One of our mantras at THINKspiration is “Less focus on weaknesses, more focus on strengths.” You are probably thinking “How can I not focus on my weaknesses? I can’t afford to ignore them!” I am so glad you asked that question! :) I have discovered personally and in teams that when we focus on strengths, magic happens. Problems are solved, goals are met, and dreams are surpassed. People are fulfilled and genuinely engaged in what they do. How is that for win-win?
Numbers are all around us – and they aren’t going away any time soon. Whether it’s my turnover, my personal bank balance, the level of engagement on my social media or my weekly vitality points – numbers seem to represent my value - my place in this world. If I’m not careful, those numbers start to dictate the emotional tone of my life.
One of our work mottos at THINKspiration is “less numbers, more progress.” I’m going to attempt to unpack it a bit below …
Why do we at THINKspiration encourage the creation of an atmosphere of PLAY in the workplace?
If the thought of this conjures up images of jungle gyms, cupcakes and mindless hilarity – you aren’t quite on the right track :) (although Google have no problem with brightly coloured slides between floors at their headquarters!). ‘Play’ speaks of fun and laughter, but also of spontaneity and creativity. Play melts away stress and insecurity and births possibility thinking and optimism. The natural result is social connection, collaboration, engagement and innovation. What’s not to love?
“Love? In a corporate? What do you think this is – Valentine’s Day?”
In the THINKspiration lexicon, the word ‘love’ as it applies to work is less about cupid, and more about passion and motivation. It looks less like twee and more like energetic productivity. It’s an attempt to capture the excitement, the delight that becomes accessible when we adore what we do. Work can be about far more than simply ‘earning a living’; it can be a space of high motivation, of engagement, of knowing that our contribution counts.
Right now, globally, work is anything but a happy place for most employees. Engagement levels are hitting rock bottom and stress levels, propelled by anxiety and fear are at all time highs. Sadly, rather than providing an outlet for us to live out our passions, unleash our potential and make our “dent in the universe” (as Steve Jobs put it), “work” has for many become a life sentence, a necessary evil to be endured.
JANUARY 9, 2018
For many of us W.O.R.K is just another four-letter word – a sad reality – but not one that is beyond our sphere of influence. I would love to see dramatic changes in the South African workplace where leaders evoke more P.L.A.Y., trust, love, purpose, strength, progress, and practice. Yes, at work!
