Better. Together.

I work with companies helping them figure out how to work better and smarter. Lately I’ve noticed that I have to do a lot more “general workplace etiquette” workshops and training than I've done in the past. It seems people are so focused on how they can get ahead that they’re treating each other poorly, which results in a toxic workplace (and is often bad for business). Some days I feel like I've gone back in time and am a camp counselor again, reminding my charges to play nicely together. 

In thinking about the world and domestic events of the past few months I see that the issues I deal with on an office by office level are epidemic in our country, and many of the solutions I suggest to my clients apply on a larger scale.

 Imagine what could happen if:

• We focused on making more instead of making sure we each get our share.

• We gave more and took less.

• Each of us thought about just one person we didn’t know, in the next neighborhood over, across the country or on the other side of the world before we acted, and thought about the impact our action might have on that stranger.

• We listened more than we spoke.

• We didn’t always have to be right.

• We accepted that great ideas can come from unlikely sources.

• We recognized that same produces same, not excellence.

• Each person paid one sincere complement to someone in their lives each day.

• We actively sought out feedback on how we can do (whatever we do) better.

• We respected, celebrated and learned from differences.

• We stopped letting fear win.

I’ve seen office cultures improve as employees implement some of these ideas, and I dream of bigger changes happening as more individuals take these actions in all facets of their lives.

Really, we all just need to play nicely together.