We have all been children. Many of us have children. At some point we have been told to put away our childish ways and become all grown up. Not as easy as we would like. In “Don’t Bring It to Work”, I discuss the fact that when stress hits the hot button we all revert to behaviors we learned in our original organization, the family and they show up at work and need to be observed, understood, and transformed.
This piece of whimsy is fun to remind us that the patterns of childhood are not so far away.
- When you walked into work this morning and pleasantlygreeted your co-worker Jim, was his first reaction to scream “NO! WANT JASON!” followed by an office supply being thrown at you?
- Do you have to lock yourself in the supply closet or bathroom on a regular basis in order to make phone calls?
- Did you finish a complete thought at any time during the day?
- When you went out to lunch with your fellow workers, did you have to pack a diaper/juice/ extra outfit for them? Did you have to wipe their faces? Smile an apology and leave an extra tip for the waiter on their behalf?
- When a co-worker needed you for something, did she sit at her desk with her head tilted back toward the ceiling and repeatedly scream “SEAN! SEEEEANNNN! SEAAAAAAN!” until you came to find him?
- When you needed a specific colleague, did you search all over for him, only to finally find him giggling in the cabinet under the sink? Did you also find six pairs of your church shoes under there with him?
So remember if your boss is behaving like a baby, or if your colleague is sulking like a kid on the playground, you’re right. And if you are responding like a thumb sucking toddler, point the finger at yourself!
Sylvia Lafair
Sylvia Lafair, PhD, is President of CEO – Creative Energy Options, Inc., a global consulting company focused on optimizing workplace relationships through her exclusive PatternAware™ Leadership Model. Dr. Lafair is the author of Don’t Bring It to Work: Breaking the Family Patterns That Limit Success published by Jossey-Bass. As an executive coach and leadership educator, she has more than 30 years of experience with all levels of management from leading corporate officers of global companies to executives of non-profits and owners of leading family-owned businesses. She is now offering GUTSY Women Weekends, giving women the opportunity to dialogue and clarify next steps.
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