Are you having fun at work?

Are you having fun at work? My answer to this question was ‘Yes’ because I get to work with a good team, I am working on exciting programs that will make a huge impact, I am passionate about what I do, and overall, I am having a good time doing it.

As I wanted to synthesise this further – which led me to Google and Twitter – I landed on this NY Times article by Catherine Price. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/23/well/mind/having-fun-suceeding-coronavirus-pandemic.html 

Catherine defines ‘true fun’ as when there is a confluence of three psychological states called playfulness, connection and flow.

This resonates with me as I can use this definition in all areas of my life. In light of the above definition – I am having fun at work as I have autonomy and creative license to bring playfulness in my work and team, I feel connected with my team and stakeholders and the time goes quickly (flow) as I find engaged and focused on driving outputs and helping my customers.

What’s your take on ‘fun’ at work?

Happy 75th Independence Day

Today’s is India’s 75th Independence Day. I have read 100’s of messages on social media and SMS from proud Indian’s celebrating in their own ways – proudly sharing the tri-color. This has got me thinking about the meaning of ‘independence’. This has me pondering about people beginning the revolt over 160 years towards an independent India!

They would have become independent over their fears first. They moved forward despite the fears.

What’s independence for you? What fears are you overcoming?

A Connected Leader

Everyone wants to feel valued and heard. Good Leaders provide their teams/communities with the opportunities to be seen, regularly engages them and have the necessary support mechanisms in place.

When leaders don’t provide this opportunity, people will talk behind their backs. More often than not, it will be a negative talk.

Choose Optimism Over Despair

As we begin this year, let’s decide to choose optimism over despair as that is how we will move forward – be it in our work or private lives.

If you, your team or family is facing uncertainty, it is totally understandable if that uncertainty is producing fear, feeling of helplessness and anxiety. It might be easy to despair and join the negative chorus and blame other for everything that is going wrong around us but that hardly is a solution!

Being optimistic in such times can help reduce the negative effects of stress and can assist with the recovery from stress.

Some practical things that you could try are:

– Choose positive language over the negative one

– Avoid criticism 

– Celebrate wins (no matter small they are) 

– Practice self-compassion

– Help others (be it a team member or your community)

– Don’t ignore your feelings but talk them over 

About freedom

From Nytimes.com article

Many things should be matters of individual choice. The government has no business dictating your cultural tastes, your faith or what you decide to do with other consenting adults.

But refusing to wear a face covering during a pandemic, or insisting on mingling indoors with large groups, isn’t like following the church of your choice. It’s more like dumping raw sewage into a reservoir that supplies other people’s drinking water.

Your short term freedom should not come at the cost of someone’s life.