HAVE FUN AT WORK, it′s a must in Packaging

Dear Packoholics, today I want to share a reflection on what it means for me to work in Packaging.

The title of this article might sound strange and not suitable for work, however as you will discover it is totally the opposite.

At some point in my life, I have heard, regarding work, the phrase "This is going to be fun" that resonates with what I think.

"THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY FUN"

To many people when I describe my work, when I talk about it, I tell them that I am having a lot of fun, and I do not say it in a shallow and banal sense, but in the sense that I am on a playground, doing what I like to do more, with a purpose and a clear impact on the business, providing meaning to what I do, and I see that everyone around me is on the same page

When something like this happens, a very enriching, challenging environment is generated, which inspires you every time to ask questions, to investigate, to inquire, to dig the surface, to go deeper, to move out of the forest, to start connecting points, in an environment where the result is exponentially potentiated because many minds around you, exchange ideas, ask questions such as "what if ...?", "Can we use this for?" accepting the challenge that you can ask, question and be heard

When something like this happens, connecting points is very fun and very productive for your work, because you can question everything around you and find better ways to do something, with a broader long term vision, without restrictions, that brings benefits to your company where you work, because you can create and transform, devise innovative projects, with a great impact on the market and at work

If something I remember working on projects such as Drinkfinity in version 1.0, or the bottle and caps for Gatorade and Toddy Aseptic, it was that spirit of innovation, playing with different possibilities, with really spectacular solutions, with creative and technical geniuses like Hernan Marina, Joe Rodriguez and his team, Diego Monteverde, (Pepsi), Carlos Gomez (Aptar), Brian Pieszchala, Chris Labombarbe (AMCOR), Roberto Tirelli, Erick Lopez and Maysa Dutra (Pepsi)

Why do I write this?

Throughout my career I have had the honor of meeting passionate people from Packaging (my Mead Johnson team for example), people who have had the resilience and the impulse to promote innovative ideas, to go against the tide, to execute their job much better than the average, optimizing processes, pulling a magic trick out of the sleeve, with unthinkable solutions within a matter of minutes, and I want to acknowledge them.

I want to tell all Packing professionals:

YOUR WORK SHOULD BE FUN!

That's right, you must keep the spark of fun, because that's where the source of creativity and satisfaction is, of using all your knowledge, your leadership skills, and your network to show that you are a profitable and irreplaceable investment.

It is important to foster that innovative spirit in Packaging, by making the function an impact factor creating spaces and moments of learning and creativity, and banishing the mentality that Packaging is a necessary evil, or that Packaging alone is just a good seller (believe me it only works the first time, as in many relationships), or that is only to contain or protect.

A GOOD PACKAGING ENSURES A "HAPPY EVER AFTER" BETWEEN YOUR PRODUCT AND THE CONSUMER, AND A HAPPY PACKOHOLIC IS THE CO-AUTHOR OF THIS LOVE STORY!

What ruins the fun? What kills innovation? What makes a company not to excel?

• The inconsistency of messages
• The ingrained message of "how this will not work"
• The insecurities of the leaders
• - Micromanagement
• - Fear that the collaborator stands out more than themselves
• The concessions to avoid conflicts
• - A well-managed conflict is very productive
• - A conflict without facing it only generates mixed messages, and undermines trust and credibility.
• The meetings that shift from Brainstorming to Blamestorming
• The killing innovation syndromes:
• - "Not invented here"
• - "Failure is not an option"
• - "Everyone must act in the same way (Procustes Syndrome)"
• - For more references see my article: THE INNOVATION KILLING SYNDROMES
• Too much politics
• - When people cling more to the title than to the ideas
• - Too many cooks in the kitchen

Here I finish my reflection: remember, a good job is a job you enjoy even under the most challenging conditions.

Greetings to all my fellows Packoholics of the World!

Jorge Maquita

[email protected]

Pagina: Packoholicos / Pagina