Articles

Have you ever snapped a snapdragon? You gently press the sides and watch its ‘mouth’ open and shut. They’re fun to play puppets with – that’s if you haven’t forgotten how to be playful. It can be a challenge when things are tough and your responsibilities considerable. Still, play is not just for kids. If you can find a way to play at work, chances are you’ll be more creative, a better problem solver and less stressed. So do yourself a favour and find a way to play. If it’s been a while, choose from one of the four ways Dr René Proyer of the University of Halle (Germany) found adults play: You could fool around with others Be light-hearted and not worry about the consequences Play intellectually with thoughts and ideas Be whimsical (like snapping a snapdragon).   Work is work… and you can have fun while you’re there. All it takes is remembering to play.

There’s nothing like the good old days…. Just don’t get stuck there. I joined a firm three years post-merger. That’s when I met the tall guy on the right. When I started, pre-merger mugs, pens and paperweights were still being used with pride. It took two more years (and a post-merger mug!) for the pre-merger factions to give way. That’s when it started to feel like my workplace. Not just a place where I happened to work. Many workplaces later, I still have that post-merger mug. And my friendship with that guy on the right. Yes, there’s nothing like the good old days. But know when to move on, what to take with you.. and what to leave behind.

I was shocked to see someone had driven right across this corner. Look at the damage they’ve left behind. And what if someone had been standing there?! Sometimes it can be smart to take a shortcut. If you’re driving somewhere, it can shave a lot of time off your trip. But it’s not the same as cutting corners. That can be dangerous. It’s the same at work. Cutting corners means sacrificing things along the way. It might get you there faster, but at what cost and at whose expense? Shortcuts are about finding faster, better ways of doing things. Better for you, your co-workers and the organisation.. So the next time you want to get somewhere faster, make sure it’s better too. It’s about finding shortcuts. Not cutting corners.

Would you cut the stamens off these Asiatic lilies? The orange pollen stains everything, even its own lovely white petals. Some people remove them so they don’t have to deal with the mess. But they also lose the very feature that makes them so attractive. Please don’t do that to yourself. Don’t hold back for fear of making a mess. That doesn’t mean be reckless. Take small risks. Try small experiments. Be just a little bit braver. It could still hurt a little, like a stain on your petal. But it’ll hurt a whole lot more if you don’t let them see the best of you.

Has she gone too far? Yayoi Kusama, one of the most celebrated living artists, developed this immersive Flower Obsession installation for the NGV Triennial earlier this year. It was one of my favourites. It starts out as a plainly furnished domestic space. No flowers. But each visitor is given a red flower to place anywhere they like, until eventually the space is obliterated. It transforms into an extravagant wonderland of flowers. You don’t want to do that on your work projects. Of course you can always learn more, know more, do more. The art is in knowing when to put your stake in the ground and say, I’m stopping here. It’s good enough. I’m done. Otherwise, the risk is worse than the law of diminishing returns. Think about your reputation and relationships. If they’re gone, your career is anywhere but wonderland.

Ever seen such a bold, orange entrance? It belongs to a house in my ‘hood. It’s crafted with great thought and care. It’s creative and the wooden front door is beautiful. It makes an impression… but is it the impression they’d want? Rather than feeling welcomed, I feel strangely uneasy whenever I walk by. As Maya Angelou said: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” When your next opportunity to make a first impression comes around, do take care of your appearance. Do stand tall and strong. And do think about how you want to make them feel. It’s normal to feel a bit nervous when we first meet someone, but there’s no reason why you can’t: Bring your warmth: flash a warm smile and make eye contact Be present: give them your full attention, even if only for a brief time Be genuinely curious: to get to know more about them.   And notice how good it makes you feel too.

This magnolia needs the bee to reproduce. The bee needs the magnolia for nectar. Both win…it’s a symbiotic relationship.   What’s your relationship with your organisation like? It’s a question worth asking yourself. Is it: Symbiotic (+/+)* beneficial for both you and the organisation Commensal (+/0) beneficial for one, no effect on the other Parastic (+/-) beneficial for one, destructive for the other Amensal (-/0) destructive for one, no effect on the other Synnecrosis (-/-) mutually destructive   I hope, for your sake, it’s beneficial for you. No effect on you? We can live with that. But anything destructive? Please don’t stay too long. It’s not worth it…and you are.

Spaz, the neighborhood cat, thinks that she is the most beautiful of them all. Spaz doesn’t realise that some people find her annoying and not as beautiful as their dog. Lucky you’re not Spaz. You know better than relying on your own perceptions… and the importance of honest feedback, no matter how hard it might be to hear. You know that few will want to tell you the truth… for fear of hurting your feelings or getting in your bad books. You also know better than hiring a team of mini-me’s… despite your natural tendency to want to hire in your own image (yet another unconscious bias).   The challenge is to be honest: with yourself, and to create an environment where others feel psychologically safe enough to be honest with you too.  

See these impatiens (that’s Latin for ‘impatient’) lined up along the garden path? I’ve watched them grow from seedlings. They’re prolific. Apparently, it doesn’t take much for their ripe seed pods to open. Sometimes, with just the lightest touch they’ll burst into flower… as if they’re impatient to bloom. What if your younger leaders-in-the-making are not so different?   When someone’s impatient to get ahead and they’re not quite ready, they can try your patience. But what if all they need to burst open and bloom is the lightest touch from you? If you take the time to work out what they need and then provide it ‘just right’… let’s call that a virtue too. I bet you’ll be thanked for your efforts, in more ways than one.

You know the pleasure of the Autumn leaf crunch? It doesn’t get much better than that…but have you watched a leaf fall from a tree? I was mesmerised last week, watching a leaf right in front of me elegantly pirouette down to its death. I got lucky with the timing walking by this elm. If only we could be so graceful when we fall. Unlike: the mistake we refuse to acknowledge our part in (denial) not stepping up and making a hard call. Instead, we keep gathering more evidence, delaying the inevitable (intellectualisation) bringing our frustration with the boss out on a softer target who doesn’t deserve it (displacement).   It’s not easy to fess up when you’ve mucked up. Sometimes you’re not aware you have. Sometimes the risks feel too great. Sometimes you’re too ashamed. If your defense mechanisms are at play, then it’ll be unconscious. So don’t be too hard on yourself. But, if you want to ‘know thyself’, it’s worth asking yourself how gracefully you fall.