Work is a large chunk of our life: time-wise, social-wise, mental-wise, place-wise. And often a large chunk of our complaints, fears, criticisms – maybe with good reason. Conversations about change and work often focus on the things we must or need to change.  Have you ever thought about what you wouldn’t change?

What if you took a moment to think differently about work? Even selfishly about work … your experience of work.

I challenge you to write a list entitled ‘A Few of my Favourite Things’ (cue soundtrack from The Sound of Music) about work as you see it.

Okay – maybe you are wondering “Why?” and aren’t ready to take up this challenge until you’ve got an answer to the Why question.

My first response is: Why Not? Why not try something new without having an expectation of what it might bring or do for you? The future of work is going to need people who can step into things without answers to all their questions. This is a low risk activity for you to do so now.

If that’s a reach too far for you, here’s another response: Without knowing what is important to you, it’s difficult to make good decisions and influence a better work-scape for yourself. So consider yourself Design Research Subject No 1. and collect some useful data on what you value.

Here’s my list:

• I’ve meet some of my oldest and most valued friends in my work-scapes.
• Work provides such a diverse melting pot of people that I get to learn from people I might otherwise not meet or get to know.
• It’s like my own adult playground in which I get to play, learn and explore. Each work place is a different playground with different playmates.
• It’s a source of income to pay for the other things I like to do that cost money but don’t generate income.
• I get to link my skills with the needs of people or places that are trying to resolve something or make the world a better place in their own way.

And at the end of the day – I feel pretty rich about my experience of the work-scape.  So “when the dog bites, when the bee stings or when I’m feeling sad, I simply remember my favourite things and then I don’t feel so bad!”

Author

Helen Palmer is Founder and Principal Change Agent at Questo. Like Winnie the Pooh, she ‘sits and thinks’ … and imagines how people can make a better life for others and themselves in their work-scape. She likes to share those thoughts with the possibility that they inspire and initiate meaningful change.