Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9OCA6UFE-0 

Stoicism often comes with years, age, and experience; it represents a form of maturity, but you can train yourself to learn it early on.

More specific to our work environment, another benefit to moderate stoicism is being thoughtful of other’s spaces. We work on a floor where 750 others work side by side in cubicles and are doing their jobs and fulfilling important tasks. We work in an “open space” that is considered a “shared space.” Noise is a form of pollution and a distraction. You may think your jokes are funny to the ten people in your row, but someone on the other row is hosting a regional meeting with the leadership, and the one next to them is having a serious performance conversation.

 We constantly aim at keeping it cool, calm, and collected in our workspace. This requires some practice, especially for us creative types who are extroverted, sociable, gregarious, and Learning & Development enthusiasts. But it is doable.

 Keep it cool, calm, and collected. Stay focused. Practice more stoicism. I hope this helps you see things differently the next time you feel overwhelmed.

Grateful to be working at a place that teaches us so much. #ThisIsThatPlace 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

- Lily