This week I was taken down by the nasty cold/flu and was forced to take almost two days off of work – something I NEVER do… it got me thinking about why I worry so much about calling in sick when I have a fever and know I shouldn’t be at work potentially infecting others. What makes me feel others should take the time off, but I should rally and show up even though I need to rest and won’t be productive if I do go? What makes other employees “fake” calling in sick all the time with no sense of guilt? Is it my work ethic? Catholic upbringing? Need to feel needed? It all seems so ridiculous…
I wonder if workers (perhaps myself included) want so desperately to feel important in their job that they convince themselves the world will fall apart if they aren’t there? I notice it’s hard for me to take time off work, and when I do, I have to force myself not to check my email incessantly. But seriously, what crisis (related to my job) could possibly happen on a Saturday night that couldn’t wait until Monday to be resolved? I think perhaps it’s my OCD… I hate having emails in my inbox, things on my to-do list, or anyone waiting for me to figure something out. I want tasks completed, goals accomplished, my plate clean…. Not that those goals are realistic or even desirable. After all, with nothing left to complete, how would I remain gainfully employed? Emails are communication, that won’t end because as soon as I finish one job, another one will arise; that’s the nature of work, right? So how does one, as an educational leader, discern between a person who works hard and person who hardly works until they truly see that person in action over time? I believe that I am trustworthy to do my best, but do I just assume that others are as well?
In processing my notes, observations, and synthesis of my organizational visit, I have been thinking about what the operations manager discussed in his description of hiring new personnel. He said that he and his colleague (another manger) have become better at identifying competent people over time and that there is less turnover as a result. Last year I attended a Leadership Institute where Dr. Dave Logan (co-author of Tribal Leadership) was the keynote speaker. He instructed us to hire for values and train for skills; he stated that everyone can be trained, but if a person does not possess values in-line with the organization, they will not reach their potential to contribute to the greater good. I believe I am a fairly good judge of character, but how can I be certain a person’s goals are in line with my department's/organization's goals? Is it just about following your gut and/or having faith?
While I believe I am learning a great deal about leadership, I have a feeling that only time will help me to develop the keen awareness to judge potential employees; in the meantime, I think there will be trial and error from which I will need to learn.
Lauren, I love this! In many ways, I do the same thing. I will call in when family is sick, but not when I am. The sense of duty is a feeling of importance, pride, being needed.
ReplyDeleteSo....each Christmas break, I take the family to a cabin at Shaver Lake. In the summer, rustic camping in the Los Padres. My rules for the kids, once we get to the base of the mountains (leaving Fresno, leaving Santa Ynez) all technology is off until we get back. No more DVD's in the car. No more phones. No more Ipods. No more laptops. No more PSP's.
Just God's green earth and family!!! Suddenly, we are finding license plates and talking in the car. Suddenly we are walking the woods, practicing archery, watching a fire, playing cards, singing and laughing.
I feel the anxiety as I think about the emails, the blogs, the bills, the grants to write, the papers to write, the presentation to work on, the papers to grade, the research to do....
My spirit and mind is connected once again with my body. Then my whole self, my healthy self, is ready and rejuvenated to go back to the grind.
But, it's a little disappointing when I find out that not much has changed without me there. I sort of wish things had fallen apart without me...but in reality, that doesn't happen.
Thanks for the feedback Todd - I think you are the only person reading this:)
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is critical to get away and un-plug - something I need to do more often! It always reminds me how insignificant my concerns are in the grand scheme - perspective is invaluable:)
Nope, Jackie's reading this too:) That OCD part kicks us in the butt and sits on our shoulders. My staff have to be the ones to stop me from working from home by "unpugging" me. My husband has threatened to throw the cell phone and ipad out of the plane as we travel frequently to Maui, but he hasn't. Maybe after all of this education, we will make ourselves less technology stuck and get out and travel, or leave our technology at home! See you soon.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the note Jackie:) I really do hope to become better at unplugging - I think since we have to be plugged in for school and work, it becomes all consuming... I do look forward to the day when I read for pleasure again!
ReplyDeleteHope you had a great weekend!
L