Before we kick off the “Bringing Joy to Your Workplace” Series, I thought it would be good to address some potential real-life “what the heck?” questions readers may have.
Q: I’m just a peon, how can I make a difference in my company?
A: Oh, cool – I’ve been a peon at work lots of times! I was once a lowly customer service representative at biotechnology company, but that didn’t stop me from doing little things here and there to brighten peoples’ days. And when I say little, I mean it – maybe five minutes here and there, which added up to a lot – and helped me win Employee of the Month many times. Stick with me, and you won’t be a peon for long.
Q: Yeah, but I’m about to retire … or I’m just a part-time worker. Why should I bother with this stuff?
A: Let’s say you’re about to retire and have done things the same way your whole life – and done them well. Good for you! But why not teach those you’ll be leaving behind how to be even better at their jobs? Why not leave a legacy for everyone to remember in the years to come?
Can’t you just hear the conversation now around the water cooler: “Wow, that Joe Schmoe was great before, but he really knocked our socks off right before he left. I sure miss him.”
And part-time workers? Trust me, if you start using even half of the tips in this series, you’ll be seen as an incredibly valuable team member. You won’t be part-time for long – unless you want to stay that way.
Q: But I work from home. How can I do anything to spread joy to my workplace? I’m not there most of the time.
A: I’ve worked from home a time or two as well. In fact, I work from home for my day job right now! But I still see team members and clients at various events or for team meetings. And most of the time if you’re working from home, you’re still interacting with these people virtually or on the phone.
Many ideas in this series can be done without ever seeing someone in person. You’ll become so awesome that people will look forward to your next email, phone call, FaceTime session, etc.
Q: My job is okay, and it pays the bills. Why should I bother to do this stuff?
A: If you really think about it, wouldn’t it make more sense to spend half of your waking hours going beyond “okay”? This is your life, people. You only get one. Even if you believe in reincarnation, isn’t it better to have a bunch of kick-butt, “what a ride that was!” lives instead of “yeah, that was okay” ones?
If you’re still not buying this, prove me wrong. Do a couple of things differently thanks to this series in the future. See how they elevate your workplace from “okay” to “awesome.” Do a comparison of the “before” and “after.” I think you’ll like the latter and be glad you took a little time to make a difference.
Amy Shankland is a writer and fundraising professional living in Noblesville with her husband John, two sons, two dogs and a cat. You can reach her via email at amys@greenavenue.info.