Notes: Living Through History, the Changes Within & a Simple Exercise

Living through history has again challenged us in ways that we could never have anticipated. It has forced decisions we never thought we would have to make, brought moments of both fear & relief — and decidedly rearranged us as people. It has revealed our unheralded strengths and chinks in the amour. Undoubtedly, we'll come through to the other side as changed human beings. These changes may be revealed as subtle or drastic, nuanced or obvious to both our betterment and detriment.

I cannot help but wonder: How will this evolution affect work & workplaces? Are we feeling a bit stunned, disoriented or lost? Should we stop & regroup before diving back in at full speed?

They answer is yes and yes and a resounding yes.

Ultimately, a slow-to-boil argument with the way we work has occurred — affecting individuals, teams & organizations. More shifting is likely ahead, not unlike the deep changes in thought & action that occurred after the 2008 economic crisis.

Things are going to change.

Things should change.

Yet, we need to attempt to keep our heads clear & level.

Here are a few thoughts to keep in mind:

• Individual differences will still matter. Invariably shifts in work & workplaces, often manifest as a wildly shifting pendulum and are rife with over-corrections. For example, discussions of hybrid work (a conversation long-overdue) has temporarily shifted toward little time spent in the office, possibly bypassing the needs of some contributors. As time progresses, this could shift strongly in the other direction — with calls to spend more time on site, negatively affecting others. Ultimately this will lead to similar issues that existed before the pandemic. Try to remember that what you need to feel engaged and to excel. Make an effort to respect this among your co-workers and within your teams.
• Look at meaning differently. I've always felt that work life meaning has been portrayed as something that is quite obvious, that somehow "bubbles up" spontaneously from within. In a way, this leaves the concept as something esoteric and in many cases, unreachable. How can there be meaning if we do not operationalize the concept for ourselves? Take the time to ask yourself what your work brings to the world — and why that has value to you. Encourage this within your team, to stem the tide of resignations and turnover that has already begun.
• Acknowledge that work may not feel the same. I can personally attest to more than one inflection point over the last 20 months or so. The parts of my work life that I never thought would become attractive, have become more so. Similarly, some of the bits that always fueled me, have lost their luster. We cannot underestimate how our experiences have changes us. I'm also certain, that we must consider them thoughtfully.

Try this exercise from the Core Stability Sessions . Ask these simple questions:

1. When was the last time you remember truly enjoying yourself at work? Feeling that you were doing your job well? Feeling personally successful?
2. What were you doing? How were you working? How was the work structured?
3. Are these elements playing a strong role in your current work life? Will they going forward?

Knowing yourself, is often the key to an engaged work life. Remember to invest in yourself by leaving room for thought and reflection.

Dr. Marla Gottschalk is an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist & speaker regarding the dynamic nature of work life. A charter member of the LinkedIn Influencer Program, her practice helps people, teams & organizations build stronger work life foundations through the practice of core stability. Her thoughts on work life have also appeared at the Harvard Business Review, Forbes, BBC Work Life, Quartz and The Huffington Post.