Last week I had the pleasure of fly fishing on the West Branch of the Penobscot River, at the foot of Mt. Katahdin. Stayed in a cabin, very minor accommodations, outside all day humping through the river, very exhilarating. Was with a few friends and our kids, all working hard, pitching in, helping each other out, sharing flies and collapsing at night from the enjoyable hard work. No drama, all getting along, not a lot of deep thought or reflection, other then the stuff we think about while we are alone enjoying the environment. We were all too busy for anything else.
Coming back to work this week, the first issue I dealt with had to do with a group of people who live and work in an environment of drama. Exaggerated problems, thrashing opinions, emotional turmoil, fear and unhappiness. Having just spent an enjoyable weekend, the contrast was great.
A friend of mine running a small business said to me a few weeks ago, “what happened to the day when we used to work all weekend to get something done for Monday, and everyone came in over the weekend, we bought pizza, and we felt so good to nail the presentation”? I remember those days too. My bosses never asked me if I wanted to come in, it was assumed that as part of the team, and the project needs to get done, we just came in…and we enjoyed it. What happened, is it no longer a standard to be committed to the company, our boss or our team? Have we put too much emphasis on balance, on our own time, our feelings? Have we all become too soft, needy, selfish and unconnected to our work missions? Maybe.
When I find myself putting in a great effort on a project, and the drama is at a minimum, and we’re all pulling together…I think of a few conditions that exist: First, we like the work. I like fly fishing, camping, doing dishes, cooking, hiking and the river. No problem, I’m focused, I enjoy it, I want to be helpful. Second, I’m with a group of people who also like it, so we are all focused and committed to each other around the activity. Third, we’re learning. We are all working to perfect our skills (of varying levels, mine suck) and try to learn from each other while in the river, sharing equipment and telling stories. We hunger new knowledge. Forth, there is no boss. Yes, my friend Bruce is the cool guy, and has the best skills, but he organically leads us to the right hole, shares his best flies, and gently gets us up at 5 AM by cooking bacon and coffee. We aspire to be like him (on the river), and his commitment to the effort is a model for us (It’s really hard to get up at 5AM to put on waders).
What is really going on is more complicated than these 4 conditions. We’re only together for 3 days, we already have a close relationship, and how can you not be inspired watching a million caddis come off the water as the sun peeks out and your surrounded by the North Woods. I mean, its like a church, and very difficult not to feel good.
So, I think drama in the workplace may have to do with many things, but it is a symptom of something not being right. While we may have become too soft, I think that’s the wrong question. Perhaps we have become soft because we are unhappy, in the wrong job, with the wrong people, doing something we could care less about. Drama goes away when we are doing what we like, like the people we are with, feel a commitment to the group, and are pursuing something we care about.
And, any pursuit does not come without difficulty. I broke my $600 Winston Rod on the first cast Sunday morning. The trailer came off the truck and punched a hole in my tail-gate, and I only caught one fish all weekend. Yet, no drama, My rod is getting replaced by the company, my truck is getting fixed, and my friends caught all the fish…we worked it out.
My son told me on the way home he had a great weekend, and can’t wait to go again. That’s the best part of all. That’s what the boss wants to hear.
Russ