The Centrality of the Person at Work

Alfred Herrhausen, a senior manager at Deutsche Bank wrote the book "Denken, Ordnen und Gestalten" (Think, Order and Configure). I usually say that it lacks a verb: Meditate (others would say pray), Think, Order and Configure.

The one who meditates can think well, the one who thinks can order and the one who orders can configure. This is our work, which done in this way, can become a transforming and transforming reality.

Now that the year is beginning and we are full of good resolutions, perhaps we have realised that it is not about working more, but about working better. And how do we work better? When we realise that work is an act of the person (however much "artificial intelligence" comes our way).

And what are the acts of the person? Reflection and interpersonal interrelation, fruits of intelligence and will. So the question I can ask myself is, when am I more of a person at work? When I am aware of what I am working on and what it means, here and now, because my work is the fruit of reflection. This leads me, for example, to try to prepare everything better. Many say that preparation (of a call, a conversation, an email, a presentation) is 90% of success.

Insofar as I am a better person at work, I exercise more virtues and above all have more compassion for myself (and therefore less anxiety), my colleagues and my clients. Compassion goes beyond empathy. It sometimes even leads us to exercise our duty to correct with gentleness and grace.

How many virtues do we practise when we live, for example, collegiality? Prudence, humility, industriousness, docility, gentleness, kindness, gratitude, fortitude, fortitude, temperance, justice, patience, and so on.

Interpersonal relationship is a fundamental act of the person. In our world so impregnated by technology, it is increasingly difficult for us to relate to each other and to establish a deep and truly personal relationship. In recent days I have read the recent book by David Brooks, a well-known New York Times columnist, "How to Know a Person - The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen". This book is a good guide for anyone who wants to reflect on the art of listening and conversation. Not a trivial matter. We live in a competitive environment at work, in an environment of artificial stress and real stress, in an environment where we sometimes do not feel valued or understood, or even feel underpaid. We are surrounded by suspicion and assumptions. This requires personal and professional growth.

Part of reflecting on our work is knowing how to prioritise at the start of the day.

We can ask ourselves, what feedback conversation should I have today and not delay any longer, who needs my comfort or advice today, what project do I want to design or describe? A large part of the reflection consists of not getting carried away by the immediate, by the thousand messages that reach us, and managing our communication well.?

"You have to work with intentionality" I heard a coach say a few days ago. It means understanding the why and what for of our work. Intention is joined to right intention: working with a right motive.

What are the first ten minutes of my work like? Those are the most precious minutes of the day, sitting at my desk and getting ready to work. It's about thinking, what am I going to do today, why and what for? So much depends on a good start: the take-off of a plane, the start of a regatta, the start of a car race. The start is crucial. So let's think before we press the accelerator.

More and more companies are including in their Mission Statement that people are at the centre of their business. This means understanding the intentionality of our work (whether manual or intellectual) and understanding it as a true service: from department to department, from the company to the customer and from the company to society.

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