~What's Your Game?
Throughout the journey of life, we've constantly faced and overcome challenges, adopting a mindset of 'survival of the fittest'. Despite this ruthless mantra, we've evolved to protect the vulnerable, forming cohesive groups and families. This evolution prompted us to build teams, nurturing our survival instinct in a more communal context.
Today, we all work to survive, but have you ever considered the role of 'struggle' and 'tactics' in your daily professional life? The ego, an inherent part of our evolution, blends with our survival instinct to shape our office dynamics, leading to what we often term 'office politics'.
Consider these questions:
~ Do you ever criticize your colleagues?
~ Have you ever lightly made fun of your colleagues to belittle them?
~ Have you ever subtly claimed credit for someone else's work?
~ Have you ever shifted the blame for your mistakes onto someone else?
~ Do you have a lunch or coffee break group at work? What do you usually discuss during these breaks?
In the contemporary workspace, we don’t physically confront those we perceive as threats or those who are more skilled than us. Instead, we channel our primordial struggle for survival into socially acceptable actions. These might include highlighting colleagues' mistakes, making fun of colleagues under the guise of humour, claiming credit for others' work, or tactfully blaming others for our own mistakes. These are all strategies we use when we 'play the game'.
So, here's a proposition: Let's redefine the rules of the game. Instead of pitting ourselves against others, let's turn the game inwards. Let's step up and own our mistakes as a chance for learning, relentlessly refine our skills, and make a commitment to discover something new every day. When we succeed, let's distribute the credit, recognizing the collective effort that made it possible. And let's not just support our colleagues – let's celebrate their successes as if they were our own. By shifting the focus from competition to collaboration, we can transform the workplace into a forum for shared growth and mutual success.
Remember, evolution isn't about outpacing others, but about becoming a better version of ourselves each day. In this ongoing journey of growth and change, what's your strategy? Are you the one who constantly complains, blames, and represents a 'problem,' or do you choose to step up, take ownership, encourage, and become the 'solution'? The choice, in the end, is entirely yours. Are you merely playing to survive, or are you strategizing to thrive, develop, and contribute positively to the ecosystem around you? What's your game?
(This is a rewritten version of my 2014 article here: https://lnkd.in/gppydkDY)
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