Work Is Not War
Guns, batons, switchblades…none of these are legally allowed in the workplace. I’m sure you’ve seen the sign posted prominently in the foyer. Rather, other types of weaponry are stealthily brought into the office, in case of offensive or defensive need. Add to that, a wide array of personal shields and armor, at hand and ready to fend off possible attack. Though you may not see these armaments brandished or secured in a shoulder holster, trust me, they’re usually there.
The workplace began and continues to emerge as an environment where control, ego battle and ego survival run rampant.
Work has been equated to a war zone, a jungle, a battleground and a field of competition—all places replete with fear, anxiety and the threat of defeat or death. News Flash!! Those types of environments are not places where most people want to hang out and work. And, there’s a really good reason for that—they do not feel like safe places to be. Paranoia and anxiety are not reliable promoters of excellence, potential or creative genius.
Now, I can hear the flak (also known as an exploding shell) from one or more of you regarding the tone of this piece. Is she kidding? Is she some sort of a peacenik? A Commie? Okay, maybe no one’s asserting I’m a Commie, but you get the message. And, I understand this response, I do. In large part, I attribute such responses to the state of being inured. Otherwise known, as the mindset we fall into and accept as gospel when we are immersed in a certain perceived reality.
The weapons we bring into the office today are not made by Smith and Wesson or Rockwell Collins.
They are not as tangible as all that. So, what are they?
- backstabbing, badmouthing or slurs
- stealing someone else’s idea
- setting someone up to fail or ‘throwing someone under the bus’
- using another person for one’s own gain
- brownnosing
- lying, cheating or withholding information for one’s own advantage
- exploiting or treating others abusively
- forming cliques or blackballing
Shields and armor, too, are different from military theaters. In business, they take the form of:
- doing just enough not to get fired
- not connecting with coworkers
- choosing not to be loyal to the company
- not speaking up
- pretending to be sick when you’re not
- coming in late and leaving early
- not wanting to take on anything new or put yourself on the line
- hiding in a cubicle or behind a computer
As you can see, the work-based weaponry is different from that found on military battlefields. But, it still serves the same purpose as all swords and shields—attack and protection.
For companies that want to increase employee performance and loyalty, a figurative war zone is not the best environment for the job. The strongest companies are connected, united and moving forward together. While there may be uncontrollable threats outside the company walls, within the company there is trust and support. That’s what makes companies strong and powerful…not a semi-automatic.
Divide and conquer may make sense on the battlefield, but it does not serve companies well. In that environment, ‘Unite and Support’ is the powerful new(er) axiom. Unleash the power of a unified and committed workforce.