Why do we work?
I’ve wondered a lot since I started (and recently shut down) my own company. Why do I really work, what motivates me and what are my values?
Reading this article by
resonated with me and got me thinking again about why do I work/what values/motivations are there. Work is such a major part of our lives, yet I often operate as if I should know it all already.I’ve run a startup and worked with startups where I attempted to “learn through great experiences” and “make impact” and, of course, hoped to make a “lot of money” as well.
I’ve always believed (certainly learned from my father in a mirrored behaviour kind of way) that if we choose to do something, we must do it the best that we possibly can. Our work is a representation of ourselves.
Like many sayings, this one sounds wonderful and fits nicely in a constructed narrative of the world. It doesn’t fit the real world so well. Most work is an interplay between yourself, others, technology and situations. Too much focus on work being a representative of self worth can quickly lead down a path of work-obsessive behaviour and perfectionism. Which then makes it much harder to get a real result from work involving many different people.
W don’t have many good alternative narratives that align as simply with perceptions and world views. Saying work is highly interdependent is unsatisfying as we clearly do have impact on our work. I want to see my mark on the world and be recognised. Too much emphasis on the complexity of work feels as if we will dilute the importance of individual accountability and achievement. Finding that happy middle ground is a key struggle of teams, individuals and managers.
I’ve also ended up in ethically blurred situations where I know I lack sufficient domain expertise or skills to do something, yet I feel obligated by situation, assumed expectations or my own sense of worth/ego to still take on the work. I will do the best that I can and pour myself into the topic - attempting to overcome any experience or skill gaps with pure adrenaline and hours/effort.
I don’t have answers for any of this. I suspect these are topics I’ll dwell on until I die. Yet it seems something critically important for us to consider, discuss and unpack.
If you too struggle with this topic, I strongly recommend Rae’s post. Read, consider and unpack as we go…