The Three-Legged Race

As a natural intuitive, I often think in pictures; new ideas will come to me as full-blown metaphors. It happened just this morning as I was thinking about recent economic news. Most of us who were born, say, before the early 1960s remember The Marlboro Man of TV commercial fame. This lone figure sat tall in the saddle as he roamed the plains, master of a solitary kingdom. Madison Avenue hit a home run with this guy, because he evoked the American admiration of “the self-made man”. This morning I was thinking about how, for the vast majority of us, that archetype is beyond reach. It came to me that if we are preserve what has been holding us together as a society, we need to apprehend and embrace a new metaphor- the three-legged race. In a three-legged race, two people are tied together in such a way that they are interdependent. Progress for one depends on progress for the other. Despite all the noise and all the posturing in Congress about the deficit, preserving our life and health as a society really does depend on sharing the gain as well as the pain. Sustainability really does depend on community and the welfare of others. I would love to see the Three-Legged Race replace the Marlboro Man once and for all.

Trying On a New Title: Compassionate Provocateur

I find it very odd but amusing that the Universe arranges things the way it does. Case in point: This blog was born out of my felt need for a voice at work, and since that time I have seen that I may never have one that is acknowledged by colleagues there who are actually listening. However, the struggle to define and shape that voice has led me to fix my gaze elsewhere- on people outside the organization, who may be much more receptive and who need to hear what I have to say.

In the last six months I have discovered that my inner voice was almost drowned out. The louder voices were there only because I internalized what they were saying; e.g., “you are too small to have anything to say, and you are valuable to us only if you produce enough widgets to please us”. I have seen that clearly now and have decided to ignore what they are saying. My own voice is and always will be True North.

From now on I am standing for a brand new possibility. I am creating space in my life for compassionate provocation- of myself, other individuals and groups- toward excellence. This necessarily implies inclusion and respect. What other values should be incorporated? I would love to hear from you.

I Think I’m About to URL

Nothing bothers me more than not having a voice. The two or three best jobs I’ve ever had all gave me a sense of being listened to and respected for my observations, as well as some ability to have some say over my work product. When those things are present, I have a sense of well-being. When they are not, everything seems bleaker. Having a sense that what I do matters is much more important to me than how much money I make.

I was reminded of this the other day when a coworker called me out for being a cynic. I have been aware for some time that my discouragement over my job situation affects my conversation with colleagues. I don’t allow it to spill over into interactions with our constituents, but obviously have been less successful where coworkers are concerned. Something’s gotta give. Thank heavens for the blogosphere.

Note to Self: Lighten Up (A Road Trip Music Mix)

“Tis the season for road trips. Ever driven I-90 through Montana and North Dakota? That’s a perfect illustration of why you need to be in the zone.

Since by odd coincidence my brother in law mentioned this exact topic at our Fourth of July dinner yesterday, I decided it must be of universal significance to road trippers everywhere. JD, this one’s for you….

What’d I Say, by Ray Charles

Freeway of Love, by Aretha Franklin

Chain of Fools, by Aretha Franklin

Crazy On You, by Heart

Dance To the Music, by Sly and the Family Stone

Superstition, by Stevie Wonder

Beat It, by Michael Jackson

Goin’ Up The Country, by Canned Heat

Why Your Workplace Matters to Me

I started this blog as a means of ensuring that the work you and I do is strongly connected to the passion and creativity we were born with. The title Beyond the Beehive is meant to encourage us to look beyond cubicle walls. The “office buzz” may hold keys to what’s really important, or it may be nothing more than a huge distraction from our real work.

What are your thoughts about your work? Do you feel aligned with your purpose? How does that affect you emotionally and spiritually? Let’s help each other tap into the best.

Not All Harrassment at Work Is Illegal, So What Do You Do to Cope?

Imagine the following scenario:

Your boss is in the running for Micromanager of the Year, and has just suffered the indignity of watching several of her former employees (“big picture” types) pass her by and be promoted. One is now her own boss. Since she’s never been openly challenged concerning her own behavior, Boss has never been forced to develop a thoughtful response to this unexpected turn of events. The message she’s just been handed is too subtle.  So she does what comes naturally, and becomes even more critical, negative and small-minded toward her few remaining employees. She spends hours isolating herself in her office,  going over their work with a microscope and emerging only to point out their mistakes in excruciating detail.

Or consider a second example: Each and every day, a manager’s direct reports are expected to meet with him,  go over their list of projects,  and endure the humiliation of his litany of criticisms on completed work with little or no positive feedback or encouragement. He researches company data,  and puts them on the spot by asking questions he already knows the answer to.  When they hazard a guess, he pounces on them for not knowing the answer.  He prescribes not only how to do their work, but how to do a proper personal  “to do” list:  date, number of entries, etc.  When employees are sick or on vacation, he calls them at home with insignificant questions.  He considers himself to be the smartest person in the place and daily lets them know that they can never possibly measure up to his standard, the standard of perfection.

These abusive bosses tend to cleverly disguise their tactics. Thanks are never private one-to-one expressions of gratitude; instead, the employee is thanked only in front of the boss’s own superiors so that he appears to be doing the right thing.

Unfortunately, many people have had the misfortune of working for bosses like these.  Most  sense that these behaviors are inappropriate and would call them bullying or harassment.  And most of the time, employees quit in order to leave a particular manager more than the organization itself.

Savvy companies know that employee satisfaction is a key to reducing turnover, but many will only address situations like the above if the boss’s conduct is illegal.  Unfortunately, at this point it is not against the law to be a bully at work, at least not in the U.S.  While sexual harassment, wage and hour violations, or discrimination based on categories such as race or religion are seen as ticking time bombs because the cost of litigation is potentially very high, employers know it is much harder to prevail in a lawsuit based on being the target of bullying.  If the manager is contributing something else valuable or hard to replace, the victim is usually considered more expendable than the perpetrator. They themselves will often be painted as the cause of the problem.

Unfortunately, this can and does lead to bottled-up rage, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and substance abuse. In situations like these, there are only a few possible responses for the target: retaliate, say nothing and become a doormat, quit immediately, or find a middle way using coping skills of various kinds.

The legal landscape is trending toward making work place bullying illegal, but we are on the slow train. In the meantime, please be watchful if you work in this kind of environment. You could save someone’s life, health or livelihood.

Quote of the Week:

“You are not here merely to make a living.
You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply,
with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement.
You are here to enrich the world,
and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.”
Woodrow Wilson

Questioning the Idea of Work/Life Balance

I have to blur the line between “work” and the rest of my life, if indeed there really is a line. It’s always been this way for me. Yes, I admit I am idealistic, but I’d like to think that my efforts bring some lasting good to my corner of the world. I think getting to that point is a worthwhile undertaking. Am I just nuts, or is there actually a sweeping change occurring in the workforce that reflects some of my thinking? We all must support ourselves of course, but my gut-level response is to find a higher meaning than the bare exchange of stuff for more stuff.

Sticking a Toe in the Water

It’s building and building and building…that thirst to do something new and completely unfamiliar, which might be fraught with both risk and great opportunity. I am in the process of choosing direction for all of it. A freelance artist told me how he goes about finding customers, and I’m thinking through how to adapt his method for my own situation.

Meanwhile, the woman who has been causing me so much grief at work has moved on to a new job.  I wish I knew if there might have been some way on my side of things to make our relationship less problematic. It will be interesting to watch as changes develop among the members of our team now.

Aren’t you glad you don’t have to work here?