The Heart of the Matter
Jim Fox, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Driven to deliver employee experience and customer success strategies at the intersection of people and technology. Keen on leveraging data and leading cross-functional teams to navigate initiatives and improve results.
"The Heart the Matter" is a Don Henley song (also the title of countless other songs, books, blogs, articles, etc). I wanted to write about it before the end of February - and this year, I have an extra day to do so. Happy birthday to all the Leapyear babies.
The song . . . a specific lyric has been on my mind:
How can love survive in such a graceless age?
Are we too busy, stressed, or siloed to take a breath and allow grace for ourselves and others?
Can you relate? Am I alone in feeling gracelessness at least intermittently in our work lives?
I acknowledged in a previous article that I equate songs to work, leadership, etc., and that I'm not alone in doing so. In considering what to write about "The Heart of the Matter" I was not affording myself grace - feeling pressure to offer more than an analogy. THEN I recalled that I AM NOT ALONE!
领英推è
There are organizations and experts providing models, strategies, and tools to reflect human-centered practices. Gartner for HR , 美世 , Josh Bersin , Workhuman , Great Place To Work US , Marc Effron , Jason Lauritsen , Cy Wakeman , Marcus Buckingham , and Brian Heger are all deep and reputable sources. Nicolas BEHBAHANI posted on Valentine's Day that Researchers discovered that only 5.3% of US employees share in the employee reviews that they love their jobs. We may not expect people to post that they love their jobs, but only 5.3%!?!). Nicolas and Dave Ulrich share a lot of love [support] for each other's research and contributions, etc. Check them out.
SO MUCH NAME DROPPING - all done in love and I'm sure I'm missing some great contributors. Who would you add? Who encourages you?
There are plenty of researchers reinforcing the value of human-centered practices freeing me to lovingly cajole you to action with more lyrics from Don:
Ah, these times are so uncertain . . . There's a yearning undefined . . . And people filled with rage . . . We all need a little tenderness . . . How can love survive . . . In such a graceless age? . . . Ah, the trust and self-assurance . . .That lead to happiness . . . They're the very things . . . We kill, I guess . . . Oh, pride and competition . . . Cannot fill these empty arms . . . And the work I put between us . . . You know it doesn't keep me warm . . . I think it's about Forgiveness, forgiveness . . Even if, even if . . . You don't love me
Each bit of grace we show in the workplace is MORE GRACE in the workplace. Set aside pride and ego. Be present. Be patient. Seek to understand. Assume positive intent. It's not easy. Do you recall those situations when you did? When someone did for you? How did it feel?
Let's do more of that!
Driven to deliver employee experience and customer success strategies at the intersection of people and technology. Keen on leveraging data and leading cross-functional teams to navigate initiatives and improve results.
1 年On P43 of #workdifferent, the authors Kate Bravery, Ilya Bonic and Kai Anderson quote Ivan Ivanov WHO Head of Occupational and Workplace Health: “We cannot treat people with cognitive behavioral therapy, antidepressants, and clinical care and then return them to the same work environment that made them sick. This is absolutely ineffective - and a waste.†The authors, insisting “there has to be a better way to work- another way to live†offer solutions are listed on P85