I have been in some pretty fantastic workplaces and sadly, a lot of really sad ones. The Dalai Lama talks at length about the art of happiness at work...
But I want to talk about the word that is often used to crush any shred of happiness (and productivity) in the workplace.
Queue the "da daaaa" music: PROFESSIONALISM or rather something I call "Uber-professionalism"; when good management/professional strategies are taken to an extreme and not used in the right workplace context.
This is what professionalism means to some organisations:
1. Don't be real. Make sure you dress and look corporate and powerful, but don't be human.
2. Don't raise issues unless you do it in a dry monotone. You are not allowed to experience emotions here, and yes, expressing too much emotion may not be good - but none at all will be more destructive. I dub thee "uber-professional" communication. Dry, unfeeling and to the point, which ironically, nothing in the rest of life is. If your business has anything to do with people and their lives this is a clear double standard. You are not allowed to be human and we will respond with robotic automaton. Read more >>>>
Really?
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